PULSAR AXION KEY XM22 THERMAL IMAGER

minktrapper · 21-06-2020 10:53pm #1

Anyone got one of theses. Cost £870 sterling. Thermal vision is getting cheaper.

meathstevie · 22-06-2020 6:17pm

minktrapper wrote: »

Anyone got one of theses. Cost £870 sterling. Thermal vision is getting cheaper.

I don’t but I’ve looked through one at a demonstration event organized by Sportsden a few months ago. Impressive piece of kit if you can afford it.

minktrapper · 23-06-2020 12:42am

Never see any of the NV products at the game fair. What are the chances of it being held this year.

Zxthinger · 26-06-2020 1:47am

Over on airgunbbs there are a fair few Irish lads and they have held minor get togethers to showcase their own gear.
Maybe a few would like to meet up here to show off their kit.

Analogue is the best because the gen1/2 tubes use next to no power and you can get weeks or more out of 1 set of batteries.

Digital is hard on batteries but the performance is very affordable.

minktrapper · 26-06-2020 12:50pm

Price difference?

TombstoneT · 14-07-2020 1:50am

minktrapper wrote: »

Anyone got one of theses. Cost £870 sterling. Thermal vision is getting cheaper.

Yes I got one recently. I have not used it much but it is great. Even during daytime I could pick out small birds in a bush or tree that were not visible otherwise.

minktrapper · 15-07-2020 9:58am

How far away can a fox be seen.

TombstoneT · 17-07-2020 9:54am

minktrapper wrote: »

How far away can a fox be seen.

I have not yet seen a fox through it, but judging by what I did see, I reckon a fox could be recognized at a few hundred yards.

minktrapper · 17-07-2020 12:21pm

Let us know when you do see a fox through it. It might be worth a purchase. Nice to know the capabilities of the unit first.

TombstoneT · 18-07-2020 8:50am

minktrapper wrote: »

Let us know when you do see a fox through it. It might be worth a purchase. Nice to know the capabilities of the unit first.

I will get out sometime this week and also bring my range finder so hopefully I will have more definite info for you.

TombstoneT · 27-07-2020 11:13am

minktrapper wrote: »

Let us know when you do see a fox through it. It might be worth a purchase. Nice to know the capabilities of the unit first.

I went out yesterday morning and saw 2 foxes. One at 24yds ,the second at 79yds. I watched the second one through my Axion 22 and it was 100% obvious he was a fox. I hoped he would go a farther distance but I lost him in a ditch. For what it's worth, I looked at cows at 412yds and could plainly see what they were. Ok, the size difference is huge but if the cow was as small as a fox I would still have known what he was. The shape and the body movement will give away the identity of the animal so I am confident to say that a fox would be obvious at any safe shooting distance. I was also able to pick out crows and a magpie at 107yds. I hope this info helps some bit. I will get out again hopefully this week to try and get a more accurate result with the Axion 22. Till then.

tikkamark · 08-08-2020 3:02am

I know it’s not an axion but for what it’s worth I’ll fill you in on my experience of my thermal choice.....I like you was very keen on an axion purely because it was within the then budget but having researched for at least a year I was swayed towards a helion xq38 because because of a more rugged build quality excellent display and detection range and top notch battery.
I have it about 6 months now and I can safely say it’s a complete game changer for my main persuit foxes,I have seen and clearly I’d a fox at over 1000y it will detect further than the best lamp in the world would even show eye shine.
I’ve watched crows flying off in the distance further than I can see!
It’s awesome for finding downed foxes very quickly too.
It’s a lot of money but i saved and saved and I would safely say it’s worth every cent my only regret is not buying it sooner!

minktrapper · 08-08-2020 11:12am

How do you use a tool such as this for finding and shooting foxs.

tikkamark · 09-08-2020 12:51pm

minktrapper wrote: »

How do you use a tool such as this for finding and shooting foxs.

It detects the heat of the animal to know where it is then I switch to the rifle mounted Nv for the shot

minktrapper · 09-08-2020 6:21pm

tikkamark wrote: »

It detects the heat of the animal to know where it is then I switch to the rifle mounted Nv for the shot

I kind of knew that. Any other tactics that can be used to your advantage.

minktrapper · 12-08-2020 3:25pm

How good are thermal devices in long stemmy grass.

borrisboy · 23-08-2020 4:45pm

I have the xm30 . Unreal bit of kit and I can identify a fox at three or four hundred yards easily enough .

minktrapper · 26-08-2020 3:09pm

borrisboy wrote: »

I have the xm30 . Unreal bit of kit and I can identify a fox at three or four hundred yards easily enough .

Is there much to go wrong with them.

borrisboy · 26-08-2020 9:17pm

I hope not . They are very simple to use .

Damoeire33 · 28-08-2020 9:45am

Ive a xm30 up for sale in the for sale section if anyone is interested

tikkamark · 29-08-2020 10:15am

minktrapper wrote: »

How good are thermal devices in long stemmy grass.

They do detect heat In that situation enough that you would know something was there.You would see animals through hedges when the leaves are off too.They can also cut through fog very well too.
For some reason a very humid night is the worst for viewing trees and general outlines wouldn’t be that well defined but body heat still glows.

minktrapper · 29-08-2020 12:07pm

tikkamark wrote: »

They do detect heat In that situation enough that you would know something was there.You would see animals through hedges when the leaves are off too.They can also cut through fog very well too.
For some reason a very humid night is the worst for viewing trees and general outlines wouldn’t be that well defined but body heat still glows.

Probably not enough of a temperature differential.

minktrapper · 08-10-2020 1:05pm

TombstoneT wrote: »

I will get out sometime this week and also bring my range finder so hopefully I will have more definite info for you.

Anymore information on the Pulsar Axion thermal.

TombstoneT · 08-10-2020 4:55pm

minktrapper wrote: »

Anymore information on the Pulsar Axion thermal.

Yes, I did not get out until last week so sorry for no update. My buddy and I went to a golf course at night. He had his .243 for foxes.I had my .22 air rifle. I had scope problems so I did not fire a shot but the buddy shot two foxes. The furthest ones we saw were probably 200yds. There was no doubt they were foxes even amongst the trees. The Pulsar was just great. The first was a gut shot at 150yds he ran away into the woods out of sight but we found him to finish him off very easily with the Pulsar. I was able to watch him being shot and when he ran his small intestine was hanging out and it actually showed up on the axion trailing behind him. I spent the night just watching the foxes and rabbits. I am very pleased with the Pulsar Axion 22 and would highly recommend it.

minktrapper · 08-10-2020 5:48pm

So how far do you think you would spot a fox. And battery life. How long is it good for.

TombstoneT · 08-10-2020 8:29pm

Definitely 300yds. Battery life : 4hrs constant use.

meathstevie · 09-10-2020 5:29am

TombstoneT wrote: »

I have not yet seen a fox through it, but judging by what I did see, I reckon a fox could be recognized at a few hundred yards.

At the demo I was at one of the people from Sportsden walked down a field and was at least 200m away and a well defined silhouette was clearly visible through the rifle scopes as well as the spotting scope.

minktrapper · 09-10-2020 11:01am

meathstevie wrote: »

At the demo I was at one of the people from Sportsden walked down a field and was at least 200m away and a well defined silhouette was clearly visible through the rifle scopes as well as the spotting scope.

If you pushed it out how far would a fox be visible with it.

bud2000 · 09-10-2020 7:17pm

If any one wants to have a look through axion xm30s I would be glad to show , very happy with mine I’m in Meath

The pigeon man · 09-10-2020 9:27pm

minktrapper wrote: »

If you pushed it out how far would a fox be visible with it.

I'd say if you have the few quid thermal is the way to go.

I'm looking into it now. I've seen 0% apr finance on some models which would make it more affordable.

keith s · 10-10-2020 8:37pm

The pigeon man wrote: »

I'd say if you have the few quid thermal is the way to go.

I'm looking into it now. I've seen 0% apr finance on some models which would make it more affordable.

Any links?
I like the idea of the built-in range finder.
Thanks

minktrapper · 11-10-2020 1:05pm

keith s wrote: »

Any links?
I like the idea of the built-in range finder.
Thanks

Yes agree with you there. A built in range finder would be a bonus. Probably at a price though.

The pigeon man · 11-10-2020 1:38pm

I've noticed alot of the UK retailers are offering interest free finance. I've realised that's not available if you're in Ireland.

In the link below you can get finance buy there is interest on it.

https://www.camera.ie/products/pulsar-axion-xq38

I'm interested in the pulsar axion xq38 with the laser range finder but it'll cost the best part of €2.5k.

The cheapest option I've come across is a Hikvision thermal monocular from this crowd for €550.

https://www.optics-trade.eu/en/hikvision-owl-6-thermal-imaging-monocular.html

Not all the bells and whistles of other models but all I need is to detect the thermal blob. I can identify through my scope.

minktrapper · 11-10-2020 6:24pm

What are the batteries like in thermal vision devices. It would be nice to have one that uses AA batteries.

Would love to get my hands on the Hikvision Owl. Just to see how good it is. 3yr warranty with it.

keith s · 11-10-2020 7:40pm

minktrapper wrote: »

What are the batteries like in thermal vision devices. It would be nice to have one that uses AA batteries.

Would love to get my hands on the Hikvision Owl. Just to see how good it is. 3yr warranty with it.

My mate has the m30 (I think that's what it's called). We could be out for 4 or 5 hours and he'd have it on for most of that.
He recently got a second battery.
I haven't noticed him changing it while we were out, but maybe that will change with the longer nights approaching.

minktrapper · 11-10-2020 8:23pm

Any idea as to the price of the second battery.

keith s · 11-10-2020 8:28pm

minktrapper wrote: »

Any idea as to the price of the second battery.

Just asked him there, about €45 including post for the spare battery.
He got a charger for €40, because normally you charge them from the unit, with the charger he can charge both of them at the same time.

minktrapper · 11-10-2020 10:42pm

keith s wrote: »

Just asked him there, about €45 including post for the spare battery.
He got a charger for €40, because normally you charge them from the unit, with the charger he can charge both of them at the same time.

What will the availability of the battery unit be like in to the future. Will they be rendered useless in time if no power supply can be sourced.

keith s · 12-10-2020 1:21am

Fair point.
Pulsar are (I would say) one of the most popular thermal brands out there at the moment, but it is possible.

I mean a well known Night Vision company in the UK went in to liquidation very recently so it could happen.

Probably would have been better for customers if they had of used a popular battery such as the 18650, but maybe there was more quality control or profitability to be had with a custom battery as they chose to do.

Either way, its a quick moving game and we are seeing prices coming down along with better functionality added to the units, so like any tech ever, you have to decide if it's best to bite the bullet and jump on the lastest + greatest or hold out for the price to go down when something new comes out.

Second hand units are on the market as lads who like the newest gear are upgrading.
If you're buying something it might be worth considering the brand you buy. In the event you plan to upgrade at some point it will be easier to sell something that people have faith in, like something that is tried and tested with good warranty and available spare parts.

minktrapper · 13-10-2020 2:51pm

Would the newer cheaper thermal devices be as good as the older middle of the range devices?

Rows Grower · 13-10-2020 10:07pm

minktrapper wrote: »

Would the newer cheaper thermal devices be as good as the older middle of the range devices?

If you mean would the Hik thermal that can be got for around £439 now hold it's own against the Pulsar units that were 1650 euro a few years ago the short answer is no.

Pulsar are widely acknowledged as the most reliable affordable units available, there is new stuff coming out all the time but you don't see secondhand Pulsar units going cheap and you probably won't either for a long time.

Good thermal doesn't depreciate at the rate other shooting gear does because as word is spreading how awesome it is more and more people want to dip their toe in the water so used units fairly priced are snapped up straight away.

There are dedicated night vision forums out there and there are lots of discussions on different brands, their reliability, warranty, back up service should something go wrong and user friendliness.

Read everything you can before you decide if you are going to invest or not but you probably need to be reading the experiences of users outside of Ireland because it hasn't really taken off here in a big way yet.

minktrapper · 11-11-2020 11:05pm

Is there a 18650 battery in Pulsar APS 3 battery unit. This battery unit is in the Pulsar Axiom key 22.

The pigeon man · 28-11-2020 6:29pm

Pulsar Axion key xm22 for £807.90, delivered to your door in the Republic of Ireland.

Code is OPWBF10. I have no affiliation with the seller. I just think it's a good deal to get into the world of thermal.

https://www.opticswarehouse.co.uk/pulsar-axion-key-xm22-thermal-monocular-320x40-12um-sensor

minktrapper · 28-11-2020 6:33pm

The pigeon man wrote: »

Pulsar Axion key xm22 for £807.90, delivered to your door in the Republic of Ireland.

Code is OPWBF10. I have no affiliation with the seller. I just think it's a good deal to get into the world of thermal.

Who is selling them.

The pigeon man · 28-11-2020 7:17pm

minktrapper wrote: »

Who is selling them.

Apologies I have added the link now.

Mech1 · 12-01-2021 5:22pm

I bought a axion key xm30 at the weekend, loving it sofar while testing in the garden and local park.
I will try to remember to post back here after using it while out hunting.

I hunt Squirrel and rats with a air rifle mainly.

Mech1 · 12-01-2021 8:35pm

Oh and I can demo to anyone willing to meet in South Dublin.

minktrapper · 14-02-2021 1:14pm

keith s wrote: »

My mate has the m30 (I think that's what it's called). We could be out for 4 or 5 hours and he'd have it on for most of that.
He recently got a second battery.
I haven't noticed him changing it while we were out, but maybe that will change with the longer nights approaching.

How does he find the xm30 for spotting. It seems to have a narrower field of view than the xm22. What kind of distance can a fox be spotted at?

minktrapper · 29-03-2021 9:10pm

When thermal devices break down where do you get them repaired.

Heavy handed · 29-03-2021 9:28pm

Personally don’t rate the axion range. Worst one I looked through was the axion key. It was horrible. Granted its a small handheld about the size of a Leica rangefinder. I’ve a helion and it’s like looking though a HD tv compared to it. What’s the detection range on them axion models ???

minktrapper · 11-04-2021 8:40pm

Maybe Rows Grower should continue the conversation on thermals on the thermal thread and not the "Buy and sell" forum.

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PULSAR AXION KEY XM22 THERMAL IMAGER

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