Optics Trading Post
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Thermal got cheaper: a 384 scanner for $795
Thermal used to start around two grand. The AGM Taipan V2 15-384 was $795.00 at OpticsPlanet on Oct 30. Three entry picks, plus the OpticsPlanet code dates on our deal desk radar.
AGM Taipan V2 15-384
$795.00 at OpticsPlanet on Oct 30
Pulsar Axion XQ19
$999.97 at OpticsPlanet on Oct 30
AGM Taipan V2 19-384
$1,095.00 at OpticsPlanet on Oct 30
More ways in, all on Amazon
The three picks above are the best value right now. If your budget is tighter, or you would rather buy on Amazon with its easy returns, these four are worth a look. Each one links to today's Amazon price.
RIX Pocket K2 (cheapest way in)
256 sensor. Fine for spotting hogs and coyotes out to about 300 yards. Smaller picture than a 384, but about half the price of most.
RIX Pocket K3 (best value 384)
A 384 sensor with a steady picture when held by hand. About $799 on Nov 2.
AGM Taipan V2 on Amazon
The same Taipan as our OpticsPlanet pick, for readers who would rather buy on Amazon.
AGM Taipan V2 25-384 (longer reach)
Bigger lens, so it sees farther across open pasture. Narrower view up close.
How to choose a cheap thermal
Pick 384 over 256 if you can. The number is how many heat dots the sensor has across. More dots means a clearer shape at distance, so you can tell a hog from a calf before you walk out there. A 256 is fine inside 300 yards. A 384 is the sweet spot for most hog and coyote hunters.
The lens number is reach. A 15 or 19 lens gives a wide view for scanning brush and fence lines. A 25 or 35 lens sees farther across open fields but shows less at once. If you hunt thick cover, go smaller. If you glass big pasture, go bigger.
Buy a handheld before a scope. A handheld scanner works for scouting, tracking and checking a field before you walk in. It also tells you which sensor and lens you like before you spend scope money.
Check the return window. Test it the first night: battery life, how fast it starts, and whether the picture holds up in the cold. Amazon and OpticsPlanet both take returns, so keep the box.
Questions hunters ask
Is an $800 thermal good enough for hogs? Yes, for spotting and scanning. A 384 handheld at this price will show hogs clearly out past 300 yards. You give up some detail and battery time compared with $2,000 units, not the basic job.
Will prices drop on Black Friday? Some will. Entry thermals often see $50 to $150 off. If you need one for a hunt this month, buy now and watch the price inside your return window. See our Black Friday optics deals.
Handheld or scope first? Handheld first for most people. It is safer for scanning, more useful day to day, and tells you what you want in a scope later.
How to choose one: budget thermal guide. Black Friday: optics deals.
Link to share: opticstradingpost.com/thermal-for-less/
Affiliate links: we may earn a commission from OpticsPlanet (via Awin). Prices change; the store price at checkout is the one that counts. Disclosure.