WEBVTT
00:01:22.480 --> 00:01:23.120
What's up, guys?
00:01:23.360 --> 00:01:26.080
Predator Podcast season four.
00:01:26.319 --> 00:01:28.960
We're back for another episode today.
00:01:29.439 --> 00:01:31.200
Pretty excited about this one.
00:01:31.520 --> 00:01:40.960
As you guys know, if you've listened to the show for any period of time, uh, my relationship with Dark Knight Outdoors is a strong one.
00:01:41.200 --> 00:01:51.920
And coming up here in a couple of weeks, we are going to be at the open season sportsmen's expo in Wisconsin Dells, Dark Knight Outdoors, and myself.
00:01:52.080 --> 00:01:54.800
So we thought we'd give you guys a little bit of rundown.
00:01:54.960 --> 00:01:55.759
What is new?
00:01:55.840 --> 00:01:57.360
What do you need to know about?
00:01:57.599 --> 00:02:00.640
And some things to look forward to seeing at the show.
00:02:00.879 --> 00:02:06.560
Uh, and I have one and only Jamie Hoffman from Dark Knight Outdoors on today.
00:02:06.719 --> 00:02:10.159
So, Jamie, thank you for coming on with me tonight.
00:02:10.960 --> 00:02:12.080
No problem, Drew.
00:02:12.240 --> 00:02:15.200
I appreciate uh you having me back on for sure.
00:02:15.360 --> 00:02:18.879
It uh I always enjoy doing the podcast with you here.
00:02:19.039 --> 00:02:26.080
And uh uh yeah, like you mentioned, uh, we're gonna be up at that uh Wisconsin expo here uh in a couple weeks.
00:02:26.159 --> 00:02:27.680
And I look forward to that too.
00:02:27.759 --> 00:02:38.800
I think you got me involved in that a couple years ago, and and uh I really enjoy uh that and uh all the people up in Wisconsin and even the people that drive from further away to uh come to that show.
00:02:38.879 --> 00:02:40.159
That show's been really awesome.
00:02:40.319 --> 00:02:48.719
So yeah, it's uh yeah, it's a lot of fun, and uh I always enjoy uh uh seeing you up there and uh uh go from there.
00:02:49.039 --> 00:02:51.200
Yeah, we uh are looking forward to it.
00:02:51.360 --> 00:02:52.719
Always a good crowd.
00:02:52.879 --> 00:02:56.000
And you guys will have to stop in, check out the new thermals.
00:02:56.080 --> 00:03:07.840
If you're in the market for something, uh you know, you'll have a good opportunity to check it out, maybe buy it if we have it on hand and hear from Jamie about some of the ins and outs about them.
00:03:07.920 --> 00:03:15.840
If you don't hear it today, you can ask those questions that you might have, uh look at things side by side, and uh it's just helpful in my eyes.
00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:19.120
So Jamie, let's let's uh let's kick it off.
00:03:19.200 --> 00:03:26.480
I know Rick says a few uh new helmet mounted items uh first on the docket here.
00:03:26.560 --> 00:03:28.719
And uh can you tell us a little bit about those?
00:03:29.040 --> 00:03:34.240
Yeah, well, uh a lot of things uh people ask us on a regular basis is hey, what'd you see at Shot Show?
00:03:34.320 --> 00:03:47.600
You know, yeah, and uh so we did go to Shot Show uh this year, and uh, you know, it was uh as usual, bigger than ever, and uh lots of new things coming out at um, you know, Shot Show.
00:03:47.840 --> 00:03:59.280
Um, all of the companies had new things to to show and demonstrate, and uh we got a chance to look at those and uh obviously kind of you know give our opinions on them and kind of go from there.
00:03:59.439 --> 00:04:02.400
Um, some of the products we do have in stock now.
00:04:02.560 --> 00:04:04.960
Um uh actually most of them we do.
00:04:05.120 --> 00:04:13.360
Uh there are a few of them uh still lingering out there that uh just haven't come uh to fruition yet or uh gotten shipped into us yet.
00:04:13.520 --> 00:04:26.719
But uh um Rick's has actually come out with uh something pretty interesting uh in the helmet mounted area, which is the stride uh st3 light and the st6 light.
00:04:26.959 --> 00:04:33.040
Um the the st3 obviously is a 384 and the st6 is a 640 version.
00:04:33.199 --> 00:04:47.759
Um they're um great units for for being helmet mounted, and the most amazing thing with these uh new um uh helmet mounted monoculars is the price is pretty amazing.
00:04:48.000 --> 00:05:02.159
So uh the st3 light uh came out at a thousand dollars, um which we've never ever seen uh helmet mounted uh thermals uh out at this price um ever.
00:05:02.800 --> 00:05:13.359
So um and the st6 uh comes in at uh$19.99, so uh sub$2,000 for a great uh helmet mounted monocular.
00:05:13.519 --> 00:05:22.240
Um, a lot of people out there are are familiar with the iRay uh RH25 V2, uh very, very popular unit.
00:05:22.479 --> 00:05:26.879
Um, is this or either one of these units, the RH25 V2?
00:05:27.039 --> 00:05:28.479
Nope, they sure aren't.
00:05:28.639 --> 00:05:36.479
Um they are really more of a dedicated uh uh thermal for being helmet mounted.
00:05:36.719 --> 00:05:47.439
Um they cannot be like the RH25 V2, you know, used as a standalone uh thermal or a uh clip-on thermal.
00:05:47.519 --> 00:05:54.319
Uh it is uh it is really more of just a dedicated helmet mounted monocular.
00:05:54.399 --> 00:06:01.680
Now I've had a few people you know ask me too if they could use it as a handheld, and sure, yeah, you could use it as a handheld if you want to.
00:06:01.839 --> 00:06:11.839
Um it's it's small, and when you use it as a handheld, remember it's a 1x base mag uh designed for uh helmet mounting.
00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:17.759
So that 1x base mag is gonna be, and you can zoom them up to a 2x course.
00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:27.199
Um, one of the things to point out on the the Stride ST3 is that there is no thermal focus uh for that.
00:06:27.519 --> 00:06:41.759
So it is just uh set at an infinite range, kind of like your um so just like the uh pocket uh K3 or the K2 uh does not have a uh you know focus for the thermal on the front of it.
00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:59.759
Um, you know, that's one of the the drawbacks to the ST3 and obviously why it's quite a bit cheaper than the the ST6, but the ST6 it does have a uh forward focus on it uh for the thermal and um obviously also for the the uh lens as well, too.
00:06:59.919 --> 00:07:12.000
So um they do also have um their old Rix stride that has been since you know retired, if you will, or discontinued.
00:07:12.639 --> 00:07:15.120
Um, it did come with a bridge.
00:07:15.359 --> 00:07:20.240
Um, the new ones do not come with the bridge, but we do have the bridges in stock.
00:07:20.399 --> 00:07:25.199
So if you like the Rix style bridge, it's a little bit different.
00:07:25.439 --> 00:07:38.399
It is definitely a single monocular style bridge, but it it can slide side to side uh for your um, you know, if you want it on your left eye or right eye, extremely easily.
00:07:38.479 --> 00:07:46.159
And then it's got some nice micro adjustments to it so that you can get it positioned perfectly in front of your eye and uh go from there.
00:07:46.319 --> 00:07:56.879
But uh uh the most amazing thing to me is is is how far these thermals have come, uh image quality-wise, and then also price getting cheaper, right?
00:07:57.199 --> 00:08:12.240
Um, you can now get into you know a great helmet setup uh with like a good quality Team Wendy helmet um for$2,000 to$3,000, just depending on if you want the ST3 or the ST6 and go from there.
00:08:12.479 --> 00:09:08.639
Um, you know, the the other big thing with with doing helmet mounted uh monocular setups is people do get confused with uh you know the different style mounts and so forth.
00:09:08.960 --> 00:09:10.799
And we do stock all of that stuff.
00:09:10.879 --> 00:09:21.759
And here at Dark Knight Outdoors, if you do want to do, you know, uh or you want a complete setup shipped to you, we're able to do that right here and ship out a completed unit.
00:09:21.920 --> 00:09:32.720
Um, even if you want to buy the components, we can send you all the correct components so that you can get it mounted up properly, and uh you can assemble it yourself however you want to do it and go from there.
00:09:32.799 --> 00:09:33.440
So right.
00:09:33.599 --> 00:09:44.319
Um so is it is it compatible with like the Wilcox mount or it is, it uses the same dovetail style uh mount, and it really does come with that.
00:09:44.640 --> 00:09:45.279
What's that?
00:09:45.440 --> 00:09:48.079
Is it similar to the one that the IRA uses?
00:09:48.480 --> 00:09:52.160
Uh it's it's exactly like the one that the IRA uses, correct.
00:09:52.319 --> 00:10:00.160
Yeah, um, it and it is adjustable, it does have three different uh slots in the top of it where you can slide it back and forth and go from there.
00:10:00.319 --> 00:10:21.680
The one thing I noticed that was a little bit weird is that some of the threading on the units is different sizes, but I have had uh success go going out to the local hardware store and just getting a screw that will fit uh that size and just moving it around, unfortunately doesn't come with it, but um, which might might be a little bit of a miss.
00:10:21.839 --> 00:10:25.200
But um for the most part, it's a very adjustable unit.
00:10:25.440 --> 00:10:36.079
And I I do feel that they're gonna be a very popular uh product uh from Rick's uh moving forward, just based off of the prices of them and so and so forth.
00:10:36.160 --> 00:10:37.920
I mean, heck, who wouldn't want to get into?
00:10:38.160 --> 00:10:43.839
I mean, you can get into a helmet setup now for almost as cheap as a uh handheld monocular, which is fantastic.
00:10:44.000 --> 00:11:01.759
So um, yeah, and then you know, another thing that uh has has come out recently from um you know the show is the Rick's Leap L12R, which we actually had um out before we went to Shot Show, but it was technically a SHOT Show release.
00:11:02.000 --> 00:11:08.720
Um still very similar quality to the L3 and the L6R that is out there now.
00:11:08.960 --> 00:11:12.000
Um, they did make a few improvements to this one, though.
00:11:12.160 --> 00:11:24.799
It does have a 2560 by 2560 round display, and you know, we always talk about everybody getting all wrapped up in the numbers and the the stats and the you know everything, everybody getting confused.
00:11:25.200 --> 00:11:41.839
Basically, the thing to know on that is it does have a it's it's about two and a half times clearer display than most thermals out there do, but they there is definitely starting to be more and more thermals on the market with that 2560 by 2560 round display.
00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:44.480
So um, but it's got a great display in it.
00:11:44.559 --> 00:11:51.599
Uh, they did finally add an internal battery to the unit, unlike the L3 and the L6Rs.
00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:57.119
Um, when you do want to change your battery, it does shut the scope off and you do have to restart it.
00:11:57.200 --> 00:11:58.400
Is it the end of the world?
00:11:58.639 --> 00:11:59.759
Absolutely not.
00:11:59.920 --> 00:12:01.440
Um, is it a little bit annoying?
00:12:01.680 --> 00:12:02.720
It kind of is.
00:12:03.440 --> 00:12:08.319
Um, but for the most part, um, they did add that internal battery in there.
00:12:08.400 --> 00:12:24.960
Um, and and again, it's a two power to six power ocular, you know, ocular zoom, um, which you know um is is the same for if you look at the uh not picks um you know s70 or that I'm sorry, the the S50R.
00:12:25.119 --> 00:12:31.519
Um, you know, it's gonna be a two power to six power as well, um and and stuff like that.
00:12:31.599 --> 00:12:33.920
And I said S50, it's S60R.
00:12:34.160 --> 00:12:39.680
Um but all the leaps now have a LRF built into the to the lens.
00:12:39.839 --> 00:12:45.599
Um, unfortunately, they decided to get rid of the scopes that don't have the laser range finder anymore.
00:12:45.680 --> 00:12:49.920
So those have been discontinued um and and go from there.
00:12:50.079 --> 00:12:57.359
So um, you know, it does have a 60 hertz refresh rate, which is a nice addition to that particular scope.
00:12:57.519 --> 00:13:05.519
Um, however, uh they did come out with a price that's a little bit higher than some of the other competitive scopes out there on the market.
00:13:05.759 --> 00:13:17.680
Um, you know, at the time that it released, the NockPix S60R was, you know, um, you know, 7,000 or$6,999, and they came out at$68.99.
00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:19.200
So$100 cheaper.
00:13:19.359 --> 00:13:26.000
And I I I would have to give the head nod to the Nockpicks S60R, even at the higher price.
00:13:26.160 --> 00:13:35.920
Um, for an extra$100, I just feel like the build quality is probably a little bit better in the S60R, um, and uh probably more than just a little better.
00:13:36.079 --> 00:13:44.960
Um, but um also the the NockPix S60R just this last week lowered their price down to$64.99.
00:13:45.200 --> 00:13:50.400
So now you can get the Nockpicks S60R cheaper than you can even get the RIX Leap L12R.
00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:58.720
So, you know, um I at that point I have to kind of say it's a no-brainer to probably look at the the the Nockpicks S60R.
00:13:58.879 --> 00:14:04.879
Um but uh um another uh new addition out there was the DBH D12.
00:14:04.960 --> 00:14:10.480
Uh this is now more your compact style scope versus the RICS Leap is your tube style scope.
00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:14.079
Um, you know, I get the question all the time what scope should I go with?
00:14:14.160 --> 00:14:15.680
And you know, it all depends.
00:14:15.759 --> 00:14:19.839
If you're using a bold action rifle, I always do recommend a tube style scope.
00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:40.559
The DBH series is one of those that's a little bit of an anomaly, though, because that scope does work well on a bold action rifle just because it has an unbelievable amount of relief, eye relief on it, so that you can still see through the scope pretty well, even though you're further back from it.
00:14:40.960 --> 00:14:49.440
So uh, but the DBH D12 was obviously, like I said, a new release out there 1280 uh 3x base mag 75 millimeter lens.
00:14:49.599 --> 00:14:51.759
This thing is not a small boy, man.
00:14:51.920 --> 00:14:55.119
It is it's a big boy sitting up on top of a rifle.
00:14:55.200 --> 00:14:57.599
It's big, it's a little bit on the heavy side.
00:14:57.759 --> 00:15:04.559
Um, but again, with the DBHs, um, they do have the ability to marry a Kestrel to them.
00:15:04.639 --> 00:15:09.599
So for guys that are looking to, you know, shoot at extremely long distances.
00:15:09.839 --> 00:15:27.200
Um I've got you know some of my own customers looking at shooting coyotes at 900 to uh 1100 yards, and seems a little crazy to me, but you know, at the end of the day, um, you know, that is it's it's a great scope to be able to do that with and then marry the Kestrel up to it.
00:15:27.359 --> 00:15:35.599
The one thing about this one versus the S75R is this one does come in with a 50 hertz refresh rate, so a little bit different there.
00:15:35.759 --> 00:15:47.759
Um uh but the 50 hertz and the 60 hertz, I I'll be honest with you, I wouldn't let that be a um, you know, uh uh it's not a deal breaker, you know, one way or the other.
00:15:47.920 --> 00:15:50.319
Um, I don't really notice it too much.
00:15:50.559 --> 00:15:58.879
Um, but you know, 60 hertz is definitely better, especially if you're trying to lead, you know, running, you know, targets and stuff like that.
00:15:59.119 --> 00:16:11.200
Um and you know, the the the one downfall to me uh with the DBH or the compact style series of scopes is that there's none of them out there right now that have the ocular zoom.
00:16:11.599 --> 00:16:19.519
Um, and the ocular zoom is where you can zoom in and not lose any resolution because you're zooming in on the screen itself.
00:16:19.759 --> 00:16:28.240
Um, but um, you know, uh, you know, at the same time, uh it's just a digital only style zoom.
00:16:28.319 --> 00:16:39.359
So when you do zoom in with the compact style scopes, it's it's going to you know um degrade the image as you zoom in and uh go from there.
00:16:39.599 --> 00:17:05.680
So uh one of the other things that we noticed with the the DBHD12 and and didn't notice it when we were you know at SHOT Show or anything like that, it's more of something that came about uh afterwards is that the typical type C power port on the side of the scope, it does not, you are not able to add like an external power source to it and um power the scope.
00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:10.079
Um so for some reason the power port on the side of it does not work.
00:17:10.240 --> 00:17:29.759
And when I contacted Rick's about it, they seemed to not know it, and but then also had a couple different, you know, explanations that it could not power the 1280, you know, sensor, which we know is not right because it does actually you know power it on other scopes and so forth.
00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:47.519
So I'm not exactly sure, you know, um why it does not work, but the only thing that the port does on the side of the DBHD12 is it will uh actually trans transfer data, um, which most people are probably gonna use the app to transfer the data anyway.
00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:56.559
Um kind of leaves that port on the side of the scope um to be kind of useless in my opinion, and go from there.
00:17:56.720 --> 00:18:07.440
And I do miss the fact that I can't add an external power pack onto the side of it for those long hunts, especially if you get into a two-day coyote contest or what have you.
00:18:07.599 --> 00:18:12.400
Um, you know, I'm really missing my external uh battery pack at that point and go from there.
00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:16.000
So right, you gotta have four other batteries to put in it, yeah.
00:18:16.079 --> 00:18:18.799
And it does run off of the two 18650 batteries.
00:18:18.879 --> 00:18:23.680
So if you want to carry two other 18,650 batteries around with you, well then there you go.
00:18:23.839 --> 00:18:28.160
You know, um you're gonna carry the batteries and the weight one way or the other.
00:18:28.319 --> 00:18:31.920
Um, just depends on where you want to put it um and go from there.
00:18:32.079 --> 00:18:43.759
But uh one one product that they did come out with, uh, I I'm not really gonna call it a shot show release because I it should have been released a long time ago, is the Titan T3.
00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:54.799
And some people are probably very familiar with the Titan T6 because it got released quite a while ago, and then we waited for the 384 version to come out and never came out, never came out, and well, now it's here.
00:18:55.119 --> 00:19:01.119
And um, you know, it's it is the 384 uh version of the Titan T6.
00:19:01.599 --> 00:19:05.359
Um, but man, I gotta tell you, I really like this unit.
00:19:05.519 --> 00:19:18.799
Um, you know, is it the ultimate in quality that it might be missing a few spots, but man, the price that it came out at with having a laser range finder and a 384 sensor in it.
00:19:18.960 --> 00:19:22.079
Um, it looks great when you look through it.
00:19:22.240 --> 00:19:29.679
Uh, they actually improved what I call the one-handed operation um because that was supposed to be a big feature of the T6.
00:19:30.159 --> 00:19:37.599
The problem with the T6s is the focus wheel was so hard to turn that you almost had to use two hands to turn the focus.
00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:43.359
Um, they have fixed that on the the um uh T3, the 384 version.
00:19:43.439 --> 00:19:45.439
Um, it's nice, it's easy to use.
00:19:45.599 --> 00:19:51.359
You can use it as a one-handed um operation uh for your focus, for your front focus.
00:19:51.519 --> 00:19:58.079
Um, and again, it's just a great monocular uh or scanner, if you will, for the price of$15.99.
00:19:58.399 --> 00:20:00.559
Um, it's pretty darn hard to beat.
00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:07.359
Um, anything else out there that I've seen that compares image quality is more up in that$19.99 range.
00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:10.079
So um I really, really like that unit.
00:20:10.159 --> 00:20:24.000
If you say you have to have an LRF on um, you know, the unit, and if you can get over slightly weird shape that it is, um it um, you know, that's gonna come down to personal preference.
00:20:24.159 --> 00:20:25.919
So yeah.
00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:29.679
So it uh but I but I have been pretty impressed with the Titan T3.
00:20:29.839 --> 00:20:43.839
So that's one to keep an eye out there for, and I don't think a whole lot of people really are, you know, too enthused with it because the T6 was a little bit, and in my opinion, maybe a little bit of a flop for the price that it came out at and stuff like that.
00:20:43.919 --> 00:20:47.039
But the Titan T3 is definitely a winner, in my opinion.
00:20:47.279 --> 00:21:09.279
So um, um, but yeah, uh, you know, after that, uh, we went down to the NockPix booth and took a look at uh everything that NockPix has to offer out there, and it looks like uh NockPix for this year was focusing on the the 1280 side of things, more of the high-end um, you know, uh scopes, monoculars, binoculars, that type of thing.
00:21:09.439 --> 00:21:17.279
They did come out with the new Vista S50R, uh, which is a 1280 2x base mag uh monocular.
00:21:17.599 --> 00:21:26.720
And you know, it is kind of the big brother to the Vista H50R, um, which is going to soon be discontinued.
00:21:26.879 --> 00:21:39.199
Um, we are actually kind of uh running today, right now, through our last run of those uh thermal monoculars, and once they're gone, from what I've been told now they are going to be discontinued.
00:21:39.359 --> 00:21:49.199
So um, but the H50R was a 6404X base mag versus the Vista S50R 1280 2x base mag.
00:21:49.439 --> 00:21:56.879
And so for everybody that knows how the digital you know magnification works, everybody's like, well, why would I buy a 1280 for the cost?
00:21:57.279 --> 00:22:11.279
Um, and and a 2x base mag when I can get the the H50R for significantly less money because we do have that blowout price on them right now, um, you know, and and just get one at 4x.
00:22:11.439 --> 00:22:18.000
And I basically got the same thing because by the time I zoom that 2x base mag up to 4, I'm down to a 640 anyway.
00:22:18.319 --> 00:22:20.960
Well, you know, I do get that.
00:22:21.039 --> 00:22:25.199
Um, but the one thing that I can tell you is is versatility, right?
00:22:25.679 --> 00:22:42.319
The the versatility of having the ability to go down to a 2x base magnification makes it so that if you want to use it for coon hunting, if you want to be able to use it for hog hunting, um it's it's definitely doable.
00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:47.599
Um, then if you want to turn around and go coyote hunting with it, you got the best of both worlds.
00:22:47.679 --> 00:22:49.359
And a lot of people will say, Well, how is that?
00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:51.039
Like what what's the difference, right?
00:22:51.279 --> 00:22:56.159
You know, um, that 2x base mag is going to give you a lot larger field of view.
00:22:56.559 --> 00:22:58.960
And uh this is one of those questions.
00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:01.359
Yeah, big field of view.
00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:07.439
So the the the biggest question that I get all the time is is what's the difference with a 2x and a 4x?
00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:08.879
Why is one better than the other?
00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:16.559
Well, the higher you go in magnification, the better image quality you will get at distance.
00:23:16.879 --> 00:23:17.199
Okay.
00:23:17.919 --> 00:23:22.079
However, it also gives you a much narrower field of view.
00:23:22.319 --> 00:23:37.759
So um again, if you go the other way and you go to a light base mag or like a 2x base mag, you're gonna get a lot larger field of view, but probably Not as clear of image at X, you know, uh further distances and so forth.
00:23:37.919 --> 00:23:44.480
But the reason I like that 1280 is because you can do a 2x, it is a 1280 resolution at that point.
00:23:44.639 --> 00:23:47.279
Um, it's a nice wide field of view.
00:23:47.439 --> 00:23:58.879
Again, the the 1280 sensor is is being used now not only for the ultimate and clarity, but also to give it more versatility and giving you that wider field of view.
00:23:59.039 --> 00:24:04.559
And then if you want to go out and and zoom it up to 4x base mag, uh you're down to a 640.
00:24:04.639 --> 00:24:11.439
And then if you want to go up to an eight, you know, eight power base mag, then you're you know, uh down to a 320, right?
00:24:11.519 --> 00:24:15.279
Um, but it's just it adds versatility to the unit.
00:24:15.439 --> 00:24:24.240
Um, unfortunately, that 1280 sensor is a little bit on the expensive side, um, pops in there at 44.95 or 44.99.
00:24:24.559 --> 00:24:28.720
Uh but I gotta tell you, it does have a great battery system.
00:24:28.799 --> 00:24:32.319
It is a little bit bigger of a unit, it is a little bit heavier.
00:24:32.559 --> 00:24:34.720
Um, but I love the battery.
00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:41.679
It does come with two batteries, and they are a proprietary battery, which I'm not always the the most in favor of.
00:24:42.240 --> 00:24:47.039
But with my vistas, uh, you know, and about 30 degree, you know, temperatures.
00:24:47.279 --> 00:24:54.480
Um, you know, I'd like to say that I was out in colder weather than that this year, but uh the older I get, uh, the more fair weather hundred I get.
00:24:54.720 --> 00:25:05.599
So um, but long story short, um, it it does last for about seven and a half hours at about 30 degrees in temperature, so quite a bit longer than the other batteries out there.
00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:19.199
But what else makes it a great battery system to me is that there are no extra chargers, there's no extra cords, there's no not like if you're traveling around, it does have a type C USB port right in the side of the battery.
00:25:19.359 --> 00:25:28.879
You can charge it up inside the monocular, you can charge it outside of the monocular and just plug directly into the battery with your cell phone charger that's already in your truck.
00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:33.519
You can leave one battery in the truck charging while you're out using the unit.
00:25:33.679 --> 00:25:35.919
You can come back to the truck, swap them out.
00:25:36.079 --> 00:25:43.439
Um, it just you don't need to have any more than two batteries, and it's just a great system um all the way around on the batteries.
00:25:43.599 --> 00:25:45.439
So um, great unit.
00:25:45.599 --> 00:25:48.480
Um, I really like that one uh for sure.
00:25:48.639 --> 00:25:56.159
It's it's gonna be a huge hit as long as people can swallow the$44.99 price um and go from there.
00:25:56.319 --> 00:25:59.599
It's not for everybody, but again, it is a very versatile unit.
00:25:59.759 --> 00:26:11.199
It uh um and then uh they also came out with the S50R Quest, which would be the binocular version of the Vista, which is the monocular or the you know scanner version.
00:26:11.359 --> 00:26:13.599
Um again, great unit.
00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:28.799
It's just like the other Quest S um S series uh uh or I'm sorry, the the other Quest 50 uh monoculars that are out there already, um, or I should say binoculars, yeah, but it is a 1280 2x base mag.
00:26:29.199 --> 00:26:37.279
Um, it again uh it does have an 18650 battery and an internal battery that uh um goes with that one.
00:26:37.439 --> 00:26:45.919
And and and probably the most impressive part about it is it does have two separate screens, one for each eye.
00:26:46.159 --> 00:26:49.119
And a lot of people are like, well, what does that mean?
00:26:49.279 --> 00:26:51.679
I what what good does that do me?
00:26:51.839 --> 00:26:59.199
Well, everybody's eyes, whether you know it or not, probably are not equal in and being able to focus, right?
00:26:59.279 --> 00:27:03.759
So when you have two separate screens, you can individually adjust for each eye.
00:27:03.919 --> 00:27:16.879
If you're 2020 in one eye and you're you don't have as good a vision in the other eye, you can adjust that so that it never really is blurry and it comes that the whole image comes together better for you than than ever.
00:27:17.039 --> 00:27:27.679
And it's one of those things that I don't think people really appreciate unless you have really uh fought to be able to uh binoculars in before.
00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:31.039
Because some people say I hate binoculars, I never get them focused.
00:27:31.279 --> 00:27:33.519
That might be the reason why, right?
00:27:33.839 --> 00:27:40.639
Um but again, uh the simplicity of use on the quest, how small they are, how lightweight they are.
00:27:40.799 --> 00:27:42.480
I just absolutely love them.
00:27:42.639 --> 00:27:46.639
Um, even the focus and the zoom wheels that is on the bridge.
00:27:46.879 --> 00:27:51.519
So it is actually like a little wheel that you can, you know, operate with one hand.
00:27:51.599 --> 00:28:00.799
You don't have to hold them with both hands, you can hold it with one, you can, you know, adjust the focus, you can adjust the zoom uh with the with it in the bridge.
00:28:00.960 --> 00:28:02.159
They're easy to turn.
00:28:02.319 --> 00:28:05.119
Um, man, just a great unit all the way around.
00:28:05.279 --> 00:28:09.679
Um, I really struggled to find any other binocular out there that I like better than a quad.
00:28:09.919 --> 00:28:12.960
So um, again, just a fantastic unit.
00:28:13.199 --> 00:28:27.759
So um they also did come out with a few more uh monoculars uh in the Lumi series, but basically uh the only thing to know there is they just added more units with a laser range finder in them.
00:28:27.919 --> 00:28:36.559
They didn't really come out with anything new in that, you know, uh arena, uh, but just added the laser range finder to more of those units.
00:28:36.720 --> 00:28:42.720
Um, the Lumi, again, a more smaller compact unit, runs off of an 18650 battery.
00:28:42.799 --> 00:28:44.879
You're gonna have to change your batteries a little more often.
00:28:44.960 --> 00:28:52.399
But if you want that super small, compact, fit in your hand, fit in your front pocket, uh type of monocular.
00:28:52.559 --> 00:29:01.359
Um, and the best way to describe that one is is it's it's the size of just a regular laser range finder that you hold in your hand and uh go from there.
00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:12.879
Um, but that's really pretty much all that uh knockpicks had to offer, um, with the exception of we they did showcase at Shot Show the Mate 1280.
00:29:13.039 --> 00:29:15.759
Um, the Mate 1280 is a clip-on.
00:29:16.079 --> 00:29:19.679
Um, some people are familiar with the Mate 640 that they had out.
00:29:19.839 --> 00:29:26.559
Um, this one does have a laser range finder built into it, which is is something that they did not have before.
00:29:26.720 --> 00:29:29.119
Um, and again, it's a 1280.
00:29:29.199 --> 00:29:32.480
So it's it's it was a fantastic looking unit.
00:29:32.639 --> 00:29:47.679
I do think the reason why it has not been released yet, that seems to me that they're probably still working out some kinks on making sure that things work right so that when it does finally get released, that there's a positive consumer experience with it.
00:29:47.839 --> 00:29:54.799
Um, a lot of people ask me why does this stuff release over in in in other countries before we see it here?
00:29:55.039 --> 00:29:57.519
And that is the primary reason why.
00:29:57.679 --> 00:30:05.039
Nobody wants to get into a situation where you know you get the product and then there's all kinds of issues and everybody have to end up sending them back.
00:30:05.119 --> 00:30:11.679
Not only is it expensive for the the distributors, but it's it's it's also not a very good consumer experience.
00:30:11.839 --> 00:30:29.039
So um one thing that was kind of neat that we did see on the the main 1280 is that they actually had like a ring that went on the back where your your focus lever was, and then when you actually turn the focus, it actually brought the the data on the screen.
00:30:29.199 --> 00:30:39.839
Uh, it actually brought it closer together so that when you know you zoom in, you don't lose the data on the screen, kind of like an ocular zoom does.
00:30:40.159 --> 00:30:45.599
So that was a really cool feature, but I think that might be something that they're working on perfecting as well, too.
00:30:45.759 --> 00:30:48.559
So um that was that was uh a neat deal.
00:30:48.639 --> 00:31:01.199
And I do think that the Mate 1280 probably, you know, based off of everybody's best guess, um, hopefully it will be out before the start of the next hunting season, uh, in you know, talking October, November time frame.
00:31:01.439 --> 00:31:04.639
So hopefully we get to see something like that by then.
00:31:04.879 --> 00:31:13.359
So it uh um pulsar, um, again, um, I think we've talked about it year over year.
00:31:13.599 --> 00:31:16.240
Pulsar's been a little bit of a struggle out there.
00:31:16.399 --> 00:31:19.359
Um, they've been having a tough time finding their way.
00:31:19.599 --> 00:31:36.960
Seems like uh uh knockpics and rix and some of the other newer companies out there have found out found some pretty innovative ways to come to market and uh have uh kind of surpassed Pulsar in the customer service and um innovative department.
00:31:37.119 --> 00:31:44.799
Um, they did come out with a couple new units uh this year, uh one being uh the trail three.
00:31:45.039 --> 00:31:52.159
So they had the trail one, that was the one that everybody had, you know, point of impact issues for forever.
00:31:52.240 --> 00:31:54.639
They came out with the trail two after that.
00:31:54.799 --> 00:31:59.839
The trail two never really could recover from the the trail one issues.
00:32:00.079 --> 00:32:02.879
Um, and uh now we're on to the trail three.
00:32:02.960 --> 00:32:13.119
Um little confused on why they chose the trail name again, um uh based off of past experience, but uh they did come out with an XR50.
00:32:13.199 --> 00:32:22.159
Uh it's a 640 by 480, it's a 640 by 480, not a 640 by 512 like some of the other units are.
00:32:22.319 --> 00:32:32.240
Um again, it's a 3x base mag, and the 18 millikelvin um net D rating that it came out with is just it's all right.
00:32:32.799 --> 00:32:33.759
It's interesting.
00:32:33.839 --> 00:32:36.559
There's other scopes out there that are already better than that.
00:32:36.799 --> 00:32:45.279
Um, and then there is also another variant that is the 384 version, uh, the XQ50, and it comes in as a three and a half power base mag.
00:32:45.599 --> 00:32:48.319
It is a 15 millikelvin uh scope.
00:32:48.480 --> 00:32:50.159
So a little bit of difference there.
00:32:50.240 --> 00:32:55.279
Uh, one's got the a little bit will do a little bit better in the high humidity than the other one.
00:32:55.439 --> 00:33:06.319
Um, but I I guess the one notable thing that I noticed on these particular units is that they are marketing them to operate in extreme temperatures.
00:33:06.559 --> 00:33:10.319
Um, most of your thermal scopes are rated down to negative four.
00:33:10.480 --> 00:33:12.799
These were rated down to negative 25.
00:33:13.199 --> 00:33:20.159
So um if you are going out in extreme cold temperatures, I'd be honest with you, I haven't tested it out.
00:33:20.319 --> 00:33:25.359
I don't know if they really do work well in in negative 25 degree weather.
00:33:25.519 --> 00:33:34.240
Um, but uh they they do claim to have a little bit better resistance to you know the super cold weather out there um and go from there.
00:33:34.319 --> 00:33:42.159
And I'm probably gonna have to get you to uh test one out for us because I I don't have much interest in going weather anymore.
00:33:42.240 --> 00:33:45.679
So I don't want one, I don't want to go when it's that cold either.
00:33:46.639 --> 00:33:57.919
So it's uh uh one of the things that they did come up with on this unit is what they call automatic display deactivation, which it's just a sensor on the back side of the scope.
00:33:58.000 --> 00:33:59.519
I do think it's a cool feature.
00:33:59.679 --> 00:34:10.639
Um, we've been selling um you know shuttered eye cups for a long, long time uh for part of the purpose to you know keep the light from shining back on you.
00:34:10.720 --> 00:34:21.920
And that's exactly what this does is it will shut the screen off when your eyes not in it, um to you know uh prevent from shining back on you and and go from there.
00:34:22.159 --> 00:34:43.360
So um they also they they're boasting on this particular unit that it has 10 different shooting profiles and a hundred different zeroing distances, and that sounds interesting, but man, I tell you what, I don't know how I could have 10 different shooting profiles and a hundred different zeroing distances and even know what each one of them are.
00:34:43.440 --> 00:34:46.320
So I was gonna say, don't normally they have three, right?
00:35:25.190 --> 00:35:27.269
Uh normally between three and five.
00:35:27.430 --> 00:35:36.309
Uh typically your ones that have five shooting profiles uh will have three different uh zeroing distances per profile.
00:35:36.390 --> 00:35:38.470
So that gives you more like 15.
00:35:38.630 --> 00:35:46.150
And then vice versa, if they have three, then they usually give you five zeroing distances, which still gets you to that 15.
00:35:46.309 --> 00:35:49.190
Um, it's just a different way to slice the pie.
00:35:49.350 --> 00:35:50.230
Um, that's interesting.
00:35:50.390 --> 00:35:56.789
But now the the 10 shooting profiles and 100 zeroing distances, I'm a little confused on how anybody would ever keep that straight.
00:35:56.950 --> 00:36:04.470
So I don't find that to be a great um, you know, additional feature, uh, or one that's very useful, if you will.
00:36:04.870 --> 00:36:09.030
Um, they did uh improve the display in this particular unit.
00:36:09.110 --> 00:36:11.590
It is a 1920 by 1080.
00:36:11.750 --> 00:36:17.990
Um, still not quite the quality of a 2560 display, um, but it is round.
00:36:18.070 --> 00:36:20.949
Um, and it is a 1920 by 1080 display.
00:36:21.110 --> 00:36:24.230
So, you know, um still a great unit.
00:36:24.389 --> 00:36:33.190
Um, the trails are one of those units that have taken an extremely long period of time to come out to the dealers since Shot Show.
00:36:33.269 --> 00:36:39.269
Um, so we have just recently gotten them in and we have not done a ton of testing with them yet.
00:36:39.429 --> 00:36:41.349
So, news to follow on those.
00:36:41.429 --> 00:36:51.829
Um, you know, if if we find that uh there's something uh really worth uh going after, we'll maybe do a follow-up uh with you and let you know that and kind of go from there.
00:36:52.070 --> 00:37:00.150
Um the only other thing uh it also looks interesting, it is a different looking unit.
00:37:00.389 --> 00:37:08.789
And at first it and and that's one thing I probably should have explained there too, is that it is a compact style unit.
00:37:09.030 --> 00:37:13.510
Uh Pulsar went away from the compact style unit several years ago.
00:37:13.670 --> 00:37:15.510
And Trail 2, really.
00:37:15.829 --> 00:37:27.110
With the Trail 2, yeah, and now they're coming back with saying, well, maybe that wasn't the greatest decision, uh, and coming out with a another compact style scope.
00:37:27.349 --> 00:37:40.869
Um I don't have one to to show you, but the um best way I can describe it is it is a mix between a compact style scope and a tube style scope.
00:37:41.110 --> 00:37:52.070
Um the one thing that it does have is it has a uh a dial up on top of it that I'm not real excited about.
00:37:52.230 --> 00:37:56.710
There's actually some buttons on the side of it, um stuff like that.
00:37:57.030 --> 00:38:04.710
I think that it's probably gonna cause more confusion with current users than what it would.
00:38:04.949 --> 00:38:09.990
If you're a new user and it's the first time you've used a thermal, I'm sure you probably get used to it.
00:38:10.230 --> 00:38:22.869
But um with the location of some of the dials and the buttons and stuff like that, I I think it could be a little bit of uh a bigger adjustment, if you will, uh for for current users.
00:38:23.030 --> 00:38:30.389
But uh um yeah, and and and and speaking of a lot of buttons, they came out with a symbiont.
00:38:30.470 --> 00:38:54.789
Um, and the symbiont is a binocular, but it is a multi-spectral uh binocular, and and a lot of people may not know what multi-spectral means, but it means that it does have two different types of night vision or um uh well night vision in it, and and it may be either digital night vision or thermal.
00:38:54.869 --> 00:38:56.389
So it this one's got both.
00:38:56.470 --> 00:38:58.550
Okay, so it's multi-spectral.
00:38:58.789 --> 00:39:01.909
So they're calling it day or night use.
00:39:02.309 --> 00:39:07.269
I hate that because you can use a thermal during the day or night, it doesn't matter.
00:39:07.429 --> 00:39:20.869
Um, right, but this one would have a color version to it, and then also it does have the digital night vision, which means it does have an IR light in it and so forth, um, and and stuff like that.
00:39:21.030 --> 00:39:24.470
It is big, it is a large unit.
00:39:24.630 --> 00:39:38.630
Um, I thought that when Pulsar came out with a new binocular, they would maybe take a few notes from the quest out there and maybe make it a little bit lighter weight, smaller and easier to handle.
00:39:38.710 --> 00:39:45.190
And they went the opposite direction, and it's actually bigger than a merger and um heavier.
00:39:45.670 --> 00:39:48.869
And holy moly, talk about a lot of buttons.
00:39:49.030 --> 00:39:52.630
Um, it has seven buttons on top of it.
00:39:53.590 --> 00:39:56.309
It is to me pretty confusing.
00:39:56.550 --> 00:40:01.510
Um there is a dial on top of it to adjust the menu.
00:40:02.150 --> 00:40:05.110
There is a slide switch for the IR light.
00:40:05.670 --> 00:40:09.590
There's two knobs to control the focus on and off switch.
00:40:09.990 --> 00:40:20.550
Um I'm sorry, there's two knobs to control the focus, and it's just a very complicated to use unit so far.
00:40:20.710 --> 00:40:23.349
Um, we have had a chance to play with them.
00:40:23.590 --> 00:40:30.630
Um I I definitely need to get a lot more time behind it in order to get used to it.
00:40:30.869 --> 00:40:38.710
Um, but again, any unit that I have to spend that much time trying to figure out frustrates me, to be honest with you.
00:40:38.949 --> 00:40:42.550
Um, and it does have a separate on-off switch.
00:40:42.710 --> 00:40:45.510
Um, so we're talking buttons glore here.
00:40:45.590 --> 00:40:48.150
There's buttons all over the place on this thing.
00:40:48.389 --> 00:40:54.309
Um, but ergonomically, the whole thing is just confusing.
00:40:54.710 --> 00:41:09.190
And um even the focus that they they did do dials like the quest does, but they put the dials so far back close to your eye that they're hard to, you know, ergonomically, they're just hard to access.
00:41:09.670 --> 00:41:15.030
Um the the tools that they did come out with, one's a DXT50.
00:41:15.110 --> 00:41:17.269
Uh, it is a 1280 unit.
00:41:17.429 --> 00:41:20.869
Um, but the millikelvin rating on it is not good.
00:41:21.030 --> 00:41:24.789
It's back all the way up to a sub-40 millikelvin.
00:41:25.110 --> 00:41:28.630
Um, it is a 2x basemag 50 millimeter lens.
00:41:28.789 --> 00:41:41.990
Um, I'm not I I and I personally have not had the time to check this unit out in adverse weather conditions, but just based off of the specs, it's probably not gonna be good.
00:41:42.150 --> 00:41:45.110
Um, they also do have the DXR50.
00:41:45.190 --> 00:41:51.030
Uh, the DXR50 is a 640 by 480, uh, 35 millikelvin.
00:41:51.190 --> 00:41:56.070
Again, not the best rating as far as humidity goes.
00:41:56.230 --> 00:41:58.389
Um, it's a 4X base mag.
00:41:59.030 --> 00:42:05.190
Um, the 4X base mag out of a 50 millimeter lens, I am a little bit concerned about as well.
00:42:05.269 --> 00:42:07.909
Too, it's going to be a very narrow field of view.
00:42:08.070 --> 00:42:12.150
Uh, even based off of their specs, it is a very narrow field of view.
00:42:12.309 --> 00:42:15.429
Um, the DXR50, I have not received one yet.
00:42:15.590 --> 00:42:18.630
We have gotten the DXT50s, but not the DXRs.
00:42:18.789 --> 00:42:23.269
So um waiting to see, you know, kind of what that one looks like.
00:42:23.349 --> 00:42:33.990
But based off of the specs, I think the 4X base mag is we've learned that the 4X base mag is uh there's a very limited market out there that really wants a 4X base mag.
00:42:34.309 --> 00:42:39.429
So um again, um, I will tell you the lens caps are nice.
00:42:39.510 --> 00:42:49.590
Um, I really do like the lens caps, and it's weird to geek out over lens caps, but uh they do have really nice lens caps that snap onto the front and they're easily to replace.
00:42:49.829 --> 00:43:02.949
Um uh and and they just they have a nice uh system there for the lens caps that that maybe even you know knock pics could could take notice on on their quest and maybe do something similar to that.
00:43:03.190 --> 00:43:09.510
So um, but yeah, I mean that's pretty much all the products that we saw, you know, at Shot Show.
00:43:09.670 --> 00:43:20.150
There, you know, was you know some other thermals there, but uh not all ones that we're really looking at at this point.
00:43:20.309 --> 00:43:36.150
Um, you know, as you know, a business owner, we have to take a look at, you know, are people offering as good a warranties and are they offering a product that is competitive uh in price and quality with what's already out there in the market?
00:43:36.470 --> 00:43:42.789
Um there are some things that I saw at Shot Show that I was impressed by by some of the new companies.
00:43:42.949 --> 00:43:49.349
Uh one of them that I think that we are we're gonna start carrying very soon is uh some of the DXT thermals.
00:43:49.510 --> 00:43:51.670
Um and go from there.
00:43:51.829 --> 00:43:55.510
The I'm sorry, the DNT, the DNTs.
00:43:55.670 --> 00:44:12.869
Um, but the DNT thermals, um, I was impressed with what I saw at Shot Show, and um I think they're gonna be they're not a premier thermal brand, um, but they do have some nice features to the DNTs and uh uh go from there.
00:44:12.949 --> 00:44:31.110
But uh that is is probably one of the the things that um you know I've been a little bit cautious about getting into until they get some of the kinks worked out on their thermals, also kinks worked out in their their customer service and so forth.
00:44:31.269 --> 00:44:39.909
The one thing that I I'm still a little bit leery of is you know uh not as good a warranty as some of the the other places and and so forth.
00:44:39.990 --> 00:44:47.990
So, but we're working through that, and um, you know, we'll let you know if we do decide to to bring those on full bore and and go from there.
00:44:48.230 --> 00:44:57.750
So it uh but more importantly than talking about you know new product that's out there on the market, which I know everybody wants to hear about.
00:44:57.829 --> 00:45:05.990
I totally get that, but uh I wanted to kind of go over just some of the questions that we get on a daily basis over and over.
00:45:06.230 --> 00:45:18.150
Now that we're going into the late spring and and and going into the summer months, um, you know, we always get you know all these phone calls, people asking us questions over and over.
00:45:18.309 --> 00:45:21.670
I know you probably get them as well, too, you know.
00:45:21.909 --> 00:45:28.869
Um, and and you know, one of the biggest ones is just, you know, is it worth buying a thermoscope now?
00:45:29.030 --> 00:45:35.670
You know, now that we're you know, hunting seasons for most states are starting to come to a close.
00:45:35.829 --> 00:45:39.750
Um, and you know, would you buy now or would you wait?
00:45:39.909 --> 00:45:44.150
You know, um, to be honest with you, I get that question even in the middle of the season.
00:45:44.309 --> 00:45:45.510
Is this a good time to buy?
00:45:45.590 --> 00:45:46.710
You know, when should I buy?
00:45:46.789 --> 00:45:48.150
When's the best time to buy?
00:45:48.389 --> 00:45:52.150
And I gotta tell you, I that's a really tough question.
00:45:52.309 --> 00:45:55.030
Um, you know, I don't have a crystal ball.
00:45:55.190 --> 00:45:57.030
Uh, I'm sure you don't either.
00:45:57.190 --> 00:45:59.590
If somebody out there does, please call me.
00:45:59.670 --> 00:46:01.190
I'll probably buy it from you.
00:46:01.429 --> 00:46:08.869
Yeah, you know, but uh, you know, it's just tough to know, you know, what is going to happen with these thermals.
00:46:09.030 --> 00:46:15.030
And, you know, we've even seen prices go up, we've seen prices go down.
00:46:15.269 --> 00:46:18.309
Um we've seen things get hard to get.
00:46:19.110 --> 00:46:24.949
You know, they may be popular, but they then become hard to to to actually acquire.
00:46:25.590 --> 00:46:29.349
You know, and it's just it's a it's a tough question to answer.
00:46:30.150 --> 00:46:39.510
You know, as I look around and and as everybody does in the news right now, there's, you know, tariffs are, you know, sometimes they're legal, sometimes they're illegal.
00:46:39.670 --> 00:46:44.230
There's world events out there like the the war with Iran right now.
00:46:44.630 --> 00:46:46.869
Fuel costs are going through the roof.
00:46:47.510 --> 00:46:59.510
You know, I just uh saw an article today that airline uh tickets are going through the roof because fuel costs have gone up when you know most of these products are being flown into the United States.
00:46:59.670 --> 00:47:03.429
So you know um you know what what's going to happen?
00:47:03.590 --> 00:47:04.389
I don't know.
00:47:05.190 --> 00:47:07.909
I wish I I had a great answer to that.
00:47:08.470 --> 00:47:25.429
The best answer I can give is that if you are the type of guy that needs a little bit more time to get acquainted with a thermal scope because it is more complicated than you know anything you know than just a day scope.
00:47:26.230 --> 00:47:43.829
You know especially with today's ballistic calculators and all that stuff there's a lot to get familiar with right so I do encourage people to buy now and um get familiar with it before the next hunting season.
00:47:44.630 --> 00:48:03.909
But I also will tell you if you're gonna be extremely upset that a scope goes on sale for$500 um or you know a cheaper price than what you paid for it before the season starts, then I got to say you need to wait uh because we just don't know what's going to happen.
00:48:04.150 --> 00:48:09.110
Now the the problem with waiting like I said prices could actually go back up.
00:48:09.829 --> 00:48:20.230
I I'll be honest with you I was uh uh blown away by the fact that uh you know knock picks lowered the price of the S60R to$64.99.
00:48:21.190 --> 00:48:23.110
Just absolutely blew me away.
00:48:23.269 --> 00:48:23.510
Right.
00:48:23.670 --> 00:48:26.230
I'm like you know I even called them and argued with them.
00:48:26.309 --> 00:48:27.909
I'm like why are you guys doing that?
00:48:28.070 --> 00:48:34.630
I mean it is arguably one of the best thermal scopes out there in the market and now it's even cheaper.
00:48:34.949 --> 00:48:46.389
You know um but I do think that even that particular scope could end up going back up in price um just based off of all the world events that are going on and so forth.
00:48:46.630 --> 00:52:46.210
So um once again if you're a guy that is going to value having your scope through the summer to be able to go out and get familiar with it, it is so much nicer to go out and get familiar with a scope when the weather's nice than um you know trying to do this all right before the season starts and you know then you're rushing and you're trying to get everything done before you you know uh want to go out and just relax and enjoy hunting um then you know now's the time to buy and and if not if you're more price conscious and you're you you would rather um wait and see what happens again these thermal manufacturers they don't let us know when they're gonna drop prices on stuff so um you know we get caught with it just as as much as is as the end user does as well too so um yeah I just don't don't really know how else to answer you know that question and and go from there other than uh that yeah no I agree I think uh the other thing too is if you're really that on the fence about it I would just get what you can afford so it doesn't you know hurt you that bad you know if you if you if you're really on the fence about it I encourage people just to get what they can afford and you can always upgrade at some point but yeah well and the biggest thing is too is if you don't know if it's the right time or not man give us a call we can give you all the updated information because information truly does change daily um I have no idea what email I'm gonna get from what manufacturer or phone call I'm gonna get yeah and things change right you know um nobody knows um so um it it is best just to give us a call and talk about it um you know and we can tell you I will tell you that in my experience if a thermoscope been out for a anywhere from eight months to a year and it hasn't changed in price since it was released it's probably getting close to being due for a price reduction of some sort um if it's a unit that just dropped in price chances are it's not going to go any any deeper in price anytime soon there's always exceptions to that rule and I know people have seen it both ways right but at the same time um you know if if there's a an older scope out there um and it hasn't had a price change on it it's probably about due but we can help walk you through that um and it's what we do every day is stare at these thermal scopes and study the prices on them and and uh we can kind of give you an idea if we feel that something's going to happen uh based off of what we hear from our reps and and so on and so forth.
00:52:46.450 --> 00:52:47.650
So yeah.
00:52:48.290 --> 00:53:15.330
Yeah that makes sense and uh I'll along with current events we've sort of had some events in the thermal industry lately that have kind of shook people up a bit uh and one of them being the Rick's battery recall can you uh tell us a little bit about that as much as we would all like to not have ever heard of the Rick's battery recall yep it it's a huge situation out there.
00:53:15.570 --> 00:55:01.330
Um it's it's unfortunate uh so what Drew's talking about is on the 18650 batteries that uh rix has there's been a battery recall um a lot of people are pretty upset about it um I gotta tell you um it's a voluntary recall okay so what that means is is you can send it back if you want to you don't have to right um there have been some situations where a battery has overheated um there's been some situations where um one that I'm aware of that one of the batteries did explode okay um I've got to tell you though it's one out of thousands and thousands and thousands of batteries right to have one explode out of all of those it really makes me wonder what why they would do it even a voluntary recall right um but there then after that was some people bringing up oh I went to put my battery into my charger and it sparked and then they freak out right um a couple things wrapped around that um I will tell you in my shop alone I literally have thousands and thousands of 18650 batteries ready for sale we have them in every thermal scope that's in the packages right we have millions and millions of dollars worth of inventory in our shop all of it sits together and all of it has been there for eight years.
00:55:01.490 --> 00:55:21.650
Yeah I've never had a problem so I am not disparaging the issues that some other people have had um one of the other incidences that I I have been made aware of was that somebody had an 18650 battery in their pocket and it burned their leg.
00:55:22.130 --> 00:55:25.570
And I I would never want that to happen to me.
00:55:25.650 --> 00:56:58.610
It's just like having a hot hot casing run you know run down your shirt when you're at the range right um makes you jump a little bit but um you know the situation with some of this stuff is makes me wonder did the guy have a set of keys in his pocket and a lot of people say well what difference does that make well they're unprotected batteries right so and even if it's a protected battery doesn't matter um if the the two ends of them get contact with with uh keys that are dangling in your pocket or a big wad of keys it's gonna short out um so that is one thing that that I would highly you know um discourage is putting things like that in your pocket with with a bunch of change or keys or what have you the other situation with the battery that's sparked going into a charger um you know if the battery the 18650 battery the outside of the shell of that battery is the negative side of the battery the uh top of it is the positive side and if it's got a button on it if it's a button top or a flat top doesn't matter but the top side of that battery is the positive side if the uh plastic on the outside of that battery gets damaged or peeled off or anything like that you do run the risk of it getting shorted a lot easier than if it does have an intact plastic wrap around it.
00:56:58.769 --> 00:58:48.690
And in the situation of putting it into a charger and it's sparking the only way that that that could have happened is if you had a um the top of it you know the plastic started to come off of it or what have you so you know um I think the whole battery recall was you know um in my opinion a little bit premature but um you know I do think Ricks has taken the high road and said listen we're we'll take them back if you want us to we'll change them out I I personally never seen a battery uh go bad but I will tell you that if you ever have a battery that you know uh starts to swell um maybe it starts to get hard to put into your your thermal or what have that's a pretty good indication of a swollen battery don't use it right throw it away and grab the next one um these batteries are anywhere from$29.99 a pair um maybe up to 30 or maybe even$50 a battery right but it's not worth using so um if you have any that have the plastic wrap that's damaged on them either re-wrap them or get rid of them just get a new one right um if you put one in a charger and it starts to overheat or it feels like it's getting hotter than normal then yeah I'd replace the battery once again you know it's all common sense stuff um that um you know you can do uh in order to prevent any of that stuff from happening I would say use a quality charger number one go to our website there's not a charger that we sell that's not a quality charger that has over overcharge and and undercharge protection on it.
00:58:49.570 --> 00:59:03.570
The other thing is is to make sure that you're using the right uh wall adapters to plug in so that it doesn't supply more power to the charger than what is is necessary.
00:59:04.690 --> 00:59:06.370
I mean that's what I would do.
00:59:06.530 --> 01:01:34.850
I know uh Rick's has even come out we do have them on our website as well they've got fire bags I don't know if you've seen those or not Drew uh but it's it's a little silver bag that is a fire bag so if you want to charge your batteries inside that bag you can or if you just want to store them in there but it's it's what they're made for is to prevent if that battery would would catch on fire or what have you um it's supposed to protect you know from burning down your house or what have you so um those are available out there um you can buy them if you want um we do have them in stock um i feel obligated to stock them just based off of um you know uh they're available so you know but i'll be honest with you i don't use them um me myself personally um but i you know also don't want to be responsible for you know somebody that that burns our house down and they think it was a battery that that caused it and and so forth so um the the the interesting thing that's kind of come out of this rix battery recall is that rix is claiming at this point that uh they're no longer gonna sell any rix branded batteries so i don't know what that looks like in the future right now um whether they go with a battery manufacturer and just sell their particular batteries but i did think it was interesting to hear that the rix branded 18650 batteries are are being discontinued so um we we are currently out of them um i i don't believe that anybody else you know has got um any available but uh they may have still some lingering around out there um and go from there if you are confused about which 18650 battery uh fits in your unit give us a call um we've got all the units on display here we can check different branded batteries make sure that they fit there are some bricks products out there that require the longer batteries there are other products like for example the Storm S6 had this one earlier this morning uh the Storm S6R uh they were want extra batteries for it and it actually takes a shorter 18650 battery um and go from there and I guess to bring that up as well common question we get all the time is you know I bought 18650s off of Amazon and they don't fit like what did I do wrong?
01:01:35.010 --> 01:03:40.610
They're 18650s right aren't they supposed to fit um lithium ion batteries then that's what these are uh lithium ion 18650 batteries there's a there's there's no real standard like a double A or a triple A battery as people understand it you know uh double AAA nine volt D cell C cell batteries super easy because you always know that they're gonna fit because there's a standard wrapped around that um there are 18650 batteries that are longer in length that won't fit in certain products leading to a lot of people's frustrations but once again if you ever have any questions on you know what battery fits in what unit and which one we feel is the best I will tell you we don't test every single battery out there in the market there's literally thousands of different batteries out there but we do have some that are our favorites that work extremely well um we've even recently just started carrying the um the keep power uh 18650 uh all weather uh so they're the low temp batteries um and again just kind of got them in here recently but the low temp batteries um you know claim that they will discharge at a better rate um all the way down to lower temperatures and you can use up to 80% of the battery before the battery actually cuts out and and doesn't allow you to use any more of the battery so one of the things that we've run up against is people using an 18650 battery and the battery indicator gets down to about 25% maybe maybe even 30 35 40 and then the show the the scope just shuts off it just cuts out and they're like man I thought I had more battery power and my my scope just cut out they don't know if they've got a bad battery chances are you're using it in super cold weather and that battery decided to cut out because it it's not designed to be used and that cold of temperatures if that makes sense.
01:03:40.769 --> 01:05:10.769
So again keep power came out with a battery that is designed now to be used in super cold temperatures and so forth um uh with still protecting that 18650 battery um which kind of reminds me too is you know when we talked about swelling of batteries you know how a battery can swell um typically what causes that is if you discharge an 18650 battery and it gets extremely low in power right um so lithium ion is ions jumping around inside that cell the more that it's charged the faster they move right the more it's discharged the slower those ions move okay to create the power if you get an 18650 battery that gets severely discharged and then you leave it in your truck for example you know in super cold weather and that battery continues to decline in power or decrease its power because it's sitting there not charged and it's in super cold temperatures it can get to the point where it can freeze and break or freeze and swell right um or even if it doesn't swell it can damage the internals of that battery and I think that's what a lot of people are running up against is they've they're leaving their discharged batteries in the back of their truck or in the backseat of their truck.
01:05:10.930 --> 01:05:32.050
Their truck sits outside all night uh what have you it's negative 10 uh at night and you know you start having a battery that you're like man I just bought this battery and it worked great and today it doesn't if that's the case something's happened to that battery that it didn't like you know what I'm saying um and go from there.
01:05:32.210 --> 01:06:08.690
So um yeah and you know the other thing is with 18650 batteries they are throwaway batteries okay they are you know one of these batteries that you know I will tell you if you use your batteries often I would I would swap my 18650s out at least every two years um not saying you have to do it every year um every three years for sure if you don't use them very often um but if you start to notice that you're not getting as much life with that battery um I I would swap it out um go from there like I said they're they're inexpensive.
01:06:08.930 --> 01:06:26.130
Yeah I'm also under the impression that um you know good practice for carrying around 18650s is you should not carry them just plain in your pocket like you know I've seen the things on Facebook and stuff of people having batteries burn and stuff in their pockets.
01:06:26.530 --> 01:06:50.930
And I'm under the impression you should always have it in a case or something like this is how I carry mine just in a little plastic you know case just so that way it's protected and you don't have these you know things happen hopefully um most batteries that you buy like the keep power batteries they do come with that little plastic case that you just showed there that's this is the key power case.
01:06:51.090 --> 01:07:17.330
Yep I battery in there but yeah the the only one problem with those cases are is that if you do go out in extreme cold and you drop that case they almost shatter um we do have on our website 18650 battery holders now um we just got done um making them and getting them put in stock so I'll have to get some of those up to you so you can check them out.
01:07:17.490 --> 01:07:25.570
But um they actually um you know they don't have a door that opens up and closes because eventually that hinge will break on you.
01:07:26.370 --> 01:07:33.010
But it does slide down in they are retained with a clip at the top and you can easily just slide them in and out.
01:07:33.250 --> 01:07:35.810
So um they're really a slick setup.
01:07:36.210 --> 01:07:41.570
We do have them in a two battery three battery or four battery 18650 configuration.
01:07:42.370 --> 01:07:47.810
And we are also getting ready to make those for uh to be able to snap on right onto a tripod leg.
01:07:48.050 --> 01:07:49.570
So that's gonna be kind of cool as well too.
01:07:49.810 --> 01:08:06.850
But uh um yeah so there's there's some options out there to keep your batteries protected when they're not we also do make some battery protectors for like the square batteries that that uh come with like the the the Rico's and uh stuff like that.
01:08:07.010 --> 01:09:20.289
So check out our website you might you might be able to find a battery protector that that slides up over the top it just it does help keep the the uh prongs inside those square batteries nice and clean um and keeps them protected as well too so um yeah yeah that makes sense no it's all good tips uh for everybody running 18650s it's becoming more and more of a thing as you know everybody it seems like more and more scopes to everyone that comes out they need the 18650s so uh it's all it's all relative and good to know and you know a little bit of safety for your batteries too but uh another thing too that's kind of uh it's not new I know it's not new to you but uh it's it's something that's popping up as you know a newer thing that I'm guessing a lot of guys aren't familiar with uh and another thing that Rick sent out recently that I saw come across uh an email or something recently uh is sensor burn so can we can you kind of explain what sensor burn is and how it happens and how guys can avoid it so sensor burn is looking at
01:09:20.769 --> 01:09:29.569
Something that is extremely hot for a long period of time to the point where it degrades or uh basically ruins your sensor.
01:09:29.809 --> 01:09:37.649
Um so sensor burn is something that is becoming more and more common all the time, right?
01:09:37.889 --> 01:09:42.689
Like um, we used to never hear of it, to be honest with you.
01:09:43.089 --> 01:09:52.769
The reason why is because the sensitivity of the sensors were not as good as they are today.
01:09:53.329 --> 01:10:02.369
So the more sensitive we make thermals, the better that they're gonna perform in adverse weather conditions like high humidity, fog, and rain.
01:10:02.449 --> 01:10:09.649
And when when I talk about high humidity, I'm really talking about anything over that 80% mark for humidity, right?
01:10:09.970 --> 01:10:16.210
So the more sensitive we make them, the better they perform in bad weather.
01:10:16.689 --> 01:10:20.609
But it also is just like a welding helmet.
01:10:20.930 --> 01:10:31.090
The more of the protection that you take away to make it more sensitive, the more light or heat that allows to hit the sensor, right?
01:10:31.890 --> 01:10:49.970
So now that we're coming up with 15 millikelvin, uh 13 millikelvin, 12 millikalvin scopes uh with a net D rating, uh, you know, all of a sudden they're way more susceptible to um, you know, sensor burn.
01:10:50.130 --> 01:11:01.650
Um and the sensor burn, what it looks like to me is for a lack of better words, I wish I had a picture of it, but it looks like worms zigzagging around on the screen.
01:11:01.970 --> 01:11:15.650
Because typically, if you are out walking around, let's just say you leave the lens cap open on your thermal scope and it's sticking straight up in the air because you've got it, you know, slung to your back, right?
01:11:16.050 --> 01:11:19.970
And it's high noon and the sun's straight up above you.
01:11:20.210 --> 01:11:38.210
Chances are your thermal scope is waving back and forth at the sun, and there is a potential to end up having a a line go around on your screen, and it almost looks like a worm that just did not hold still because it was moving around constantly, right?
01:11:38.610 --> 01:11:41.410
Um, that is sensor burn.
01:11:41.650 --> 01:11:47.810
Uh, the the the biggest problem with sensor burn is is that it is not a warrantable situation.
01:11:48.530 --> 01:11:58.530
Um, most manufacturers are to the point now where they will not warranty um any of the sensor burn uh thermals out there.
01:11:58.690 --> 01:12:06.610
Um, and and again, it's because they're seeing it way more than what we used to as well, too, just because all the all the sensors are becoming more sensitive.
01:12:06.850 --> 01:12:18.450
Um so the one thing that I would tell you is I used to tell everybody don't point your thermal at anything that is hotter than 500 degrees for a long period of time.
01:12:18.690 --> 01:12:23.010
And a long period of time means you know more than two to three minutes, right?
01:12:24.210 --> 01:12:45.250
However, with how much more sensitive all of these thermals are getting, I literally had a guy walk out of our shop the other day and he literally spun around and it was it was during the day and he was looking at the thermal and the the thermal flashed right across the sun, and I thought, oh man, I hope that didn't cause any problems.
01:12:45.330 --> 01:12:49.010
And I told him, I'm like, hey, don't don't point that at the sun anymore, blah, blah, blah.
01:12:49.170 --> 01:13:02.930
And I went to look through it, and just from that quick, really, I want to say it was a half a second that it was pointed at the sun, it actually had thermal burn in the sensor.
01:13:03.170 --> 01:13:11.970
Um, and I was like, Oh my god! He just, you know, came over to look at some thermals and he ruined a$2,000 thermal.
01:13:12.290 --> 01:13:24.370
Um but um again, uh as long as it's not for a long period of time, you should be able to work the thermal burn out of the sensor.
01:13:24.530 --> 01:13:35.170
Um, and one of the ways that you can do that is by leaving the the thermal on for a long period of time with the nuke set to automatic.
01:13:35.570 --> 01:13:43.650
Okay, so you definitely want the refresh or the nuke uh set to automatic so that it constantly keeps refreshing.
01:13:44.050 --> 01:13:52.290
Keep the lens cap closed, hook up an external battery pack or whatever you got to do to keep that thing powered up for a long, long period of time.
01:13:52.450 --> 01:13:54.610
And I'm talking about three days straight.
01:13:55.810 --> 01:14:02.530
If you do that, we have seen some of them work the thermal burn out of them.
01:14:03.570 --> 01:14:06.050
Some of them don't.
01:14:06.450 --> 01:14:11.410
Um but some of them work it out to the point where it's livable.
01:14:11.890 --> 01:14:21.490
Yes, you probably wish that you didn't do it, but there are ways to try to mitigate the the thermal burn in some of these scopes.
01:14:21.810 --> 01:14:32.050
But with today's standards and how sensitive these thermals are getting, I would tell you I wouldn't point it at anything over 250 degrees for more than a few seconds.
01:14:32.370 --> 01:14:32.690
Yeah.
01:14:32.930 --> 01:14:33.250
Okay.
01:14:33.810 --> 01:14:42.610
Um it's always cool that when uh somebody pulls up in a vehicle is to look right in at the radiator and stuff like that.
01:14:42.770 --> 01:14:55.170
Boy, don't do it in the summertime when things are super hot, because those things that if you look at them long enough, they could cause thermal burn in into the sensor um and uh go from there.
01:14:55.490 --> 01:15:07.650
Um but if you ever do run across a situation that you know you are seeing these squiggly, you know, faded out lines uh across your screen, you know, feel free to give us a call.
01:15:07.730 --> 01:15:13.730
We'll, you know, we'll do what we can to help you get that um you know solved.
01:15:14.130 --> 01:15:26.770
But at the end of the day, um it might be a warranty issue that you know um it's not a warranty issue, it's it's where you you will send for warranty, but you're probably gonna have to pay for it.
01:15:27.010 --> 01:15:31.170
Um and the sensor is a very expensive part of a thermoscope.
01:15:31.250 --> 01:15:38.130
Um, if it's a discontinued product, I'm gonna say you're probably not gonna have much luck getting it fixed.
01:15:38.290 --> 01:15:47.090
Um, if it is not a um if it's still a uh product that is in production, uh chances are you'll be able to get it fixed.
01:15:47.170 --> 01:15:52.130
You're probably not gonna like the price, but it it'll probably be able to be fixed.
01:15:52.450 --> 01:15:53.650
Yeah, that's rough.
01:15:53.810 --> 01:16:03.170
And I know uh guys are got get these expensive scopes and they take awesome videos and they want to take them out in the daytime and record their hunt.
01:16:03.250 --> 01:16:07.890
That's what most people are using them for, I think, at least what I hear.
01:16:08.050 --> 01:16:18.290
Um, but just be conscious of that and know that you know, where kind of where you're pointing your gun, your lens cap is closed, uh, you know, all those type things.
01:16:18.370 --> 01:16:22.770
I'm not saying don't use it in the daytime, but just be conscious of those things.
01:16:23.090 --> 01:16:23.570
Exactly.
01:16:23.730 --> 01:16:27.170
If you want to use it during the day, man, go out and use it during the day.
01:16:27.330 --> 01:16:29.650
There is no issue with that whatsoever.
01:16:30.050 --> 01:16:31.490
Don't put it at the sun.
01:16:32.290 --> 01:16:45.250
Um, if you're out during the day, um, it's treat it like the if you're familiar with the old Gen 1, Gen 2, Gen 3 night vision, man, keep the lens cap on it all the time.
01:16:45.490 --> 01:16:49.010
Um, you know, and only open it up when you're gonna use it.
01:16:49.170 --> 01:16:51.330
Um, that is the best way to do it.
01:16:51.570 --> 01:16:57.970
If you're at night and you're looking at, you know, uh a car coming down the road, man, don't worry about it.
01:16:58.050 --> 01:17:01.650
You're you're not gonna burn any any sensors or anything like that.
01:17:01.890 --> 01:17:21.810
Um, you know, in the summertime, uh, super hot, somebody just, you know, uh grabbed a foot full of brake uh or slammed the brakes on on their car and their rotor's roasting hot and and you go and you shine it at it, you're gonna know instantly that it's super hot because it's gonna be super bright on the screen, right?
01:17:21.970 --> 01:17:22.370
Right.
01:17:22.690 --> 01:17:24.690
Don't look at it for a long period of time.
01:17:25.330 --> 01:17:27.970
That's the best way to prevent that and go from there.
01:17:28.130 --> 01:17:30.850
So yeah, may save you some bucks down the road.
01:17:31.090 --> 01:17:38.770
Yeah, no, I don't think anybody wants to replace a thermal sensor if they don't have to, uh especially if you have a discontinued scope and whatever.
01:17:38.930 --> 01:17:42.290
I mean, you're gonna be uh SOL on that.
01:17:42.370 --> 01:17:47.650
So yeah, discontinued or out of warranty, that's that's an ugly situation for sure.
01:17:48.130 --> 01:17:49.170
Yeah, for sure.
01:17:49.330 --> 01:17:53.170
Yeah, we want to avoid that and uh don't do that.
01:17:53.330 --> 01:18:08.930
So uh yeah, I think that's uh most of the things we wanted to cover today for you guys, and just want to touch base again, uh the Sportsman's Expo in the Dells.
01:18:09.250 --> 01:18:14.850
We are right across from uh Whitetail Adrenaline and Working Class Bow Hunter.
01:18:15.170 --> 01:18:17.090
So don't miss us.
01:18:17.250 --> 01:18:22.210
And if you got a thermal you want to check out, uh stop in check it out.
01:18:22.610 --> 01:18:27.010
And uh yeah, we'll have a lot of different thermals there, um, for sure.
01:18:27.170 --> 01:18:31.010
It is very difficult to take you know everything to the show.
01:18:31.250 --> 01:18:41.810
Um, but uh we'll definitely have uh a lot of thermals there, a lot of good stuff to look through, especially if you're a first thermal, you know, uh buyer.
01:18:42.050 --> 01:18:49.650
Um, it is a great show to go to to be able to look through things, um, you know, see through them and stuff like that.
01:18:49.810 --> 01:19:07.170
Uh, but if you uh don't have the ability to come to the show, um, we also uh, you know, uh one of the things that we strive for at Dark Knight Outdoors is to get people into the right product the first time around based off of what you tell us you're using it for.
01:19:07.490 --> 01:19:14.930
Um, you know, um everybody, you know, asks me every day uh what's the best thermal scope out there?
01:19:15.170 --> 01:19:22.290
And I I tell everybody it's the best one out there is the one that fits your needs and your budget the best, right?
01:19:22.610 --> 01:19:26.770
So at the end of the day, there is no right or wrong answer.
01:19:26.930 --> 01:19:32.850
There's over 120 different thermal scopes out there on the market today to choose from.
01:19:33.010 --> 01:19:38.370
Um, it's it's a big pool of confusion, if you will.
01:19:38.610 --> 01:19:44.130
Um, and at the end of the day, that's what we do, that's what we strive for.
01:19:44.450 --> 01:20:01.890
And not only that, I will put a guarantee that if you call me up and we discuss a thermoscope and I recommend something to you and you don't like that thermoscope for one reason or another, I will absolutely unequivocally get you into the right product.
01:20:02.050 --> 01:20:08.370
Um, send it back to me, and I will get you into the right product um and go from there.
01:20:08.530 --> 01:20:15.970
Um, you know, um at the end of the day, um, nobody wants to get an expensive thermal.
01:20:16.050 --> 01:20:19.330
I don't care if it's two thousand dollars or eight thousand dollars.
01:20:19.650 --> 01:20:24.290
Um they don't want to get the wrong product and have something that they can't use.
01:20:24.530 --> 01:20:31.730
And uh we understand that, and we're definitely willing to work with people to make sure that they get into the right product the first time around.
01:20:31.890 --> 01:20:33.570
So yep, I agree.
01:20:33.650 --> 01:20:48.690
Uh, and if you are a tech guy, you have technical questions, you want to know about you know millikalvin ratings and you know uh what's just a lot of people ask a lot of people ask the detection range one.
01:20:48.850 --> 01:20:54.530
Uh thinking about the expo, I remember you know, thinking back to last year, a lot of people want to know the detection range of things.
01:20:54.690 --> 01:20:59.810
Well, Jamie knows every single spec and number out there.
01:21:00.050 --> 01:21:14.050
So uh if you are if you're wired that way, call Jamie and you guys are gonna have probably a longer conversation than uh is necessary, but it's gonna be helpful and get you in the right pointed in the right direction.
01:21:14.210 --> 01:21:30.370
So, but I do think if especially like I get questions a lot about guys asking me about like uh you know lower end thermal or uh you know uh for example a knockfix bolt uh L35R.
01:21:31.090 --> 01:21:40.850
Uh how somebody will compare that to another unit, and I'm like, man, you you have not looked through that unit if you think that's a you know slouch of a unit, that's a nice unit.
01:21:41.090 --> 01:21:43.650
You know, like sure at$2,000?
01:21:44.210 --> 01:21:44.850
Absolutely.
01:21:45.090 --> 01:21:47.730
Yeah, you that's a great unit for the money.
01:21:47.890 --> 01:21:56.450
Like people it'll give you that that that vision to look through it and say, oh man, this is way better, you know, than I thought it was gonna be.
01:21:56.530 --> 01:22:04.450
So it's helpful to see through those things and realize that you're not just blowing your money on a cheap thermal, it's still a quality unit.
01:22:04.690 --> 01:22:21.890
Yeah, and the one thing that really has changed with thermals out there today is that the for the last eight years that we've been doing this, is it's always been a race to the the clearest thermal, yeah, the best image, right?
01:22:22.130 --> 01:22:29.490
Because thermals started out when you first looked at them, you know, eight years ago, they look like a blob out there, you know.
01:22:29.810 --> 01:22:39.490
And so everybody was afraid that they were gonna shoot, you know, uh the farmer's dog or they were gonna shoot something that they weren't supposed to, and and and stuff like that.
01:22:39.730 --> 01:22:45.650
With today's thermals, they've gotten so good on the image quality, even some 384s.
01:22:45.730 --> 01:22:56.050
I got, if you remember, we had people that were blown away by 384s and swore that they were 640 thermals that you know were actually 384s.
01:22:56.210 --> 01:23:08.850
Um, the the thermal images have gotten so great that that is no longer probably the number one um most important thing that people look at anymore.
01:23:09.090 --> 01:23:14.770
Um, it's it's more if am I getting into the right base magnification uh scope?
01:23:15.090 --> 01:23:25.010
Am I getting one that is gonna perform in high humidity because I live in one of those areas where it's constantly humid, raining, foggy, you name it.
01:23:25.170 --> 01:23:28.370
Um and there's a lot of things to consider.
01:23:28.690 --> 01:23:45.010
And um at the end of the day, we want to make sure that that we understand what you're going to be using it for and make sure that we get you into the right product, not just the right, you know, uh thermal, but also something that meets your budget.
01:23:45.090 --> 01:23:52.530
Because at the end of the day, uh, unfortunately, we don't all have unlimited, you know, amounts of money to spend on this.
01:23:52.770 --> 01:23:59.490
And um it it's it's one of those things that everybody wants to get into the best scope for the money.
01:23:59.730 --> 01:24:02.370
And uh that's what we strive to do.
01:24:02.530 --> 01:24:07.730
And we feel that if we can do that for you, you'll be a return customer for a long time.
01:24:07.970 --> 01:24:11.570
So um that's that's really what it boils down to.
01:24:11.730 --> 01:24:15.970
And again, we can sit and talk about specs all day long.
01:24:16.130 --> 01:24:17.490
I've tried that approach.
01:24:17.730 --> 01:24:21.970
Uh, people usually remember it for about 30 seconds and then they forget.
01:24:22.290 --> 01:24:24.610
But um, that's what we're here for.
01:24:24.770 --> 01:24:25.970
Give us a call.
01:24:26.050 --> 01:24:29.490
Uh we're always more than willing to talk to you.
01:24:29.650 --> 01:24:34.610
If uh you know we don't answer your call the first time around, I'll guarantee you we'll call you back.
01:24:34.770 --> 01:24:38.450
Um, a lot of times I'll send you a text and just say, Hey, I'm on the phone, I'll call you back.
01:24:38.530 --> 01:24:43.250
Uh, but we'll we'll we'll always uh get to you and uh go from there.
01:24:43.330 --> 01:24:47.090
So and we always do have time to talk and and uh go from there.
01:24:47.170 --> 01:24:48.930
So feel free to give us a call.
01:24:49.010 --> 01:24:50.690
Uh we're open from 8 a.m.
01:24:50.850 --> 01:24:51.650
to 9 p.m.
01:24:51.890 --> 01:24:53.010
seven days a week.
01:24:53.170 --> 01:25:03.090
Uh we run some pretty long business hours, but uh um you can talk with me, you can talk with Garrett, you can talk to Drew, you can talk to Joe, you can talk to whoever you want.
01:25:03.250 --> 01:25:13.730
Uh, the people who answer the phones here are extremely knowledgeable when it comes to coyote hunting and calling and um all the thermals that we have.
01:25:13.970 --> 01:25:19.890
The one thing we won't do is if we don't have the answer, we will get you the answer.
01:25:20.130 --> 01:25:24.690
We won't tell you something that is wrong or just to answer the question.
01:25:24.850 --> 01:25:26.770
Um, you know, we will definitely find out.
01:25:26.850 --> 01:25:32.130
And I know, Drew, you said that I'm, you know, a wizard at all the different specs on these scopes and so forth.
01:25:32.210 --> 01:25:34.210
Man, there are so many out there now.
01:25:34.370 --> 01:25:46.370
I don't know anybody that can be the wizard for all of them, but there's times that that I will, you know, have a brain fart and I'll have to go back and and and look or whatever and and stuff like that.
01:25:46.610 --> 01:25:56.290
But uh um, you know, one of the things is is when we stare through all these thermals all day long, we can pretty much look at the the scopes and the specs and and tell you what it's gonna look like.
01:25:56.530 --> 01:26:00.450
The biggest thing with a lot of these scopes is all the little nuances of them.
01:26:00.610 --> 01:26:11.490
Um, a lot of people don't realize and they don't see it in the specs that when it doesn't have an internal battery, they don't realize that every time they replace a battery on a scope that they're gonna have to repower it back up.
01:26:11.650 --> 01:26:13.730
And it can, is it a bad thing?
01:26:13.890 --> 01:26:14.210
No.
01:26:14.450 --> 01:26:15.330
Is it terrible?
01:26:15.490 --> 01:26:16.770
No, is it the end of the world?
01:26:16.930 --> 01:26:17.650
Heck no.
01:26:17.890 --> 01:26:20.450
But at the end of the day, it's annoying, you know.
01:26:20.530 --> 01:26:30.290
And some people would prefer to have that internal battery to make sure that they don't lose any, you know, internal data or they don't lose anything and and go from there.
01:26:30.450 --> 01:26:48.770
So um, you know, uh there's there's little nuances to even the battery caps and you know, whether you can plug a magnetic uh cord into the side of the scope so that you don't rip the the the cord out of the the side of the scope and and cause damage and and stuff like that.
01:26:48.930 --> 01:26:55.490
So that's one of the things that is a big advantage to you know reaching out and uh just give us a call.
01:26:55.650 --> 01:27:04.930
Um, I have a lot of people that call me up or stop here at the shop and they are they got their mindset, they're like, man, this is the scope that I'm here to look at.
01:27:05.170 --> 01:27:12.770
And I will tell you 95% of the time they go home with something different because they realize that what they research wasn't the right thing.
01:27:12.930 --> 01:27:16.530
But um, yeah, give us a call and we'd be more than happy to help you out.
01:27:16.770 --> 01:27:18.130
Yeah, no, I agree.
01:27:18.290 --> 01:27:21.890
Uh, it always helps to see them talk to people who know the units.
01:27:21.970 --> 01:27:26.610
And if you're on the fence, call Jamie, he'll help you narrow in on what you need.
01:27:26.850 --> 01:27:31.090
So uh on that note, we will wrap it up.
01:27:31.330 --> 01:27:33.250
Jamie, I appreciate your time.
01:27:33.330 --> 01:27:44.370
Uh, everybody can come see us at the uh open season sportsmen's expo in the Dells uh March 27th to the 29th, and check these things out.
01:27:44.450 --> 01:27:48.370
You can check out these nuances and pick Jamie's brain, pick my brain.
01:27:48.530 --> 01:27:50.610
You want to talk calling, you want to talk hunting?
01:27:50.850 --> 01:27:55.170
Uh, we will have the whole crew there, and we'd love to see you guys.
01:27:55.330 --> 01:28:00.290
So Jamie's info is in the description, as always.
01:28:00.450 --> 01:28:05.650
If you guys haven't looked at it or haven't called, if this is your first time listening, uh check it out.
01:28:05.890 --> 01:28:08.050
And uh, Jamie, thanks.
01:28:08.130 --> 01:28:12.530
Uh it's always a pleasure getting to talk with you and hear about all these good things.
01:28:12.770 --> 01:28:13.570
Oh, thanks, bro.
01:28:13.730 --> 01:28:14.450
Appreciate it, man.
01:28:14.610 --> 01:28:15.250
Have a good one.
00:01:22.480 --> 00:01:23.120
What's up, guys?
00:01:23.360 --> 00:01:26.080
Predator Podcast season four.
00:01:26.319 --> 00:01:28.960
We're back for another episode today.
00:01:29.439 --> 00:01:31.200
Pretty excited about this one.
00:01:31.520 --> 00:01:40.960
As you guys know, if you've listened to the show for any period of time, uh, my relationship with Dark Knight Outdoors is a strong one.
00:01:41.200 --> 00:01:51.920
And coming up here in a couple of weeks, we are going to be at the open season sportsmen's expo in Wisconsin Dells, Dark Knight Outdoors, and myself.
00:01:52.080 --> 00:01:54.800
So we thought we'd give you guys a little bit of rundown.
00:01:54.960 --> 00:01:55.759
What is new?
00:01:55.840 --> 00:01:57.360
What do you need to know about?
00:01:57.599 --> 00:02:00.640
And some things to look forward to seeing at the show.
00:02:00.879 --> 00:02:06.560
Uh, and I have one and only Jamie Hoffman from Dark Knight Outdoors on today.
00:02:06.719 --> 00:02:10.159
So, Jamie, thank you for coming on with me tonight.
00:02:10.960 --> 00:02:12.080
No problem, Drew.
00:02:12.240 --> 00:02:15.200
I appreciate uh you having me back on for sure.
00:02:15.360 --> 00:02:18.879
It uh I always enjoy doing the podcast with you here.
00:02:19.039 --> 00:02:26.080
And uh uh yeah, like you mentioned, uh, we're gonna be up at that uh Wisconsin expo here uh in a couple weeks.
00:02:26.159 --> 00:02:27.680
And I look forward to that too.
00:02:27.759 --> 00:02:38.800
I think you got me involved in that a couple years ago, and and uh I really enjoy uh that and uh all the people up in Wisconsin and even the people that drive from further away to uh come to that show.
00:02:38.879 --> 00:02:40.159
That show's been really awesome.
00:02:40.319 --> 00:02:48.719
So yeah, it's uh yeah, it's a lot of fun, and uh I always enjoy uh uh seeing you up there and uh uh go from there.
00:02:49.039 --> 00:02:51.200
Yeah, we uh are looking forward to it.
00:02:51.360 --> 00:02:52.719
Always a good crowd.
00:02:52.879 --> 00:02:56.000
And you guys will have to stop in, check out the new thermals.
00:02:56.080 --> 00:03:07.840
If you're in the market for something, uh you know, you'll have a good opportunity to check it out, maybe buy it if we have it on hand and hear from Jamie about some of the ins and outs about them.
00:03:07.920 --> 00:03:15.840
If you don't hear it today, you can ask those questions that you might have, uh look at things side by side, and uh it's just helpful in my eyes.
00:03:16.000 --> 00:03:19.120
So Jamie, let's let's uh let's kick it off.
00:03:19.200 --> 00:03:26.480
I know Rick says a few uh new helmet mounted items uh first on the docket here.
00:03:26.560 --> 00:03:28.719
And uh can you tell us a little bit about those?
00:03:29.040 --> 00:03:34.240
Yeah, well, uh a lot of things uh people ask us on a regular basis is hey, what'd you see at Shot Show?
00:03:34.320 --> 00:03:47.600
You know, yeah, and uh so we did go to Shot Show uh this year, and uh, you know, it was uh as usual, bigger than ever, and uh lots of new things coming out at um, you know, Shot Show.
00:03:47.840 --> 00:03:59.280
Um, all of the companies had new things to to show and demonstrate, and uh we got a chance to look at those and uh obviously kind of you know give our opinions on them and kind of go from there.
00:03:59.439 --> 00:04:02.400
Um, some of the products we do have in stock now.
00:04:02.560 --> 00:04:04.960
Um uh actually most of them we do.
00:04:05.120 --> 00:04:13.360
Uh there are a few of them uh still lingering out there that uh just haven't come uh to fruition yet or uh gotten shipped into us yet.
00:04:13.520 --> 00:04:26.719
But uh um Rick's has actually come out with uh something pretty interesting uh in the helmet mounted area, which is the stride uh st3 light and the st6 light.
00:04:26.959 --> 00:04:33.040
Um the the st3 obviously is a 384 and the st6 is a 640 version.
00:04:33.199 --> 00:04:47.759
Um they're um great units for for being helmet mounted, and the most amazing thing with these uh new um uh helmet mounted monoculars is the price is pretty amazing.
00:04:48.000 --> 00:05:02.159
So uh the st3 light uh came out at a thousand dollars, um which we've never ever seen uh helmet mounted uh thermals uh out at this price um ever.
00:05:02.800 --> 00:05:13.359
So um and the st6 uh comes in at uh$19.99, so uh sub$2,000 for a great uh helmet mounted monocular.
00:05:13.519 --> 00:05:22.240
Um, a lot of people out there are are familiar with the iRay uh RH25 V2, uh very, very popular unit.
00:05:22.479 --> 00:05:26.879
Um, is this or either one of these units, the RH25 V2?
00:05:27.039 --> 00:05:28.479
Nope, they sure aren't.
00:05:28.639 --> 00:05:36.479
Um they are really more of a dedicated uh uh thermal for being helmet mounted.
00:05:36.719 --> 00:05:47.439
Um they cannot be like the RH25 V2, you know, used as a standalone uh thermal or a uh clip-on thermal.
00:05:47.519 --> 00:05:54.319
Uh it is uh it is really more of just a dedicated helmet mounted monocular.
00:05:54.399 --> 00:06:01.680
Now I've had a few people you know ask me too if they could use it as a handheld, and sure, yeah, you could use it as a handheld if you want to.
00:06:01.839 --> 00:06:11.839
Um it's it's small, and when you use it as a handheld, remember it's a 1x base mag uh designed for uh helmet mounting.
00:06:12.000 --> 00:06:17.759
So that 1x base mag is gonna be, and you can zoom them up to a 2x course.
00:06:18.000 --> 00:06:27.199
Um, one of the things to point out on the the Stride ST3 is that there is no thermal focus uh for that.
00:06:27.519 --> 00:06:41.759
So it is just uh set at an infinite range, kind of like your um so just like the uh pocket uh K3 or the K2 uh does not have a uh you know focus for the thermal on the front of it.
00:06:42.000 --> 00:06:59.759
Um, you know, that's one of the the drawbacks to the ST3 and obviously why it's quite a bit cheaper than the the ST6, but the ST6 it does have a uh forward focus on it uh for the thermal and um obviously also for the the uh lens as well, too.
00:06:59.919 --> 00:07:12.000
So um they do also have um their old Rix stride that has been since you know retired, if you will, or discontinued.
00:07:12.639 --> 00:07:15.120
Um, it did come with a bridge.
00:07:15.359 --> 00:07:20.240
Um, the new ones do not come with the bridge, but we do have the bridges in stock.
00:07:20.399 --> 00:07:25.199
So if you like the Rix style bridge, it's a little bit different.
00:07:25.439 --> 00:07:38.399
It is definitely a single monocular style bridge, but it it can slide side to side uh for your um, you know, if you want it on your left eye or right eye, extremely easily.
00:07:38.479 --> 00:07:46.159
And then it's got some nice micro adjustments to it so that you can get it positioned perfectly in front of your eye and uh go from there.
00:07:46.319 --> 00:07:56.879
But uh uh the most amazing thing to me is is is how far these thermals have come, uh image quality-wise, and then also price getting cheaper, right?
00:07:57.199 --> 00:08:12.240
Um, you can now get into you know a great helmet setup uh with like a good quality Team Wendy helmet um for$2,000 to$3,000, just depending on if you want the ST3 or the ST6 and go from there.
00:08:12.479 --> 00:09:08.639
Um, you know, the the other big thing with with doing helmet mounted uh monocular setups is people do get confused with uh you know the different style mounts and so forth.
00:09:08.960 --> 00:09:10.799
And we do stock all of that stuff.
00:09:10.879 --> 00:09:21.759
And here at Dark Knight Outdoors, if you do want to do, you know, uh or you want a complete setup shipped to you, we're able to do that right here and ship out a completed unit.
00:09:21.920 --> 00:09:32.720
Um, even if you want to buy the components, we can send you all the correct components so that you can get it mounted up properly, and uh you can assemble it yourself however you want to do it and go from there.
00:09:32.799 --> 00:09:33.440
So right.
00:09:33.599 --> 00:09:44.319
Um so is it is it compatible with like the Wilcox mount or it is, it uses the same dovetail style uh mount, and it really does come with that.
00:09:44.640 --> 00:09:45.279
What's that?
00:09:45.440 --> 00:09:48.079
Is it similar to the one that the IRA uses?
00:09:48.480 --> 00:09:52.160
Uh it's it's exactly like the one that the IRA uses, correct.
00:09:52.319 --> 00:10:00.160
Yeah, um, it and it is adjustable, it does have three different uh slots in the top of it where you can slide it back and forth and go from there.
00:10:00.319 --> 00:10:21.680
The one thing I noticed that was a little bit weird is that some of the threading on the units is different sizes, but I have had uh success go going out to the local hardware store and just getting a screw that will fit uh that size and just moving it around, unfortunately doesn't come with it, but um, which might might be a little bit of a miss.
00:10:21.839 --> 00:10:25.200
But um for the most part, it's a very adjustable unit.
00:10:25.440 --> 00:10:36.079
And I I do feel that they're gonna be a very popular uh product uh from Rick's uh moving forward, just based off of the prices of them and so and so forth.
00:10:36.160 --> 00:10:37.920
I mean, heck, who wouldn't want to get into?
00:10:38.160 --> 00:10:43.839
I mean, you can get into a helmet setup now for almost as cheap as a uh handheld monocular, which is fantastic.
00:10:44.000 --> 00:11:01.759
So um, yeah, and then you know, another thing that uh has has come out recently from um you know the show is the Rick's Leap L12R, which we actually had um out before we went to Shot Show, but it was technically a SHOT Show release.
00:11:02.000 --> 00:11:08.720
Um still very similar quality to the L3 and the L6R that is out there now.
00:11:08.960 --> 00:11:12.000
Um, they did make a few improvements to this one, though.
00:11:12.160 --> 00:11:24.799
It does have a 2560 by 2560 round display, and you know, we always talk about everybody getting all wrapped up in the numbers and the the stats and the you know everything, everybody getting confused.
00:11:25.200 --> 00:11:41.839
Basically, the thing to know on that is it does have a it's it's about two and a half times clearer display than most thermals out there do, but they there is definitely starting to be more and more thermals on the market with that 2560 by 2560 round display.
00:11:42.000 --> 00:11:44.480
So um, but it's got a great display in it.
00:11:44.559 --> 00:11:51.599
Uh, they did finally add an internal battery to the unit, unlike the L3 and the L6Rs.
00:11:52.000 --> 00:11:57.119
Um, when you do want to change your battery, it does shut the scope off and you do have to restart it.
00:11:57.200 --> 00:11:58.400
Is it the end of the world?
00:11:58.639 --> 00:11:59.759
Absolutely not.
00:11:59.920 --> 00:12:01.440
Um, is it a little bit annoying?
00:12:01.680 --> 00:12:02.720
It kind of is.
00:12:03.440 --> 00:12:08.319
Um, but for the most part, um, they did add that internal battery in there.
00:12:08.400 --> 00:12:24.960
Um, and and again, it's a two power to six power ocular, you know, ocular zoom, um, which you know um is is the same for if you look at the uh not picks um you know s70 or that I'm sorry, the the S50R.
00:12:25.119 --> 00:12:31.519
Um, you know, it's gonna be a two power to six power as well, um and and stuff like that.
00:12:31.599 --> 00:12:33.920
And I said S50, it's S60R.
00:12:34.160 --> 00:12:39.680
Um but all the leaps now have a LRF built into the to the lens.
00:12:39.839 --> 00:12:45.599
Um, unfortunately, they decided to get rid of the scopes that don't have the laser range finder anymore.
00:12:45.680 --> 00:12:49.920
So those have been discontinued um and and go from there.
00:12:50.079 --> 00:12:57.359
So um, you know, it does have a 60 hertz refresh rate, which is a nice addition to that particular scope.
00:12:57.519 --> 00:13:05.519
Um, however, uh they did come out with a price that's a little bit higher than some of the other competitive scopes out there on the market.
00:13:05.759 --> 00:13:17.680
Um, you know, at the time that it released, the NockPix S60R was, you know, um, you know, 7,000 or$6,999, and they came out at$68.99.
00:13:17.759 --> 00:13:19.200
So$100 cheaper.
00:13:19.359 --> 00:13:26.000
And I I I would have to give the head nod to the Nockpicks S60R, even at the higher price.
00:13:26.160 --> 00:13:35.920
Um, for an extra$100, I just feel like the build quality is probably a little bit better in the S60R, um, and uh probably more than just a little better.
00:13:36.079 --> 00:13:44.960
Um, but um also the the NockPix S60R just this last week lowered their price down to$64.99.
00:13:45.200 --> 00:13:50.400
So now you can get the Nockpicks S60R cheaper than you can even get the RIX Leap L12R.
00:13:50.480 --> 00:13:58.720
So, you know, um I at that point I have to kind of say it's a no-brainer to probably look at the the the Nockpicks S60R.
00:13:58.879 --> 00:14:04.879
Um but uh um another uh new addition out there was the DBH D12.
00:14:04.960 --> 00:14:10.480
Uh this is now more your compact style scope versus the RICS Leap is your tube style scope.
00:14:10.639 --> 00:14:14.079
Um, you know, I get the question all the time what scope should I go with?
00:14:14.160 --> 00:14:15.680
And you know, it all depends.
00:14:15.759 --> 00:14:19.839
If you're using a bold action rifle, I always do recommend a tube style scope.
00:14:20.000 --> 00:14:40.559
The DBH series is one of those that's a little bit of an anomaly, though, because that scope does work well on a bold action rifle just because it has an unbelievable amount of relief, eye relief on it, so that you can still see through the scope pretty well, even though you're further back from it.
00:14:40.960 --> 00:14:49.440
So uh, but the DBH D12 was obviously, like I said, a new release out there 1280 uh 3x base mag 75 millimeter lens.
00:14:49.599 --> 00:14:51.759
This thing is not a small boy, man.
00:14:51.920 --> 00:14:55.119
It is it's a big boy sitting up on top of a rifle.
00:14:55.200 --> 00:14:57.599
It's big, it's a little bit on the heavy side.
00:14:57.759 --> 00:15:04.559
Um, but again, with the DBHs, um, they do have the ability to marry a Kestrel to them.
00:15:04.639 --> 00:15:09.599
So for guys that are looking to, you know, shoot at extremely long distances.
00:15:09.839 --> 00:15:27.200
Um I've got you know some of my own customers looking at shooting coyotes at 900 to uh 1100 yards, and seems a little crazy to me, but you know, at the end of the day, um, you know, that is it's it's a great scope to be able to do that with and then marry the Kestrel up to it.
00:15:27.359 --> 00:15:35.599
The one thing about this one versus the S75R is this one does come in with a 50 hertz refresh rate, so a little bit different there.
00:15:35.759 --> 00:15:47.759
Um uh but the 50 hertz and the 60 hertz, I I'll be honest with you, I wouldn't let that be a um, you know, uh uh it's not a deal breaker, you know, one way or the other.
00:15:47.920 --> 00:15:50.319
Um, I don't really notice it too much.
00:15:50.559 --> 00:15:58.879
Um, but you know, 60 hertz is definitely better, especially if you're trying to lead, you know, running, you know, targets and stuff like that.
00:15:59.119 --> 00:16:11.200
Um and you know, the the the one downfall to me uh with the DBH or the compact style series of scopes is that there's none of them out there right now that have the ocular zoom.
00:16:11.599 --> 00:16:19.519
Um, and the ocular zoom is where you can zoom in and not lose any resolution because you're zooming in on the screen itself.
00:16:19.759 --> 00:16:28.240
Um, but um, you know, uh, you know, at the same time, uh it's just a digital only style zoom.
00:16:28.319 --> 00:16:39.359
So when you do zoom in with the compact style scopes, it's it's going to you know um degrade the image as you zoom in and uh go from there.
00:16:39.599 --> 00:17:05.680
So uh one of the other things that we noticed with the the DBHD12 and and didn't notice it when we were you know at SHOT Show or anything like that, it's more of something that came about uh afterwards is that the typical type C power port on the side of the scope, it does not, you are not able to add like an external power source to it and um power the scope.
00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:10.079
Um so for some reason the power port on the side of it does not work.
00:17:10.240 --> 00:17:29.759
And when I contacted Rick's about it, they seemed to not know it, and but then also had a couple different, you know, explanations that it could not power the 1280, you know, sensor, which we know is not right because it does actually you know power it on other scopes and so forth.
00:17:30.000 --> 00:17:47.519
So I'm not exactly sure, you know, um why it does not work, but the only thing that the port does on the side of the DBHD12 is it will uh actually trans transfer data, um, which most people are probably gonna use the app to transfer the data anyway.
00:17:47.680 --> 00:17:56.559
Um kind of leaves that port on the side of the scope um to be kind of useless in my opinion, and go from there.
00:17:56.720 --> 00:18:07.440
And I do miss the fact that I can't add an external power pack onto the side of it for those long hunts, especially if you get into a two-day coyote contest or what have you.
00:18:07.599 --> 00:18:12.400
Um, you know, I'm really missing my external uh battery pack at that point and go from there.
00:18:12.480 --> 00:18:16.000
So right, you gotta have four other batteries to put in it, yeah.
00:18:16.079 --> 00:18:18.799
And it does run off of the two 18650 batteries.
00:18:18.879 --> 00:18:23.680
So if you want to carry two other 18,650 batteries around with you, well then there you go.
00:18:23.839 --> 00:18:28.160
You know, um you're gonna carry the batteries and the weight one way or the other.
00:18:28.319 --> 00:18:31.920
Um, just depends on where you want to put it um and go from there.
00:18:32.079 --> 00:18:43.759
But uh one one product that they did come out with, uh, I I'm not really gonna call it a shot show release because I it should have been released a long time ago, is the Titan T3.
00:18:44.000 --> 00:18:54.799
And some people are probably very familiar with the Titan T6 because it got released quite a while ago, and then we waited for the 384 version to come out and never came out, never came out, and well, now it's here.
00:18:55.119 --> 00:19:01.119
And um, you know, it's it is the 384 uh version of the Titan T6.
00:19:01.599 --> 00:19:05.359
Um, but man, I gotta tell you, I really like this unit.
00:19:05.519 --> 00:19:18.799
Um, you know, is it the ultimate in quality that it might be missing a few spots, but man, the price that it came out at with having a laser range finder and a 384 sensor in it.
00:19:18.960 --> 00:19:22.079
Um, it looks great when you look through it.
00:19:22.240 --> 00:19:29.679
Uh, they actually improved what I call the one-handed operation um because that was supposed to be a big feature of the T6.
00:19:30.159 --> 00:19:37.599
The problem with the T6s is the focus wheel was so hard to turn that you almost had to use two hands to turn the focus.
00:19:37.839 --> 00:19:43.359
Um, they have fixed that on the the um uh T3, the 384 version.
00:19:43.439 --> 00:19:45.439
Um, it's nice, it's easy to use.
00:19:45.599 --> 00:19:51.359
You can use it as a one-handed um operation uh for your focus, for your front focus.
00:19:51.519 --> 00:19:58.079
Um, and again, it's just a great monocular uh or scanner, if you will, for the price of$15.99.
00:19:58.399 --> 00:20:00.559
Um, it's pretty darn hard to beat.
00:20:00.720 --> 00:20:07.359
Um, anything else out there that I've seen that compares image quality is more up in that$19.99 range.
00:20:07.599 --> 00:20:10.079
So um I really, really like that unit.
00:20:10.159 --> 00:20:24.000
If you say you have to have an LRF on um, you know, the unit, and if you can get over slightly weird shape that it is, um it um, you know, that's gonna come down to personal preference.
00:20:24.159 --> 00:20:25.919
So yeah.
00:20:26.240 --> 00:20:29.679
So it uh but I but I have been pretty impressed with the Titan T3.
00:20:29.839 --> 00:20:43.839
So that's one to keep an eye out there for, and I don't think a whole lot of people really are, you know, too enthused with it because the T6 was a little bit, and in my opinion, maybe a little bit of a flop for the price that it came out at and stuff like that.
00:20:43.919 --> 00:20:47.039
But the Titan T3 is definitely a winner, in my opinion.
00:20:47.279 --> 00:21:09.279
So um, um, but yeah, uh, you know, after that, uh, we went down to the NockPix booth and took a look at uh everything that NockPix has to offer out there, and it looks like uh NockPix for this year was focusing on the the 1280 side of things, more of the high-end um, you know, uh scopes, monoculars, binoculars, that type of thing.
00:21:09.439 --> 00:21:17.279
They did come out with the new Vista S50R, uh, which is a 1280 2x base mag uh monocular.
00:21:17.599 --> 00:21:26.720
And you know, it is kind of the big brother to the Vista H50R, um, which is going to soon be discontinued.
00:21:26.879 --> 00:21:39.199
Um, we are actually kind of uh running today, right now, through our last run of those uh thermal monoculars, and once they're gone, from what I've been told now they are going to be discontinued.
00:21:39.359 --> 00:21:49.199
So um, but the H50R was a 6404X base mag versus the Vista S50R 1280 2x base mag.
00:21:49.439 --> 00:21:56.879
And so for everybody that knows how the digital you know magnification works, everybody's like, well, why would I buy a 1280 for the cost?
00:21:57.279 --> 00:22:11.279
Um, and and a 2x base mag when I can get the the H50R for significantly less money because we do have that blowout price on them right now, um, you know, and and just get one at 4x.
00:22:11.439 --> 00:22:18.000
And I basically got the same thing because by the time I zoom that 2x base mag up to 4, I'm down to a 640 anyway.
00:22:18.319 --> 00:22:20.960
Well, you know, I do get that.
00:22:21.039 --> 00:22:25.199
Um, but the one thing that I can tell you is is versatility, right?
00:22:25.679 --> 00:22:42.319
The the versatility of having the ability to go down to a 2x base magnification makes it so that if you want to use it for coon hunting, if you want to be able to use it for hog hunting, um it's it's definitely doable.
00:22:42.559 --> 00:22:47.599
Um, then if you want to turn around and go coyote hunting with it, you got the best of both worlds.
00:22:47.679 --> 00:22:49.359
And a lot of people will say, Well, how is that?
00:22:49.519 --> 00:22:51.039
Like what what's the difference, right?
00:22:51.279 --> 00:22:56.159
You know, um, that 2x base mag is going to give you a lot larger field of view.
00:22:56.559 --> 00:22:58.960
And uh this is one of those questions.
00:23:00.000 --> 00:23:01.359
Yeah, big field of view.
00:23:01.519 --> 00:23:07.439
So the the the biggest question that I get all the time is is what's the difference with a 2x and a 4x?
00:23:07.519 --> 00:23:08.879
Why is one better than the other?
00:23:09.039 --> 00:23:16.559
Well, the higher you go in magnification, the better image quality you will get at distance.
00:23:16.879 --> 00:23:17.199
Okay.
00:23:17.919 --> 00:23:22.079
However, it also gives you a much narrower field of view.
00:23:22.319 --> 00:23:37.759
So um again, if you go the other way and you go to a light base mag or like a 2x base mag, you're gonna get a lot larger field of view, but probably Not as clear of image at X, you know, uh further distances and so forth.
00:23:37.919 --> 00:23:44.480
But the reason I like that 1280 is because you can do a 2x, it is a 1280 resolution at that point.
00:23:44.639 --> 00:23:47.279
Um, it's a nice wide field of view.
00:23:47.439 --> 00:23:58.879
Again, the the 1280 sensor is is being used now not only for the ultimate and clarity, but also to give it more versatility and giving you that wider field of view.
00:23:59.039 --> 00:24:04.559
And then if you want to go out and and zoom it up to 4x base mag, uh you're down to a 640.
00:24:04.639 --> 00:24:11.439
And then if you want to go up to an eight, you know, eight power base mag, then you're you know, uh down to a 320, right?
00:24:11.519 --> 00:24:15.279
Um, but it's just it adds versatility to the unit.
00:24:15.439 --> 00:24:24.240
Um, unfortunately, that 1280 sensor is a little bit on the expensive side, um, pops in there at 44.95 or 44.99.
00:24:24.559 --> 00:24:28.720
Uh but I gotta tell you, it does have a great battery system.
00:24:28.799 --> 00:24:32.319
It is a little bit bigger of a unit, it is a little bit heavier.
00:24:32.559 --> 00:24:34.720
Um, but I love the battery.
00:24:34.799 --> 00:24:41.679
It does come with two batteries, and they are a proprietary battery, which I'm not always the the most in favor of.
00:24:42.240 --> 00:24:47.039
But with my vistas, uh, you know, and about 30 degree, you know, temperatures.
00:24:47.279 --> 00:24:54.480
Um, you know, I'd like to say that I was out in colder weather than that this year, but uh the older I get, uh, the more fair weather hundred I get.
00:24:54.720 --> 00:25:05.599
So um, but long story short, um, it it does last for about seven and a half hours at about 30 degrees in temperature, so quite a bit longer than the other batteries out there.
00:25:05.759 --> 00:25:19.199
But what else makes it a great battery system to me is that there are no extra chargers, there's no extra cords, there's no not like if you're traveling around, it does have a type C USB port right in the side of the battery.
00:25:19.359 --> 00:25:28.879
You can charge it up inside the monocular, you can charge it outside of the monocular and just plug directly into the battery with your cell phone charger that's already in your truck.
00:25:29.039 --> 00:25:33.519
You can leave one battery in the truck charging while you're out using the unit.
00:25:33.679 --> 00:25:35.919
You can come back to the truck, swap them out.
00:25:36.079 --> 00:25:43.439
Um, it just you don't need to have any more than two batteries, and it's just a great system um all the way around on the batteries.
00:25:43.599 --> 00:25:45.439
So um, great unit.
00:25:45.599 --> 00:25:48.480
Um, I really like that one uh for sure.
00:25:48.639 --> 00:25:56.159
It's it's gonna be a huge hit as long as people can swallow the$44.99 price um and go from there.
00:25:56.319 --> 00:25:59.599
It's not for everybody, but again, it is a very versatile unit.
00:25:59.759 --> 00:26:11.199
It uh um and then uh they also came out with the S50R Quest, which would be the binocular version of the Vista, which is the monocular or the you know scanner version.
00:26:11.359 --> 00:26:13.599
Um again, great unit.
00:26:13.759 --> 00:26:28.799
It's just like the other Quest S um S series uh uh or I'm sorry, the the other Quest 50 uh monoculars that are out there already, um, or I should say binoculars, yeah, but it is a 1280 2x base mag.
00:26:29.199 --> 00:26:37.279
Um, it again uh it does have an 18650 battery and an internal battery that uh um goes with that one.
00:26:37.439 --> 00:26:45.919
And and and probably the most impressive part about it is it does have two separate screens, one for each eye.
00:26:46.159 --> 00:26:49.119
And a lot of people are like, well, what does that mean?
00:26:49.279 --> 00:26:51.679
I what what good does that do me?
00:26:51.839 --> 00:26:59.199
Well, everybody's eyes, whether you know it or not, probably are not equal in and being able to focus, right?
00:26:59.279 --> 00:27:03.759
So when you have two separate screens, you can individually adjust for each eye.
00:27:03.919 --> 00:27:16.879
If you're 2020 in one eye and you're you don't have as good a vision in the other eye, you can adjust that so that it never really is blurry and it comes that the whole image comes together better for you than than ever.
00:27:17.039 --> 00:27:27.679
And it's one of those things that I don't think people really appreciate unless you have really uh fought to be able to uh binoculars in before.
00:27:28.000 --> 00:27:31.039
Because some people say I hate binoculars, I never get them focused.
00:27:31.279 --> 00:27:33.519
That might be the reason why, right?
00:27:33.839 --> 00:27:40.639
Um but again, uh the simplicity of use on the quest, how small they are, how lightweight they are.
00:27:40.799 --> 00:27:42.480
I just absolutely love them.
00:27:42.639 --> 00:27:46.639
Um, even the focus and the zoom wheels that is on the bridge.
00:27:46.879 --> 00:27:51.519
So it is actually like a little wheel that you can, you know, operate with one hand.
00:27:51.599 --> 00:28:00.799
You don't have to hold them with both hands, you can hold it with one, you can, you know, adjust the focus, you can adjust the zoom uh with the with it in the bridge.
00:28:00.960 --> 00:28:02.159
They're easy to turn.
00:28:02.319 --> 00:28:05.119
Um, man, just a great unit all the way around.
00:28:05.279 --> 00:28:09.679
Um, I really struggled to find any other binocular out there that I like better than a quad.
00:28:09.919 --> 00:28:12.960
So um, again, just a fantastic unit.
00:28:13.199 --> 00:28:27.759
So um they also did come out with a few more uh monoculars uh in the Lumi series, but basically uh the only thing to know there is they just added more units with a laser range finder in them.
00:28:27.919 --> 00:28:36.559
They didn't really come out with anything new in that, you know, uh arena, uh, but just added the laser range finder to more of those units.
00:28:36.720 --> 00:28:42.720
Um, the Lumi, again, a more smaller compact unit, runs off of an 18650 battery.
00:28:42.799 --> 00:28:44.879
You're gonna have to change your batteries a little more often.
00:28:44.960 --> 00:28:52.399
But if you want that super small, compact, fit in your hand, fit in your front pocket, uh type of monocular.
00:28:52.559 --> 00:29:01.359
Um, and the best way to describe that one is is it's it's the size of just a regular laser range finder that you hold in your hand and uh go from there.
00:29:01.519 --> 00:29:12.879
Um, but that's really pretty much all that uh knockpicks had to offer, um, with the exception of we they did showcase at Shot Show the Mate 1280.
00:29:13.039 --> 00:29:15.759
Um, the Mate 1280 is a clip-on.
00:29:16.079 --> 00:29:19.679
Um, some people are familiar with the Mate 640 that they had out.
00:29:19.839 --> 00:29:26.559
Um, this one does have a laser range finder built into it, which is is something that they did not have before.
00:29:26.720 --> 00:29:29.119
Um, and again, it's a 1280.
00:29:29.199 --> 00:29:32.480
So it's it's it was a fantastic looking unit.
00:29:32.639 --> 00:29:47.679
I do think the reason why it has not been released yet, that seems to me that they're probably still working out some kinks on making sure that things work right so that when it does finally get released, that there's a positive consumer experience with it.
00:29:47.839 --> 00:29:54.799
Um, a lot of people ask me why does this stuff release over in in in other countries before we see it here?
00:29:55.039 --> 00:29:57.519
And that is the primary reason why.
00:29:57.679 --> 00:30:05.039
Nobody wants to get into a situation where you know you get the product and then there's all kinds of issues and everybody have to end up sending them back.
00:30:05.119 --> 00:30:11.679
Not only is it expensive for the the distributors, but it's it's it's also not a very good consumer experience.
00:30:11.839 --> 00:30:29.039
So um one thing that was kind of neat that we did see on the the main 1280 is that they actually had like a ring that went on the back where your your focus lever was, and then when you actually turn the focus, it actually brought the the data on the screen.
00:30:29.199 --> 00:30:39.839
Uh, it actually brought it closer together so that when you know you zoom in, you don't lose the data on the screen, kind of like an ocular zoom does.
00:30:40.159 --> 00:30:45.599
So that was a really cool feature, but I think that might be something that they're working on perfecting as well, too.
00:30:45.759 --> 00:30:48.559
So um that was that was uh a neat deal.
00:30:48.639 --> 00:31:01.199
And I do think that the Mate 1280 probably, you know, based off of everybody's best guess, um, hopefully it will be out before the start of the next hunting season, uh, in you know, talking October, November time frame.
00:31:01.439 --> 00:31:04.639
So hopefully we get to see something like that by then.
00:31:04.879 --> 00:31:13.359
So it uh um pulsar, um, again, um, I think we've talked about it year over year.
00:31:13.599 --> 00:31:16.240
Pulsar's been a little bit of a struggle out there.
00:31:16.399 --> 00:31:19.359
Um, they've been having a tough time finding their way.
00:31:19.599 --> 00:31:36.960
Seems like uh uh knockpics and rix and some of the other newer companies out there have found out found some pretty innovative ways to come to market and uh have uh kind of surpassed Pulsar in the customer service and um innovative department.
00:31:37.119 --> 00:31:44.799
Um, they did come out with a couple new units uh this year, uh one being uh the trail three.
00:31:45.039 --> 00:31:52.159
So they had the trail one, that was the one that everybody had, you know, point of impact issues for forever.
00:31:52.240 --> 00:31:54.639
They came out with the trail two after that.
00:31:54.799 --> 00:31:59.839
The trail two never really could recover from the the trail one issues.
00:32:00.079 --> 00:32:02.879
Um, and uh now we're on to the trail three.
00:32:02.960 --> 00:32:13.119
Um little confused on why they chose the trail name again, um uh based off of past experience, but uh they did come out with an XR50.
00:32:13.199 --> 00:32:22.159
Uh it's a 640 by 480, it's a 640 by 480, not a 640 by 512 like some of the other units are.
00:32:22.319 --> 00:32:32.240
Um again, it's a 3x base mag, and the 18 millikelvin um net D rating that it came out with is just it's all right.
00:32:32.799 --> 00:32:33.759
It's interesting.
00:32:33.839 --> 00:32:36.559
There's other scopes out there that are already better than that.
00:32:36.799 --> 00:32:45.279
Um, and then there is also another variant that is the 384 version, uh, the XQ50, and it comes in as a three and a half power base mag.
00:32:45.599 --> 00:32:48.319
It is a 15 millikelvin uh scope.
00:32:48.480 --> 00:32:50.159
So a little bit of difference there.
00:32:50.240 --> 00:32:55.279
Uh, one's got the a little bit will do a little bit better in the high humidity than the other one.
00:32:55.439 --> 00:33:06.319
Um, but I I guess the one notable thing that I noticed on these particular units is that they are marketing them to operate in extreme temperatures.
00:33:06.559 --> 00:33:10.319
Um, most of your thermal scopes are rated down to negative four.
00:33:10.480 --> 00:33:12.799
These were rated down to negative 25.
00:33:13.199 --> 00:33:20.159
So um if you are going out in extreme cold temperatures, I'd be honest with you, I haven't tested it out.
00:33:20.319 --> 00:33:25.359
I don't know if they really do work well in in negative 25 degree weather.
00:33:25.519 --> 00:33:34.240
Um, but uh they they do claim to have a little bit better resistance to you know the super cold weather out there um and go from there.
00:33:34.319 --> 00:33:42.159
And I'm probably gonna have to get you to uh test one out for us because I I don't have much interest in going weather anymore.
00:33:42.240 --> 00:33:45.679
So I don't want one, I don't want to go when it's that cold either.
00:33:46.639 --> 00:33:57.919
So it's uh uh one of the things that they did come up with on this unit is what they call automatic display deactivation, which it's just a sensor on the back side of the scope.
00:33:58.000 --> 00:33:59.519
I do think it's a cool feature.
00:33:59.679 --> 00:34:10.639
Um, we've been selling um you know shuttered eye cups for a long, long time uh for part of the purpose to you know keep the light from shining back on you.
00:34:10.720 --> 00:34:21.920
And that's exactly what this does is it will shut the screen off when your eyes not in it, um to you know uh prevent from shining back on you and and go from there.
00:34:22.159 --> 00:34:43.360
So um they also they they're boasting on this particular unit that it has 10 different shooting profiles and a hundred different zeroing distances, and that sounds interesting, but man, I tell you what, I don't know how I could have 10 different shooting profiles and a hundred different zeroing distances and even know what each one of them are.
00:34:43.440 --> 00:34:46.320
So I was gonna say, don't normally they have three, right?
00:35:25.190 --> 00:35:27.269
Uh normally between three and five.
00:35:27.430 --> 00:35:36.309
Uh typically your ones that have five shooting profiles uh will have three different uh zeroing distances per profile.
00:35:36.390 --> 00:35:38.470
So that gives you more like 15.
00:35:38.630 --> 00:35:46.150
And then vice versa, if they have three, then they usually give you five zeroing distances, which still gets you to that 15.
00:35:46.309 --> 00:35:49.190
Um, it's just a different way to slice the pie.
00:35:49.350 --> 00:35:50.230
Um, that's interesting.
00:35:50.390 --> 00:35:56.789
But now the the 10 shooting profiles and 100 zeroing distances, I'm a little confused on how anybody would ever keep that straight.
00:35:56.950 --> 00:36:04.470
So I don't find that to be a great um, you know, additional feature, uh, or one that's very useful, if you will.
00:36:04.870 --> 00:36:09.030
Um, they did uh improve the display in this particular unit.
00:36:09.110 --> 00:36:11.590
It is a 1920 by 1080.
00:36:11.750 --> 00:36:17.990
Um, still not quite the quality of a 2560 display, um, but it is round.
00:36:18.070 --> 00:36:20.949
Um, and it is a 1920 by 1080 display.
00:36:21.110 --> 00:36:24.230
So, you know, um still a great unit.
00:36:24.389 --> 00:36:33.190
Um, the trails are one of those units that have taken an extremely long period of time to come out to the dealers since Shot Show.
00:36:33.269 --> 00:36:39.269
Um, so we have just recently gotten them in and we have not done a ton of testing with them yet.
00:36:39.429 --> 00:36:41.349
So, news to follow on those.
00:36:41.429 --> 00:36:51.829
Um, you know, if if we find that uh there's something uh really worth uh going after, we'll maybe do a follow-up uh with you and let you know that and kind of go from there.
00:36:52.070 --> 00:37:00.150
Um the only other thing uh it also looks interesting, it is a different looking unit.
00:37:00.389 --> 00:37:08.789
And at first it and and that's one thing I probably should have explained there too, is that it is a compact style unit.
00:37:09.030 --> 00:37:13.510
Uh Pulsar went away from the compact style unit several years ago.
00:37:13.670 --> 00:37:15.510
And Trail 2, really.
00:37:15.829 --> 00:37:27.110
With the Trail 2, yeah, and now they're coming back with saying, well, maybe that wasn't the greatest decision, uh, and coming out with a another compact style scope.
00:37:27.349 --> 00:37:40.869
Um I don't have one to to show you, but the um best way I can describe it is it is a mix between a compact style scope and a tube style scope.
00:37:41.110 --> 00:37:52.070
Um the one thing that it does have is it has a uh a dial up on top of it that I'm not real excited about.
00:37:52.230 --> 00:37:56.710
There's actually some buttons on the side of it, um stuff like that.
00:37:57.030 --> 00:38:04.710
I think that it's probably gonna cause more confusion with current users than what it would.
00:38:04.949 --> 00:38:09.990
If you're a new user and it's the first time you've used a thermal, I'm sure you probably get used to it.
00:38:10.230 --> 00:38:22.869
But um with the location of some of the dials and the buttons and stuff like that, I I think it could be a little bit of uh a bigger adjustment, if you will, uh for for current users.
00:38:23.030 --> 00:38:30.389
But uh um yeah, and and and and speaking of a lot of buttons, they came out with a symbiont.
00:38:30.470 --> 00:38:54.789
Um, and the symbiont is a binocular, but it is a multi-spectral uh binocular, and and a lot of people may not know what multi-spectral means, but it means that it does have two different types of night vision or um uh well night vision in it, and and it may be either digital night vision or thermal.
00:38:54.869 --> 00:38:56.389
So it this one's got both.
00:38:56.470 --> 00:38:58.550
Okay, so it's multi-spectral.
00:38:58.789 --> 00:39:01.909
So they're calling it day or night use.
00:39:02.309 --> 00:39:07.269
I hate that because you can use a thermal during the day or night, it doesn't matter.
00:39:07.429 --> 00:39:20.869
Um, right, but this one would have a color version to it, and then also it does have the digital night vision, which means it does have an IR light in it and so forth, um, and and stuff like that.
00:39:21.030 --> 00:39:24.470
It is big, it is a large unit.
00:39:24.630 --> 00:39:38.630
Um, I thought that when Pulsar came out with a new binocular, they would maybe take a few notes from the quest out there and maybe make it a little bit lighter weight, smaller and easier to handle.
00:39:38.710 --> 00:39:45.190
And they went the opposite direction, and it's actually bigger than a merger and um heavier.
00:39:45.670 --> 00:39:48.869
And holy moly, talk about a lot of buttons.
00:39:49.030 --> 00:39:52.630
Um, it has seven buttons on top of it.
00:39:53.590 --> 00:39:56.309
It is to me pretty confusing.
00:39:56.550 --> 00:40:01.510
Um there is a dial on top of it to adjust the menu.
00:40:02.150 --> 00:40:05.110
There is a slide switch for the IR light.
00:40:05.670 --> 00:40:09.590
There's two knobs to control the focus on and off switch.
00:40:09.990 --> 00:40:20.550
Um I'm sorry, there's two knobs to control the focus, and it's just a very complicated to use unit so far.
00:40:20.710 --> 00:40:23.349
Um, we have had a chance to play with them.
00:40:23.590 --> 00:40:30.630
Um I I definitely need to get a lot more time behind it in order to get used to it.
00:40:30.869 --> 00:40:38.710
Um, but again, any unit that I have to spend that much time trying to figure out frustrates me, to be honest with you.
00:40:38.949 --> 00:40:42.550
Um, and it does have a separate on-off switch.
00:40:42.710 --> 00:40:45.510
Um, so we're talking buttons glore here.
00:40:45.590 --> 00:40:48.150
There's buttons all over the place on this thing.
00:40:48.389 --> 00:40:54.309
Um, but ergonomically, the whole thing is just confusing.
00:40:54.710 --> 00:41:09.190
And um even the focus that they they did do dials like the quest does, but they put the dials so far back close to your eye that they're hard to, you know, ergonomically, they're just hard to access.
00:41:09.670 --> 00:41:15.030
Um the the tools that they did come out with, one's a DXT50.
00:41:15.110 --> 00:41:17.269
Uh, it is a 1280 unit.
00:41:17.429 --> 00:41:20.869
Um, but the millikelvin rating on it is not good.
00:41:21.030 --> 00:41:24.789
It's back all the way up to a sub-40 millikelvin.
00:41:25.110 --> 00:41:28.630
Um, it is a 2x basemag 50 millimeter lens.
00:41:28.789 --> 00:41:41.990
Um, I'm not I I and I personally have not had the time to check this unit out in adverse weather conditions, but just based off of the specs, it's probably not gonna be good.
00:41:42.150 --> 00:41:45.110
Um, they also do have the DXR50.
00:41:45.190 --> 00:41:51.030
Uh, the DXR50 is a 640 by 480, uh, 35 millikelvin.
00:41:51.190 --> 00:41:56.070
Again, not the best rating as far as humidity goes.
00:41:56.230 --> 00:41:58.389
Um, it's a 4X base mag.
00:41:59.030 --> 00:42:05.190
Um, the 4X base mag out of a 50 millimeter lens, I am a little bit concerned about as well.
00:42:05.269 --> 00:42:07.909
Too, it's going to be a very narrow field of view.
00:42:08.070 --> 00:42:12.150
Uh, even based off of their specs, it is a very narrow field of view.
00:42:12.309 --> 00:42:15.429
Um, the DXR50, I have not received one yet.
00:42:15.590 --> 00:42:18.630
We have gotten the DXT50s, but not the DXRs.
00:42:18.789 --> 00:42:23.269
So um waiting to see, you know, kind of what that one looks like.
00:42:23.349 --> 00:42:33.990
But based off of the specs, I think the 4X base mag is we've learned that the 4X base mag is uh there's a very limited market out there that really wants a 4X base mag.
00:42:34.309 --> 00:42:39.429
So um again, um, I will tell you the lens caps are nice.
00:42:39.510 --> 00:42:49.590
Um, I really do like the lens caps, and it's weird to geek out over lens caps, but uh they do have really nice lens caps that snap onto the front and they're easily to replace.
00:42:49.829 --> 00:43:02.949
Um uh and and they just they have a nice uh system there for the lens caps that that maybe even you know knock pics could could take notice on on their quest and maybe do something similar to that.
00:43:03.190 --> 00:43:09.510
So um, but yeah, I mean that's pretty much all the products that we saw, you know, at Shot Show.
00:43:09.670 --> 00:43:20.150
There, you know, was you know some other thermals there, but uh not all ones that we're really looking at at this point.
00:43:20.309 --> 00:43:36.150
Um, you know, as you know, a business owner, we have to take a look at, you know, are people offering as good a warranties and are they offering a product that is competitive uh in price and quality with what's already out there in the market?
00:43:36.470 --> 00:43:42.789
Um there are some things that I saw at Shot Show that I was impressed by by some of the new companies.
00:43:42.949 --> 00:43:49.349
Uh one of them that I think that we are we're gonna start carrying very soon is uh some of the DXT thermals.
00:43:49.510 --> 00:43:51.670
Um and go from there.
00:43:51.829 --> 00:43:55.510
The I'm sorry, the DNT, the DNTs.
00:43:55.670 --> 00:44:12.869
Um, but the DNT thermals, um, I was impressed with what I saw at Shot Show, and um I think they're gonna be they're not a premier thermal brand, um, but they do have some nice features to the DNTs and uh uh go from there.
00:44:12.949 --> 00:44:31.110
But uh that is is probably one of the the things that um you know I've been a little bit cautious about getting into until they get some of the kinks worked out on their thermals, also kinks worked out in their their customer service and so forth.
00:44:31.269 --> 00:44:39.909
The one thing that I I'm still a little bit leery of is you know uh not as good a warranty as some of the the other places and and so forth.
00:44:39.990 --> 00:44:47.990
So, but we're working through that, and um, you know, we'll let you know if we do decide to to bring those on full bore and and go from there.
00:44:48.230 --> 00:44:57.750
So it uh but more importantly than talking about you know new product that's out there on the market, which I know everybody wants to hear about.
00:44:57.829 --> 00:45:05.990
I totally get that, but uh I wanted to kind of go over just some of the questions that we get on a daily basis over and over.
00:45:06.230 --> 00:45:18.150
Now that we're going into the late spring and and and going into the summer months, um, you know, we always get you know all these phone calls, people asking us questions over and over.
00:45:18.309 --> 00:45:21.670
I know you probably get them as well, too, you know.
00:45:21.909 --> 00:45:28.869
Um, and and you know, one of the biggest ones is just, you know, is it worth buying a thermoscope now?
00:45:29.030 --> 00:45:35.670
You know, now that we're you know, hunting seasons for most states are starting to come to a close.
00:45:35.829 --> 00:45:39.750
Um, and you know, would you buy now or would you wait?
00:45:39.909 --> 00:45:44.150
You know, um, to be honest with you, I get that question even in the middle of the season.
00:45:44.309 --> 00:45:45.510
Is this a good time to buy?
00:45:45.590 --> 00:45:46.710
You know, when should I buy?
00:45:46.789 --> 00:45:48.150
When's the best time to buy?
00:45:48.389 --> 00:45:52.150
And I gotta tell you, I that's a really tough question.
00:45:52.309 --> 00:45:55.030
Um, you know, I don't have a crystal ball.
00:45:55.190 --> 00:45:57.030
Uh, I'm sure you don't either.
00:45:57.190 --> 00:45:59.590
If somebody out there does, please call me.
00:45:59.670 --> 00:46:01.190
I'll probably buy it from you.
00:46:01.429 --> 00:46:08.869
Yeah, you know, but uh, you know, it's just tough to know, you know, what is going to happen with these thermals.
00:46:09.030 --> 00:46:15.030
And, you know, we've even seen prices go up, we've seen prices go down.
00:46:15.269 --> 00:46:18.309
Um we've seen things get hard to get.
00:46:19.110 --> 00:46:24.949
You know, they may be popular, but they then become hard to to to actually acquire.
00:46:25.590 --> 00:46:29.349
You know, and it's just it's a it's a tough question to answer.
00:46:30.150 --> 00:46:39.510
You know, as I look around and and as everybody does in the news right now, there's, you know, tariffs are, you know, sometimes they're legal, sometimes they're illegal.
00:46:39.670 --> 00:46:44.230
There's world events out there like the the war with Iran right now.
00:46:44.630 --> 00:46:46.869
Fuel costs are going through the roof.
00:46:47.510 --> 00:46:59.510
You know, I just uh saw an article today that airline uh tickets are going through the roof because fuel costs have gone up when you know most of these products are being flown into the United States.
00:46:59.670 --> 00:47:03.429
So you know um you know what what's going to happen?
00:47:03.590 --> 00:47:04.389
I don't know.
00:47:05.190 --> 00:47:07.909
I wish I I had a great answer to that.
00:47:08.470 --> 00:47:25.429
The best answer I can give is that if you are the type of guy that needs a little bit more time to get acquainted with a thermal scope because it is more complicated than you know anything you know than just a day scope.
00:47:26.230 --> 00:47:43.829
You know especially with today's ballistic calculators and all that stuff there's a lot to get familiar with right so I do encourage people to buy now and um get familiar with it before the next hunting season.
00:47:44.630 --> 00:48:03.909
But I also will tell you if you're gonna be extremely upset that a scope goes on sale for$500 um or you know a cheaper price than what you paid for it before the season starts, then I got to say you need to wait uh because we just don't know what's going to happen.
00:48:04.150 --> 00:48:09.110
Now the the problem with waiting like I said prices could actually go back up.
00:48:09.829 --> 00:48:20.230
I I'll be honest with you I was uh uh blown away by the fact that uh you know knock picks lowered the price of the S60R to$64.99.
00:48:21.190 --> 00:48:23.110
Just absolutely blew me away.
00:48:23.269 --> 00:48:23.510
Right.
00:48:23.670 --> 00:48:26.230
I'm like you know I even called them and argued with them.
00:48:26.309 --> 00:48:27.909
I'm like why are you guys doing that?
00:48:28.070 --> 00:48:34.630
I mean it is arguably one of the best thermal scopes out there in the market and now it's even cheaper.
00:48:34.949 --> 00:48:46.389
You know um but I do think that even that particular scope could end up going back up in price um just based off of all the world events that are going on and so forth.
00:48:46.630 --> 00:52:46.210
So um once again if you're a guy that is going to value having your scope through the summer to be able to go out and get familiar with it, it is so much nicer to go out and get familiar with a scope when the weather's nice than um you know trying to do this all right before the season starts and you know then you're rushing and you're trying to get everything done before you you know uh want to go out and just relax and enjoy hunting um then you know now's the time to buy and and if not if you're more price conscious and you're you you would rather um wait and see what happens again these thermal manufacturers they don't let us know when they're gonna drop prices on stuff so um you know we get caught with it just as as much as is as the end user does as well too so um yeah I just don't don't really know how else to answer you know that question and and go from there other than uh that yeah no I agree I think uh the other thing too is if you're really that on the fence about it I would just get what you can afford so it doesn't you know hurt you that bad you know if you if you if you're really on the fence about it I encourage people just to get what they can afford and you can always upgrade at some point but yeah well and the biggest thing is too is if you don't know if it's the right time or not man give us a call we can give you all the updated information because information truly does change daily um I have no idea what email I'm gonna get from what manufacturer or phone call I'm gonna get yeah and things change right you know um nobody knows um so um it it is best just to give us a call and talk about it um you know and we can tell you I will tell you that in my experience if a thermoscope been out for a anywhere from eight months to a year and it hasn't changed in price since it was released it's probably getting close to being due for a price reduction of some sort um if it's a unit that just dropped in price chances are it's not going to go any any deeper in price anytime soon there's always exceptions to that rule and I know people have seen it both ways right but at the same time um you know if if there's a an older scope out there um and it hasn't had a price change on it it's probably about due but we can help walk you through that um and it's what we do every day is stare at these thermal scopes and study the prices on them and and uh we can kind of give you an idea if we feel that something's going to happen uh based off of what we hear from our reps and and so on and so forth.
00:52:46.450 --> 00:52:47.650
So yeah.
00:52:48.290 --> 00:53:15.330
Yeah that makes sense and uh I'll along with current events we've sort of had some events in the thermal industry lately that have kind of shook people up a bit uh and one of them being the Rick's battery recall can you uh tell us a little bit about that as much as we would all like to not have ever heard of the Rick's battery recall yep it it's a huge situation out there.
00:53:15.570 --> 00:55:01.330
Um it's it's unfortunate uh so what Drew's talking about is on the 18650 batteries that uh rix has there's been a battery recall um a lot of people are pretty upset about it um I gotta tell you um it's a voluntary recall okay so what that means is is you can send it back if you want to you don't have to right um there have been some situations where a battery has overheated um there's been some situations where um one that I'm aware of that one of the batteries did explode okay um I've got to tell you though it's one out of thousands and thousands and thousands of batteries right to have one explode out of all of those it really makes me wonder what why they would do it even a voluntary recall right um but there then after that was some people bringing up oh I went to put my battery into my charger and it sparked and then they freak out right um a couple things wrapped around that um I will tell you in my shop alone I literally have thousands and thousands of 18650 batteries ready for sale we have them in every thermal scope that's in the packages right we have millions and millions of dollars worth of inventory in our shop all of it sits together and all of it has been there for eight years.
00:55:01.490 --> 00:55:21.650
Yeah I've never had a problem so I am not disparaging the issues that some other people have had um one of the other incidences that I I have been made aware of was that somebody had an 18650 battery in their pocket and it burned their leg.
00:55:22.130 --> 00:55:25.570
And I I would never want that to happen to me.
00:55:25.650 --> 00:56:58.610
It's just like having a hot hot casing run you know run down your shirt when you're at the range right um makes you jump a little bit but um you know the situation with some of this stuff is makes me wonder did the guy have a set of keys in his pocket and a lot of people say well what difference does that make well they're unprotected batteries right so and even if it's a protected battery doesn't matter um if the the two ends of them get contact with with uh keys that are dangling in your pocket or a big wad of keys it's gonna short out um so that is one thing that that I would highly you know um discourage is putting things like that in your pocket with with a bunch of change or keys or what have you the other situation with the battery that's sparked going into a charger um you know if the battery the 18650 battery the outside of the shell of that battery is the negative side of the battery the uh top of it is the positive side and if it's got a button on it if it's a button top or a flat top doesn't matter but the top side of that battery is the positive side if the uh plastic on the outside of that battery gets damaged or peeled off or anything like that you do run the risk of it getting shorted a lot easier than if it does have an intact plastic wrap around it.
00:56:58.769 --> 00:58:48.690
And in the situation of putting it into a charger and it's sparking the only way that that that could have happened is if you had a um the top of it you know the plastic started to come off of it or what have you so you know um I think the whole battery recall was you know um in my opinion a little bit premature but um you know I do think Ricks has taken the high road and said listen we're we'll take them back if you want us to we'll change them out I I personally never seen a battery uh go bad but I will tell you that if you ever have a battery that you know uh starts to swell um maybe it starts to get hard to put into your your thermal or what have that's a pretty good indication of a swollen battery don't use it right throw it away and grab the next one um these batteries are anywhere from$29.99 a pair um maybe up to 30 or maybe even$50 a battery right but it's not worth using so um if you have any that have the plastic wrap that's damaged on them either re-wrap them or get rid of them just get a new one right um if you put one in a charger and it starts to overheat or it feels like it's getting hotter than normal then yeah I'd replace the battery once again you know it's all common sense stuff um that um you know you can do uh in order to prevent any of that stuff from happening I would say use a quality charger number one go to our website there's not a charger that we sell that's not a quality charger that has over overcharge and and undercharge protection on it.
00:58:49.570 --> 00:59:03.570
The other thing is is to make sure that you're using the right uh wall adapters to plug in so that it doesn't supply more power to the charger than what is is necessary.
00:59:04.690 --> 00:59:06.370
I mean that's what I would do.
00:59:06.530 --> 01:01:34.850
I know uh Rick's has even come out we do have them on our website as well they've got fire bags I don't know if you've seen those or not Drew uh but it's it's a little silver bag that is a fire bag so if you want to charge your batteries inside that bag you can or if you just want to store them in there but it's it's what they're made for is to prevent if that battery would would catch on fire or what have you um it's supposed to protect you know from burning down your house or what have you so um those are available out there um you can buy them if you want um we do have them in stock um i feel obligated to stock them just based off of um you know uh they're available so you know but i'll be honest with you i don't use them um me myself personally um but i you know also don't want to be responsible for you know somebody that that burns our house down and they think it was a battery that that caused it and and so forth so um the the the interesting thing that's kind of come out of this rix battery recall is that rix is claiming at this point that uh they're no longer gonna sell any rix branded batteries so i don't know what that looks like in the future right now um whether they go with a battery manufacturer and just sell their particular batteries but i did think it was interesting to hear that the rix branded 18650 batteries are are being discontinued so um we we are currently out of them um i i don't believe that anybody else you know has got um any available but uh they may have still some lingering around out there um and go from there if you are confused about which 18650 battery uh fits in your unit give us a call um we've got all the units on display here we can check different branded batteries make sure that they fit there are some bricks products out there that require the longer batteries there are other products like for example the Storm S6 had this one earlier this morning uh the Storm S6R uh they were want extra batteries for it and it actually takes a shorter 18650 battery um and go from there and I guess to bring that up as well common question we get all the time is you know I bought 18650s off of Amazon and they don't fit like what did I do wrong?
01:01:35.010 --> 01:03:40.610
They're 18650s right aren't they supposed to fit um lithium ion batteries then that's what these are uh lithium ion 18650 batteries there's a there's there's no real standard like a double A or a triple A battery as people understand it you know uh double AAA nine volt D cell C cell batteries super easy because you always know that they're gonna fit because there's a standard wrapped around that um there are 18650 batteries that are longer in length that won't fit in certain products leading to a lot of people's frustrations but once again if you ever have any questions on you know what battery fits in what unit and which one we feel is the best I will tell you we don't test every single battery out there in the market there's literally thousands of different batteries out there but we do have some that are our favorites that work extremely well um we've even recently just started carrying the um the keep power uh 18650 uh all weather uh so they're the low temp batteries um and again just kind of got them in here recently but the low temp batteries um you know claim that they will discharge at a better rate um all the way down to lower temperatures and you can use up to 80% of the battery before the battery actually cuts out and and doesn't allow you to use any more of the battery so one of the things that we've run up against is people using an 18650 battery and the battery indicator gets down to about 25% maybe maybe even 30 35 40 and then the show the the scope just shuts off it just cuts out and they're like man I thought I had more battery power and my my scope just cut out they don't know if they've got a bad battery chances are you're using it in super cold weather and that battery decided to cut out because it it's not designed to be used and that cold of temperatures if that makes sense.
01:03:40.769 --> 01:05:10.769
So again keep power came out with a battery that is designed now to be used in super cold temperatures and so forth um uh with still protecting that 18650 battery um which kind of reminds me too is you know when we talked about swelling of batteries you know how a battery can swell um typically what causes that is if you discharge an 18650 battery and it gets extremely low in power right um so lithium ion is ions jumping around inside that cell the more that it's charged the faster they move right the more it's discharged the slower those ions move okay to create the power if you get an 18650 battery that gets severely discharged and then you leave it in your truck for example you know in super cold weather and that battery continues to decline in power or decrease its power because it's sitting there not charged and it's in super cold temperatures it can get to the point where it can freeze and break or freeze and swell right um or even if it doesn't swell it can damage the internals of that battery and I think that's what a lot of people are running up against is they've they're leaving their discharged batteries in the back of their truck or in the backseat of their truck.
01:05:10.930 --> 01:05:32.050
Their truck sits outside all night uh what have you it's negative 10 uh at night and you know you start having a battery that you're like man I just bought this battery and it worked great and today it doesn't if that's the case something's happened to that battery that it didn't like you know what I'm saying um and go from there.
01:05:32.210 --> 01:06:08.690
So um yeah and you know the other thing is with 18650 batteries they are throwaway batteries okay they are you know one of these batteries that you know I will tell you if you use your batteries often I would I would swap my 18650s out at least every two years um not saying you have to do it every year um every three years for sure if you don't use them very often um but if you start to notice that you're not getting as much life with that battery um I I would swap it out um go from there like I said they're they're inexpensive.
01:06:08.930 --> 01:06:26.130
Yeah I'm also under the impression that um you know good practice for carrying around 18650s is you should not carry them just plain in your pocket like you know I've seen the things on Facebook and stuff of people having batteries burn and stuff in their pockets.
01:06:26.530 --> 01:06:50.930
And I'm under the impression you should always have it in a case or something like this is how I carry mine just in a little plastic you know case just so that way it's protected and you don't have these you know things happen hopefully um most batteries that you buy like the keep power batteries they do come with that little plastic case that you just showed there that's this is the key power case.
01:06:51.090 --> 01:07:17.330
Yep I battery in there but yeah the the only one problem with those cases are is that if you do go out in extreme cold and you drop that case they almost shatter um we do have on our website 18650 battery holders now um we just got done um making them and getting them put in stock so I'll have to get some of those up to you so you can check them out.
01:07:17.490 --> 01:07:25.570
But um they actually um you know they don't have a door that opens up and closes because eventually that hinge will break on you.
01:07:26.370 --> 01:07:33.010
But it does slide down in they are retained with a clip at the top and you can easily just slide them in and out.
01:07:33.250 --> 01:07:35.810
So um they're really a slick setup.
01:07:36.210 --> 01:07:41.570
We do have them in a two battery three battery or four battery 18650 configuration.
01:07:42.370 --> 01:07:47.810
And we are also getting ready to make those for uh to be able to snap on right onto a tripod leg.
01:07:48.050 --> 01:07:49.570
So that's gonna be kind of cool as well too.
01:07:49.810 --> 01:08:06.850
But uh um yeah so there's there's some options out there to keep your batteries protected when they're not we also do make some battery protectors for like the square batteries that that uh come with like the the the Rico's and uh stuff like that.
01:08:07.010 --> 01:09:20.289
So check out our website you might you might be able to find a battery protector that that slides up over the top it just it does help keep the the uh prongs inside those square batteries nice and clean um and keeps them protected as well too so um yeah yeah that makes sense no it's all good tips uh for everybody running 18650s it's becoming more and more of a thing as you know everybody it seems like more and more scopes to everyone that comes out they need the 18650s so uh it's all it's all relative and good to know and you know a little bit of safety for your batteries too but uh another thing too that's kind of uh it's not new I know it's not new to you but uh it's it's something that's popping up as you know a newer thing that I'm guessing a lot of guys aren't familiar with uh and another thing that Rick sent out recently that I saw come across uh an email or something recently uh is sensor burn so can we can you kind of explain what sensor burn is and how it happens and how guys can avoid it so sensor burn is looking at
01:09:20.769 --> 01:09:29.569
Something that is extremely hot for a long period of time to the point where it degrades or uh basically ruins your sensor.
01:09:29.809 --> 01:09:37.649
Um so sensor burn is something that is becoming more and more common all the time, right?
01:09:37.889 --> 01:09:42.689
Like um, we used to never hear of it, to be honest with you.
01:09:43.089 --> 01:09:52.769
The reason why is because the sensitivity of the sensors were not as good as they are today.
01:09:53.329 --> 01:10:02.369
So the more sensitive we make thermals, the better that they're gonna perform in adverse weather conditions like high humidity, fog, and rain.
01:10:02.449 --> 01:10:09.649
And when when I talk about high humidity, I'm really talking about anything over that 80% mark for humidity, right?
01:10:09.970 --> 01:10:16.210
So the more sensitive we make them, the better they perform in bad weather.
01:10:16.689 --> 01:10:20.609
But it also is just like a welding helmet.
01:10:20.930 --> 01:10:31.090
The more of the protection that you take away to make it more sensitive, the more light or heat that allows to hit the sensor, right?
01:10:31.890 --> 01:10:49.970
So now that we're coming up with 15 millikelvin, uh 13 millikelvin, 12 millikalvin scopes uh with a net D rating, uh, you know, all of a sudden they're way more susceptible to um, you know, sensor burn.
01:10:50.130 --> 01:11:01.650
Um and the sensor burn, what it looks like to me is for a lack of better words, I wish I had a picture of it, but it looks like worms zigzagging around on the screen.
01:11:01.970 --> 01:11:15.650
Because typically, if you are out walking around, let's just say you leave the lens cap open on your thermal scope and it's sticking straight up in the air because you've got it, you know, slung to your back, right?
01:11:16.050 --> 01:11:19.970
And it's high noon and the sun's straight up above you.
01:11:20.210 --> 01:11:38.210
Chances are your thermal scope is waving back and forth at the sun, and there is a potential to end up having a a line go around on your screen, and it almost looks like a worm that just did not hold still because it was moving around constantly, right?
01:11:38.610 --> 01:11:41.410
Um, that is sensor burn.
01:11:41.650 --> 01:11:47.810
Uh, the the the biggest problem with sensor burn is is that it is not a warrantable situation.
01:11:48.530 --> 01:11:58.530
Um, most manufacturers are to the point now where they will not warranty um any of the sensor burn uh thermals out there.
01:11:58.690 --> 01:12:06.610
Um, and and again, it's because they're seeing it way more than what we used to as well, too, just because all the all the sensors are becoming more sensitive.
01:12:06.850 --> 01:12:18.450
Um so the one thing that I would tell you is I used to tell everybody don't point your thermal at anything that is hotter than 500 degrees for a long period of time.
01:12:18.690 --> 01:12:23.010
And a long period of time means you know more than two to three minutes, right?
01:12:24.210 --> 01:12:45.250
However, with how much more sensitive all of these thermals are getting, I literally had a guy walk out of our shop the other day and he literally spun around and it was it was during the day and he was looking at the thermal and the the thermal flashed right across the sun, and I thought, oh man, I hope that didn't cause any problems.
01:12:45.330 --> 01:12:49.010
And I told him, I'm like, hey, don't don't point that at the sun anymore, blah, blah, blah.
01:12:49.170 --> 01:13:02.930
And I went to look through it, and just from that quick, really, I want to say it was a half a second that it was pointed at the sun, it actually had thermal burn in the sensor.
01:13:03.170 --> 01:13:11.970
Um, and I was like, Oh my god! He just, you know, came over to look at some thermals and he ruined a$2,000 thermal.
01:13:12.290 --> 01:13:24.370
Um but um again, uh as long as it's not for a long period of time, you should be able to work the thermal burn out of the sensor.
01:13:24.530 --> 01:13:35.170
Um, and one of the ways that you can do that is by leaving the the thermal on for a long period of time with the nuke set to automatic.
01:13:35.570 --> 01:13:43.650
Okay, so you definitely want the refresh or the nuke uh set to automatic so that it constantly keeps refreshing.
01:13:44.050 --> 01:13:52.290
Keep the lens cap closed, hook up an external battery pack or whatever you got to do to keep that thing powered up for a long, long period of time.
01:13:52.450 --> 01:13:54.610
And I'm talking about three days straight.
01:13:55.810 --> 01:14:02.530
If you do that, we have seen some of them work the thermal burn out of them.
01:14:03.570 --> 01:14:06.050
Some of them don't.
01:14:06.450 --> 01:14:11.410
Um but some of them work it out to the point where it's livable.
01:14:11.890 --> 01:14:21.490
Yes, you probably wish that you didn't do it, but there are ways to try to mitigate the the thermal burn in some of these scopes.
01:14:21.810 --> 01:14:32.050
But with today's standards and how sensitive these thermals are getting, I would tell you I wouldn't point it at anything over 250 degrees for more than a few seconds.
01:14:32.370 --> 01:14:32.690
Yeah.
01:14:32.930 --> 01:14:33.250
Okay.
01:14:33.810 --> 01:14:42.610
Um it's always cool that when uh somebody pulls up in a vehicle is to look right in at the radiator and stuff like that.
01:14:42.770 --> 01:14:55.170
Boy, don't do it in the summertime when things are super hot, because those things that if you look at them long enough, they could cause thermal burn in into the sensor um and uh go from there.
01:14:55.490 --> 01:15:07.650
Um but if you ever do run across a situation that you know you are seeing these squiggly, you know, faded out lines uh across your screen, you know, feel free to give us a call.
01:15:07.730 --> 01:15:13.730
We'll, you know, we'll do what we can to help you get that um you know solved.
01:15:14.130 --> 01:15:26.770
But at the end of the day, um it might be a warranty issue that you know um it's not a warranty issue, it's it's where you you will send for warranty, but you're probably gonna have to pay for it.
01:15:27.010 --> 01:15:31.170
Um and the sensor is a very expensive part of a thermoscope.
01:15:31.250 --> 01:15:38.130
Um, if it's a discontinued product, I'm gonna say you're probably not gonna have much luck getting it fixed.
01:15:38.290 --> 01:15:47.090
Um, if it is not a um if it's still a uh product that is in production, uh chances are you'll be able to get it fixed.
01:15:47.170 --> 01:15:52.130
You're probably not gonna like the price, but it it'll probably be able to be fixed.
01:15:52.450 --> 01:15:53.650
Yeah, that's rough.
01:15:53.810 --> 01:16:03.170
And I know uh guys are got get these expensive scopes and they take awesome videos and they want to take them out in the daytime and record their hunt.
01:16:03.250 --> 01:16:07.890
That's what most people are using them for, I think, at least what I hear.
01:16:08.050 --> 01:16:18.290
Um, but just be conscious of that and know that you know, where kind of where you're pointing your gun, your lens cap is closed, uh, you know, all those type things.
01:16:18.370 --> 01:16:22.770
I'm not saying don't use it in the daytime, but just be conscious of those things.
01:16:23.090 --> 01:16:23.570
Exactly.
01:16:23.730 --> 01:16:27.170
If you want to use it during the day, man, go out and use it during the day.
01:16:27.330 --> 01:16:29.650
There is no issue with that whatsoever.
01:16:30.050 --> 01:16:31.490
Don't put it at the sun.
01:16:32.290 --> 01:16:45.250
Um, if you're out during the day, um, it's treat it like the if you're familiar with the old Gen 1, Gen 2, Gen 3 night vision, man, keep the lens cap on it all the time.
01:16:45.490 --> 01:16:49.010
Um, you know, and only open it up when you're gonna use it.
01:16:49.170 --> 01:16:51.330
Um, that is the best way to do it.
01:16:51.570 --> 01:16:57.970
If you're at night and you're looking at, you know, uh a car coming down the road, man, don't worry about it.
01:16:58.050 --> 01:17:01.650
You're you're not gonna burn any any sensors or anything like that.
01:17:01.890 --> 01:17:21.810
Um, you know, in the summertime, uh, super hot, somebody just, you know, uh grabbed a foot full of brake uh or slammed the brakes on on their car and their rotor's roasting hot and and you go and you shine it at it, you're gonna know instantly that it's super hot because it's gonna be super bright on the screen, right?
01:17:21.970 --> 01:17:22.370
Right.
01:17:22.690 --> 01:17:24.690
Don't look at it for a long period of time.
01:17:25.330 --> 01:17:27.970
That's the best way to prevent that and go from there.
01:17:28.130 --> 01:17:30.850
So yeah, may save you some bucks down the road.
01:17:31.090 --> 01:17:38.770
Yeah, no, I don't think anybody wants to replace a thermal sensor if they don't have to, uh especially if you have a discontinued scope and whatever.
01:17:38.930 --> 01:17:42.290
I mean, you're gonna be uh SOL on that.
01:17:42.370 --> 01:17:47.650
So yeah, discontinued or out of warranty, that's that's an ugly situation for sure.
01:17:48.130 --> 01:17:49.170
Yeah, for sure.
01:17:49.330 --> 01:17:53.170
Yeah, we want to avoid that and uh don't do that.
01:17:53.330 --> 01:18:08.930
So uh yeah, I think that's uh most of the things we wanted to cover today for you guys, and just want to touch base again, uh the Sportsman's Expo in the Dells.
01:18:09.250 --> 01:18:14.850
We are right across from uh Whitetail Adrenaline and Working Class Bow Hunter.
01:18:15.170 --> 01:18:17.090
So don't miss us.
01:18:17.250 --> 01:18:22.210
And if you got a thermal you want to check out, uh stop in check it out.
01:18:22.610 --> 01:18:27.010
And uh yeah, we'll have a lot of different thermals there, um, for sure.
01:18:27.170 --> 01:18:31.010
It is very difficult to take you know everything to the show.
01:18:31.250 --> 01:18:41.810
Um, but uh we'll definitely have uh a lot of thermals there, a lot of good stuff to look through, especially if you're a first thermal, you know, uh buyer.
01:18:42.050 --> 01:18:49.650
Um, it is a great show to go to to be able to look through things, um, you know, see through them and stuff like that.
01:18:49.810 --> 01:19:07.170
Uh, but if you uh don't have the ability to come to the show, um, we also uh, you know, uh one of the things that we strive for at Dark Knight Outdoors is to get people into the right product the first time around based off of what you tell us you're using it for.
01:19:07.490 --> 01:19:14.930
Um, you know, um everybody, you know, asks me every day uh what's the best thermal scope out there?
01:19:15.170 --> 01:19:22.290
And I I tell everybody it's the best one out there is the one that fits your needs and your budget the best, right?
01:19:22.610 --> 01:19:26.770
So at the end of the day, there is no right or wrong answer.
01:19:26.930 --> 01:19:32.850
There's over 120 different thermal scopes out there on the market today to choose from.
01:19:33.010 --> 01:19:38.370
Um, it's it's a big pool of confusion, if you will.
01:19:38.610 --> 01:19:44.130
Um, and at the end of the day, that's what we do, that's what we strive for.
01:19:44.450 --> 01:20:01.890
And not only that, I will put a guarantee that if you call me up and we discuss a thermoscope and I recommend something to you and you don't like that thermoscope for one reason or another, I will absolutely unequivocally get you into the right product.
01:20:02.050 --> 01:20:08.370
Um, send it back to me, and I will get you into the right product um and go from there.
01:20:08.530 --> 01:20:15.970
Um, you know, um at the end of the day, um, nobody wants to get an expensive thermal.
01:20:16.050 --> 01:20:19.330
I don't care if it's two thousand dollars or eight thousand dollars.
01:20:19.650 --> 01:20:24.290
Um they don't want to get the wrong product and have something that they can't use.
01:20:24.530 --> 01:20:31.730
And uh we understand that, and we're definitely willing to work with people to make sure that they get into the right product the first time around.
01:20:31.890 --> 01:20:33.570
So yep, I agree.
01:20:33.650 --> 01:20:48.690
Uh, and if you are a tech guy, you have technical questions, you want to know about you know millikalvin ratings and you know uh what's just a lot of people ask a lot of people ask the detection range one.
01:20:48.850 --> 01:20:54.530
Uh thinking about the expo, I remember you know, thinking back to last year, a lot of people want to know the detection range of things.
01:20:54.690 --> 01:20:59.810
Well, Jamie knows every single spec and number out there.
01:21:00.050 --> 01:21:14.050
So uh if you are if you're wired that way, call Jamie and you guys are gonna have probably a longer conversation than uh is necessary, but it's gonna be helpful and get you in the right pointed in the right direction.
01:21:14.210 --> 01:21:30.370
So, but I do think if especially like I get questions a lot about guys asking me about like uh you know lower end thermal or uh you know uh for example a knockfix bolt uh L35R.
01:21:31.090 --> 01:21:40.850
Uh how somebody will compare that to another unit, and I'm like, man, you you have not looked through that unit if you think that's a you know slouch of a unit, that's a nice unit.
01:21:41.090 --> 01:21:43.650
You know, like sure at$2,000?
01:21:44.210 --> 01:21:44.850
Absolutely.
01:21:45.090 --> 01:21:47.730
Yeah, you that's a great unit for the money.
01:21:47.890 --> 01:21:56.450
Like people it'll give you that that that vision to look through it and say, oh man, this is way better, you know, than I thought it was gonna be.
01:21:56.530 --> 01:22:04.450
So it's helpful to see through those things and realize that you're not just blowing your money on a cheap thermal, it's still a quality unit.
01:22:04.690 --> 01:22:21.890
Yeah, and the one thing that really has changed with thermals out there today is that the for the last eight years that we've been doing this, is it's always been a race to the the clearest thermal, yeah, the best image, right?
01:22:22.130 --> 01:22:29.490
Because thermals started out when you first looked at them, you know, eight years ago, they look like a blob out there, you know.
01:22:29.810 --> 01:22:39.490
And so everybody was afraid that they were gonna shoot, you know, uh the farmer's dog or they were gonna shoot something that they weren't supposed to, and and and stuff like that.
01:22:39.730 --> 01:22:45.650
With today's thermals, they've gotten so good on the image quality, even some 384s.
01:22:45.730 --> 01:22:56.050
I got, if you remember, we had people that were blown away by 384s and swore that they were 640 thermals that you know were actually 384s.
01:22:56.210 --> 01:23:08.850
Um, the the thermal images have gotten so great that that is no longer probably the number one um most important thing that people look at anymore.
01:23:09.090 --> 01:23:14.770
Um, it's it's more if am I getting into the right base magnification uh scope?
01:23:15.090 --> 01:23:25.010
Am I getting one that is gonna perform in high humidity because I live in one of those areas where it's constantly humid, raining, foggy, you name it.
01:23:25.170 --> 01:23:28.370
Um and there's a lot of things to consider.
01:23:28.690 --> 01:23:45.010
And um at the end of the day, we want to make sure that that we understand what you're going to be using it for and make sure that we get you into the right product, not just the right, you know, uh thermal, but also something that meets your budget.
01:23:45.090 --> 01:23:52.530
Because at the end of the day, uh, unfortunately, we don't all have unlimited, you know, amounts of money to spend on this.
01:23:52.770 --> 01:23:59.490
And um it it's it's one of those things that everybody wants to get into the best scope for the money.
01:23:59.730 --> 01:24:02.370
And uh that's what we strive to do.
01:24:02.530 --> 01:24:07.730
And we feel that if we can do that for you, you'll be a return customer for a long time.
01:24:07.970 --> 01:24:11.570
So um that's that's really what it boils down to.
01:24:11.730 --> 01:24:15.970
And again, we can sit and talk about specs all day long.
01:24:16.130 --> 01:24:17.490
I've tried that approach.
01:24:17.730 --> 01:24:21.970
Uh, people usually remember it for about 30 seconds and then they forget.
01:24:22.290 --> 01:24:24.610
But um, that's what we're here for.
01:24:24.770 --> 01:24:25.970
Give us a call.
01:24:26.050 --> 01:24:29.490
Uh we're always more than willing to talk to you.
01:24:29.650 --> 01:24:34.610
If uh you know we don't answer your call the first time around, I'll guarantee you we'll call you back.
01:24:34.770 --> 01:24:38.450
Um, a lot of times I'll send you a text and just say, Hey, I'm on the phone, I'll call you back.
01:24:38.530 --> 01:24:43.250
Uh, but we'll we'll we'll always uh get to you and uh go from there.
01:24:43.330 --> 01:24:47.090
So and we always do have time to talk and and uh go from there.
01:24:47.170 --> 01:24:48.930
So feel free to give us a call.
01:24:49.010 --> 01:24:50.690
Uh we're open from 8 a.m.
01:24:50.850 --> 01:24:51.650
to 9 p.m.
01:24:51.890 --> 01:24:53.010
seven days a week.
01:24:53.170 --> 01:25:03.090
Uh we run some pretty long business hours, but uh um you can talk with me, you can talk with Garrett, you can talk to Drew, you can talk to Joe, you can talk to whoever you want.
01:25:03.250 --> 01:25:13.730
Uh, the people who answer the phones here are extremely knowledgeable when it comes to coyote hunting and calling and um all the thermals that we have.
01:25:13.970 --> 01:25:19.890
The one thing we won't do is if we don't have the answer, we will get you the answer.
01:25:20.130 --> 01:25:24.690
We won't tell you something that is wrong or just to answer the question.
01:25:24.850 --> 01:25:26.770
Um, you know, we will definitely find out.
01:25:26.850 --> 01:25:32.130
And I know, Drew, you said that I'm, you know, a wizard at all the different specs on these scopes and so forth.
01:25:32.210 --> 01:25:34.210
Man, there are so many out there now.
01:25:34.370 --> 01:25:46.370
I don't know anybody that can be the wizard for all of them, but there's times that that I will, you know, have a brain fart and I'll have to go back and and and look or whatever and and stuff like that.
01:25:46.610 --> 01:25:56.290
But uh um, you know, one of the things is is when we stare through all these thermals all day long, we can pretty much look at the the scopes and the specs and and tell you what it's gonna look like.
01:25:56.530 --> 01:26:00.450
The biggest thing with a lot of these scopes is all the little nuances of them.
01:26:00.610 --> 01:26:11.490
Um, a lot of people don't realize and they don't see it in the specs that when it doesn't have an internal battery, they don't realize that every time they replace a battery on a scope that they're gonna have to repower it back up.
01:26:11.650 --> 01:26:13.730
And it can, is it a bad thing?
01:26:13.890 --> 01:26:14.210
No.
01:26:14.450 --> 01:26:15.330
Is it terrible?
01:26:15.490 --> 01:26:16.770
No, is it the end of the world?
01:26:16.930 --> 01:26:17.650
Heck no.
01:26:17.890 --> 01:26:20.450
But at the end of the day, it's annoying, you know.
01:26:20.530 --> 01:26:30.290
And some people would prefer to have that internal battery to make sure that they don't lose any, you know, internal data or they don't lose anything and and go from there.
01:26:30.450 --> 01:26:48.770
So um, you know, uh there's there's little nuances to even the battery caps and you know, whether you can plug a magnetic uh cord into the side of the scope so that you don't rip the the the cord out of the the side of the scope and and cause damage and and stuff like that.
01:26:48.930 --> 01:26:55.490
So that's one of the things that is a big advantage to you know reaching out and uh just give us a call.
01:26:55.650 --> 01:27:04.930
Um, I have a lot of people that call me up or stop here at the shop and they are they got their mindset, they're like, man, this is the scope that I'm here to look at.
01:27:05.170 --> 01:27:12.770
And I will tell you 95% of the time they go home with something different because they realize that what they research wasn't the right thing.
01:27:12.930 --> 01:27:16.530
But um, yeah, give us a call and we'd be more than happy to help you out.
01:27:16.770 --> 01:27:18.130
Yeah, no, I agree.
01:27:18.290 --> 01:27:21.890
Uh, it always helps to see them talk to people who know the units.
01:27:21.970 --> 01:27:26.610
And if you're on the fence, call Jamie, he'll help you narrow in on what you need.
01:27:26.850 --> 01:27:31.090
So uh on that note, we will wrap it up.
01:27:31.330 --> 01:27:33.250
Jamie, I appreciate your time.
01:27:33.330 --> 01:27:44.370
Uh, everybody can come see us at the uh open season sportsmen's expo in the Dells uh March 27th to the 29th, and check these things out.
01:27:44.450 --> 01:27:48.370
You can check out these nuances and pick Jamie's brain, pick my brain.
01:27:48.530 --> 01:27:50.610
You want to talk calling, you want to talk hunting?
01:27:50.850 --> 01:27:55.170
Uh, we will have the whole crew there, and we'd love to see you guys.
01:27:55.330 --> 01:28:00.290
So Jamie's info is in the description, as always.
01:28:00.450 --> 01:28:05.650
If you guys haven't looked at it or haven't called, if this is your first time listening, uh check it out.
01:28:05.890 --> 01:28:08.050
And uh, Jamie, thanks.
01:28:08.130 --> 01:28:12.530
Uh it's always a pleasure getting to talk with you and hear about all these good things.
01:28:12.770 --> 01:28:13.570
Oh, thanks, bro.
01:28:13.730 --> 01:28:14.450
Appreciate it, man.
01:28:14.610 --> 01:28:15.250
Have a good one.
