TFB Review: Pulsar Thermion 2 XL50 LRF – HD Thermal Riflescope
This is a review of the Pulsar Thermion 2 XL50 LRF – HD Thermal Riflescope. The XL50 may look like its other siblings in the Thermion 2 LRF line-up, but it has all the superpowers that the others want. I’ve had the privilege of using various thermal rifle scopes and optics over the years. Each one has its strengths and weaknesses, but for about a year, I had the opportunity to field test the Pulsar Thermion 2 XL50 LRF. This review will cover my firsthand experience with a huge amount of images. This is Pulsar’s high-end thermal rifle scope, with an MSRP of $8,799.99 when it was introduced at SHOT Show.
Pulsar Thermal Rifle Scopes & Clip-Ons @ TFB:
TFB Review: Pulsar Thermion 2 XG50 LRF 3-24x Thermal Riflescope TFB Review: Pulsar Krypton 2 FXG50 Thermal Clip-On – Smaller, Lighter, More Powerful TFB Review: Pulsar Thermion DUO DXP50 Daytime & Thermal Riflescope TFB Review: Pulsar Talion XQ35 Pro Thermal Riflescope
Unboxing and First Impressions
Upon unboxing the Pulsar Thermion 2 XL50 LRF, you get a good impression from the packaging. Everything looks exclusive, and the body of the scope has a sleek design and robust construction. You can see that Pulsar chose high-quality materials that inspire confidence. Having owned several of the Thermion models before, I know they’re easy to use and very reliable.
Below: The American market loves the old Pulsar Trail model, but it’s time for a change to the new. The Bluetooth remote control works great, and I’d rather use that than the controls on the rifle scope itself. The remote control, as well as the LRF, is included, not optional.
XL50 Key Features
Advanced Thermal Imaging: The XL50’s HD thermal imaging sensor offers an exceptional resolution, with a Lynred-made 1024×768 @ 12 µm sensor. The NETD
Built-in Laser Rangefinder: One of the standout features of the Thermion 2 XL50 LRF is its integrated laser rangefinder. This feature provides precise distance measurements up to 1,000 meters, enabling more accurate shot placements. For a professional hunter, knowing the exact distance to your target is invaluable, and this scope delivers that critical information effortlessly unless it’s raining or very foggy. I don’t remember exactly, but I managed to range objects a few hundred meters further out than the specification.
User-Friendly Interface: The scope’s interface is user-friendly, with an intuitive menu system and easy-to-navigate controls. The adjustable reticle options and multiple color palettes allow for customization based on your specific hunting needs. What I don’t like is the scroll wheel and the push-button (enter button), as I now and then overtravel and enter the wrong value. It’s a bit irritating, but I keep reminding myself that my Apple TV remote does the exact same thing – maybe it comes down to my fingers?
Durability and Weather Resistance: Hunting often means braving rain, snow and other harsh weather conditions. The Thermion 2 XL50 LRF is built to withstand them all. It is waterproof, dustproof, and designed to operate in a wide range of temperatures.
Field Performance
The Pulsar Thermion 2 XL50 LRF always kept sharp and clear, allowing me to detect game even through dense foliage. The laser rangefinder worked flawlessly unless there was fog or rain in the way. The LRF provides accurate distance readings that significantly will improve your shot accuracy as long as you set it up properly.
Below: Here’s what the roe deer looked like in reality (thermal image taken with the Thermion 2, not the Axion shown).
The scope’s battery life is impressive, lasting through most of my hunting sessions without needing a recharge. If that’s not enough, you can buy extra batteries, or use an external USB C power source. The built-in video and photo recording capabilities are also a great addition, allowing me to capture and review my hunts in high-definition thermal imagery and share them here or on YouTube.
Already on the first night I was quite lucky to capture this magnificent red deer on video. 19 meters. The XL50 wasn’t zeroed yet. The performance is pretty nightastic!
Zeroing the Thermion 2 LRF XL50. The rifle is a Blaser in .300 WinMag, a very potent and accurate hunting rifle. We wanted to make sure everything was set up properly, and we got some help from Pulsar’s distributor.
Below is a thermal image of the shooting range.
Here’s what the shooting range looked like, except there’s an actual target in the iPhone image below. The range was 99 meters.
Zeroing in a few steps, using the instructions in the software of the rifle scope.
Below: We zeroed two Blaser R8s in 300 WinMag at 100 yards. They were so identical, so that this is the result, cold-barrel, from shooting one shot from each. Pretty crazy accurazy, and all done with the Thermion 2 XL50. Both Blasers could use the same ballistic setup in the software.
Below is an example of how the ballistic software works once it’s been setup. Laser the target, and the red cross gives you the hold-over. You have to hold for wind yourself.
Below: Mouflon sheep at 295 meters, shown with black hot. I would never ever make this shot, too far away and they were moving. But the red cross in the picture-in-picture shows your holdover. Luckily the scope was held in my hands only. Note the moose calf, taking a drink in the lake, to the left. The other black heat source is the moose cow.
It was pretty clear to me which mouflon was the male, but here’s an enhancement that should help. This is at 14x maximum magnification at about 300 meters away.
This is what the terrain looked like. It’s pretty impossible to spot the mouflon even with normal binoculars.
Some mouflon at much closer distance.
Below is another example of thermal image versus iPhone “reality”.
I cut out a piece of the picture I took with the iPhone of the same area, and I have to say the HD Thermal did a better job. You can see the ears of the moose cow inside the forest.
This was filmed by a friend who borrowed the XL50 for a night, so I’m not familiar at all with the animals here but most likely fallow deer there. Note how the ballistics software will give you accurate readings and hold-over.
Visiting a Wildlife Park
To increase my chances of seeing “wild” animals, I visited a wildlife park with mouflon, fallow and red deer as well as moose. You also get a sense of depth from the fences.
iPhone picture, from just a few meters, to take you back to what you’re really looking at. Red deer and fallow deer.
This was a loud one.
Meet Ted the moose and his family.
-“Hi there, Ted, we’re from The Firearm Blog”.
Practical advantage: The thermal imaging sensor detects even the slightest heat signatures, making it easier to spot game in various environments.
If you haven’t used a laser rangefinder for your thermal, it’s certainly time to begin. Estimating distances is hard enough with normal optics, and in the dark nothing gets easier. These deer were really close to me, but it was so dark that I couldn’t see them and vice versa.
The customizable reticle and color palette options cater to different hunting scenarios, from day to night and across different terrains.
It’s cold and I’m shaking, trying to free-hand the Thermion 2 so there may be some motion in these images.
Below: I know some don’t and argue against it, but I really like the possibility to have the widest field of view available. 1.75x is as low as the T2 XL50 HD goes.
And then you have the possibility to get a Picture in Picture to see the details. You can also zoom in in this box.
As I was filming these fallow deer, there was a bat that flew in front of me. It’s too fast to get a perfect image of it, I guess the video is interlacing. But it gives an idea of how sensitive Lynred’s sensor is.
All Thermion 2 LRF riflescopes have a Show Range function? When turned on, it displays the value of the measured distance in an additional window, located next to the rangefinder reticle. You can of course turn it off if you don’t like it for some reason, but I would recommend keeping it there.
These deer were very curious. I guess the wind and low light helped me out in not getting discovered – or they accepted me at this distance (more likely).
Below: As I approached these deers, a bird of prey left its hide but I managed to catch a glimpse of it.
The laser rangefinder ensures precise distance measurement, leading to better shot placement and higher success rates. Spending time looking for an animal that you hit in a bad place is no fun at all.
Below: The distance here is about 1250 meters.
Here is a video of the performance of the Thermion 2 LRF XL50.
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Below: Using the Telos LRF XL50 in conjunction with the Thermion 2 XL50 is a sweet experience. Why settle for one HD thermal when you can have two?
Conclusion
The Pulsar Thermion 2 XL50 LRF – HD Thermal Riflescope is a game-changer for professional hunters. Not only because of its HD thermal capability, but its excellent ballistic software and integrated laser rangefinder. Yes, it does take a while to set it up, but the reward is certainly worth it. It’s hard not to appreciate any of the Pulsars in the Thermion series, and this XL50 is on top of the food chain. Spending this much on any optic or hobby might seem crazy in itself, but Pulsars tend to retain their value well and mine have sold within weeks after my ad. For those looking to avoid products made in China, Pulsar is a reliable choice since they are manufactured in Europe, utilizing European thermal sensors made by Lynred in France.
Quality thermals make your wallet thin, but your rifle will get Superpowers. There are similar products on the market, and I have tried and reviewed a few of them. In my opinion, no other thermal rifle scope integrates all of the features so well.
Pulsar Thermion 2 XL50 LRF HD Thermal Riflescope
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