HOW TO DECIDE BETWEEN A THERMAL SIGHT, A CLIP-ON OR BOTH?

1. BRIEF DISCLAIMER: At Basic Precision, we hunt with every device we sell. Our experience is based on a single use of a particular device and on the synergy of using them all. The purpose of this article is to share our experience, which we think can help our customers to make a choice, that fits their needs. The advice we give in this document is our personal opinion only, which is not necessarily an ultimate truth. Please choose a device, which you belive provides the best value for the money.   

2. SIMPLE AND EASY BREAKDOWN OF SOME HUNTING SCENARIOS, WHICH PREDETERMINE THE ADVANTAGES AND DISADVANTAGES OF USING A THERMAL SIGHT VS. A CLIP-ON.
   • You want to be mission-ready, no matter what the mission is. The best illustration of this scenario is the picture below. The green tone of the image is a side-effect of illuminating the scene with a green flashlight, which as some people believe, animals supposedly should not see.  After shooting a deer from a blind, right before the sunset, the suppressed .308 bolt-action rifle with a daytime scope was quickly re-equipped with a Clip-On for shooting a hog at night. It was a fast and easy switch, which only took one clip-on action. In other words, the pictured hog, which was shot from the same blind a couple of hours after the deer, is a bonus for having a Clip-On.
   • You already have a thermal sight and you are planning on buying a thermal monocular to spot your game: You may want to consider the fact that Hogster-C and Super Yoter-C Clip-Ons are convertible to high-end thermal monoculars with an eyepiece, which is included in the price. In other words, by spending just a little more than you would spend for a high-end thermal spotter, you are getting both: a high-end thermal spotter and a clip-on, which provides you with many more additional usage benefits described in some scenarios in this article.
   • You only stalk hogs or shoot them from blinds and you do not plan on buying a thermal monocular to spot them: We think you do not need a Clip-On. Any Hogster-family thermal sight will do the job. You may also want to avoid a Clip-On because you must have a daytime optics along with it, which adds to the total price and to the total weight of your rifle.
   • You shoot coyotes at medium distances (up to 300 - 400 yards). We think you may want to buy dedicated thermal scope Super Yoter. Premium 50 mm Germanium lenses, 640x480 pxl core resolution with 12μm pitch super sensitive VOx core, 3.0x – 12.0x magnification, regular crosshair and ballistic reticles will not let you down.
   • You do long-range predator control shooting from a tripod or you are a sharp-shooter practicing long-range shooting with your daytime optics and you want to apply your skills by surprising your game at night from a longer distance: You may want a thermal Clip-On. After being zeroed once on your daytime scope, a Clip-On becomes an invisible helper at night. You can use all your daytime scope settings and habits (clicks, reticles, mildots windage, etc.) in complete darkness. We successfully tested Super Yoter-C Clip-On at 1100 yards on a 20” round steel target, which was heated by the sun and was detectable by the Clip-On. Critics would say that this distance is far beyond any ethical night hunting range. Although, an experienced shooter using a Clip-On with an appropriate rifle and daytime scope combination should have no issues to place a vital zone night shot at 500-700 yards. Super Yoter-C Clip-On, being more advanced than Hogster-C, provides even longer and more accurate night shot capabilities.

Please do not hesitate to contact us with any additional questions you may have.