A surprising new thermal the Pulsar Axion XQ30 Pro
Last month, I outlined the advantages of using a hand-held thermal monocular on DOC managed land. Just to recap, they are:
- Safer target identification
- Carcass and wounded animal recovery
- Pre hunt reconnaissance
- Spotting and stalking
This month I would like to discuss the new Pulsar Axion XQ30 Pro thermal monocular that is manufactured in Pulsar’s new factory in Latvia.
This thermal is the lowest priced in Pulsar’s range and ideally suited for bush stalking and general hunting. The New Zealand Police recently evaluated the Axion XQ30 Pro and purchased 16 units, which is testament to its performance and Pulsar’s reputation amongst professional users.
Pulsar Axion evolution The original Pulsar Axion XM30 was launched in 2019, becoming an immediate success with hunters due to its ultra-compact size and entry-level cost. All XM Axions were fitted with a Lynred 320×240 12μm sensor, while the new Axion XQ30 Pro is fitted with a Lynred 384×288 17μm <25mK sensor. This is a significant performance upgrade, providing better image quality and deeper foliage, rain and mist penetration.
Other hardware features include a Mg-alloy housing that is robust, fully waterproof with excellent internal heat dissipation, precision ground 30mm f1.2 Germanium lens, AMOLED 640×480 display and a lens cap that magnetically attaches to the hand strap to keep it out of the way while in use. Its operational functions are now the same as all other Pulsar thermals, such as video recording and streaming, updatable firmware, multiple colour palettes to name a few.
The device is powered by an APS3 battery, which is easily removed by pressing a button on the front of the unit. Run time for a battery is over 6 hours in winter, though extra batteries are modestly priced, last many recharging cycles and will keep you hunting for longer.
The Axion is very light and compact, while the ergonomics are very good with easy-to-use control buttons, precise objective and ocular lens focussing, and a comfortable hand-strap. Its small size is easily slipped into a pocket and its build quality is typical Pulsar, solid and very refined.
What it is good for
The Axion XQ30 Pro has a 2x magnification and a field-of-view suitable for use in bush, forestry and farmland. It is very handy when walking long distances without taking up much space.
The image quality is the best that I’ve yet seen in an Axion, very similar to its higher cost stablemate the Axion 2 XQ35 which uses the same sensor. I spotted cattle at +1Km, rats at +100m and possums at +200m, though to be fair, it was a little misty at the time. At these distances, the respective animals were small ‘blobs’, but identification was made by the way each animal moved. I was impressed because the performance exceeded my expectations, having used the previous Axion XM30 models many times.
Observing my son walking in native bush at around 60m, I could clearly see him as an upright walking critter, despite him being invisible to my naked eye. There is no way that I could have mistaken him for a deer. The Axion’s new Lynred sensor certainly gets my thumbs-up for foliage penetration.
What it is not good for
Distance performance is limited, so if you need to spot and identify animals at greater distance, there are better options in the Pulsar line. Long distance performance requires larger optics and/or a bigger sensor. Safety is foremost and it’s the hunter who pulls the trigger, not the optic. Bide your time, get closer and identify your target beyond doubt.
The Axion’s lack of a laser rangefinder is not such a problem in daylight when an optical laser rangefinder can be used. On private land at night, the Axion’s interactive stadiametric rangefinder is sufficient for shooting deer with a flat shooting rifle at closer distance; simply preset the range and approach until the animal fits the stadia marks.
If a laser rangefinder is an important consideration, the Pulsar Axion 2 LRF XQ35 or Telos LRF XQ35 are better alternatives.
My conclusion
I’m lucky in that I have access to a wide range of Pulsar thermals, ranging in price from the Axion up to the ‘high-end’ Merger LRF XL50. I like them all in their own unique way, but if I’m out walking around my own property, long distance performance is less important than foliage and inclement weather performance. My paddock is around 375m long and the rest of the property is a mix of plantation forest, native bush and tracks, perfect territory for the Axion XQ30 Pro.
At $2599, the Axion XQ30 Pro is excellent value-for-money, very well built and like its predecessors, will provide many years of reliable service.
