FINDING YOUR WAY WITH A THERMAL

People forget that the advent of new technology doesn't make old tech any less capable. Lamping works as well as ever, providing the same benefits – and drawbacks. But next-gen tech can offer something more, building on what's come before and delivering an enhanced shooting experience.

My own experience with night vision is limited. I bought a Gen 1 NV unit almost 20 years ago, and while it worked well enough for its day, it was offputtingly clumsy and power-hungry. I quickly retired the NV sight and went back to lamping, as it was a system I was used to.

I found it more effective and more enjoyable, as I'd lamp with a buddy. In the years that followed, the quality of NV units advanced, with thermal night vision optics starting to make an appearance at consumer level.

However, these were always out of my league, especially the thermal type. More recently, NV prices in general have been dropping in relative terms, and some thermal optics, like the InfiRay Saim SCP19W which comes in at less than £1,200, are deliberately placed at the lower end of the thermal financial spectrum, making them a more appealing proposition for the airgun shooter.

And when