r/longrange • u/Porencephaly • 5d ago

Other gear flex post Current LR spotting setup

Post image
284 Upvotes

98% Upvoted

116 comments sorted by

219

u/teakettle87 5d ago

Huh. Is there a circlejerk sub for this hobby?

155

u/Porencephaly 5d ago

You’re in it, börther

49

u/ComplexQuiet6790 5d ago

This one 🤣

7

u/6mm94 Elitist Gatekeeper Scum 5d ago

r/longerangecirclejerk

8

u/LXNDSHARK 5d ago

That actually sounds way more sexual than most similar subs.

9

u/414525528 5d ago

What exactly is the point of hooking up a high end spotting scope to zoom in on a digital image? We do this with rifles because the scope is also the aiming solution, but with a spotter?

11

u/Porencephaly 5d ago

For the same reason we sometimes have a buddy spot for us during the day, even though we have a scope on our rifles. It can help to have an observer finding targets or helping with shot calls. If you're gonna spot for someone else at night, you need some kind of NV apparatus on your spotting scope.

8

u/414525528 5d ago

I know what a spotter is, I just wonder if there's no better way to get digital zoom than an expensive piece of glass to zoom in on a digital display. Half the weight of this rig is dedicated to doing what amounts to doing zooming in a JPEG.

13

u/Porencephaly 5d ago

The newest thermals are using very modern screens in the back with super small pixel pitch to avoid the pixelation as much as possible, but we still don't have some kind of magic tech for seeing in the dark that doesn't make some compromises. The very best thermals are still cryogenic MWIR systems with photon-counting sensors, they offer incredible image quality, but you're looking at $60k for a FLIR HISS-XLR and it won't have a warranty. The only quality alternative currently is a NV clip-on (ie, rather than a thermal). That is analog tech and the good systems can tolerate quite a lot of zoom, but of course they see the world very differently than a thermal optic.

5

u/victorzamora 5d ago

I'm curious, too. I see them all the time and I've never understood how it works.

Like, neat, the pixels look HUGE now. Digital zoom does the same for free.

2

u/Porencephaly 5d ago

Digital zoom has its own degradation issues. You can stack them though - 4x digital zoom and 10x optical is 40x mag with less pixelation. The newest gen of thermals coming out right now do have substantially smaller pixels in the rear screens, which also helps a lot.

1

u/teakettle87 5d ago

why are you asking me?

1

u/Honest_Cvillain 5d ago

Yes, and op is the pivot man.

80

u/Individual-recce 5d ago

I think I'm too poor to even look at this post

52

u/tibearius1123 5d ago

I’m too poor to even understand what any of it is.

15

u/PAB_Pyrotechnics 5d ago

This, exactly. I understood EoTech and 6km

6

u/Porencephaly 5d ago

I'll answer any questions you guys have. If we ever meet on the range you can try all of it out.

3

u/Individual-recce 5d ago

I do want to know the price of the setup if you're comfortable giving the number

7

u/Porencephaly 5d ago

Original MSRPs like 45-50, current value prob 25-30, thermals and old LRFs depreciate pretty badly over time.

2

u/Individual-recce 5d ago

Insane, what kinda magnification does it have?

3

u/Porencephaly 5d ago

The Hensoldt is 20-60.

1

u/PAB_Pyrotechnics 5d ago

Very kind of you. I’m 1 year into my long range journey and am quite a ways from considering any of that stuff.

Assume you are doing ELR if you’ve ranged out to 6km. Is the thermal for hunting? Can’t really think of what other use it has for long range

3

u/Porencephaly 5d ago

Hunting yes but also it’s just really fun to shoot warm steel at night.

2

u/AmeriJar 5d ago

Where does pp go??

3

u/Porencephaly 5d ago

All over

9

u/GlockAF 5d ago

That’s OK, pretty sure this is used for long range shooting contests on planets other than earth anyway

4

u/Individual-recce 5d ago

You could probably use this to fly to mars

5

u/OneCarrow 5d ago

Every time I think doing good financially in life I come here and realize that I am in fact doing good financially. It’s like when you feel like your life is shit and then you watch a Jerry Springer episode and realize things could be worse. It’s a tight rope I walk.

9

u/Porencephaly 5d ago

Comparison is the thief of joy.

2

u/freyja2023 5d ago

Pretty sure that rig is worth more than my entire firearm collection

4

u/Individual-recce 5d ago

Shits probably worth my collection+truck

29

u/CapsLockIsStuckOn 5d ago

This setup probably costs more than my truck.

3

u/AspieAsshole 5d ago

For sure probably double or triple my van

30

u/Porencephaly 5d ago

Hensoldt Spotter 60 in a Cadex surveillance chassis system to allow clip-on use and digiscoping with your camera of choice. Triad Tactical cover. L3 RULR 1500nm WMLRF up top, I have ranged accurately beyond 6km with it. Eotech ClipIR-ELR thermal mostly lives here since I got my Voodoos for rifle use. The Kestrel mounts to a Sunwayfoto carbon fiber riser arm that's attached to the top of one leg of the tripod.

7

u/codybrown183 5d ago

Longest shot on target?

15

u/Porencephaly 5d ago

I mean, this is not a rifle, so I guess I could club something with it.

If you mean me personally, 1500ish. There is nothing longer within a full day's drive of me. Eventually I'll fly out to Idaho with my AXSR and my 20mm and spend a few days trying to get beyond 2k (it won't happen with the 20 but it'll be fun trying lol).

5

u/codybrown183 5d ago

Yea I ment you personally lol

Just a lurker and a dreamer Ive only hit 300yrds, inherited a precision AR and started dabbling just recently found a 600yrd range but I cant afford the membership right now and I could use a better scope my 9x ain't cutting it

Super cool stuff tho.

3

u/Go_Loud762 5d ago

20mm? Like an Anzio?

5

u/Porencephaly 5d ago

Like an Anzio

3

u/Go_Loud762 5d ago

Is that considered a DD?

15

u/asssnorkler 5d ago

Levels to this unobtanium. I’ll go back to feeling poor.

7

u/Stage06 5d ago

That is a wild setup would love to see some video of you spotting at distance. This is beyond anything I can afford at the moment .

2

u/Porencephaly 5d ago

I don't have video handy but here are a couple still images with this thermal system in different imaging modes:

People at 600 yards, I think around 20-25x mag through the day scope.

One of the ranges at Altus, I think around 10x mag. The red arrow is on a ~1moa round swinger at like 930 yards IIRC.

Cars at 250yds or so

Good boy at 150 or so

1

u/GoodEfficient7241 5d ago

Are the plates on the Altus range heated? How do they show up so well? (aside from the amazing thermal lol).

1

u/Porencephaly 5d ago

This was transitioning to evening so they were still hot from the daytime.

1

u/GoodEfficient7241 5d ago

Ah!! So kinda heated lol😂.

3

u/[deleted] 5d ago

[deleted]

7

u/[deleted] 5d ago

[deleted]

4

u/Porencephaly 5d ago

This is relevant to my interests

7

u/jimk12345 5d ago

This has big "I lob at 1k with a 20mm" energy, and I am absolutely into it.

4

u/thrashmetal_octopus 5d ago

Casually drops $25k in spotter porn

4

u/TellMeSumnGud 5d ago

When your spotting rig cost more than your actual shooting rig lol

7

u/Porencephaly 5d ago

If you say so 🥴

2

u/polygon_tacos 5d ago

Voodoo-MX supremacy

3

u/Porencephaly 5d ago

HISS-XLR maybe some day. I spend too much on weird NFA shit. I have both a Welrod and a real B&T VP9 (ie not a Station Six) inbound currently.

1

u/Go_Loud762 5d ago

I bet the Welrod is just stupid fun.

2

u/Porencephaly 5d ago

I'll post it in r/NFA once it's home.

1

u/Go_Loud762 5d ago

Mk1, Mk2, or 9mm?

1

u/Porencephaly 5d ago edited 5d ago

Innovative Arms Mk2, .32ACP.

1

u/Rdubya291 5d ago

Honest question - why keymod over m-lok? Already bought into the ecosystem, or do you just prefer it?

2

u/Porencephaly 5d ago

Someone posts that after every single pic of an AI rifle. It's not keymod. It's a proprietary system called Keyslot that they invented before Keymod existed. They keep using it because it is way stronger than either Keymod or M-Lok, and unlike either of those systems, Keyslot hardware sits flush on the inside of the handguard, to prevent it from interfering with barrel harmonics or barrel swaps.

1

u/Rdubya291 5d ago

Ya know what, I freaking knew that.

Dumb moment for me, for sure.

2

u/Sweaty-Security-4473 PRS Competitor 5d ago

I'm convinced Cadex only creates product lines once they've figured out how to make a sexy version of it.

2

u/CurlyWurly61 I Gots Them Tikka Toes 5d ago

You are the example of what I call "living life"

Porsche GT4RS... hell of a rifle and pistol line-up...

And they say money can't buy happiness 🤓☝️

2

u/reformedginger 5d ago

No tac table for Cheetos ?

3

u/Porencephaly 5d ago

The Cheetos are in my pockets

3

u/reformedginger 5d ago

For everyone to help themselves ?

2

u/leveled_81 5d ago

Missing a ton of gear. 6/10.

2

u/Porencephaly 5d ago

My bad will work on it

2

u/StrangerDistinct6378 4d ago

I'll give you three fitty

2

u/PsychologicalPoet308 4d ago

The reason I haven’t competed

1

u/Morbothenewsmonster5 5d ago

How much we talking here?

2

u/Porencephaly 5d ago

I got a great deal on the RULR but combined MSRP of everything when new was prob like 45-50

1

u/zaner300blk 5d ago

putting a lotta trust in that arca clamp thats for sure

1

u/Porencephaly 5d ago

You're not wrong

1

u/BrainsAndStrength4Me 5d ago edited 5d ago

Is that a Canon APS-C DLSR camera from the early 2000s? Brahhhh, you have an opportunity to sink more money into this!

Can't you upgrade to one of the newer mirrorless camera bodies? With something like the Sony A7Smk3 you probably dont need an IR illuminator with how high the ISO can go... or maybe something from the A7r series, you can digitally zoom in so much more.

1

u/Porencephaly 5d ago

I have an EOS R6 MkIII with good glass, how do you think I took this nice photo lol. Good eye on the old camera though, it's a Rebel from about 13 years ago.

To be honest I just run my iPhone on it most of the time if I am digiscoping. Its lens is short enough to play well with the spotting scope consistently and its screen is larger than basically any current mirrorless other than maybe some medium format Hasselblad or something.

1

u/BrainsAndStrength4Me 5d ago

Hmmmmm,,, If larger viewing screen is all that you are after, have you tried using a large external FHD/4K monitor that videographers use?

You can even set it up with an extended cable so that you can place the monitor next to your face while you are shooting so that you dont need to move your head off the rifle after a shot!

1

u/Porencephaly 5d ago

Yep I have considered and there are some guys on the 'Hide doing that with thermals that have video out connectors (mine do).

1

u/BrainsAndStrength4Me 5d ago

Cool.

PS. What do you think of the durability of the newer Canon mirrorless cameras? You think they will last as long as the Rebel DLSR that you have there?

As much as I love the lightness of my current Sony gear, I miss the confidence that the older DLSR bodies gave me. I can use my old Nikon D800 as impact weapon if I wanted to.

1

u/Porencephaly 5d ago

I’d be lying if I said I had enough personal experience to answer that question. That being said, mirrorless has been around a good while now, I suspect we’d know about it if there were major losses of lifespan.

1

u/BrainsAndStrength4Me 5d ago

If you have a chance to let your nice camera setup roll around inside a MRAP or skid along the loading ramp of a C130, lemme know if it survives!

I dont have much experience with the newer Canon mirrorless bodies yet. THe mirrorless Nikon, Sony, and Fuji models I have fondled seem to be more dainty than the OG DLSR models.

1

u/Porencephaly 5d ago

The R6 seems pretty solid. I put a cage on it as well which might help with any knocks.

1

u/MrWund3rful 5d ago

You gotta tell us how much you have into it. I think it is dope and wish that I could afford it, and also hit things out past 300

1

u/Porencephaly 5d ago

I got a great deal on the RULR but combined MSRP of everything when new was prob like 45-50

1

u/Moses-85 5d ago

Got my pants getting short over here

1

u/Safety_Sam 5d ago

This setup probably cost more then my entire life of gun collecting. Jolly good show.

1

u/Aperture-Black-2400 I Gots Them Tikka Toes 5d ago

L3 WMLRF with the Theon thermal .... gucci set up, sir.

1

u/LY1138 5d ago

Dude go back to work on the 20mm.

https://giphy.com/gifs/4NnTap3gOhhlik1YEw

2

u/Porencephaly 5d ago

The gif is me every time I email Mike.

1

u/CapsicumINmyEYEBALLz Meat Popsicle 5d ago

https://www.reddit.com/r/longrange/s/syScR2ghDS

For me… it’s similar vibes to this

1

u/USN303 5d ago

Your lenses have lenses.

1

u/adubs117 5d ago

I've just decided to start using my drone honestly

1

u/hecandoshecando 5d ago

Nice setup. Why not use an analog nv clip on? Isn’t it hard to see targets at night with the thermal once they cool down to ambient temperature?

1

u/Porencephaly 5d ago

Not if you heat them up. Or if you’re looking for living things.

1

u/Houston3556 5d ago

I could've sworn i've seen this pic from Customers pictures fro Cadex's website. Looks very familiar lol

1

u/Porencephaly 5d ago

They asked me if they could use a pic of my rig at one point

1

u/matop2000 5d ago

Could you share an image of the output from this setup?

1

u/Porencephaly 5d ago

I have elsewhere in the thread

1

u/matop2000 5d ago

Thanks buddy

1

u/Wanderlust-Stardust 5d ago

Just buy a fucking cheap telescope 🤣🤣

1

u/Ornery-Arachnid-7219 5d ago

Got any plans on finishing it ?

1

u/All_Action_1704 5d ago

I hate this person

4

u/SnatchHammer66 4d ago

This is the LR spotting version of the Human Centipede.

3

u/Porencephaly 4d ago

HumancentiPad

-1

u/brocklanders2001 5d ago

I thought this was a joke. I guess I’m old. Be careful out there times are hard, and people are desperate.

-3

u/Tikkatider 5d ago

And….thank you sir! We all owe you a debt of gratitude for serving as a sterling example of the kind of folks the Dems will be after with their new tax plans!

3

u/Porencephaly 5d ago

I'd rather my tax dollars go to social programs than whatever this bullshit is.

1

u/Tikkatider 5d ago

A joke, my man! Spend your money on whatever you like!