Pulsar Talion XQ35 Thermal Riflescope Review

INTRO/METHOD

If you’ve done any hunting (or any rifle shooting, for that matter), you know that the optics you use can make all the difference in how successful you are at hitting your target. My first experience with night hunting was chasing wild hogs. When I first started, we used the standard setup of mounting a green light to the scope. When we heard something rustling through the leaves or eating corn, we aimed in that direction, flipped the light on, and started hoping. First, we hoped that the sound we heard was actually a pig. Second, we hoped the light wouldn’t spook the hog and make it run off. After too many spooked pigs and failed opportunities with the green light, we knew something had to give. We shifted to digital night vision scopes and had much better success. Then we saw them – thermal optics! Once we had the chance to look through a few different thermal scopes at some events, I knew I had to get my hands on some and try them out. We were able to get our hands on this Pulsar Talion XQ35 and run it through our testing.

PRODUCT DESCRIPTION

Thermal scopes are another amazing night-hunting tool that differs from digital night vision scopes. Night vision scopes rely on infrared illumination to see the target, whereas scopes like the Talion XQ35 use thermal sensors to detect temperature – or, more correctly, infrared radiation. The color variations seen in the viewer are created by the differences detected in the temperatures between objects. Living, breathing creatures typically generate more heat than objects in the environment, so a body will have a different visible heat signature – making it easy to see animals. Plus, thermal scopes are just as effective during the day and night, whereas a night-vision-only scope won’t do you much good during the day.

The Pulsar Talion XQ35 is one of Pulsar’s mid-level thermal rifle scope offerings. Pulsar has been well known for several years for the quality of its digital night vision and thermal optics, so the fact that the Talion XQ35 isn’t one of their higher-level optics doesn’t mean it’s not impressive.

If you’ve been looking for a thermal optic that won’t completely break the bank, let’s discuss why this may be the scope for you.

KEY FEATURES/BENEFITS

The Talion XQ35 from Pulsar has many outstanding features that make it stand out from the crowd.

• Magnesium Alloy Housing

The housing is made from magnesium alloy. This material is ideal for ensuring the scope is lightweight (weighing only 1.5 pounds with the battery) while still providing structural strength, resulting in improved durability. Interestingly, the magnesium is also designed to pull heat away from the device’s electronic inner workings, keeping it functioning longer and providing better accuracy. The Talion also has an IPX7 waterproof rating, protecting it from rain and even immersion for a short time. 

• Thermal Sensor

The thermal sensor is one of the most critical features of any thermal optic. The Talion XQ35 uses a <25 mK NETD sensor. You may be wondering what that means in terms of detection and clarity.

NETD stands for Noise Equivalent Temperature Difference, a measure of the smallest difference in temperature that the sensor can detect. The lower the number (measured in mK), the better. A lower NETD sensor will be more sensitive and have greater clarity, especially in rainy, snowy, or foggy environments where the temperature variations may not be as significant. The <25 mK sensor is considered an “excellent” quality sensor, so the Talion XQ35 should generate high-quality images.

Most of our hunting is within a couple hundred yards, so the sensor on this optic is impressive enough to clearly see and identify objects/animals/potential targets within that range. I am always amazed by the amount of detail you can see with a thermal optic, and this one is no different.

• Resolution

Sensor resolution is another key piece of the image clarity equation when combined with the thermal sensor we’ve already discussed. Higher-resolution optics will produce higher-quality images as with a television or computer screen.

The Talion XQ35 uses a 384×288 microbolometer sensor. The images aren’t going to be as clear as those you will see with higher-end Pulsar scopes such as the Thermion 2 LRF XL50, which has a 1024×768 microbolometer sensor. The Talion XQ35 also has a higher pixel pitch of 17µm than the Thermion 2 (12µm). With pixel pitch, a lower number is also better, but at 17µm, clarity should still be quite good.

• Detection Range of 1480 Yards

The documented detection range is the distance an adult-sized object can be detected. This means that you should be able to see a person or larger game animal almost one mile away – even in no-light conditions. The identifiable range will be less than that, but you should still be able to detect what type of living creature you’re looking at several hundred yards away. This also means that mid-to-long-range shots should be possible as well.

• Eight Color Palettes

The Talion XQ35 boasts eight color palettes. Some of the palettes, such as red monochrome, sepia, and violet, work great in situations that could involve long-term observation. These colors create less stress on the eyes, allowing you to look at the screen longer with less discomfort.

The black hot, white hot, and red hot are ideal for detecting living creatures. These colors have enough quickly recognizable contrast that the white, black, or red should stand out easily.

The color palette most people recognize is the rainbow palette. This palette shows a variety of colors and is most often portrayed in movies and TV. Due to the variety of colors, the rainbow and ultramarine palettes are better suited for identifying what you are looking at.

After testing out all of the palettes, I recommend using each one to determine your preference. The rainbow palette is the one we have used most often. We like that we can see all the variations of colors that seem to make the animal stand out a little better. When hunting, though, I wonder if the white-hot may be better, as the reticle should stand out better against the white target.

• 10 reticles in 9 colors

Speaking of reticles, the Talion XQ35 also has 10 reticle options in nine colors. Red is the color most often used in reflex sights and illuminated rifle scopes, so my eye is used to looking for it. Red also stands out well against most colors – especially in white hot mode – so I tend to prefer a red reticle.

The variety of reticle options is also very nice because you can test out several and find your favorite. Options range from a single illuminated small cross, circle dot, or circle dot with lines up to Mil-Dot scalable reticles that are more commonly seen on long-range scopes. With all of the options available, you should be able to zero in on your favorite reticle style and color (pun intended).

• Picture in Picture Mode

Picture-in-Picture (PIP) mode is another feature I like about this scope. In PIP mode, the display takes the 10% of the screen where the reticle is and zooms in on it. This feature is great because you can see your target magnified and much more clearly, but you’re not zooming in on your whole screen. Leaving the rest of the screen zoomed out lets you see what is happening around your target. So you can see if another animal comes into view. Plus, with the main screen zoomed out, you can see what happens to your target after the shot is taken should it run.

• 5 Individual Shooting Profiles

The Talion XQ35 allows you to save your zero settings in one of five shooting profiles. If you want to keep the scope on the same gun but zero it with different loads, you can do that. You can also move the scope between guns and save those profiles as well. When you switch rifles, make sure you put the scope back on in the same place and simply switch profiles. Plus, each of those shooting profiles allows you to zero up to 10 shooting distances, so you should be able to know your aim point from just about anywhere.

• Rechargeable Battery

The Talion XQ35 is powered by a Pulsar APS5T rechargeable battery. Pulsar states this battery should provide up to nine hours of use on a single charge. First of all, that should be plenty of time for a hunt. When finished, simply plug it into the charger for the next time. Secondarily, you can purchase additional batteries if you cannot access a charger during or between hunts. Plus, it is compatible with USB-C external battery packs.

I also want to mention one design feature of the battery compartment that I like. Changing the battery in a thermal optic is often done in darkness, which can get tricky, but Pulsar has made it easy. You slide an easy-to-find lock lever over, flip up the compartment lid, and use the “handle” on top to remove it. The battery also has a groove to ensure proper insertion. All of these steps can be easily accomplished without having to see the scope.

• Records Photos and Videos

The Talion XQ35 uses a 1024×768 AMOLED display, so you can see clear images when looking through the screen. In addition, the scope has an onboard camera that takes high-quality photos and videos. I enjoy being able to refer back to video footage if I ever have a question about a shot. Plus, having recorded memories of our really cool hunting experiences is also pretty fun. This scope’s record function makes both of those things much easier.

• On Board Internal Memory

Another great feature that works with the onboard camera is that this scope has a 16GB internal memory, so all of your videos and photos are recorded directly to the scope. You no longer have to remember to put the micro SD card back in the scope. I’ve missed recording more than one hunt or scouting trip because an SD card was sitting on a counter at home, so I really appreciate this.

To view or download your images, you simply plug your scope into your computer and move the files to your storage device. Then, you delete them and format the scope, and you’re ready for the next time.

• WiFi (Stream Vision 2 App)

Another way to view and/or move your files is through the Stream Vision 2 app. The scope connects to your phone (or other smart device/tablet) via internal WiFi. Once connected, you can view files on your phone and choose which ones you want to download directly to your device.

The Stream Vision 2 app also has a lot of other great uses and features. When your scope is connected to the app, you can also use your phone as a live viewer. With this function, you can watch what your scope sees without getting down at the eyepiece. Or, someone else at your party can see what you see.

Several other functions can be adjusted through the app as well. From the main screen, you can record a video or take a photo. You can also change the same settings that can be changed by looking through the scope. I think that using the app is easier because you don’t have to look through the eyepiece while pushing the buttons on top of the scope. Plus, a phone screen is a little easier on the eyes.

SPECS

WHY WOULD YOU BUY?

The Talion XQ35 is a smart way to get started in the thermal scope game. It has many great features that make it stand out from other scopes on the market. Even though the thermal sensor in the Talion XQ35 isn’t as sensitive as the sensors in the optics from their Thermion line, this offering from Pulsar is still worth looking at. With a 384×288 @17µm (NETD<25) thermal sensor, image quality is certainly high enough to meet most people’s needs in various hunting scenarios.

The Talion XQ35 has several great qualities, but it also has a few drawbacks.

If you found this review helpful, and plan on purchasing one – the best place to purchase is Amazon Prime.

PROS 

• Amazing image quality! The thermal sensor and resolution provide fantastic image quality
• Onboard camera for recording photos and videos
• Internal onboard memory – no additional memory cards are required
• Multiple choices for the thermal color palette, reticle, and reticle color provide the shooter with a highly customizable optic
• Able to set up multiple shooting profiles with several zero distances
• Rechargeable battery provides up to nine hours of run time
• IPX7 waterproof with a magnesium alloy housing for durability and weather protection
• Can be used with multiple calibers – even up to heavy hitters up to 6000 joules or recoil
• Compatible with several mounting options using the included mount – no rings needed

 CONS

• Thermal optics are not cheap. Even though the Talion XQ35 is toward the lower end of Pulsar’s price range, its MSRP is still $2,699.97.
• If you are looking for the “best of the best” thermal optics, this is not it. The thermal sensor on their Thermion line is better.
• Hunting with a thermal scope is not legal in all states. Check your state’s regulations before using one.

FINAL THOUGHTS

If you hunt at night—or plan to—you should definitely consider a thermal optic. Unlike digital night vision scopes, thermal scopes don’t need an additional illuminator “flashlight,” which cuts down on weight, bulk, and batteries. Thermal optics also work equally well during the day and night, helping spot living creatures much more easily than the naked eye in any condition.

The Talion XQ35 is a high-quality thermal riflescope that increases your chances of successfully taking night predators or feral swine without being detected. Spotting a potential game animal over 1,400 yards away and identifying it beyond shooting range gives you the advantage of determining a possible stalking plan in more open country. Plus, with the quality of the thermal sensor and viewing screen, you should be able to make a clear assessment and take a high-quality shot in close quarters as well.

The Talion XQ35 has several great features that make it worth considering. With eight color palettes and 10 reticles in nine colors, you can customize your viewing screen to fit your needs. Plus, it gives you the option of five shooting profiles for easy transition between loads or guns. Even more, you can record high-quality photos and videos directly to your internal memory and stream them to your phone. With all of those benefits, maybe you should take another look!