Rattler V2 TS 19-256

Let me get this out of the way, first: the mount uses 1/4”-20 thread. If you’re a photographer, you know that means you can adapt this optic to any camera-related accessories. From tripods to grips, cheese plates and supports… you can build a pistol grip and shoulder stock combo for extra hand-held stability with long range identification. If you never intend to mount it to a firearm, you can bolt an ARCA plate to it and clamp it to nearly any type of support you can imagine. Got an ATV? Mount it to the roll cage using a “magic arm” and clamp… and now you have a heads up, thermal monocular you can swing out of the way, when needed. It’s a bit heavy and bulky for helmet use though, IMO. I can’t complain about anything with the optic; it’s excellent. Just be sure to download the app for your platform, update the firmware and refine the settings to suit your preference. Wear any eyewear you use daily and set the diopter at the eyepiece. After that, just use the ring on the objective end to focus. I guess my only complaint would be the base 3.5x… I’d prefer something wider but I’ll gladly take the telephoto resolution given; it’s excellent. I was surprised to see a second battery in the kit, which is really good value, especially since it doesn’t accept OTC batteries. The ability to turn off the WiFi connection is greatly appreciated as it saves power, but most importantly, reduces your overall signature by keeping stray RF radiation to a minimum… radiation that can easily be traced back to your position with any smartphone. My only niggles would be regarding the case. I think most of us would’ve preferred a waterproof hard case, but that’s so far down the complaint list that I include it only to show that nothing is perfect. The other side of me is happy a quality, albeit not waterproof, case is even included. I solved this with a $40 Vault case from a certain bird-themed brand. If you rifle mount it, I highly recommend the ADM/AGM-2111 double QR clamp mount instead of the one included. Also, since you’ll likely be popping it on and off as needed, a “MOLLE insulated bottle carrier” works well in storing and protecting the optic while in the field. It reminds me of my time in service at the turn of the century, looking enviously at the air commandos equipped with PAS-13 LWTOs, long before every rifle was issued with an optic. This is an excellent second gen thermal optic for us plebes. High quality, rugged, with excellent value and a complete kit that’s ready to rock, no additional purchases required. Every Rattler TS kit includes the case, shoulder strap, optic, USB A to C cable, US and Euro wall adapters, battery charger, 2 batteries and a lens cloth.

I LOVE THIS THERMAL! I live in Florida, and I purchased this for hogs. I usually shoot anywhere from 10-50 yards. I’ll tell you, I have dropped many hogs since purchasing this. The clarity is awesome for being a budget thermal. It does everything I need. The price point has me looking to purchase another one so I can invite a friend to the swamp for a late night hunt. I purchased another upper for specific thermal needs. I replace the uppers on my Bushmaster AR15, and I go from lpvo to thermal. It has held zero perfectly. This optic has quick connect mounts, so you can use as a monocular when you just need to look for hot spots.

The value that this scope offers is amazing. When purchasing this scope, I had the opportunity to also try the TS25-384 (v1) and TS25-256 (v1) also offered from AGM. Comparing this to the more expensive TS25-384 (about $700 more at the time of this review), there were only 2 negatives. First, the 384 thermal sensor does offer a slightly sharper image, especially at closer (sub-25 yard) distances. Second, the 384 has a lower base zoom and therefore a wider field of view. For my purposes, the wider field of view while also maintaining a sharper image is definitely noticeable and preferred. However, at almost double the price, I don't think the performance per dollar increase is worth it. One exception, that might make the lower zoom and higher resolution worth it is if you plan to also use this scope for home inspections as you can see things like studs and screws a lot clearer when you are within a few yards of a wall. On the flip side, with the V2's increased base zoom and increased thermal sensitivity (from 17um to 12um) at almost half the price, it's a great value option. If raw performance is your goal, the TS384 is still a great scope. I'm sure the V2 384s are even better for a few hundred more. Lastly, although the rechargeable battery does make the V2 slightly heavier and larger on paper, using them side by side, it wasn't really noticeable. Although other reviews have listed the rechargeable as a win over the V1's CR123 (which can be purchased as rechargeables at about 1/2 the single use capacity), I don't think you can discount the advantage of having a practically limitless power via a pack of CR123s. If you won't have access to power for an extended time, single use batteries might be an advantage. Comparing the V2 to the TS25-256 V1 wasn't even close. The biggest noticeable difference was the refresh rate. After having used the 50Hz on the 384v1 and this scope, the 256v1 seemed clunky and jittery. In addition, with the 265v2 scopes now coming with the same 5-year warranty as the 384/640 scopes instead of the v1's 3-year warranty, I can't see a good reason to purchase the 265v1 even at the current discount of $150 off). The controls can take a bit of getting used to but the manual did a pretty good job at explaining the various functions. My biggest con (if you can even really consider it a real con) is that I wish the buttons had at least the option to program a custom operation. I'm sure that could be addressed in a firmware update, but even without, the scope is a solid purchase. I have also noticed that the measure function is extremely sensitive to shaking so using it in a handheld configuration (while trying to press the button) can be very tricky and cause pretty large discrepancies. The remote view is really nice and doesn't just allow you to see what the scope is seeing, but also adjust some of the settings (brightness, contrast, color palette, etc.), start and stop recording, and remotely view the captured media. I also changed a few settings that seem to have made the scope a more solid experience. First, switching from recognition to jungle will help in dense foliage. Second, switching the FFC (flat field correction, aka the shutter click) from Auto to Semi-Auto would be a must for hunting (which is actually recommended in the manual as well). While the Auto mode does give you a 5-second overlay warning (if you notice). There's nothing worst than the FFC triggering right before or during the trigger pull. I have left mine in Semi-Auto and when I start to notice dots/floaties in the image, I'll long press the "M" button to correct. Whether you leave it always on Semi-Auto or not, definitely switch it to that when you are getting close to your shots. All in all, a solid scope and a crazy value for the price. Well done AGM!

Amazing scope the zeroing was a breeze and the freeze setting when zeroing made it so much easier. You can clearly see things really far away. There's an amazing amount of detail even with the one I purchased being the 320. The deer were 400 yards away and the coyote was 200 yards away.

Love this 25-256 for night hunting. Price was right considering the options/features available. This is my first thermal and looking forward to taking it out to the field soon. The color palette, magnification, clarity is great. The user manual is helpful, but, overwhelming and found that looking a YouTube videos more helpful instead. Had to watch them several times in order to familiarize myself with learning and navigating the menu. It’s intimidating for first time users, but don’t let stop you from acquiring this NV. Took it out the other night and was surprised at how well it works in the dark. Placed it on my rifle using a BOG tripod and used the AGM app via my iPhone to view into the darkness. WOW! Amazing! Hope this helps someone on the fence about acquiring this NV. Good luck and hope you like it as well.