Self-Loading Western Rattler w/Nocpix ACE S60R Thermal Sight-In

[Ezana4CE]

I’d been procrastinating like I don’t know what about exploring this scope.


I tried earlier in the week and it rained that evening. So I took a couple of hours to set up this scope, zero it, and do some shooting. I was even entering data into the ballistic calculator. I’ve never used one before. I still need to verify a couple of things. I gathered DOPE from 25 to 60 yards away mostly in the dark. I like to use frozen gel packs as targets in warm weather. They show up the opposite color as your color pallet setting on the scope.

I ended up placing cardboard behind the ice pack to keep track of my shots while shooting in the dark. I tried a couple of hold overs and was actually surprised at how far out I got and was still able to maintain my hold based upon my 25 yard zero. Not too bad for night time target shooting. I shot standing behind my tripod.


Fun times.

 

[Ezana4CE]

So far I like this scope. The controls are pretty intuitive. I like having options to zoom. The definition is top Bitcoin to me. This thing has a 60mm objective, 1280 x 1025 pixel sensor, <15mk NETD sensor sensitivity, a 2560 x 2560 pixel display resolution, a 1.03” AMOLED screen on the ocular end. It’s the highest level of definition as I’ve experienced in a thermal scope. The main drawback is that it weighs around 2.9 lbs. I like that it takes flat top 18650 batteries. The LRF is integrated into the objective lens so it maintains the form factor of a traditions scope. The tube is 30mm according to the manual and it comes with a cantilever mount . Next of all it has a 5 year warranty.

You can read more about the scope here.

Nocpix ACE Series - S60R•H50R•H50•L35 - Thermal Imaging Rifle Scope

Discover the flagship Nocpix ACE series. Featuring 1280x1024 resolution and ballistic calculation for precision hunting. Explore the ultimate thermal scope.

www.nocpix.com

I still haven’t found the correct sized grub screw for my buttstock in this Rattler. I’ve been shooting with it spinning around when it has no shoulder pressure to brace against it. Since nothing I’ve bought has fit, I’ll have to remove it and take it to a hardware store to see what I can find. AOA is out of suggestions. They stopped carrying the K&L buttstock for the Rattler and now have similar styled Western Airguns branded buttstock. I don’t know why they don’t upgrade these rifles to a stock buttstock that allows the owner to add a sling to the rifle. These buttstocks are around $160 on sale. I forget what I paid for mine. I’m now getting back into this rifle since it’s a convenient tool to have around. I’d still like to work out the cycling issue. Part of that is from slugs being just led free within the magazine chamber and having their bases deformed as the mag cycles. I think I documented this in another thread. This happens with NSA .357 slugs. Then I still haven’t figured out how to open the side panel to clean out and replace the factory grease. I think I’ll want to do that before winter. Other than that I still am pretty satisfied at being able to take various animals with this rifle. Eventually I’ll get back to working through these kinks.

 

[pfddi]

Dave,

You can sight that scope in during the day fairly easily. Use a target that has red rings on them and they show up great when you zoom in to make the XY adjustments to the reticle. I start at around 6-8x and get the first couple of shots in then move up to 20x to fine tune it.

 

[Ezana4CE]

Dave,

You can sight that scope in during the day fairly easily. Use a target that has red rings on them and they show up great when you zoom in to make the XY adjustments to the reticle. I start at around 6-8x and get the first couple of shots in then move up to 20x to fine tune it.

@pfddi It’s already done. It was sighted in when I had time and it wasn’t hot as hell. Daylight itself wasn’t the issue. I’ll have to try the red ring trick.

I will probably be able to use assistance setting up the ballistic calculator. I’m not sure which drag model to use. I read that G1 is probably best considering it only offers G1 - G7 IIRC. Then I need to find the BC of my slugs.

 

[pfddi]

@pfddi It’s already done. It was sighted in when I had time and it wasn’t hot as hell. Daylight itself wasn’t the issue. I’ll have to try the red ring trick.

I will probably be able to use assistance setting up the ballistic calculator. I’m not sure which drag model to use. I read that G1 is probably best considering it only offers G1 - G7 IIRC. Then I need to find the BC of my slugs.

Just let me know when you're ready. I like G1 for slugs and 100+ yard distances. And almost all BCs are calculated with G1. Here's a list for the NSA .35/.357:

Weight Base Published BC
79 gr flat base. 0.14
93 gr flat base. 0.175
108 gr. dish base. 0.18
110 gr. dish base. 0.19
125 gr. flat base. 0.16
142 gr. flat base. 0.18

NSA doesn't state the velocity any of these were measured at, which matters because a BC measured at 850 fps won't hold at 1000+

 

[Ezana4CE]

Just let me know when you're ready. I like G1 for slugs and 100+ yard distances. And almost all BCs are calculated with G1. Here's a list for the NSA .35/.357:

Weight Base Published BC
79 gr flat base. 0.14
93 gr flat base. 0.175
108 gr. dish base. 0.18
110 gr. dish base. 0.19
125 gr. flat base. 0.16
142 gr. flat base. 0.18

NSA doesn't state the velocity any of these were measured at, which matters because a BC measured at 850 fps won't hold at 1000+

@pfddi
Thanks. I’m shooting NSA 110 grains HPDB at around 873 fps. I’d guessed and input the BC at 0.12. Did you work these numbers out yourself?

 

[pfddi]

@pfddi
Thanks. I’m shooting NSA 110 grains HPDB at around 873 fps. I’d guessed and input the BC at 0.12. Did you work these numbers out yourself?

These are the NSA published BCs.

BC you plug in should be verified at your own muzzle velocity: chronograph at the muzzle and at 50 or 100 yards, then back-solve the G1 BC in your calculator. Now it will work at the various ranges that you hunt. I get my average at the muzzle and then take the chrony down to 50 yards and get an average and then calculate the actual BC my gun has with the target slug. Here's how I calculate the BC:

BC ≈ D (yards) ÷ [ 7,600 × ln(V₀ / V₁) ]

Example: NSA 142 gr leaves the muzzle at 900 fps and reads 835 fps at 100 yards. ln(900/835) = 0.0750, so BC ≈ 100 ÷ (7,600 × 0.0750) = 0.175, which is right on NSA's 0.18.

 

[Ezana4CE]

These are the NSA published BCs.

BC you plug in should be verified at your own muzzle velocity: chronograph at the muzzle and at 50 or 100 yards, then back-solve the G1 BC in your calculator. Now it will work at the various ranges that you hunt. I get my average at the muzzle and then take the chrony down to 50 yards and get an average and then calculate the actual BC my gun has with the target slug. Here's how I calculate the BC:

BC ≈ D (yards) ÷ [ 7,600 × ln(V₀ / V₁) ]

Example: NSA 142 gr leaves the muzzle at 900 fps and reads 835 fps at 100 yards. ln(900/835) = 0.0750, so BC ≈ 100 ÷ (7,600 × 0.0750) = 0.175, which is right on NSA's 0.18.

@pfddi Thanks. I haven’t used a ballistic calculator before, so this is all new to me. Meantime I just had some action with a young coyote in my yard. It was after my chickens and I shot at it with my GK1. I think I missed it, if not I may have hit it once but it made it back into the woods without a chicken. I had one pellet left in the mag when it was said and done and the reservoir was at 12 mpa. Last few shots were loud. Fun stuff. I may have to work on some yotes around here at night. This Rattler setup should be up to the task.

 

[Ezana4CE]

I’ve already killed a couple of animals using this scope. The sight in was easy and it works for my shots within 50 yards. I missed a couple of shot ls from 60 yards on a kickoff binge armadillo. I was trying to shoot it before it went back into the woods. I caught it digging up a section of the lawn. I had to walk around to get the right angle and backdrop and I wanted to challenge myself. I had DOPE for that distance, but forgot to use my hold over. I didn’t use the ballistic calculator for any shots. I need to fine tune my ballistic data. I’m not sure that I measured the height over the bore correctly. Is it a measurement from the center of the bore to the center of the objective lens?

 

[pfddi]

I’ve already killed a couple of animals using this scope. The sight in was easy and it works for my shots within 50 yards. I missed a couple of shot ls from 60 yards on a kickoff binge armadillo. I was trying to shoot it before it went back into the woods. I caught it digging up a section of the lawn. I had to walk around to get the right angle and backdrop and I wanted to challenge myself. I had DOPE for that distance, but forgot to use my hold over. I didn’t use the ballistic calculator for any shots. I need to fine tune my ballistic data. I’m not sure that I measured the height over the bore correctly. Is it a measurement from the center of the bore to the center of the objective lens?

Yes - center of the barrel to the center of the scope objective lens - which should also be the center of your scope tube with a traditional scope. Measure to the middle of the objective lens on modern digital scopes.

 

[Ezana4CE]

Yes - center of the barrel to the center of the scope objective lens - which should also be the center of your scope tube with a traditional scope. Measure to the middle of the objective lens on modern digital scopes.

@pfddi Ok good. That’s kind of what i did. I had to guesstimate where the center of the barrel is by looking at where I think it would be within this fat shroud.

 

[pfddi]

@pfddi Ok good. That’s kind of what i did. I had to guesstimate where the center of the barrel is by looking at where I think it would be within this fat shroud.

I use calipers to measure mine. A finer degree of "guessing" when you don't have the specific edges to stop your measurement! I believe the bulk of my scope heights are anywhere from about 2.25" up to 4" so a caliper works great.

 

[Ezana4CE]

I spoke with a buddy I used to work with about thermal scopes a while back. He finally bit the bullet and grabbed and AGM Rattler 640 scope. I sent him a clip of some footage taken through the Nocpix and he said, “That’s a damn clear image.” This thing is pretty sweet!!

So far I’ve nailed an armadillo, skunk, and possum with this scope on my Rattler. The 110 grain slug going approx 870 fps from the Rattler knocked all sorts of stuff from the skunk. I think I can see flesh and blood flying through the air upon impact from a body shot that I think may have hit the neck. I felt bad and head shot it next. The footage shows funk juice literally getting knocked out of its ass. I didn’t catch it until I played it in slow motion. Here’s a link to a thread that contains that video.

La Bomba Mofeta 🦨

Took this skunk from about 45 yards with my Rattler .357 shooting NSA 110 grain slugs. The optic is the Nocpix ACE S60R. I tried to shoot it through the vitals to prevent spray. I think I hit the neck instead but it didn’t spray. I was unsure of my shot so when it faced me, I tapped it in the...

www.airgunnation.com

I tried to nail an armadillo that I caught trying to walk back into the woods after digging in my yard. I had to move around to get the right angle and rushed a few 60 yard shots. I think I missed them all. It’s tough for me shooting an animal that low to the ground from a kneeling position at that distance. I usually don’t shoot at a distance, but wanted to challenge myself. What do you think happened that cause me to miss? When I thought about it after the fact, I forgot to use my holdover and wasn’t paying the ballistic calculator marking on the reticle any attention. SMH. I’m still learning. I like this combination aside from the weight. It sucks to carry without being slung over my shoulder.

I’ve been making it a point to take still photos for HAM. When I am able to make time to download them from the scope, I’ll make it a point to upload some of them here.