The question of which is best, dedicated thermal sights or thermal add-ons, is much contested, but as we shall see, Pulsar’s new PSP-V QD Picatinny mount (PUL-79179) moves the needle towards the latter verdict.
It’s not that Pulsar’s familiar collar-type PSP mounts leave anything to be desired. On the contrary, they are easy to mount and align, fit securely, and allow the thermal unit (Kypton/Proton) to be attached and detached quickly, quietly, and without affecting the point of impact. Nevertheless, despite being supplied with shims to suit different-sized objective lenses, they can only accommodate a certain diameter range and thus come in three variants: small (42mm), medium (50mm), and large (56mm).
These cover the majority of hunting scopes but previously left those running tactical low-power variable optics (LPVOs) without a solution. This was a shame because their low magnification and wide field-of-view (FOV) make LPVOs eminently compatible with thermal add-ons. Pulsar’s new PSP-V Picatinny mount convincingly meets this need, and more.
The new mount
The mount itself comprises a QD base with an ARMS-type locking lever, a removable riser block, and a threaded ring for mounting the thermal unit. As with the original PSP collar mounts, loosening a tensioning bolt permits alignment of the add-on, while tightening it secures that alignment. Also fitted is a corrugated rubber shade, which envelops the objective bell when the PSP-V is clipped into place ahead of the scope, thereby preventing the thermal from illuminating the shooter at night and cutting out any external glare by day. It also doubles as a comfortable eye cup when using the thermal as a handheld spotter!
After installing my Pulsar Krypton XG50 in the PSP-V, I clipped the assembly onto a Stribog .22LR carbine fitted with a Minox ZP8 1-8×24 tactical LPVO. I saw at once that it was a perfect match. Then, I wondered how well it would work with my Immersive Optics 5×24 prismatic scope, and the outcome was even better. Now, I had a massive FOV and substantial magnification at the same time. Next up was my Immersive Optics 14×50. That’s a lot of magnification to put behind a thermal, but the result was amazingly workable. Now I’d seen that the PSP-V/Krypton combination would work well with a 50mm optic, I started pulling everything out of the cabinet to try it with regular 44mm, 50mm and 56mm scopes and enjoyed similarly satisfying results.
Conclusion
What you do need, of course, is a rifle equipped with a full-length Picatinny rail, or a chassis that’s designed to take a bridge attachment. If you have one of those, then the PSP-V is for you. It’s also perfect for use on the forend rail on a Steyr Scout. What’s more, a finely-knurled adjustment wheel opposite the throw lever lets you obtain the perfect clamping force, even on out-of-spec rails. I thought my Krypton was versatile before I discovered the PSP-V, but now I can mount it on almost every combo in my safe and bring the advantages of thermal to any hunting scenario.
