The Pulsar Trail 3 XQ50 sits in an interesting spot in the thermal riflescope market — it's not the flagship, but it punches well above its price point. After running it through its paces on kangaroo and fox control across Western Australia, here's our honest take on whether it's the right scope for you.
First Impressions
The Trail 3 XQ50 feels solid and well-built straight out of the box. It mounts like a traditional riflescope — no adapters, no fuss — and the controls are intuitive if you've used any Pulsar product before. The 50mm objective lens gives it a commanding presence on the rifle, and the eye relief is comfortable for a wide range of shooters.
Sensor & Image Quality
The XQ50 uses a 384×288 thermal sensor with a 17µm pixel pitch. This is a step down from the 640-sensor flagship models, but in real-world hunting conditions the difference is less dramatic than the spec sheet suggests. At practical hunting ranges — up to 400–500m — the image is clean, with good contrast between warm targets and cool backgrounds.
The multiple colour palettes (White Hot, Black Hot, Red Hot, Rainbow) give you flexibility across different conditions. We found White Hot to be the go-to for most situations, with Black Hot useful on warmer nights when heat signatures are less pronounced.
Detection Range
Pulsar rates the Trail 3 XQ50 with a detection range of up to 1,350m. In real Australian conditions — dust, heat shimmer, and scrubby terrain — you'll reliably detect pigs and foxes at 600–900m. For ethical shots, we were consistently confident out to 300–400m with a well-zeroed rifle. For most property managers and recreational hunters, this is more than enough range.
Magnification & Zoom
The base magnification is 2.5x with digital zoom up to 20x. The 2.5x base is well-suited to Australian hunting conditions where shots can range from close scrub work to open paddock distances. The digital zoom is useful for identification but image quality degrades at higher zoom levels — as expected with any digital zoom system.
Battery Life
The internal battery delivers around 8 hours of use, and the IPS14 external battery pack extends this significantly. For a full overnight session, the external pack is worth having. For a standard evening hunt, the internal battery will see you through without issue.
Recording & Stream Vision 2
Built-in video recording and Wi-Fi connectivity via the Stream Vision 2 app are genuinely useful. You can review footage after a hunt, stream live to a spotter's phone, or share clips directly to social media. The footage quality is solid and makes for great content if you're documenting your hunts on YouTube or Instagram.
Zeroing & Recoil Resistance
Zeroing the Trail 3 XQ50 is straightforward thanks to the freeze-frame zeroing function — you fire a shot, freeze the image, and adjust the reticle to the point of impact without needing a second shooter. The scope held zero reliably on a .308 and a 6.5 Creedmoor throughout our testing. No complaints here.
Trail 3 XQ50 vs Thermion 2 XG60 — Which Should You Choose?
If budget is a consideration, the Trail 3 XQ50 is the smarter buy for most hunters. You sacrifice some detection range and image resolution compared to the Thermion 2 XG60, but for the majority of Australian hunting scenarios — pig control, fox shooting, and general vermin management — the XQ50 delivers outstanding performance at a more accessible price point.
Who Is It For?
The Trail 3 XQ50 is ideal for:
- Hunters stepping up from a clip-on or handheld thermal to a dedicated riflescope
- Property managers needing reliable pest control capability
- Hunters who want Pulsar quality without the flagship price tag
- Anyone hunting at ranges under 500m in typical Australian bush and paddock conditions
Get the Most Out of Your Thermal Scope
Even the best thermal scope is only as effective as the shooter behind it. If you're new to thermal hunting or want to sharpen your technique, we offer hands-on Thermal Scope Basic Training and Advanced Thermal Training sessions designed specifically for Australian conditions.
We also stock Dog Silhouette Thermal Targets — purpose-built for zeroing and practising with your thermal scope before heading into the field. A great investment before your first hunt with a new scope.
Final Verdict
The Pulsar Trail 3 XQ50 is one of the best value thermal riflescopes available to Australian hunters right now. It delivers reliable detection range, solid image quality, and all the connectivity features you'd expect from Pulsar — at a price that makes thermal hunting accessible to more people. If you're on the fence, this is the scope that will get you off it.
Got questions about the Trail 3 XQ50 or want to know if it suits your setup? Get in touch with us — we're hunters ourselves and happy to help you make the right call.