Thanks again, Chris. The Hogster Vibe is on my short list of possible purchases. Like you said, I've only heard positive things about Bering Optics products. In the mean time, I ordered a Ruger American .308 rifle, like this:
https://ruger.com/products/americanRifleGoWild/specSheets/26926.html The plan is to install a suppressor and top it off with a thermal sight. The rifle will be the least expensive item in the package. It should work well on the local predators.
Felix, I wouldn't want to get involved with trying to properly mount the thermal scope in the dark, after using it as a spotting scope. There are too many things that could go wrong during the transition. In the past, I've used the thermal for spotting, and then went to the night vision scope already mounted on the rifle. Thermal is ideal for initially spotting animals. For instance, I was able to spot a bobcat very easily with a handheld thermal scope, but it was difficult to locate the same animal with the night vision scope.
Nemo, that's an interesting caliber. I wonder how it compares with the .50 BMG round, as far as noise. I don't dare use the .50BMG in my little backyard range because I'm sure I'd get complaints. So far, no one has complained, even when the local MAG comes over to practice, but folks are just using AR's, sub-machine guns and a few shotguns.
