First hunt with the ZeroTech Thrive HD Reflex

My M6 Scout survival rifle has been a trusty companion on my journey as a licenced firearms user. It’s an over-under combination break open firearm combining a .22LR upper barrel with an open choke .410 lower shotgun barrel. The sights are a round aperture peep sight for rifle shooting and a V-notch for shotgun. I’ve been using both to build my competence on the SSAA range. While I’ll happily continue improving my marksmanship this way, I was delighted to receive a ‘ZeroTech Thrive HD Red Dot Reflex Sight 3 MOA High Mount’.

As a reflex sight, otherwise known as an ‘open’ red dot sight, the Thrive HD Reflex features an exposed design with the red dot projected onto a curved anti-reflective (AR) lens. To look at, it’s quite different to the after-market ‘no brand’ Chinese tube-style ‘Electro-Dot Sight’ that was fitted to the M6 when the firearm was purchased second-hand. For one thing, the reflex sight is far more compact and lightweight. And this means a lot to me as a feather-weight firearms user. Being so small (this model is used predominantly on pistols), the Thrive HD Reflex sits discreetly on the Picatinny rail with a simplicity of form that is extremely complementary to the pared-back design of the M6 Scout. Also, because I have the ‘high mount’ version of the Thrive HD Reflex, I can still use the open sights with the device fitted to the firearm. So, range practice can remain as challenging as I like.

Sighting-in the Thrive HD Reflex was straightforward. Its open design and wide field of view make it super-easy to align the reticle with the target with both eyes open. It’s true that many other firearm users may be able to achieve the same result using a tube-style red-dot sight. But I’m short sighted and right eye dominant and tend to shut my left eye when using a red dot with an enclosed housing. This causes eye fatigue and inconsistency in the application of fire. I felt no such inclination with the Thrive HD Reflex. 

It’s fair to say that using the car bonnet as a rest while sighting-in generated a few human variables. The first time I used the sight, I experienced some environmental glare, which resulted in an ‘orb’ appearing in the upper right quadrant of the sight. This was readily rectified by readjusting my stance to mitigate my position in respect to that of the sun. I then had a clear view of the red dot and crisp vision of the target through the AR lens. I also took time to settle into a stable, repeatable firing position – an issue that would be eliminated on the range or with greater firearms experience. To alleviate these issues, I was considerably assisted by a key characteristic of reflex sights – the angle of the tilted glass ‘screen’ helps minimise the parallax of the red dot. In short, the red dot remained fixed on the target regardless of whether my eye position changed. Ultimately, I was pleased to be able to deliver tight groups on target, at 25m, within five 5-shot groups. 

Now there was nothing left to be done but to use the Thrive HD Reflex on a hunt. Truth be told, while I’ve bow-hunted in the past, this would be only my third ever hunt as a firearms user.

A family friend owns a property in the Snowy Monaro region and he’d invited us to visit. While my husband Scott had stalked deer, pigs and goats there previously, this would be the first hunt for me in this location. I had my mind set on dropping a couple of hares or bunnies.  After all, with the previous tube-style red dot mounted on the M6 Scout, I’d had little difficulty despatching two rabbits at 35m on my first ever rifle hunt. Given the prospect of more rapid target acquisition using the newly fitted Thrive HD Reflex, surely I’d be able to achieve the same result (or better). And Scott knew exactly where I should look, among the small thickets of rosehip bushes and blackberry shrubs along the boundary of the house paddock.

We arrived at the property after lunch and the afternoon light was beginning to wane by the time we headed out for a look-see. Scott was keen to show me where he’d previously spotted game and took the lead with his Remington Model 788 in .22-250 in-hand, ‘just in case’.  On the return walk, I headed the hunt as we moved quietly along the fence line so I could get a closer look at where the bunnies and hares were known to spend their time. Sure enough, the hares had generated nests from the snow grass (grey tussock) among the rosehip bushes.  By the number of nests around, it was evident I was in the right place, and then – whoosh! Out sprung a hare travelling at warp speed as it fled my approach. Right. Now I was really paying attention. Then, at the next copse, a rabbit hurtled out from the grass. Having previously selected the Scout’s lower shotgun barrel, and with .410 #6 shot loaded, I manually cocked the firearm as I lifted it to my shoulder. But the rabbit was running so fast I simply didn’t give it enough lead time and ultimately missed.

Never mind, we learn and there’s always tomorrow.

I must admit that I was fairly laid back about the prospect of a morning hunt. These rabbits and hares had shown themselves capable of beating the land speed record, so I knew I was going to have to do something considerably different to stand a chance of competing with them. Scott and I had already had a fireside chat about the habits of this type of small game and their tendency to go ‘doggo’ if you approach closely and quietly enough. Evidently, I was not doing enough of either to give the fluffy things a reason to stay still. But I’d give it another go. With three rounds of .22LR and the same of .410 #6 shot tucked into the Scout’s buttstock shell caddy, I was ready to go. “Pop this in your pocket,” Scott said, handing me a Federal Ammunition .410ga, 2½”, ¼ oz rifled slug. “Just in case.”

So began my patrol of the boundary, focusing on the rosehips, watching for small game. Scott shadowed me from 15m behind, while I fixated on hare nests. Approaching one of the last thickets before the land opened out into open grassland, I was on the cusp of moving into the clearing when I turned and saw Scott motioning feverishly for me to move back in line with the thicket and to get down. As it turned out, he’d been unable to get my attention with quiet whistles because I’d been wearing hearing protection in anticipation of popping a bunny. And I’d been so intent on my purpose that I’d rarely turned around to track his progress. Quickly closing the distance between us, he whispered, “Goats. Eleven o’clock.” “Really?” I replied.

So it was that a life lesson was reinforced – expect the unexpected. I’d been so determined to realise my vision of hare and mushroom pie that I’d simply blinkered myself to any other possibility. But, despite this, here we were with four goats meandering in the direction of our covered refuge, a mere 150m away. I quietly reached into my pocket and loaded the slug Scott had given me, reflecting on how versatile the M6 Scout was proving to be. As we watched the goats from behind the branches of the rosehips, obscured by their foliage and shadow, they seemed unaware of our presence except, perhaps, for a slight deviation to their original trajectory. Now they were travelling perpendicular to us and heading towards the boundary fence. Soon they’d cross into the next paddock and would be gone into the hills and denser forest. With no prospect of a clear shot from our location, we watched them move away and out of sight.

With a natural pause in the hunt, Scott recommended some adjustments to my stalking style and we both agreed that hunting with hearing protection in place simply doesn’t cut it. Communication is key. I also took the time to look more closely at the hare nests, realising just how easy it would be for an animal to remain hidden from view, even if I was virtually on top of them. And then, just as I was about to remove the slug from the chamber in favour of the #6 shotshell, I saw it out of the corner of my eye. One of the goats was now heading back towards us. Yes. He was on the boundary track. And the other three were coming too. Taking up a seated position in the shade of the rosehips among the grass, I was now at right angles to the path. From Scott’s position, he could see up the track and watch the goats’ approach. Licking the salt from the exposed earth. Nibbling the green pick. Closer and closer. For my part, I smelt the goats before I saw them. A mix of acidic odours from their scent glands, urine, and whatever hormones makes male goats smell nice to nanny goats. It was time to trust in a steady hand and the quality of my reflex sight.

Finally, the lead goat came into view. With its ‘shake awake’ technology, the Thrive HD Reflex was ready for action as soon as I raised the M6 Scout to my shoulder. Then the goat walked directly in front of me, within 6m of my position. Unaware of my presence as he crossed my path, he momentarily turned his head as he passed, evidently catching a whiff of my own scent (hopefully slightly less pungent than his own). In doing so, he turned his chest towards me, and I lined up the red dot with the apex of the natural V-shape formed by his legs as he walked. ‘Bang!’ The shot entered his chest, and the spurt of blood from the entry-wound told me I’d achieved a heart shot. He took just three more instinctive steps before crumpling to the ground.

So it was that I successfully hunted my first medium game, my first goat and my first shotgun harvest. And while this hunt hadn’t required me to test the Thrive HD Reflex to the maximum of its capability, the accuracy with which I’d been able to take the shot demonstrated the sight’s precision and potential for the future. 

So, how do I feel about the Thrive HD Reflex after using it in the field? I’m impressed. And I’m thankful to have been supported by a device that enabled a novice shooter like me to optimise my on-target performance and achieve such a clean despatch. As I use it more in the future, I know I’ll need to take good care of this red dot device; many commentators remark on the tendency of reflex sights to be more susceptible to dust, rain and other impacts than more rugged tube designs. But the Thrive HD Reflex claims to be waterproof and shock proof, it offers a lifetime warranty, and it comes with a protective moulded rubber cover that I’ll ensure remains affixed whenever the sight is not in use.

As a fledgling huntress, this is just the sort of compact, precision hunting buddy that I’ll be pleased to take with me anywhere.

The sight retails for $349, visit zerotech.com.au.