Important Advice for Newbies (from a fellow newbie)

[BCS]

Contemplating a third thermometer. when spot-checking around the tank, I found that my gradient was all of a couple degrees, and I actually had several spots (including the hide) on the cool side that were warmer than the warm side and vice versa

Spent a little bit playing around with the lamp placement and rheostat, and managed to get it more like what it should be
May also have been caused by poor placement of the thermometer probes maybe.

Pretty certain the temp gun is working fine. Went playing around with it throughout the house, and numerous things (fridge, fish tank, dog, etc)were reading as they should or as expected

Overall though, I'm still sorry I didn't pick this little gizmo up when I got my snake

Well, if you are happy with it, no one can complain!
And I just had to once you said it... I used my temp gun to measure my dog's temperature 96.6... all though it isn't an accurate way take a dogs temperature which is why it seems to be a bit cooler then a dog's actual temperature... lol.