If you like hunting as much as I do, there’s one piece of good news you can usually hang your hat on. When you’re “between seasons” for the big game or waterfowl you like to chase, that doesn’t mean you’re all out of hunting options.
Many states have year-round seasons for feral hogs and predators such as coyotes. Even more exciting, several states allow hunting these nuisance critters 24 hours a day using digital night vision and thermal optics.
I will give you a warning here. Every state has its own regulations regarding the legal use of thermal optics. Some states only allow them during certain months. Other states may only allow the use of thermals for certain animals. So, before you spend a lot of money on a thermal scope, check the state’s regulations and/or speak with a game warden in your area to be sure of what you can legally do.
As more states get on board with making night hunting for predators and feral game legal, more companies have brought their own thermal optics to the market. But how do you choose which one is for you?
When I first started learning about thermal scopes, the first thing that blew my mind was the price (more on that later). The second thing was all the details and measurements describing the thermal sensor and how those mattered. I just heard a lot of numbers and words I didn’t understand, which didn’t mean a whole lot to me. Before we dig in, I’d like to help give you a fundamental understanding of the terminology and the impact those factors have.
THERMAL SENSORS
The thermal sensor – or microbolometer – is quite possibly the most important factor in the quality of the thermal image. Before we discuss the best thermal scopes, I want to briefly describe the three key measurements of a thermal sensor and what they mean. Hopefully, this information will help clear things up a little for you when you’re shopping.
The first is Noise Equivalent Temperature Difference (NETD). NETD is measured in milliKelvin (mK) and tells us the smallest temperature difference the sensor can detect. The smaller the number, the more sensitive the sensor – and the clearer the image. The higher-quality sensors will show more nuances between colors, giving greater detail. Anything with a measurement of <40mK and lower is considered a good sensor.
The second component of sensor quality is resolution. Like with a television, the higher the number, the better the resolution. Some sensor resolutions can be as high as 1024×768. The minimum requirement to be considered “good” is at least 384×288. This benchmark number is the number I often see missed in “cheaper” thermal scopes.
The final piece of the image clarity puzzle is pixel pitch. This is measured in microns and tells us the distance between pixels in an image. The closer the pixels are to each other, the smaller the number – and the clearer the picture. Anything under 17µm is considered good.
Determining the “Best”
Now that you have a pretty basic understanding of what contributes to the quality of the optic’s thermal sensor, you see that the microbolometer is just one factor in determining the “best” thermal scope. Choosing the best thermal scope is subjective to a degree. Yes, the sensor matters, but it really boils down to what you are looking for in an optic, what type of hunting situations you will be in, and, ultimately, how much you want to spend.
If you are never going to shoot over 100 yards, then the most expensive optic could be a waste of money for you. You won’t need features like a range finder or ballistic calculator. You probably also won’t need the highest quality sensor available. However, if you regularly hunt over open fields where you may need to take a shot from 50 yards to 400 yards, those higher-end features could make all the difference.
If you only hunt at night two or three times a year, do you want to invest $8,000 in a scope? But, if you need to eradicate some vermin who are destroying your crops, cattle, or poultry, you may want to pay a little more and make sure you can clearly see and take the shot presented to you.
Having said all that, here is a QUICK LIST of our picks. Click the orange to learn more/see why it was chosen, click the green to shop the product.
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Best Overall Features: RIX DBH D6
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Best Low-Cost Thermal Scope: Burris BTS35 V3 400
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Best New Thermal Scope: Athlon Cronus ATS Pro 50L-640
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Most Compact Thermal Scope: Sightmark Wraith Mini Thermal
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Highest Quality Thermal Sensor: Pulsar Thermion 2LRF XL50
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Best Entry Level with LRF: iRay RICO GL35R
Best Overall Features: RIX DBH D6
One factor that makes the RIX DBH D6 shine above the others is that it was designed by hunters for hunting. I met one of the guys who played a key role in developing this scope, and I could quickly tell his input was geared toward making this one of the best scopes for hunting.
The RIX DBH D6 has one of the highest-quality thermal sensors in our testing, giving you a very clear image even at long distances. And the dual-sided easy-turn focus knob makes getting that clear image even easier.
SPECS
| MSRP/Retail | $5,899/~$5,500 ($5699 at MidwayUSA) |
| NETD | <20mK |
| Sensor Resolution | 640×512 |
| Pixel Pitch | 12µm |
| FOV | 7.3×5.8 |
| Refresh Rate | 60Hz |
In addition to the thermal sensor, the display is another standout feature of this scope. The OLED 2560×2560 display has the highest resolution in our testing, and the 60mm objective lens provides the largest viewing area. Couple that with the scope having virtually no eye relief limit, and you can stand a couple of feet back from your rifle and still see what’s in front of you.
This scope also has a built-in laser range finder and ballistic functionality. Once you set up your profile with your ammunition details, the aiming point will automatically adjust for distance based on the results from the laser range finder. And one of my favorite features is the game-finding green laser. Aim the green laser at your game and leave it once it is down. Now, finding your kill will be easier than ever.
PROS
- Very high-resolution thermal sensor
- Very high-quality OLED display with virtually no eye-relief limit
- Built-In LRF
- Onboard ballistic functionality
- Connects via Wi-Fi to your phone
- Onboard photo/video with 64GB of memory and recoil-activated recording
CONS
- $5,699 price tag
Best Low-Cost Thermal Scope: Burris BTS35 V3 400
Cost is one of the highest barriers to entry for most people who want to get into the thermal-hunting game. Thankfully, prices are decreasing as more companies make thermal optics and the technology becomes more widely available.
With the Burris BTS35 V3 400 – one of their newest offerings – we see they are trying to combat that. With an MSRP of $3,000 but a retail price of around $1,800, this scope wins our Best Budget Thermal Scope title.
Don’t let that title make you think this is a low-quality scope, though. The thermal sensor and display are also quite good, especially if you limit shots to 200 yards. You will have no trouble identifying your target and getting a good aiming point at that distance.
SPECS
| MSRP/Retail | $3,000/$1,799 at Amazon |
| NETD | <35mK |
| Sensor Resolution | 400×300 |
| Pixel Pitch | 12µm |
| FOV | 7.8×5.9 |
| Refresh Rate | 50Hz |
Even at that lower price point, the Burris BTS35 V3 400 is still feature-rich. It has 11 thermal color pallets and offers 10 reticles in six color options. Plus, the BTS35 V3 allows you to set up six different shooting profiles for using the scope on different rifles or with other shooters.
You can also record your hunts and control the scope using the Burris Connect app via a Wi-Fi connection. As I said, this scope has many features that make it a great thermal optic choice, and its lower cost moves it closer to the top of the list of scopes to check out. And it lowers that barrier to entry for those wanting to get in the game.
PROS
- MSRP $3,000 with a retail price ~ $1,799
- Easy to mount using a quick-connect mounting system
- Intuitive menu design
- Multiple color pallets, reticles, and reticle color options
- Recording with the Burris Connect app
CONS
- Transferring files to your computer requires the app
- Lower thermal sensor quality than some higher-end scopes
- No onboard LRF or ballistic functionality
- Focus is at the end of the lens
Best New Thermal Scope: Athlon Cronus ATS Pro 50L-640
Athlon Optics has released some very nice new thermal scopes this year, and the Cronus ATS Pro 50L-640 is packed with features.
The Pro line of Athlon Cronus scopes now has a built-in laser rangefinder. It also has a ballistic calculator functionality through the Athlon app. Judging target distance during the day through a scope is difficult enough, so having that onboard LRF makes a huge difference when hunting at night. Plus, having the needed ballistic adjustments readily available is a game changer.
The Cronus ATS PRO 50L-640 also boasts 10 hours of battery run time with the combo built-in and external rechargeable batteries. That time can obviously be extended with the purchase of additional external batteries.
This optic also has a high-quality sensor and an OLED 1440×1080 display for crisp images – when recording and viewing. We were very impressed with the quality of the thermal image at farther distances, even zoomed in to a maximum of 23x. Identifying your target should be a breeze.
SPECS
| MSRP/Retail | $5,624.99/~$4,099 at Amazon |
| NETD | <25mK |
| Sensor Resolution | 640×480 |
| Pixel Pitch | 12µm |
| FOV | 8.8×6.6 |
| Refresh Rate | 50Hz |
Speaking of recording, the Cronus ATS Pro 50L-640 has a whopping 128GB of onboard memory, so you should be able to record a lot of hunting before you need to clear it off. And it has an auto-shot record, so recoil will activate recording before and after the shot.
The only downside I have found is that it doesn’t seem to allow direct connection from the scope to a computer for transferring files – at least, I haven’t figured out how to do that yet. So, you have to connect to the app to retrieve your videos.
PROS
- High-resolution sensor
- High-resolution display
- Onboard LRF
- Built-in ballistic calculator
- 128GB of onboard memory
- Recoil-activated recording
- 10 hours of battery life
- Comes with needed rings for mounting
- Easy zoom
CONS
- MSRP of $5624.99 with retail of ~ $4,500.
- Doesn’t appear to allow a direct connection from the scope to a computer for transferring files
- Focus at end of the lens
Most Compact Thermal: Sightmark Wraith Mini Thermal
The other scopes we’ve mentioned are about the size of your typical rifle scope or larger and heavier because of the needed electronics, batteries, etc. So, those optics will add a few pounds to your setup, which can be noticeable if you’re hiking around in the search for game.
If you’re looking for the most compact and lightweight thermal optic option, the Sightmark Wraith Mini Thermal should be at the top of your list of scopes. It measures 6.6 inches long, 2.9 inches tall, and 3 inches wide and only weighs 19.3 ounces. Thankfully, the compact size does not inflate the cost, as this scope is among the lowest-cost thermal options, with an MSRP of $1,499.97.
The other nice aspect of the Sightmark Wraith Mini Thermal is that it meets all the benchmarks for a “good” entry-level thermal optic, even with its lower cost. If you are hunting under 200 yards, you should have enough clarity to find and identify your game and take a high-chance shot. Granted, it will not be as clear with as much nuance as the more expensive scopes, but it gets the job done.
SPECS
| MSRP/Retail | $1,499/$1,499 at Amazon |
| NETD | <40mK |
| Sensor Resolution | 384×288 |
| Pixel Pitch | 17µm |
| FOV | 13×10.5 |
| Refresh Rate | 50Hz |
In addition to a good thermal sensor, the Sightmark Wraith Mini Thermal has several of the features of the more expensive scopes. It has the option of five color pallets, 10 reticles, and five reticle color choices. It also allows you to set up five shooting profiles for different firearms or shooters. Plus, it still provides onboard photo and video recording with sound – although you must have a micro SD card to save it. I only mention this because of the number of times I forgot to put my micro SD card back in the scope and was out of luck the next time I went hunting.
PROS
- MSRP of $1,499.97
- Meets all the benchmarks for a “good” thermal optic
- Compact and lightweight
- Quick-connect mount – easily switch between firearms – or remove and use as a viewer
- Five color pallets, 10 reticles, five reticle color options
- Onboard photo and video recording with sound
- Focus throw lever is easy to use
CONS
- Lower quality thermal sensor than more expensive optics
- No onboard memory storage for photos or videos
- No Wi-Fi or Bluetooth connectability to your phone for remote viewing and/or controlling
- Save files in avi format, which is not easily viewed on a Mac computer
- No LRF
- Seemed like smaller changes when sighting in were more difficult than other scopes
Highest Quality Thermal Sensor: Pulsar Thermion 2LRF XL60
Pulsar has been making digital night vision and thermal optics for several years, so you almost can’t have a “best of” list without them. The price point is one factor that kept the Pulsar Thermion 2LRF XL60 from being higher on our list. The MSRP is $7,199.97, making it more costly (at least $1,300 more) than similar thermal optics on our list.
Obviously, we have to talk about the thermal sensor for the title we’ve given the Pulsar Thermion 2LRF XL60. With the highest-ranking measures in all three categories, you should expect some pretty impressive images out of this thing. We’ve hunted quite a bit with the Pulsar Thermion 2 LRF XL50 and were impressed with the image quality, even several hundred yards out. Since the XL60 has an upgraded objective lens to the XL50, we shouldn’t expect anything less.
SPECS
| MSRP/Retail | $7,199.97/$6,997 at Amazon |
| NETD | <20mK |
| Sensor Resolution | 1024×768 |
| Pixel Pitch | 12µm |
| FOV | 11.7 degrees |
| Refresh Rate | 50Hz |
The XL60 has also upped its game with the display. This version has a 2560×2560 AMOLED display, so what you see will be even clearer than before.
Not to be outdone, the Pulsar Thermion 2 LRF XL60 also has a > 3,000-yard detection range, a built-in laser range finder, onboard ballistic calculations/adjustments, and multiple color pallet, reticle, and reticle color options. This scope can also be connected via the Stream Vision app for remote viewing, controlling, and recording. This may not seem like a big deal, but you can connect it to your computer for easy file transfer or download it to your phone through the app.
PROS
- Side focus knobs make focus easy
- Easily transfer files to your computer
- Live streaming
- LRF and ballistic functionality
- 10-hour battery life
- Highest quality thermal sensor
CONS
- More expensive than others
- Large size
Best Entry Level with LRF: iRay RICO G-LRF 384
So we’ve covered a lot of ground already with this article, but the RICO G-LRF 384 hits a bit of a sweet spot. What do you do if you want some of the higher-end features of the more expensive thermal scopes but don’t want to pay those big bucks? Well, I think iRay figured it out with this one.
The RICO G-LRF 384 is one of the lower-cost optics in our test. Its MSRP is $2,499.99, and it comes with a built-in laser rangefinder. The others with the LRF are at least twice that amount. For me, the LRF is pretty critical if I’m hunting where shots could be over 200 yards, so having that prime function without paying prime prices is appealing.
This scope also has a high-quality display at 1024×1024 and a 1750-yard detection range. The picture-in-picture option is another feature of the more expensive optics with this scope. It also has onboard photo and video recording and connects to the Infiray Outdoors app via Wi-Fi.
The iRay RICO G-LRF 384 has a few trade-offs to keep the price lower. The thermal sensor is not as high quality as those more expensive scopes, but like the Sightmark Wraith Mini Thermal, the RICO G-LRF 384 meets or exceeds the criteria for a “good” thermal optic.
SPECS
| NETD | <40mK |
| Sensor Resolution | 384×288 |
| Pixel Pitch | 12µm |
| FOV | 7.5×5.9 |
| Refresh Rate | 50Hz |
The battery life on the iRay RICO G-LRF 384 is also on the lower end at around four hours.
PROS
- MSRP of $2,499.99
- Built-in laser rangefinder
- Picture-in-picture option
- Onboard photo and video recording
- Good thermal sensor
- High quality display
- Connects to mobile app for remote applications
CONS
- Lower quality resolution
- Battery life of only 4 hours
- Fewer color pallets and reticle options
There you have our take on the best thermal scopes. This list is in no way exhaustive, as some of the companies we mentioned in this article have other options available, and other manufacturers also make excellent products. We wanted to focus on scopes that we had real-world experience with so we weren’t just guessing or taking someone else’s word for it.
Additionally, other writers here have reviewed scopes like the AGM Thermals and had rave reviews, this just didn’t get in my hands for this opportunity.
Hopefully, this article gave you a good idea of some of the features available in thermal scopes and helped you consider what matters most to you when deciding which one to buy. I hope we also clarified some of the questions you may have had about choosing a “good” thermal optic and what to look for to help you decide if a cheaper scope will still do what you want it to do. As usual, it depends on what you want! Happy shopping and hunting!
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