7 Best Thermal Scopes [UPDATED]

Night vision optics have become more accessible to the average shooter. People like you and I now have more access to various night vision technologies than ever before. However, thermal optics can be broken down into various subcategories, and their costs can vary dramatically (although still be very expensive). So, to make things simple, I’m going to be focusing on specific night vision optics technologies and types of optics. With this, I’ll be listing what I think are the best thermal scopes out there. 

It’s tough writing these articles because oftentimes, there are tons and tons of different optics on the market, and they are pretty dang good. I could fill this list with optics from a single company and still be listing some awesome optics. So to avoid that, I’ve attempted to provide a variety of different types of thermal scopes for different types of users. Usually, I try to provide a wide variety of price points as well to accommodate shooters at all budgets. 

However, that’s kind of tricky here. Thermal scopes are expensive, super freaking expensive. It’s tough to call any of these thermal optics budget-friendly. They are expensive optics. However, I have tried my hardest to find a variety of price and quality points for different shooters. 

What’s a Thermal Scope? 

Let’s not get too far ahead of what we are talking about. A thermal scope is a device that attaches to a weapon and allows you to aim while viewing the thermal signature of a target. Thermal optics are not like traditional optics. They are essentially cameras that provide a thermal image to you. Heck, even calling it a camera isn’t accurate. It’s actually more or less a sensor. 

Thermal scopes don’t just detect heat. That would create a crazy spectrum since everything has a little heat to it. What they really do is detect differences in heat and display them as various colors and contrasts. Thermal scopes can be used during the day and at night to provide a detection device unlike any other. 

Why You Want One 

Thermal scopes can be used for a variety of purposes. Most civilian use revolves around hunting non-game animals at night. Hunting at night is often forbidden for game animals like deer, but for nuisance animals, like wild hogs, it’s often legal to hunt them anytime. Of course, check your state and local laws first. 

At night these optics make it very easy to spot animals. They literally glow against a thermal scope, and with the right thermal scope, you’ll be able to tell their size, shape, and what exactly they are before you pull the trigger. Positive identification is pretty dang important, and if you don’t know exactly what you are shooting at, you are in the wrong. 

Besides hunting, thermal optics can be useful for range defense. If you have livestock, chickens, or other animals that often fall prey to nightly predators, then a thermal optic can even the odds. Killing coyotes and similar animals in the middle of the night has never been easier. 

At the same time, these thermal optics work well for security purposes. Being able to observe and report on intruders while remaining armed can be valuable. If the threat is outside and trying to come in, a thermal optic can make it easy to see, although white light PID needs to be made before firing a shot. 

Thermal scopes are just handy and, honestly, a lot of fun. I prefer a thermal scope over other thermal optics due to their multi-use nature. I often use my own thermal scope to just watch animals in the ‘back 40’ part of my property. Watching rabbits, deer, and similar animals can be interesting even if I’m not hunting them. You haven’t lived till you’ve seen an owl take a rabbit in the evening under thermal vision. 

Sometimes things can just be fun, and thermal scopes are a lot of fun. If hunting is not your thing, they make thermal targets that shine under thermal vision for tactical training, and they might be worth checking out.

List of the Top Thermal Scopes

Okay, so now that we understand a bit about the thermal scopes, their types and benefits, let’s go ahead and start looking at my personal list of recommended thermal scopes.

Best Thermal Scopes

1. Burris Thermal Riflescope		Great For Beginners Available in 35 and 50mm Lenses Hot Tracking Feature	Check Price
2. SIG Echo3		Very Compact Design Minimalist Design Made with ARs in Mind	Check Price
3. Trijicon REAP-IR		Adjustable Refresh Rate  QD Mount  Efficient Reticle Designs	Check Price
4. Thermion XP50		Designed Like a Traditional Scope Excellent Sight Picture Long Detection Range	Check Price
5. ATN Thor 4 384		Capable Of Video And Photographs  Powerful Magnification Android and iOS Compatible	Check Price
6. AGM Python TS50-640		High Resolution Built-In Mount Battery Pack Compatibility	Check Price
7. Steiner Close Quarter’s Thermal Sight		Red Dot and Thermal Mixed  Magnifier Compatible  Multiple Thermal Modes	Check Price

Thermal Scope Specifications

Below is a list of our Best Thermal Scopes. So we can compare, we lined up the specs from each of the best thermal scopes below and help you make the best decision possible.

Best Thermal Scopes

Thermal Scopes are expensive. That’s why it’s important to know which ones are worth the extra cost. Because of this, here is the list of thermal scopes I recommend and in which order.

1. Burris Thermal Riflescope
2. SIG Echo3
3. Trijicon REAP-IR
4. Thermion XP50
5. ATN Thor 4 384
6. AGM Python TS50-640
7. Steiner Close Quarter’s Thermal Sight

Reviews of the Listed Thermal Scopes

Now we’ve had a brief overview of our top picks, let us take the time to individually review each item. In this section we’ll be revisiting our specs, speaking into the product and looking at the pros and cons.

All About Thermals – Buyers Guide

When it comes to buying a thermal scope, there are a lot of things you should know. Things like microbolometers, existing features, fresh rates, microns and more. If you don’t know about these, then no problem. I’ve created this buyers guide to help take you to the next level and better understand some of the most important aspects to picking a thermal scope so that you are better prepare.

I won’t be covering the science of thermals or how they work, so, if you would like to learn more about that, you can check this out.

To get started, lets first look at the different types of thermal optics on the market.

Types of Thermal Optics

There are various thermal optics out there on the market: Scopes, Clip-on devices, and monoculars.

Thermal scopes are made to be mounted onto your weapon and act as an aiming device. Like any other scope, you have to zero the optic, and an internal reticle allows you to aim with the scope. 

Thermal clip-on devices mount in front of your optic. These allow you to use your scope with a thermal attachment to give you thermal capabilities. They can be handy on weapons you use all the time. However, they require more room and have their own intricacies worth noting. 

Monoculars are handheld or mounted on helmets and similar devices. They are used purely for observation purposes and can be a ton of fun, and are often much smaller and easier to tote around. They are not designed to work with weapons and cannot be zeroed, and do feature reticles. 

Specifications and Features You Should Know About

NOw that we understand the different types, let’s look at the different features and specifications you should pay attention to when shopping for a thermal imaging scope.

Resolution and Microbolometer 

Inside your thermal scope sits a microbolometer that detects temperature patterns and establishes the resolution of your thermal scope. Resolution is measured in pixels, and the higher the number of pixels, the high resolution you’ll have. Resolution determines how clear and detailed the picture is. A higher resolution delivers a clearer picture and helps maintain clarity as magnification increases. 

A high level of resolution for thermal optics sits around 640×480. That’s a very clear resolution that delivers an excellent sight picture. However, resolutions around half that or more often provide a pretty solid picture. For example, a 384×288 resolution is by no means bad, especially if you keep the magnification on the low side and work within average hunting ranges. 

The higher the pixels, the larger the field of view. This means you can see more of the world and see it clearer. This makes it easier to track animals and find animals. Field of view can be super important at night.

Refresh Rate 

Thermals are kind of like cameras and screens. They have a refresh rate that helps determine how the living sight picture works. Refresh rates for thermal scopes come in at 9Hz, 30Hz, 50Hz, and 60Hz. When you look through a thermal scope, you are staring at a screen, and the refresh rate is the time it takes to refresh that image. The higher the Hz, the better the refresh rate. 

A low refresh rate creates a lag in the image. The lag may be nothing more than fractions of a second, but that can translate to quite a bit when hunting an animal. Anything about 30Hz is perfectly usable for a scope. Refresh rate and resolution can be a trade-off at times. It’s easy to find 60 Hz optics if you don’t mind 320×240 resolution. I’d choose a higher resolution with a 30 Hz refresh rate for a thermal scope. 

Lens Size 

Lens size can be another trade-off. Lenses for thermal optics are made from germanium, which is super expensive. The bigger the lens, the more germanium, the higher the cost, and you also deal with larger, heavier optics. The larger lens size does give you a higher detection distance and picks up thermal signatures easier. 

Microns 

A micron number with a thermal scope identifies the efficiency of the scope. Thermal scopes with a low micron number are more efficient. Like everything else so far, this is also a trade-off. A low micron scope might be more efficient, but that doesn’t mean it is ultimately better for your end goals. 

When it comes to magnification, you have to focus on these microns. A lower microns level allows you to have more magnification with a smaller lens size. That’s not to say that a lower micron level is ultimately better. It’s just smaller with a decent resolution. Smaller does matter when it comes to a rifle scope. Do you want a boat anchor attached to your rifle? Probably not, but maybe. 

If you are shooting coyotes and hogs at night from a tripod set up, then you won’t mind the weight. You might go with a 17 micron optic with a larger lens to have a clearer picture overall at the cost of a larger, heavier, and ultimately more expensive optic. 

Scope Detection Range 

Detection range is the ability for an optic to see heat. Detection range is often the maximum range you can see a thermal signature. That thermal signature might be nothing more than a blob, though. Detection range is important, but it’s not the end all be all of thermal scope ranges. You also need to factor in recognition range and identification range. 

Detection range might show you a blob moving around. It’s picking up the heat, but the blob is not exactly a clear image. Your detection range of, say, 600 yards allows identifying a heat source. The recognition range allows you to determine what you are looking at. That blob becomes a four-legged animal, and that range might be 300 yards. 

Identification range is when you can determine what animal it is specifically. A four-legged animal now becomes a hog, and that identification range is 150 or 100 yards. These ranges are tricky, and thermal scope companies can be a lot like radio communication companies. 

Magnification 

Thermal scopes do not come with the same type of magnification you get from a traditional rifle optic. Magnification is digital, and you are essentially zooming the image in. If you take out your cell phone and zoom the camera to the max, what happens? You lose resolution, and the same thing happens with thermal optics. 

The lowest level of magnification offered with your optic is what the resolution is based on. So if you purchase a 4-18X optic, the 4X is the real magnification, and anything beyond that is the digital magnification and reduces resolution. Keep that in mind. That extra magnification might not mean much when the resolution is too low for it to matter. 

Recoil Rating 

Remember, these aren’t scopes in the way we think. A normal rifle scope is fairly simple, and even budget brands like Nikon can produce recoil-proof scopes for magnum-powered rifle rounds. Thermal scopes are almost more computer than scope. All those electronics can be beaten to hell and broken with too much recoil. 

You need to research the durability of your optic and how it works with the weapon you want to equip it to. Extra durability costs extra money. Basic thermal optics typically work fine on calibers 308 and below. Moving into the 338 Lapua Magnum territory might prove difficult, though. Do a little research before you break your expensive thermal optic on your 300 Winchester Magnum. 

Battery Life 

Thermal scopes chew through batteries, and it’s just the nature of the optics. They consume a lot of power. While they have gotten better, it’s still wise to make sure the battery life will work for your situation. Battery life seems to last anywhere from three hours to twenty-four hours. Sometimes they are rechargeable. Other times, they use disposable batteries for on-the-fly changes. 

It’s wise to understand the battery situation before it dies in the midst of a hunt! Some thermals can use external battery sources, which can mix disposable and external battery sources. It can be super handy at the cost of weight. 

Heat It Up 

Thermal scopes might be the most fun I’ve had with a gun in years. It tickles me to be able to see and potentially shoot at night with extreme accuracy. Owning the night is quite satisfying. Admittedly, it’s an expensive endeavor, and thermal and night vision, in general, is a buy once cry once deal. Hopefully, you’ve learned a thing or two and found the right thermal scope for you.