The market

    The whole thermal market on one page.

    Every brand mapped by score and price — then who really makes the sensors, what each build should cost, and which warranties carry to the next owner.

    THE LANDSCAPE

    The most expensive brands don’t score the highest.

    Each logo marks a brand’s middle scope — half its lineup scores better, half worse. The higher the logo, the higher its HuntGrade score; the further right, the more it costs.

    Best valueHigh score, higher priceBudgetLow score, higher priceSTREET PRICE →HUNTGRADE SCORE →
    SENSOR MAKERS

    Who actually made the sensor in your scope?

    Behind 13 brand names and 160 scopes there are just 6 sensor sources. We traced each one through FCC filings and teardown evidence, not marketing pages — and where no maker is named, we say so.

    1 brand · 24 scopes
    AGM
    2 brands · 11 scopes
    Trijicon
    N-Vision
    4 brands · 42 scopes
    InfiRay
    Nocpix
    RIX
    Bering
    3 brands · 61 scopes
    CHINESEno maker named
    ATN
    Armasight
    Sig
    2 brands · 4 scopes
    Burris
    Steiner
    1 brand · 18 scopes
    Pulsar
    ORIGIN

    “Made in USA” usually means the scope was assembled here, not where the sensor was made.

    Two different questions that often have different answers: who makes the sensor, and who assembles the finished scope. Tap a brand for both answers.

    47 scopes rated
    ATN
    Sensor made in
    China — no maker named
    Scope assembled in
    USA
    HOW IT’S BUILT

    A scope is a sensor and a lens working together — and only certain pairings get built.

    Pick your sensor class. These are the lens sizes it’s actually sold with, and how many scopes carry each one — drawn at their real relative sizes.

    19 mm
    1 scope
    24 mm
    2 scopes
    25 mm
    5 scopes
    35 mm
    25 scopes
    50 mm
    35 scopes
    60 mm
    5 scopes
    75 mm
    7 scopes
    SCORE TO PRICE

    Past $5,399, more money barely buys a better score.

    Every dot is one scope, placed by price and score. The green line follows the best score you can get at each price. Tap a budget to see the top-scoring scope at or under it.

    5060708090$2k$4k$6k$8k$10kStreet priceHuntGrade ScoreNocpix ACE S60R — 81.7, $5,399AGM Adder V2 LRF 60-1280 — 84.1, $6,995AGM Evolver LRF 1280 — 84.7, $6,995RIX DBH D12 — 81.0, $8,499Nocpix RICO 2 S75R — 82.1, $7,999RIX LEAP L12R — 80.9, $6,899InfiRay BOLT TX60C — 82.0, $5,999Pulsar Thermion 2 LRF XL60 — 80.3, $6,999.97Pulsar Thermion 2 LRF XL50 — 78.5, $4,250ATN ThOR 5 XD 1280 2-20x — 76.5, $4,299.99ATN ThOR 5 XD 1280 3-30x — 76.2, $4,699.99ATN ThOR 5 XD 1280 4-40x — 75.8, $5,199.99ATN ThOR 5 XD LRF 1280 2-20x — 76.1, $5,295ATN ThOR 5 XD LRF 1280 3-30x — 75.8, $5,795ATN ThOR 5 XD LRF 1280 4-40x — 75.4, $6,195Pulsar Thermion 2 XP50 PRO — 77.0, $2,799.99Pulsar Thermion 2 LRF XP60 — 74.5, $5,499.97Pulsar Thermion 2 LRF XP50 PRO — 75.0, $3,999Pulsar Thermion Duo DXP50 — 73.8, $3,999Pulsar Thermion Duo DXP55 — 73.8, $4,999.97Nocpix ACE H50 — 72.3, $3,850Nocpix ACE H50R — 72.3, $3,899RIX DBH D6 — 72.7, $5,699Burris BTS35 v3 640 — 73.3, $3,499.99InfiRay RICO Hybrid 640 4x 75mm — 71.9, $4,999Nocpix RICO 2 H75R — 72.3, $6,499RIX LEAP L6R — 70.6, $4,499ATN ThOR 6 640x512 2-16x — 74.0, $3,295ATN ThOR 6 LRF 640x512 2-16x — 73.9, $3,795ATN ThOR 6 Mini 640x512 2-16x — 76.5, $2,460.75Nocpix RICO 3 H35R — 76.3, $3,699ATN ThOR 6 640x512 3-24x — 74.0, $3,795ATN ThOR 6 LRF 640x512 3-24x — 73.8, $4,495ATN ThOR 6 Mini 640x512 3-24x — 76.1, $3,495InfiRay RICO Mk2 640 LRF 3x 50mm — 72.8, $4,499Nocpix RICO 2 H50R — 73.8, $3,989Nocpix RICO 3 H50R — 75.6, $4,499Nocpix RICO 3 PRO H50R — 73.7, $5,499AGM Rattler V3 LRF 50-640 — 74.6, $4,395InfiRay Hybrid Compact 640 3.5x 50mm — 75.4, $5,299AGM Adder V2 LRF 50-640 — 74.1, $4,995AGM Adder V2 LRF 35-640 — 74.3, $4,295AGM Rattler V2 50-640 — 77.2, $2,995AGM Rattler V3 LRF 35-640 — 74.7, $4,295AGM Secutor LRF 50-640 — 75.3, $4,495Steiner Nighthunter S35 Gen II — 74.8, $1,899.99Pulsar Talion XG35 — 75.6, $2,199.97Pulsar Trail 3 LRF XR50 — 75.9, $4,199.99Pulsar Thermion 2 LRF XG60 — 71.5, $5,499.97Armasight Commander 640 1.5-6x35 — 72.7, $3,199.99InfiRay RICO Hybrid 640 3x 50mm — 71.9, $4,999.99Armasight Collector 640 1-4x25 — 73.5, $2,750AGM Clarion 640 — 74.0, $3,495Sig ECHO RV50-LRF — 73.5, $4,499.99Sig ECHO SV35-LRF — 74.0, $3,499.99AGM Rattler V2 35-640 — 75.9, $2,495AGM Varmint V2 LRF 35-640 — 74.5, $2,995RIX STORM S6R — 74.6, $2,999Sig ECHO SV50-LRF — 73.8, $4,499.99Bering Super Yoter LRF 3.0-24.0x50mm — 72.3, $4,395Nocpix SLIM H35 — 74.0, $2,499AGM Secutor LRF 75-640 — 73.0, $6,295Bering Super Yoter R 3.0-12.0x50mm — 72.1, $3,599Armasight Contractor 640 3-12x50 — 67.4, $3,369Pulsar Thermion 2 LRF XG50 — 70.9, $5,099Pulsar Thermion 2 XG50 — 71.4, $3,999Sig ECHO RV35 — 72.8, $3,499.99Armasight Contractor 640 4.8-19.2x75 — 65.8, $4,389Armasight Contractor 640 2.3-9.2x35 — 67.1, $4,799ATN ThOR 4 640 2.5-25x — 70.4, $3,699ATN ThOR 4 640 1-10x — 69.9, $2,699ATN ThOR 4 640 4-40x — 69.0, $3,329Trijicon IR-HUNTER 35mm — 66.5, $7,499Trijicon REAP-IR 35mm — 66.9, $7,999ATN ThOR 5 640 5-40x — 67.2, $3,199.99ATN ThOR 5 LRF 640 5-40x — 66.8, $3,199.99ATN ThOR LTV 640 2-6x — 70.5, $2,099.99ATN ThOR LTV 640 4-12x — 70.5, $2,419.99ATN ThOR 4 640 1.5-15x — 68.8, $2,539Pulsar Thermion 2 LRF XQ50 PRO — 67.8, $2,999.97Pulsar Thermion 2 XQ50 PRO — 68.3, $2,799.97Trijicon IR-HUNTER 60mm — 63.8, $8,999Pulsar Talion XQ35 PRO — 69.9, $1,999.97Pulsar Thermion 2 XQ35 PRO — 66.6, $2,499.97Trijicon IR-HUNTER 24mm — 65.7, $6,499Trijicon REAP-IR 24mm — 66.2, $6,999Trijicon REAP-IR 60mm — 63.9, $9,499ATN ThOR LTV 640 3-9x — 69.6, $2,249.99Pulsar Trail 3 LRF XQ50 — 69.5, $2,999.97ATN ThOR 5 640 2-16x — 67.7, $2,339.99ATN ThOR 5 640 4-32x — 67.5, $2,769.99ATN ThOR 5 LRF 640 2-16x — 66.9, $2,995ATN ThOR 5 LRF 640 4-32x — 66.7, $3,495N-Vision HALO-XRF Thermal Scope — 65.0, $7,125N-Vision HALO35 Thermal Scope — 66.3, $6,495N-Vision HALO-X50 Thermal Scope — 65.6, $6,575N-Vision HALO-X35 Thermal Scope — 66.4, $6,300ATN ThOR 5 640 3-24x — 66.9, $2,499.99ATN ThOR 5 LRF 640 3-24x — 66.2, $3,195InfiRay RICO Hybrid 384 3x 50mm — 66.4, $2,599Nocpix ACE L35 — 64.2, $2,499N-Vision HALO-LR Thermal Scope — 65.3, $7,495Bering Hogster VIBE 1.4-5.6x25mm — 66.8, $1,775Bering Hogster ZAP 2.8-11.2x35mm — 65.5, $1,375Bering Hogster VIBE 2.0-8.0x35mm — 66.6, $1,895RIX LEAP L3R — 61.9, $2,599AGM Adder V2 35-384 — 65.9, $2,395AGM Adder V2 LRF 35-384 — 65.7, $2,795Burris BTS35 v3 — 64.2, $1,999.99AGM Rattler V3 25-384 — 67.9, $1,795AGM Rattler V3 LRF 35-384 — 66.7, $2,795ATN ThOR 6 384x288 2.5-20x — 65.2, $1,995ATN ThOR 6 384x288 3.5-28x — 65.0, $2,295ATN ThOR 6 LRF 384x288 3.5-28x — 65.0, $2,695ATN ThOR 6 Mini 384x288 2.5-20x — 67.5, $1,795ATN ThOR 6 Mini 384x288 3.5-28x — 67.5, $1,995InfiRay RICO Mk2 384 LRF 4x 42mm — 63.8, $3,499Nocpix RICO 2 L42R — 64.9, $2,489AGM Clarion 384 — 67.4, $2,295Nocpix RICO 3 L35R — 67.1, $2,699AGM Rattler V2 25-384 — 68.6, $1,595AGM Rattler V2 35-384 — 68.3, $1,795AGM Secutor LRF 35-384 — 66.5, $2,295AGM Varmint V2 LRF 35-384 — 66.7, $1,995Bering Super Hogster A3 2.9-11.6x35mm — 65.4, $2,175Bering Super Hogster LRF 3.5-14.0x35mm — 65.0, $2,775Nocpix BOLT L35R — 62.2, $1,999Nocpix SLIM L25 — 64.5, $1,499RIX STORM S3 — 65.2, $1,499RIX STORM S3R — 65.0, $1,799Nocpix SLIM L35 — 64.5, $1,799Burris BTS35 v2 — 60.2, $1,499.99Pulsar Talion XQ38 — 64.0, $2,499.97Armasight Collector 320 1.5-6x19 — 60.8, $1,741.61Armasight Contractor 320 Lite 2-8x25 — 58.8, $1,779Sig ECHO RQ35 — 62.9, $2,499.99Armasight Contractor 320 3-12x25 — 58.4, $2,380Armasight Contractor 320 6-24x50 — 57.6, $3,899ATN ThOR LTV 320 5-15x — 61.1, $1,499.99AGM Rattler V2 25-320 — 61.7, $995AGM Rattler V2 19-256 — 63.3, $795AGM Rattler V2 25-256 — 62.7, $995ATN ThOR LTV 320 3-9x — 59.9, $1,299.99ATN ThOR LTV 320 4-12x — 59.8, $1,329.99Nocpix BOLT P25R — 56.7, $1,199RIX STORM S2 — 58.4, $799RIX STORM S2R — 58.2, $999ATN ThOR 5 320 5-20x — 57.9, $1,819.99ATN ThOR 5 LRF 320 5-20x — 57.2, $1,899.99ATN ThOR LTV 256 1.5-4.5x — 59.0, $769.99ATN ThOR LTV 256 2-6x — 59.0, $859.99ATN ThOR LTV 256 3-9x — 59.0, $949.99ATN ThOR LTV 256 4-12x — 59.0, $1,295Bering Hogster Stimulus 2.3-4.6x19mm — 59.5, $975ATN ThOR 5 320 3-12x — 56.9, $1,399.99ATN ThOR 5 LRF 320 3-12x — 56.2, $1,729.99ATN ThOR 5 320 4-16x — 56.9, $1,639.99ATN ThOR 5 LRF 320 4-16x — 56.1, $1,699.99ATN ThOR 6 Mini 256x192 2-16x — 57.7, $895ATN ThOR 6 Mini 256x192 3.5-28x — 57.2, $930.75ATN ThOR LTV 256 1.5-4.5x — 59.0, $769.99AGM Rattler V2 19-256 — 63.3, $795Bering Hogster ZAP 2.8-11.2x35mm — 65.5, $1,375AGM Rattler V2 25-384 — 68.6, $1,595Steiner Nighthunter S35 Gen II — 74.8, $1,899.99Pulsar Talion XG35 — 75.6, $2,199.97ATN ThOR 6 Mini 640x512 2-16x — 76.5, $2,460.75Pulsar Thermion 2 XP50 PRO — 77.0, $2,799.99AGM Rattler V2 50-640 — 77.2, $2,995Pulsar Thermion 2 LRF XL50 — 78.5, $4,250Nocpix ACE S60R — 81.7, $5,399InfiRay BOLT TX60C — 82.0, $5,999AGM Evolver LRF 1280 — 84.7, $6,995$795 · 63.3$5,399 · 81.7Nocpix ACE S60R$6,995 · 84.7AGM Evolver LRF 1280
    best score money can buy
    one dot = one scope — tap any dot to open it
    PRICE vs. CORE

    The same sensor can cost more than double.

    Pick a sensor. The cheapest and the priciest scopes that carry it sit side by side — the price gap comes from everything around the sensor, not the sensor itself.

    The extra $4,000 buys a 75 mm lens instead of 35 mm and a built-in laser rangefinder. 11 more scopes run this sensor, priced between these two.

    THE GOING RATE

    Every upgrade has a going rate.

    Take two scopes that differ by exactly one thing — the price gap between them is what the market charges for that upgrade. We matched 105 such pairs from the live catalog; each rate is pinned to the part it buys.

    Built-in rangefinder+$525laser rangefinder (LRF)Seeing more detail+$864a bigger sensor, e.g. 384 → 640Seeing farther+$373longer objective lensNicer body & screen+$500same guts, next line up
    Built-in rangefinder
    +$525
    laser rangefinder (LRF)
    Seeing more detail
    +$864
    a bigger sensor, e.g. 384 → 640
    Seeing farther
    +$373
    longer objective lens
    Nicer body & screen
    +$500
    same guts, next line up
    Add up what changed — one real pair
    the same sensor and the same f/1.0 glass in both
    AGM Rattler V2 50-640$2,995
    +sharper screen & rangefinder$1,800
    shorter lens, 50 → 35 mm$500
    AGM Adder V2 LRF 35-640$4,295

    When a scope costs far more than the going rates of what changed, the extra is buying body, screen, and name — not the spec.

    WARRANTY

    Most warranties end when you sell the scope — five carry to the next owner.

    On a $3–10k scope, coverage matters as much as the spec. All 13 brands, ranked by how long the warranty runs and whether it stays with the scope when you sell.

    Stays with the scope when you sell
    Bering
    4–6 yr by line
    AGM
    5 yr
    Nocpix
    5 yr
    Pulsar
    3–5 yr by line
    RIX
    3–5 yr by line
    Ends with the first owner
    ATN
    3–5 yr by line
    InfiRay
    5 yr
    N-Vision
    5 yr
    Sig
    5 yr
    Armasight
    1–3 yr by line
    Burris
    3 yr
    Trijicon
    3 yr
    Steiner
    2 yr

    Each brand’s terms come from its own warranty page, tracked per scope in our database — a brand whose lines carry different terms shows its range.

    WHERE TO BUY

    Buying from the right store saves about $450.

    A typical scope here is listed by 6 stores at once, and the posted prices are almost never the same — on half our scopes the cheapest store is $470 or more below the most expensive one. Pick a brand to see who carries it and who prices it lowest.

    StoreScopes listedListed
    OpticsPlanet
    123 of 156
    B&H Photo Video
    98 of 156
    EuroOptic / Scopelist
    94 of 156
    MidwayUSA
    87 of 156
    Natchez
    72 of 156
    Palmetto State Armory
    57 of 156
    Sportsman's Warehouse
    49 of 156
    Brownells
    48 of 156
    Camera Land NY
    46 of 156
    Feral Texas Outdoors
    40 of 156
    Sportsman's Guide
    38 of 156
    Night Vision Guys
    34 of 156
    Sport Optics
    32 of 156
    Ultimate Night Vision
    31 of 156
    Outdoor Legacy
    31 of 156
    The Thermal Store
    13 of 156
    Dark Night Outdoors
    12 of 156
    TNVC
    12 of 156
    Strictly Offensive Kit
    11 of 156
    NightVision4Less
    10 of 156
    Predator Hunter Outdoors
    9 of 156
    Basic Precision
    7 of 156
    Scheels
    5 of 156
    Night Vision Universe
    5 of 156
    Adorama
    3 of 156

    EuroOptic and Scopelist share one owner, so they count as one store — every scope’s own page lists its stores with shipping and return terms.