A world of opportunities has opened up for consumers to finally afford to purchase thermal and night-vision optics, retailers can better afford to stock shelves without fear of stagnant inventory (digital optics are flying off shelves and in most cases, backordered), and nationwide, post-sunset hunting has exploded. More night hunters than ever are heading outdoors to hunt predators, feral hogs and varmints, and a growing number of states are accommodating them.

There has never been a better time to offer thermal, night-vision and digital riflescopes to your customers. Night hunting opportunities can generate big business for retailers if they carry the right equipment. Check out this roundup of nighttime optics ready to light your way to increased sales.

Thermal Riflescopes

Pulsar Trail 2 XP50 LRF

In the world of consumer thermal imaging optics, Pulsar jumped into industry-leading contention with the unveiling of the Trail and Helion lines of thermal riflescopes and monoculars. In 2020, Pulsar lit the industry on fire with its new flagship Trail thermal riflescope, the Trail 2 XP50 LRF. 

The Trail 2 includes a popular 640x480 microbolometer sensor, 17-micron pixel pitch and Image Boost technology for exceptionally crisp imaging. The Trail 2 XP50 LRF boasts a heat-signature detection range of 2,000 yards, and the integrated laser rangefinder is accurate to within 1 yard, out to 1,000 yards, in zero light. Additional features include onboard Wi-Fi and video with 16gb of storage, Stream Vision App compatibility, picture-in-picture, eight color palettes, full-color HD AMOLED display, 13 color reticle options, <40mK NETD sensor, 2 – 16x step- and continuous-zoom, one-shot zeroing, instant startup and an 8-hour rechargeable battery. www.pulsarnv.com

NVision Halo XRF

Scores of discriminating hunters agree that NVision Halo thermal riflescopes rank at the top of the consumer thermal game with respect to image quality, and the XRF ups the ante. Of course, the price point also ranks at the top of consumer thermals and is not for the faint of heart. Great news there — customers faithful to the you-get-what-you-pay-for-ideology will definitely cross your threshold for a sale, and if you are lucky enough to keep them in stock, they will tell their friends. 

NVision’s latest and greatest, the Halo XRF, boasts top-shelf technology including waterproof construction; 640x480, 12-micron, 60Hz BAE core; larger 50mm germanium objective lens; integrated laser rangefinder accurate to 1,000 yards; heat-signature detection range of 2,020 yards; integrated video with audio; 640x480 OLED display; multiple reticle options, including mil-dot; zoom-sensitive zeroing and a USB-C interface for file transfers or a 5V power supply. Great for hog hunting, the Halo XRF features a base magnification of 2x, perfect for the wider field of view hunters want when they get close to a sounder of hogs. The Halo XRF is powered for up to seven hours by two 18650 batteries. www.nvisionoptics.com

Trijicon Reap-IR 60mm Mini

While some consider NVision to offer the best imaging available, the other half cast their vote for Trijicon. Like scores of previously released Trijicon optics, the foundation of the Reap IR 60mm Mini thermal riflescope is the company’s focus on SWAP (size, weight and power). Your customers also are sure to appreciate the rugged reliability they have come to expect from Trijicon. 

Still suitable for hogs but perfect for longer-range predator hunting, the Trijicon Reaper IR 60mm Mini thermal riflescope boasts a base magnification of 4.5x and digital step-zoom from 1x to 8x using a 640x480 sensor and 12-micron pixel pitch. The Reap IR is powered by two CR123 batteries for up to four hours of run time and leads the industry with an operating temperature range of -40 to 131F. While the Reap IR does not feature onboard video, it does include an analog RS-170 video output. Additional Reap IR features include Trijicon’s thumbstick system, white-hot and black-hot imaging, digital reticle readouts and stadiametric rangefinding. www.trijicon.com

AGM Python TS75-640

New to the consumer thermal and night-vision industry game, AGM Global Vision unveiled the Wolverine night-vision line, as well as Python, Rattler and Secutor lines of thermal riflescopes. Not long ago, heavy buzz circulated about AGM’s flagship AGM Python TS75-640 ,and an increasing number of demanding night shooters have mounted this scope or other AGM optics on their go-to rifles.

As its name implies, the AGM Python TS75-640 boasts an oversized germanium 75mm objective lens and popular FLIR 640x512 microbolometer sensor resolution with 17-micron pixel pitch and 30Hz refresh rate. The body of the Python is constructed of aluminum alloy for light weight and rugged reliability. The Python TS75-640 also boasts a 1,400-yard detection range, 800x600 resolution display, 1x – 8x step zoom, multiple color palette and reticle options, and a micro-USB power and video in-out port. With the AGM Python TS75-640, your customers can expect up to four hours of runtime from two CR123A batteries. www.agmglobalvision.com

ATN Thor 4 640

American Technologies Network, more widely known as ATN, has been hard at work for more than 25 years and is certainly one of precious few thermal and night-vision industry leaders. More recently, the company turned the night-vision world on its ear with a 24-hour digital riflescope, the X-Sight 4K. As ATN thermal imaging goes, the company released is fourth-generation lineup in 2018, and it is still among the most popular consumer thermal riflescopes on the market; case in point, the Thor 4 640 2.5-25x Thermal Riflescope. 

At the heart of ATN’s ultra-feature-rich thermal riflescope platform is a proprietary Obsidian IV dual core processor. ATN Thor 4’s laundry list of features includes fourth-generation 640x480 sensor resolution, robust magnification range, 60Hz refresh rate, onboard 960x1280 HD recoil-activated video stored to a micro-SD card (up to 64gb), dual-stream video capability, 1280x960 HD display, color palettes, multiple color reticle options, one-shot zeroing, ATN Radar technology and a ballistic calculator with Smart mil-dot reticle. The ATN Thor 4 2.5-25x heat-signature detection range extends to 1,950 yards, and a rechargeable L-ion battery provides up to 16 hours of operation. If your customers are focused on features, ATN can heat up your sales. www.atncorp.com

Pulsar Thermion XM30

Since Pulsar’s unveiling of Trail and Helion thermal riflescopes and monoculars in January 2017, Pulsar continues to maintain industry elite status with select few other thermal manufacturers. In 2020 and now in 2021, the company continues to solidify elite brand positioning with recent releases of Thermion XG50, Trail 2 LRF, Accolade 2 LRF Pro, Helion 2 Pro and Axion XQ38 LRF thermal optic solutions. Of course, the company’s second dive into an ultra-affordable thermal riflescope (first being the Pulsar Core RXQ30V) with the newly released Thermion XM30 Thermal Riflescope has caused something of a thermal feeding frenzy. Within hours on the first day of availability, Thermion XM30 Thermal Riflescopes were sold out and the Pulsar was put on notice — make more, quickly. 

With consumer thermal imaging, prices have declined significantly over the past decade, but $5,000 to $10,000 is still a large purchase for most folks. This is to say, a thermal riflescope like the Thermion XM30, with many of the same features as the flagship XG50 and XP50 models, but at a $2,500 (or less) price point, resonates with hunters and shooters and certainly gets more people excited about using the technology. As a retailer carrying thermal and night-vision optics, offering the Thermion XM30 just might fall in the MUST category. The Thermion XM30 boasts a 320x240 microbolometer sensor with 12-micron pixel pitch, 1400-yard detection range, 1024x768 AMOLED display, eight-color display palette, multiple color reticle options, 3.5-14x magnification range, 8x digital step- and continuous-zoom, picture-in-picture, one-shot zero with freeze function, robust rifle and zero-profile storage, built-in video with audio, Wi-Fi, Stream Vision App compatibility, IP67 waterproof protection, recoil rating up to .375 H&H and rechargeable internal-external batteries. www.pulsarnv.com

Burris Thermal Rifle Sight

The feature-rich Burris Thermal Rifle Sight offers performance and value as a dedicated night-hunting optic. Shooters have a choice of 10 reticles and five color palettes to fine tune to their preferences. With a 4X zoom, this dedicated rifle thermal optic will not let any animal cross the sight picture unnoticed.

Each of the Burris Thermal Sights are available two sizes, offering various field of view and zoom range options. The user can operate all devices with one hand without leaving the field of view. The intuitive menu displays in the optics sight picture for quick access to all the different features and allows for zeroing the thermal reticle to match the point of impact for a given distance. The battery icon gives current battery charge status so hunters know how exactly much time they have left.

The Burris Thermal Rifle Sight carries an MSRP of $3,838 for the 35mm and $4,478 for the 50mm.

Digital Night Vision

ATN X-Sight 4K Pro 3-14x 

Sure, ATN continues to maintain solid footing in the thermal imaging market, but did you know they sit among elite digital riflescope manufacturers, too? ATN’s X-Sight changed the way we hunt. With the X-Sight’s launch, hunters and shooters morphed from using traditional optics for daytime activities and digital optics designed for nighttime adventure, to a 24-hour digital riflescope offering full-color daytime imaging, as well as digital night vision. The result? Zero optic or rifle changeovers for 24-hour hunting and shooting opportunities. More recently, the ATN X-Sight 4K Pro Digital Riflescope has experienced incredible consumer response. What does that mean for retailers? It means not offering the X-Sight 4K might be a mistake. 

The ATN X-Sight 4K Digital Riflescope features a proprietary ultra-HD 3864x2218 sensor, full-color HD daytime imaging, enhanced HD night-vision mode, 3-14x magnification range, built-in 1080P HD video recording to a micro-SD card (up to 64gb), 720 HD video streaming, dual-streaming capability, Obsidian 4 dual-core processing, ATN Radar technology, ballistic calculator, Smart mil-dot reticle, multiple color reticle options, roughly 200-yard detection range, one-shot zero and standard 30mm scope rings. www.atncorp.com

Sightmark Wraith 4K Max 3-24x50 

For nearly 15 years, Sightmark has produced firearm-mounted optics designed to enhance shooting experiences for enthusiasts at all levels, from novice to expert. While the brand is rooted in more modest manufacturing of reflex sights, red-dots and, perhaps most notably, in-chamber laser boresights, times have changed ,and Sightmark has become something of a next-level optic producer. Today’s offerings, complete with a lifetime warranty, include premium-performing reflex sights, red-dot optics, hunting and tactical-inspired riflescopes, spotting scopes, binoculars, in-chamber and universal boresights, digital night vision and, now, Wraith 24-hour digital riflescopes. Sightmark’s Wraith lineup began with 4-32x, followed by 2-16x, and they just recently added the Wraith 4K Max. 

The Wraith 4K Max 3-24x50 Digital Riflescope is the perfect, affordable 24-hour riflescope for your hunting and shooting customers tired of swapping optics or complete rifle systems when transitioning from day to night pursuits. The Wraith 4K Max delivers ultra-HD full-color daytime, and digital night-vision imaging with the click of a button, on a 1280x720 HD display via the device’s true, enhanced 4K (4000x3000) CMOS sensor. The Wraith 4K Max also boasts a powerful magnification range of 3x to 24x, 10 reticle options in multiple colors, built-in UHD 4K video with audio and a nighttime detection range of 300 yards with the included, detachable 850nm infrared illuminator. The Wraith 4K Max is powered for up to eight hours via a rechargeable internal battery, and the coated aluminum-alloy body is IPX5 weather resistant.  Considering the Wraith’s 24-hour utility, 4K sensor and video quality, extended range (further with a third-party IR illuminator) and sub-$1,000 price point, it is not a matter of should you offer your customers this optic, it is a question of why on Earth wouldn’t you. www.sightmark.com

Pulsar Digex N455 

Bouncing back once more to Pulsar, the company’s Digex N455 deserve a hard look and serious consideration as an option for your night-vision fans. Sure, Pulsar produces amazing thermal optics; however, premium quality and precision performance are equally impressive throughout night-vision offerings. Pulsar’s night-vision lineup swelled with the introduction of Digisight riflescopes, and an ever-growing population of hunters and shooters are looking in retail establishments like yours for Digisight Ultra LRF and, more recently, the Thermion-like Digex Digital Night Vision Riflescope. 

The Digex Digital Night Vision Riflescope doesn’t just look like a Thermion thermal riflescope, it includes many of the Thermion’s sought-after features including color image palettes, multiple color reticle options, 1024x768 HD AMOLED display, picture-in-picture, integrated video and Wi-Fi, one-shot zero with freeze function, aircraft-grade aluminum 30mm tube platform, manual display- and distance-focus rings, internal and external rechargeable lithium batteries, 4-16x magnification, step- and continuous-zoom, and a stadiametric rangefinder. The IP67 waterproof-rated Digex N455 is recoil rated up to .375 H&H and boasts a Gen 3 night-vision comparable detection range of 550 yards using a 1280x720 HD sensor and an included, detachable 940nm invisible IR illuminator. If your customers are serious about night vision and hungry for Gen 3-quality night-vision imaging, but also like affordable options, Pulsar’s Digex N455 definitely stands to heat up sales. www.pulsarnv.com

Traditional Night Vision

Bering Trifecta Core+ 3x50 NV Riflescope

Founded in 2009, Bering Optics, a Texas-based company producing day optics, recently fired up the thermal and night-vision competition with Hogster thermal riflescopes, and more recently, Super Hogster scopes, and several solid-performing generational night vision scopes — a boon since the traditional night-vision market shrank considerably under the weight of digital night-vision offerings. Still, diehard night-vision shooters are not going away, leaving more market share for those companies still in the game. Fortunately for your clientele, Bering Optics is still very much in the night-vision game, and the Bering Trifecta Core+ 3x50 Riflescope is an industry-leading Gen 1 night-vision game-changer.

Yes, you read correctly: the Trifecta Core+ 3x50 Riflescope is definitely employs a Gen 1 image intensifier tube. However, Bering’s Core+ technology stretches detection out to a Gen 2+ reach of 300 yards! This is Bering’s “secret sauce” — a sub-$1,000 Gen 1 night-vision scope with clear Gen 2+ performance. In fact, MSRP is well below 1,000. I can’t imagine night-vision users not getting excited about that. The IP54 weather-resistant Trifecta Core+ features rugged aluminum alloy construction, traditional green field of view, and richly contrasting red mil-dot reticle, and it is powered for up to 10 hours on a single CR123 battery. www.beringoptics.com

AGM Wolverine 4 NL3 Night-Vision Riflescope

While the AGM Python has slithered into impressive thermal industry position, the company’s generational night vision lineup also is well worth your retail shelf space. Again, with fewer traditional night vision producers out there and a healthy population of traditional NV enthusiasts, it makes sense to offer affordable, high-quality, mid-level performing scopes. AGM’s most popular night-vision optic, the Wolverine 4 NL3, fills this bill nicely.

Unlike the Trifecta Core+ but also higher priced for serious NV enthusiasts, AGM’s Wolverine 4 NL3 boasts a true Gen 2+ (Level 3) image intensifier tube and quite a respectable 300+ yard detection range — longer in complementary conditions and using the included AGM-Sioux 850nm infrared illuminator. The Wolverine 4 NL3 is housed in a water-resistant aluminum alloy body for peace-of-mind durability and includes a Weaver-compatible quick-disconnect mount. Additional features include 4x magnification, robust focal range of 10 meters to infinity, illuminated mil-dot reticle with red center, and up to 50 hours of operation from a rechargeable CR123A 3V lithium battery. www.agmglobalvision.com