Thermal Scopes for Beginners

Coltoncashh

Private
Full Member
Minuteman
Feb 12, 2025
51
5
Kansas City, Missouri
I am a beginner looking to buy a Thermal scope For $2k or less, I have been looking at the Iray TL25 & TL35 and the Athlon Cronus 35-400, but want some opinions from the hide before ordering anyone have these scopes what are the differences and how do they stack up compared to one another. Are these scopes worth it for the money or what are you all using? Mainly going to be using it for coyote season in Missouri shooting under 300 yards, mounted on an AR .233.
 
I've been impressed with the 400x300 Burris scopes for the money. I use a NOX 35, but my son uses a first gen Burris BTS50 and it has been a great investment, killed many pigs and coyotes. I'm testing an Athlon Cronus 640 CL right now and it is very impressive at a $3100ish street price. It isn't $2000, and it is a clip on, but it is a whole lot of thermal and has a laser range finder for the $$.

Ultimately I'd strongly suggest considering spending a LITTLE more thank $2k and getting a used 640 unit still under warranty out of the classifieds.
 
You can pretty much pick anything nowadays especially under 300. They have come a long way in the past 10 years as far as much better performance for much less price.

I prefer pulsar.
 
Under 2K is going to be rough. I would look at a used S6 or L3. The S6 has a 2x base mag but you can def take 300 yards shots with a 2x, I have done this several times with the S6.