Best thermal scopes for an AR-15
A light rifle deserves a light scope. At every budget, the lightest thermal scopes, with how far out each one identifies a coyote.
Updated October 11, 2026 · 158 current models considered
How this list is ranked
- Weight: lightest first, as each maker states it. Makers weigh differently (some leave out the battery or the mount, which can move a scope a few places), so each row says how its maker weighed it.
Weight
How heavy the device is. Check whether the maker weighed it with or without the battery, because brands do it differently.
- Then identification distance: the farthest a coyote still stands 12 pixels tall on the screen, enough to tell it from a fox or a dog. Calculated from the maker's sensor and lens.
Identification distance
Our estimate of how far away you can tell a coyote from a fox or a dog. It is calculated from the lens and sensor, assuming good conditions.
- Then price: on a further tie, the cheaper one.
Only current models sold through US dealers with a published US price. Nobody paid for a spot, and affiliate links never change the order. The coyotes are drawn at 200 yards, one square per sensor pixel, all on the same scale. How we measure.
Under $2,000
Top 5 of 46 current thermal scopes with a published weight in this range.
1
X-Vision
Flex 1 Wide View Thermal Reflex Sight
240×210 · MSRP $2,000
- Weight
- 8.8 oz
- Identify a coyote to
- ~20 yd
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 180 ft
1 px tall at 200 yd
2
DNT Optics
Hydra Mini HS210M
256×192 · 10 mm · $1,111
- Weight
- 11.3 oz
- without battery and mount; 550 g with battery and mount
- Identify a coyote to
- ~40 yd
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 92 ft
3 px tall at 200 yd
3
DNT Optics
Hydra HS225
256×192 · 25 mm · $888
- Weight
- 13.1 oz
- Identify a coyote to
- ~105 yd
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 37 ft
6 px tall at 200 yd
4
DNT Optics
Hydra HS219
256×192 · 19 mm · $777
- Weight
- 13.2 oz
- Hydra manual (373 g); the product page says 13.2 oz
- Identify a coyote to
- ~80 yd
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 49 ft
5 px tall at 200 yd
5
DNT Optics
Hydra HS325
384×288 · 25 mm · $1,111
- Weight
- 13.4 oz
- Identify a coyote to
- ~105 yd
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 55 ft
6 px tall at 200 yd
Compare the top 3 side by side · See them all on the thermal scopes page
$2,000 to $3,500
Top 5 of 47 current thermal scopes with a published weight in this range.
1
DNT Optics
Hydra LRF HS635R
640×512 · 35 mm · rangefinder · $2,222
- Weight
- 15 oz
- without battery and mount (HYDRA-LRF manual)
- Identify a coyote to
- ~150 yd
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 66 ft
9 px tall at 200 yd
2
DNT Optics
Hydra HS650
640×512 · 50 mm · $2,444
- Weight
- 16.3 oz
- Hydra manual: 463 g / 16.3 oz. The product page says 16.9 oz (479 g); see docs/spec-research-dnt.md
- Identify a coyote to
- ~210 yd
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 46 ft
13 px tall at 200 yd
3
Bering Optics
Super Hogster A3 2.9-11.6x35
384×288 · 35 mm · $2,175
- Weight
- 17.1 oz
- without mount and batteries, with eyepiece and lens cap
- Identify a coyote to
- ~150 yd
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 39 ft
9 px tall at 200 yd
4
AGM
Rattler V2 35-640
640×512 · 35 mm · $2,545
- Weight
- 18 oz
- without mount and battery
- Identify a coyote to
- ~150 yd
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 66 ft
9 px tall at 200 yd
5
DNT Optics
Hydra LRF HS650R
640×512 · 50 mm · rangefinder · $2,445
- Weight
- 18.2 oz
- without battery and mount. Dimensions left blank: the manual prints 212 x 68 x 77 mm but 8.4 x 2.7 x 2.2 in (2.2 in is 56 mm), and the product page gives only 8.4 x 2.7 x 2.2 in
- Identify a coyote to
- ~210 yd
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 46 ft
13 px tall at 200 yd
Compare the top 3 side by side · See them all on the thermal scopes page
$3,500 to $5,000
Top 5 of 33 current thermal scopes with a published weight in this range.
1
InfiRay
Rico Micro V2 384 25mm (RL25 V2)
384×288 · 25 mm · $3,749
- Weight
- 11.3 oz
- as published (iRayUSA datasheet)
- Identify a coyote to
- ~105 yd
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 55 ft
6 px tall at 200 yd
2
InfiRay
Rico Micro V2 640 25mm (RH25 V2)
640×480 · 25 mm · $3,999
- Weight
- 11.3 oz
- as published (iRayUSA datasheet)
- Identify a coyote to
- ~105 yd
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 92 ft
6 px tall at 200 yd
3
Bering Optics
Super Yoter R 3.0-12.0x50
640×480 · 50 mm · $3,595
- Weight
- 20.1 oz
- without batteries, with QD mount, eye cup and lens cover
- Identify a coyote to
- ~210 yd
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 46 ft
13 px tall at 200 yd
4
Athlon
Cronus DCM Pro 35L-640
640×512 · 35 mm · $4,050
- Weight
- 20.1 oz
- conditions not stated
- Identify a coyote to
- ~150 yd
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 66 ft
9 px tall at 200 yd
5
AGM
Secutor LRF 50-640
640×512 · 50 mm · rangefinder · $4,395
- Weight
- 23.3 oz
- without mount and battery
- Identify a coyote to
- ~210 yd
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 46 ft
13 px tall at 200 yd
Compare the top 3 side by side · See them all on the thermal scopes page
$5,000 and up
Top 5 of 32 current thermal scopes with a published weight in this range.
1
AGM
Secutor LRF 75-640
640×512 · 75 mm · rangefinder · $6,495
- Weight
- 24.7 oz
- without mount and battery
- Identify a coyote to
- ~320 yd
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 31 ft
19 px tall at 200 yd
2
InfiRay
Rico Hybrid Compact 640 3.5x 50mm LRF (HCH50R)
640×480 · 50 mm · rangefinder · $5,299
- Weight
- 25.6 oz
- as published (iRayUSA datasheet)
- Identify a coyote to
- ~255 yd
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 38 ft
15 px tall at 200 yd
3
Trijicon
REAP-IR 24mm
640×480 · 24 mm · $7,209
- Weight
- 27.3 oz
- Identify a coyote to
- ~100 yd
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 96 ft
6 px tall at 200 yd
4
AGM
Evolver LRF 1280
1280×1024 · 65 mm · rangefinder · $6,495
- Weight
- 27.9 oz
- without mount and battery
- Identify a coyote to
- ~275 yd
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 71 ft
17 px tall at 200 yd
5
Trijicon
REAP-IR 35mm
640×480 · 35 mm · $8,239
- Weight
- 28.2 oz
- Identify a coyote to
- ~150 yd
- Ground across at 100 yd
- 66 ft
9 px tall at 200 yd
Compare the top 3 side by side · See them all on the thermal scopes page
What is left out
Discontinued models, which sell used on eBay; brands with no US dealer network; and models whose maker publishes too little about the sensor or lens to calculate a distance. All of them are on the thermal scopes page.
Prices are the US price on file for each model, or the maker's list price where marked MSRP. Retailers change them often; the retailer's page is the current one.
More lists
- Best thermal scopes for coyote hunting
- Best budget thermal scopes
- Best budget thermal monoculars
- Best thermal monoculars for hunting
- Best thermal scopes with a built-in rangefinder
- Best clip-on thermal scopes
- Best 640 thermal scopes
- Best 1280 thermal scopes
- Best thermal monoculars with a rangefinder
- Best thermal binoculars
- Best thermal scopes for hog hunting
- Best thermal monoculars for hog hunting