Whether you prefer hunting with night vision or thermal devices, you often find yourself in a similar situation; you extend your hunting session from day to night, and you have to swap your day scope to the night one. It's a hassle and takes some time that might be valuable in order to spot your prey. No worries - we have the solution right here.
Mounting and dismounting thermal scopes have never been more comfortable with the best clip on thermal scope. There's no need to re-zero or remove your current day scope. Just clip it on and use thermal imaging to locate your prey through obstacles quickly.
Stay tuned and go through our list of reviews, and then we'll go in-depth about these devices and how they function in the buyer's guide.
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If it's a bother to go through the reviews and find the one that suits you, here are our recommendations that include 6 products from the article.
The Best Clip-On Thermal Scope - Top 6 Reviews
Best Feature | Product Name | Price |
|---|---|---|
The Best Overall | AGM Global Vision Anaconda Thermal Clip-On Scope | |
Premium Pick | Armasight Apollo MR 640 Clip-On Thermal Scope | |
Full Package Pick | Trijicon Snipe-IR Thermal Imaging Clip-On | |
The Best Light Version | AGM Global Vision Micro-Compact Anaconda Clip-On Thermal Scope | |
The Best For The Money | Bering BEAST-C 336 Clip-On Attachment | |
The Best Traditional | ATN TICO LT 320 Clip-On Thermal Scope |
If you're not interested in going through countless product reviews just to find the one that suits you, then the best idea is to settle for the best. After careful examination, we came to the conclusion that the AGM Global Vision Anaconda Thermal Clip-On Scope is the best clip-on system right now.
What makes it the best? Firstly, it has the best combination of display and general resolution out of all six products. It has a 640-512 pixel resolution with a 600p display resolution. When you compare it to some newer electronic devices, it's astonishing what they were able to pack into a thermal clip-on scope.
Aside from that, the process of attaching this scope to your preexisting one is a piece of cake. It'll take you around a minute to clip it on with instructions, and remember it works best with 8x magnification scopes that are suitable for mid-range use.
Of course, you can expect a high level of quality from a device such as this one. It's coated, the lens is made from durable germanium and aircraft-grade aluminum. You're probably wondering if it's waterproof, and the answer is yes; plus, you can store it at temperatures that go as low as - 70 degrees Celsius.
Moreover, you can connect this thermal rifle scope to a WiFi module or a video recorder to share your hunting sessions with someone else or save it for later replaying. The battery is not that impressive until you factor in the external 5V-pack that can up your running time to 44 hours.
In essence, there's nothing that can sway you away from purchasing this clip-on thermal scope - it's well-crafted, quality-made, and a real beauty to own.
- General and display resolution
- Easy mounting process
- Made from quality materials
- WiFi connection
- 44-hour battery life
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If you're ready to try out new and exciting devices, this will be the perfect product for you. Let's see what the Armasight Apollo MR 640 Clip-On Thermal Scope has to offer.
First of all, we have to mention Armasight's prowess when it comes to manufacturing night vision and thermal devices. They excel at dishing out premium binoculars, monoculars, scopes - you name it. They've been a staple in the optics community for years now, and they're still going strong.
When it comes to this thermal scope, in particular, we have many things to showcase. Firstly, the imaging capability behind this software is astounding. The lens resolution is set to 640-512 pixels, and it's broadcasted to the high-definition AMOLED display that helps to focus on the prey.
Also, the thermal imaging software is developed by FLIR. The FLIR Tau 2 core is widely used for many purposes aside from thermal imaging, but it found its way into this device, and it's offering so much quality.
You'll be happy to know that you'll easily mount and dismount this thermal scope with the QR mount. You won't need to re-zero your current day optics, even if it's a long-range one.
Without any external batteries, this Armasight thermal clip-on scope can offer as much as 7 hours of running time, which is quite well in comparison to most thermal scopes on the market. It runs on the standard CR123A battery, so you won't bother finding the batteries and the adapter.
In general, we didn't find any significant issues with this unit, except for the fact that some customers complained that recoil from some rifles ended in shutting off the clip-on scope. It could be a safety measure to prevent any damage to the scope, so if that happens to you, it's best to contact Armasight customer service, and they'll help you out.
- FLIR Tau 2 thermal core
- HD AMOLED display
- 640-512 p resolution
- Easy to use
- Recoil shut-off
Before you start reading this review, there's one thing you should know - whatever it is that you require from a clip-on thermal scope, this device has got you covered. Without further ado, here's the Trijicon Snipe-IR Thermal Imaging Clip-On.
If you scroll down to the specifications and features of this device, you'll notice that it does not lack in anything. From the most straightforward, added equipment to your premium features, this one has it all. The only downside is, of course, the price, but it's something you'll have to deal with if you're looking for the full package.
In terms of overall durability, you can rest assured this clip-on thermal scope won't break that easily. Trijicon Snipe-IR is built from aircraft-grade aluminum and combined with nitrogen purging to secure it from potential water damage. Furthermore, it'll operate even at -55 degrees Celsius without losing any of its functionality and maintain its speed efficiency.
The resolution is your standard thermal 640-480 pixels that can offer you 30 Hz and 60 Hz refresh rates. If you feel like saving the battery life, we recommend you set the refresh rate to 30 Hz, which can give you up to 7 hours of battery life.
Another fantastic thing about it is the ergonomic design that the manufacturer put a lot of time into constructing. It's small, compact, and weighs only 1.54 lb, so the overall added weight won't mess with your aim. Trijicon Snipe-IR is easy to mount and won't require re-zeroing of your daylight scope.
Digital zoom and focus image control not only helps to focus on your prey but also to get a sharp image and better understanding of your surroundings. The biggest downside is, of course, the price. It's relatively expensive and will probably be one of the priciest things in your hunting equipment. Still, it's an investment for the long-term that will undoubtedly pay off.
- Ergonomic build
- Full package
- Durability
- Lightweight
- Expensive
If the first product on this list of reviews left an impression on you but is simply out of your price range, check out the AGM Global Vision Micro-Compact Anaconda Clip-On Thermal Scope.
In general, it bears a lot of similarities with the first one, but it's the light version that's much easier on the budget. You won't get the same specifications, but it'll work more than well for you if you're a novice hunter.
The lens resolution is set to 384-288 pixels, while the display resolution is your standard 1024x768. However, the display is capable of recording videos and sending them wirelessly to the app that you'll preinstall, which comes in quite handy.
Due to its build, you can choose between the 1x optical zoom or 2-4x digital zoom for some close-up, mid-range observing and recording. The resulting image is quite clear and crispy so that you don't miss any targets walking by.
Also, the overall ROM memory is 128 MB, which you can improve with the 32 GB memory card. Unfortunately, it doesn't come in the package, but it's not that big of an investment for a 32 GB improvement.
You can also extend the 5-hour battery life by using a 5V external battery if you think that two CR123A batteries won't be enough for your nightly hunting session.
Generally, it's not a bad clip-on thermal imaging scope, but it does fall behind in comparison with the previous thermal devices. Still, the price is quite reasonable, which is why you should consider this one as your first clip-on scope if you're a novice hunter.
- Armasight reliability
- Steady and blur-free image quality
- Quality recording system
- Extendable battery life and memory
- Low-quality features in comparison with the previous products
Clip-on thermal scopes are quite expensive, so it's perfectly reasonable not to go for the premium products whose price will only make your head hurt. If you're low on cash and want a quick fix, the Bering BEAST-C 336 Clip-On Attachment is the solution for you.
There aren't many things that you won't like about this clip-on thermal scope. It's affordable, lightweight, and quite compact. The mounting process is relatively simple with the instructions, and it'll take you about a minute to connect it to your day scope. The best part is that the conversion doesn't require you to reset your scope.
One of the primary concerns that all of us have when we buy any electronic product is how long it's going to last. Rest assured, this clip-on thermal scope is built to endure most environmental hazards. The optics are made from germanium and vanadium oxide, and the device itself is nitrogen-purged, so you won't worry about getting this thermal scope to service anytime soon.
The sensor resolution rests at 336x256 pixels, which is not much but more than enough to supply you with a crisp image of your surroundings during the night. The display, however, is a high-definition AMOLED with a resolution of 800x600 pixels.
In order to preserve battery life, this thermal imaging scope operates at a 30-Hz refresh rate that gives it approximately 4 hours of running time. It'll go with your standard CR123A batteries - two of them. Also, it's incredibly lightweight, weighing only 1.24 lb. Therefore, your aim will be steady as always without the added weight making much of a difference.
Truth be told, this isn't the best one we could find, but it undoubtedly deserves a spot on this list of reviews as one of the best.
- Budget-pick
- Durable construction
- HD AMOLED display
- Lightweight
- Low specifications
Finally, there's one more thermal rifle scope up for review, and you shouldn't miss out on it just because it's located at the bottom of the list. Without delaying this much further, here's the ATN TICO LT 320 Clip-On Thermal Scope.
Even though ATN has a more significant night vision scope market, the image quality that their thermal scopes provide is remarkable nonetheless. ATN has supplied the optics market for years now, and they're still going strong with devices such as this one.
With a 50 mm lens diameter and a 1280x960 pixel resolution, the ATN Tico LT 320 can provide crystal clear images to its user thanks to the ATN technology that utilizes 12-micron sensors.
Also, one of the benefits of going with a trusted manufacturer is the proprietary battery developed by ATN that can offer you as much as 10 hours of battery life in the field. Compared to the previous thermal scopes, this one has the most extensive battery life without the use of external battery sources.
As was the case with previous thermal scopes, this one as well requires no resetting of your current scope to mount this one—Clip-it on in under a minute and continue with your hunting session.
It's also relatively compact when you factor in the overall 7.7-inch length and the 1.2 lb weight. Also, it has a low field of view angle of only 4.5 - 3 degrees, which will help improve your overall accuracy. You will have a smaller viewing field, but this is more than perfect for steady hunters.
- ATN technology
- HD resolution
- Compactness
- Low field of view
- Lack of premium features
The Learning Process - The Best Clip-on Thermal Scopes - Buyer's Guide
In essence, clip-on thermal scopes are similar to your standard thermal imaging devices. They function and operate under the same principles, but they allow you to have two scopes simultaneously without the hassle of constantly changing them and losing precious time.
Therefore, bear in mind that the following features and tips can be used as an argument for both clip-on thermal scopes and standard thermal scopes.
1. Versatility
Versatility, in this case, is an umbrella term for multiple things. Firstly, your clip-on thermal device should be compatible enough for most rifle scopes. In general, clip-on scopes work best with mid-range thermal imaging devices that can offer you viewing distances of 500-1000 yards. In other terms, that would be the thermal rifle scopes with 2x-8x magnification. Anything higher would probably not be compatible, so that should be your primary concern.
Secondly, versatility could refer to the recording input and output of the device. There are many clip-on thermal scopes that do not offer you the ability to record and keep track of your hunting progression. When you factor in the overall price of these devices, it's a considerable downside, so make sure to get one with high-resolution recording abilities (DVR).
2. Durability
As you know, hunting both day and night is a messy business, and carrying electronic equipment can often result in damage and even breaking it. So, there are a couple of requirements when it comes to clip-on thermal scopes.
First and foremost, your device should be waterproof. In most cases, these devices will have an IP67 rating, which not only speaks about the scope's resistance to water but also dust, intrusion, and accidental contact.
Then, it would help if you also made sure that the materials used to construct the thermal rifle scope are high-quality ones. In most cases, going for cheap products will result in a mix of budget plastic and metal that is susceptible to corrosion and fall damage.
In most cases, quality night vision scopes and thermal scopes will have a good structure made from aircraft-grade aluminum, stainless steel, or a metal mix that has a high level of resistance against common natural occurrences.
3. Weight
We've mentioned this a couple of times in previous reviews, but it doesn't hurt to repeat. Adding even the slightest weight to your rifle will change the overall "feeling" and the connection you have with it. Therefore, it results in messing with your aim until you get used to it.
However, if you're searching among bulky clip-on scopes, getting used to it will take time, and it might not even happen if you don't have enough upper-body strength.
In essence, try to look for clip-on scopes that are between 1 and 2 lb heavy. Also, size is a parameter that you can include in this equation. The optimal size shouldn't exceed 10 inches, except if you're going for a heavier thermal clip-on, in which case you can distribute the weight across the gun.
4. Image Quality
Since this is an optical device, it's no wonder that image quality is one of the primary things you should look out for when purchasing a thermal clip-on. Objective lens resolution usually rests at 336x256 pixels or higher, depending on the quality of the product. Some of the best high-resolution products we've seen have a 640x480 or 640x512 lens resolution, which is phenomenal.
Also, don't mistake lens resolution for display resolution. When it comes to displays, you'll usually encounter standard AMOLED 1024x768's that give you more than enough pixels for a decent viewing session.
Don't forget to factor in the refresh rate into the optics features. Generally, you'll encounter 30 Hz and 60 Hz devices, but there is a price to be paid for a higher refresh rate. Usually, if you go for the 60 Hz products, your battery life will plummet, so it's best to sacrifice image quality over your running time since it'll take a significant number of hours.
Best Feature | Product Name | Price |
|---|---|---|
The Best Overall | AGM Global Vision Anaconda Thermal Clip-On Scope | |
Premium Pick | Armasight Apollo MR 640 Clip-On Thermal Scope | |
Full Package Pick | Trijicon Snipe-IR Thermal Imaging Clip-On | |
The Best Light Version | AGM Global Vision Micro-Compact Anaconda Clip-On Thermal Scope | |
The Best For The Money | Bering BEAST-C 336 Clip-On Attachment | |
The Best Traditional | ATN TICO LT 320 Clip-On Thermal Scope |
Frequently Asked Questions
What are clip-on thermal scopes?
The short answer - they are thermal imaging devices that you can mount in front of your day scope to transform it into a powerful machine that you can use during night hunting. Owning a standard thermal scope is a smarter idea if you're primarily a night hunter, but it takes a lot of time to dismount and mount if you occasionally go hunting during the day.
That's where clip-on optics come into play. You don't have to reset your day scope, simply mount and connect it, and you'll be good to go in under a minute.
What are the benefits of clip-on thermal scopes?
Owning a clip-on thermal scope will save you minutes and hours of mounting and dismounting scopes that you'd typically use to focus on catching and observing the prey.
Furthermore, thermal scopes that are in the same quality range as some clip-ons tend to be more expensive, which should be a thing to consider in your future purchases.
What is the best clip-on thermal scope?
There are simply too many devices to choose from, but we were able to narrow it down to the top six. If we go even further, we'd have to say that the best one was AGM's Global Vision Anaconda Thermal Clip-On Scope.
Its image quality and accuracy are unmatched, while the construction and the overall build is something to be admired.
What is the best clip-on thermal scope with ACOG?
Aside from SNIPE-IR, Trijicon manufactured extremely well-crafted ACOG optics that offers much more than your average scope. It's built for military purposes, but you can find it as a clip-on civilian-use device.
Bear in mind, it's expensive and will cost you a bunch.
Final Thoughts - Conclusion
We've reached the end, and it's time to proclaim the winner. The best clip on thermal scope is a difficult title to bear, considering there are many factors that go into the decision. For example, if you're looking for the best beginner thermal scope, you should definitely try the AGM Global Vision Micro-Compact Anaconda Clip-On Thermal Scope.
If you're on the budget and short with cash, you should definitely give the Bering BEAST-C 336 Clip-On Attachment a shot. However, if you want the absolute best, we strongly recommend the AGM's Global Vision Anaconda Thermal Clip-On Scope. It's phenomenal and will fulfill all your expectations regarding clip-on thermal imaging scopes.