By now, you’ve heard how thermal is making a huge difference in the hunting world. From scouting to game recovery to, of course, night-hunting for feral hogs and other predators, thermal has proved an invaluable tool for after-hours pursuits. And the good news is that because thermal “sees heat,” it works just as well during the day as it does at night, making a thermal riflescope a true 24/7 piece of gear.
Whether you already own thermal and you’re looking to upgrade or you’re new to the market, you should know that the quality — and the price — varies wildly based on the unit, the brand, the processing speed and image quality, and much more. While there’s nothing wrong with buying a cheap, entry-level optic, thermal really is a get-what-you-pay-for game, and the “buy once, cry once” philosophy applies. Consider jumping straight into a quality optic like those from Armasight.
The new Collector is an excellent option for an upgrade or for a thermal newbie. Available in a 320 and a 640 model, this sight is designed to be lightweight and compact, so it wouldn’t add a lot of weight to your hunting rig — just over a pound, in fact. At only 7 inches long, it won’t slow you down or add bulk. As a 1X optical scope, it’s ideal for hunting in relatively close quarters (200 yards or less) where you need a wide field of view. Put it on your 300 Blackout or similar caliber and get ready for hog-hunting action.
Don’t let its size fool you — the Collector is built to perform, with a fast 60Hz frame rate for smooth operation and outstanding visual acuity, based on Armasight’s Iron Wolf thermal technology platform. That fast frame rate means you won’t have to worry about lagging or pixelated images as the unit tries to process data. It’s got image detail enhancement so you always get a crisp image, and you can choose from multiple color palettes and reticle types/colors. The Collector will even record video and capture images through the device, perfect for sharing on social media after the hunt.
Given all of its features (including an inclinometer, levelometer and angle cosine indicator), the Collector remains easy and intuitive to use, with simple three-button controls. It’s ideal for crossbows, airguns and rifles up to .308, with a detection range of up to 932 meters on the 640 model. Recognition range is 233 (177 for the 320 model). The 640 has 1X optical magnification and 1-4X digital zoom, while the 320 has 1.5X optical magnification and the same digital zoom, for a total magnification range of 1.5X to 6X.
Both models offer a battery life of four hours at 20 degrees C (about 68 F) and will run in temps from -40 to 122 F. They come with a three-year warranty, and the Collector is designed and assembled in the USA from U.S. and global components.
Once you’ve hunted predators and varmints at night with thermal, you won’t believe how you ever hunted without it, and this scope is just begging to be mounted on your next hog gun or your coyote rig, ideally suited for brushy areas where shots are within 200 yards. And with such a light weight, fast processing, excellent image quality and hunter-friendly features, the Armasight Collector won’t let you down.
At an MSRP of $2,199 for the 320 and $3,499 for the 640, the Collector falls in between the entry-level and sky-high categories — just about perfect for serious hunters and newbies alike. It’s compact and capable, so if you’re ready to “stop looking and start seeing,” give the Armasight Collector a look.
