Whether it is from tariffs increasing prices, foreign unrest, or plain ol’ patriotism, “Made in the USA” has never sounded better. Armasight thermal and night vision products continue to be designed and manufactured right here. I know, I visited their Tempe Facility less than 30 minutes from my house in Phoenix, Arizona, where their entire line is both designed and built. Even a cursory search reveals virtually no other companies in this line of business that aren’t foreign produced.
Next Gen of Thermals: Pro Series
Patriotism aside, at the end of the day, the product is what matters most. Armasight recognizes this and announced a huge step forward at this year’s SHOT show. They came out swinging with a huge upgrade to their thermal line of scopes, clip-ons, and hand helds with their Pro Series. The main upgrade is their ArmaCore 640 Gen 4 A-SWaP System which improves performance while reducing lag and power consumption. It is powered by a 1.8 GHz Quad-Core GPU and an integrated AI Neural Processing Unit.
So what does this mean? Real time imaging. Almost all thermal cameras have some amount of lag. You swing the camera to follow a moving object, there is a pause, and the image begins to swing. On older tech, it was really bad. No one thinks this will be a big deal until you are hunting with a thermal scope or clip-on and it is a very big deal. You cannot properly track and shoot a target that is walking, let alone running, at any reasonable distance if your thermal has much lag. What you are seeing is what was happening a split second ago, not now, and split seconds count.
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HD Recording & Audio
In addition, the new Pro Series has HD display and records the scene in 1920×1080 high-resolution output because when you play it for your friends on your big screen TV, no one wants to see a grainy image. Another upgrade is the dynamic audio capture. The previous series did not record audio. That may not sound like a big deal, but search online for thermal pig hunt video. Watch it with sound, then without. Big difference. Hearing the wind and grunts followed by the thwack of the bullet smack and the squeals as they scatter make the hunt come to life.
Premium Features
The other features are the things you should expect from a high-end thermal optic: USB-C interface, IP67 waterproof, multiple color palettes, multiple reticles, and large, easy to use, tactile controls that are easy to use in pitch black while wearing gloves. All of the units in the Pro Series are powered by two CR123A batteries and have a 4-hour continuous use battery life.
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Aluminum Vs. Polymer Housings
Armasight traditionally used aluminum housings for its thermal scopes, but the Jockey and Collector series have plastic housings. The benefits include a manufacturing cost and weight reduction, but I do worry about durability over the long term. On the other hand, I own a small thermal with a plastic housing that is over ten years old and still going strong. Armasight’s website does limit the acceptable recoil for the Jockey and the Collector to .308 and below, while the aluminum housed units are all rated up to .50 caliber.
Pro Series Lineup
The new Pro Series includes twelve units.
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3 Thermal Monoculars
• Sidekick Pro 640 1-4×19 Mini $2,999.00
• Warden Pro 640 2.5-10×35 $3,599.
• Warden Pro 640 3.5-14×50 $3,799.
6 Thermal Weapon Sights
• Commander Pro 640 2-8×35 $3,799.
• Commander Pro 640 3-12×50 $3,999.
• Collector Pro 640 1.5-6×25 Compact $3,199.
• Contractor Pro 640 2-8×35 $4,299.
• Contractor Pro 640 3-12×50 $4,499.
• Contractor Pro 640 4.3-17×75 $4,699.
3 Thermal Clip-ons
• Jockey Pro 640 1-4×25 Compact $3,399.
• Operator Pro 640 1-4×35 $3,799.
• Operator Pro 640 1-4×50 $3,999.
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Proven Platforms
None of these thermals are new lines for Armasight, they have been out for years. They simply took tried and true units and upgraded them with the latest internal hardware and software. I tell people to steer away from first generation products whether it is a car, a gun, or a camera. Give them a year to work out the bugs, then buy it. In this case, there has been plenty of time for any bugs to be worked out.
Choosing the Right Thermal for You
So which thermal is right for you? I always recommend, “Try before you buy.” Visit a retailer and try different brands back to back. Check the ease of using the controls, if you can manipulate them without looking at them, if you can change batteries with your eyes closed (because that is what it is like after staring at the screen), and what unit has the least lag. Finally check the price and get the best unit you can afford. Armasight prides itself on keeping their prices competitive with foreign competitors. I think you will be impressed.
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