AMTAC Shooting: Review of FLIR Thermosight Pro PTS233

*Editors note: Photos and article have been shared with the permission of AMTAC Shooting.

I don’t normally get very excited about new gear. This thermal weapons sight changed that, not because it is better than anything else out there but because it brings a useful thermal sight into working man’s prices.

It is still not cheap ($2,199.00 on the www.usnightvision.com web page), but it puts it at a price point that is cheaper than good glass for a precision rifle.

Use coupon code ‘AMTAC’ to get $50 0ff the FLIR Thermosight Pro PTS233 at www.usnightvision.com.

Setup

The scope comes with a hard case with a QD mount, a USB cable, two battery sleeves and instructions. Mounting the thermal is easy with the included QD mount. I mounted the scope on a 16 in carbine. Just aft of the scope I mounted an Aimpoint T1 on a Larue 45 degree offset mount.

Zeroing

Zeroing was simple and is pretty intuitive on the menu. A cool side note is that you can pick multiple guns out a sub-menu and zero for each individual rifle.

When I started zeroing I used a can of spray paint to make a dot over my target, this was enough of a temperature differential to have an aiming point and get on paper at 25 yards. A few days later I had time to do a proper zero at 100 yards by pouring water on a normal paper target and then shooting at the top of the temperature differential.

Other ways to get a temperature differential include stapling hand warmers to the bulls eye of your target or heating a piece of steel up with a torch.

Capability

For the test, I had access to a little over 500 yards. At that distance, I was able to tell the pick up movement and distinguish between a person and a dog. Closer in I was able to identify a rifle at 100 yards and identify gear/ clothing at 25 yards. I had no problem hitting B/C steel at 250 yards with Blackhills 77 Gr. OTM.

Pros and Cons

Pros:

Price point. I always say that logistics are important and this scope allows for more people to own a serious piece of equipment.
Ease of use. The menus are very intuitive and it is simple to scroll through the different reticle and color options.
It uses 3v lithium batteries. This is a very common battery that also does well in the cold.
Everything you need is in the box, no need to buy separate mounts or cables.
Size. I would not call it small, but it is manageable.
Picture and video ability with internal memory.

Cons:

Price point. At a little over $2k it is still expensive.
30 Hz refresh rate. This means there is a slight lag time as you are panning.
No focus ring.
No drop down reticle.

Summary

This FLIR Thermosight Pro PTS233 thermal is a game changer. Way to many “gun guys” have a safe full of rifle and pistols and have zero night vision or thermal capability. Sell a couple of those “safe queens” that are just collecting dust and improve your capability with NVG’s/ Thermals and quality training!