We may earn revenue from the products available on this page and participate in affiliate programs. Learn More ›
There is a dizzying array of thermal scopes on the market, and finding the right one for you typically starts with deciding how you’ll use it. Are you hunting hogs over bait? Or calling in predators in open country?
Those two use cases are on either end of the thermal scope spectrum. You really don’t need to spend $10,000 on a scope with a 1280 sensor for close-range hog hunting. A 640 or even 384 optic with a lower base magnification is plenty for that job. On the other hand, David Stroud, a serious competition predator hunter, once told me, “The best is barely good enough,” for his use case.
But, after testing the ATN Thor 6 -LRF, I found it’s a scope that can do just about anything. It’s not completely overgunned — or overpriced — for hog hunting, and the 640 variant is plenty capable for predator hunting. The added LRF, ballistic calculator, and easy controls make it a solid all-around optic. Here’s what I think of it after initial testing and a detailed comparison of the 13 different Thor 6 models.
ATN THOR 6 Specs and Features
| Spec | Thor 6 | Thor 6 Mini |
|---|---|---|
| Sensor resolution | 384×288 or 640×512 | 256×192, 384×288 or 640×512 |
| Pixel pitch / core | 12 µm VOx, uncooled | 12 µm VOx, uncooled |
| Thermal sensitivity (NETD) | ≤15 mK | ≤18 mK (384/640), ≤20 mK (256) |
| Optical magnification | 2–16x, 2.5–20x, 3–24x or 3.5–28x | Same ranges by sensor |
| Digital zoom | Up to 8x | Up to 8x |
| Detection range | 2,300–3,650 m | 1,200–3,500 m |
| Laser rangefinder | LRF models: up to 1,000 m, ±1 m | None |
| Ballistic calculator | Built in, multiple saved profiles | Built in |
| Display | 0.49 in OLED, 1920×1080 | 1920×1080 (384/640); 800×600 (256) |
| Refresh rate | 50 Hz (ATN also says 60 Hz in places) | 50 Hz |
| Battery | 2× 18650, up to ~9 hrs, hot-swappable | 1× 18650 at a time, 2 included, ~7–8 hrs total |
| Weight | ~1.74–1.89 lb | ~1.1–1.19 lb |
| Recoil rating | 6,000 J | 6,000 J |
| Weather rating | IP67, −30 °C to +55 °C | IP67 |
| Recording | Full HD video + audio, 64 GB, Recoil Activated Video | Same |
| Mount | 30 mm | Quick detach |
Laser Rangefinder and Ballistic Calculator
The Thor 6 LRF has a 1,000-meter rangefinder built into the scope. There’s a dedicated ranging button that’s easy to find in the dark. If you have the ballistic calculator set up, the adjusted aiming point will automatically appear. This system makes shooting at night much easier because you have zero depth perception through a night optic.
Controls
The Thor 6 has the form factor of a traditional scope, which makes it easier to use in the pitch dark. Instead of a series of buttons, you have a combination of knobs and buttons for your critical adjustments. The focus control is where you’ll typically find the parallax knob on a traditional scope. You’ll navigate the menu using the elevation turret. The zoom and ocular focus controls are in the same spot as a standard scope. The buttons to start recording video and range targets are large and easy to reach.
App and AI Assistant
One of the hardest parts of getting a thermal scope into the field is figuring out the menus, zeroing it, and just figuring out how the thing works. I’ve tested dozens of thermals and I still get tripped up by some optics. ATN saves you from thumbing through the owner’s manual and watching YouTube tutorials to figure out your new scope. There’s a built-in AI assistant within the ATN app. You can ask it any questions you have, and it will give you the answers. The app is also where you can review your video recordings, stream a live view, and adjust settings.
Optics Protection
Thermal scopes are expensive and they have delicate sensors that can be damaged by sunlight. One of the easiest ways to damage your scope is to leave the objective lens uncovered in direct sunlight. ATN helps you mitigate that by outfitting the scope with a lens cap that’s actually quite good and a neoprene cover. They’re nice accessories to have straight out of the box.
Read Next: The Best Thermal Scopes
Testing the ATN Thor 6 on the Range
Much is made of a thermal scope’s resolution and image quality. But, I think the big differentiator is the user experience. I want a scope that’s easy to zero, easy to adjust, and that I can use while blindfolded. Fumbling around in the dark for the focus or burning a box of ammo to get zeroed are the experiences I avoid like a coyote with mange.
So I was relieved that the ATN Thor 6 was easy to mount and get zeroed. I set one of the included thermal targets at 50 yards and opened up the zeroing setting. Then I fired a shot and checked its location with a spotting scope. Next, I adjusted the zero by moving the reticle from my aim point to the impact location. It’s a simple process, and you can even freeze the image to make it more precise. My next shot was within a few inches of my aim point, and after a small adjustment, I was dead on with my third shot. I moved the target to 100 yards to get my final zero, which required only two shots. So with five shots, I had the scope zeroed and the chronograph data I needed to set up the ballistic calculator.
After zeroing and setting up the ballistic calculator, I started shooting targets at various ranges. The ballistic calculator worked as I expected, with first round impacts at all distances. I’ve had some scopes that refresh constantly and seriously disrupt your ability to scan for animals. The Thor 6 has long a period between refreshes, which I appreciated. After shooting this scope on the range, I can’t say enough good things about how easy the menu is to navigate and how intuitive the controls are.
Thor 6 Models Compared
| Model | Body | Sensor | Mag | Lens | Detection | LRF | Price | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mini 256 2–16x | Mini | 256×192 | 2–16x | 15 mm | 1,200 m | No | $689 | Budget entry, close timber/brush stands |
| Mini 256 3.5–28x | Mini | 256×192 | 3.5–28x | 25 mm | 1,500 m | No | $795 | Budget with a bit more reach |
| Mini 384 2.5–20x | Mini | 384×288 | 2.5–20x | 25 mm | 2,300 m | No | $1,295 | Light AR, mixed cover, best value Mini |
| Mini 384 3.5–28x | Mini | 384×288 | 3.5–28x | 35 mm | 2,710 m | No | $1,495 | Light rig for fields and pastures |
| Thor 6 384 2.5–20x | Full | 384×288 | 2.5–20x | 25 mm | 2,300 m | No | $1,595 | Wide view for close callers, 9-hr battery |
| Thor 6 384 3.5–28x | Full | 384×288 | 3.5–28x | 35 mm | 2,750 m | No | $1,695 | All-round field hunting |
| Thor 6 LRF 384 3.5–28x | Full | 384×288 | 3.5–28x | 35 mm | 2,750 m | 1,000 m | $1,895 | Cheapest way into a rangefinder |
| Mini 640 2–16x | Mini | 640×512 | 2–16x | 35 mm | 3,000 m | No | $2,095 | HD image in a light package, wide view |
| Thor 6 640 2–16x | Full | 640×512 | 2–16x | 35 mm | 3,100 m | No | $2,295 | Wide-FOV HD for running coyotes |
| Mini 640 3–24x | Mini | 640×512 | 3–24x | 50 mm | 3,500 m | No | $2,495 | Long reach without the weight |
| Thor 6 640 3–24x | Full | 640×512 | 3–24x | 50 mm | 3,650 m | No | $2,595 | Open country, long ID distance |
| Thor 6 LRF 640 2–16x | Full | 640×512 | 2–16x | 35 mm | 3,100 m | 1,000 m | $2,595 | HD + ranging, close-to-mid range |
| Thor 6 LRF 640 3–24x | Full | 640×512 | 3–24x | 50 mm | 3,650 m | 1,000 m | $2,995 | Flagship: long-range open-country predators |
My Perfect Night Gun
Components
I’ve spent the last few years falling down the thermal optics rabbit hole, doing everything from an annual trip to Texas to test the latest in night optics to managing predators on my lease. While I’ve tested a ton of different optics, the one constant has been a Horizon Firearms rifle in .22 Creedmoor. The Horizon rifles are unquestionably accurate, handy, light, and the best turnkey coyote gun I’ve used. My current rifle is a Vandal 2 with an 18-inch barrel and chambered in .22 Creed. It shoots 80-grain Hornady ELD Match at 3,018 fps and easily maintains sub-MOA accuracy. The bare rifle weighs around 7 pounds, which is light enough to be handy but still heavy enough for stability. On the muzzle end, I added a Dead Air Nomad Ti OTB, which is an over-the-barrel suppressor. Its design keeps the gun short because only half the suppressor extends beyond the muzzle. The ATN Thor 6 rounds out the build nicely because it’s a truly versatile optic.