Hey channel fans and family! If you’ve ever looked at a thermal scope and thought “I just want it to look and handle like a normal riflescope,” Pulsar has been building exactly that for a while with the Thermion line. Now it’s on generation three. The new Pulsar Thermion 3 LRF comes in two versions, the XT60 and the XR60, and the headline upgrades are a 1280×1024 HD sensor on the flagship and a built-in laser rangefinder that now reaches 1,200 meters.
Quick note: this one is based on Pulsar’s press release and its own product pages. I haven’t had a Thermion 3 on a rifle yet.
TL;DR
- What it is: the third-generation Thermion, a thermal riflescope built on a standard 30mm tube so it goes in regular scope rings.
- Two models: XT60 (1280×1024 sensor, 2–24x) and XR60 (640×480 sensor, 4–40x).
- Rangefinder: built into the objective housing, up to 1,200 m (1,312 yards). Pulsar says the previous generation topped out around 800 m (875 yards).
- Display: 2560×2560 AMOLED on both, with a larger screen for more eye relief.
- Extras: recoil-activated video, 128 GB of built-in memory, ballistic calculator, Stream Vision 2 and Stream Vision Ballistics apps.
- Availability: Pulsar’s site lists both models for pre-order now, and they’ll also go through Pulsar’s authorized dealers.
XT60 vs. XR60
Both scopes share the same 60mm F1.0 objective, the same AMOLED display, the same 1,200 m rangefinder and the same body. The difference is the sensor and the zoom range, which really decides what kind of hunting each one is for.
- Thermion 3 LRF XT60 (the flagship): 1280×1024 sensor at 12 µm (NETD under 20 mK), 2–24x magnification, 14.6° horizontal field of view (25.7 m at 100 m). Pulsar lists battery life at 8.5 hours.
- Thermion 3 LRF XR60: next-gen 640×480 sensor at 12 µm (NETD under 18 mK), 4–40x magnification, 7.3° field of view (12.8 m at 100 m). Battery life is listed at 14 hours.
Put simply, the XT60 gives you more detail and a much wider view, which is what you want when hogs are moving through a field at night. The XR60 starts at 4x and is aimed at open country and longer looks.
Key specs (from Pulsar’s product pages)
- Mounting: 30mm tube, works with conventional rings.
- Controls: zoom and focus rings like a day scope, a zoom throw lever and a focus wheel on top.
- Eye relief: 65mm.
- Frame rate: 50 Hz, with 9 color palettes.
- Battery: user-replaceable APS5 pack, USB-C charging.
- Recoil rating: 6,000 joules on rifled guns.
- Housing: aluminum alloy, IP67 rated, operating range of -25 to +50 °C.
- Size and weight: 391 × 96 × 90 mm and 1.3 kg (about 2.9 lb) for both models.
- Origin and warranty: made in Europe. The release mentions a five-year warranty, and Pulsar’s store page lists three years, or five years with registration.
Who it’s for
- Hog and coyote hunters who hunt at night and want ranging and ballistics in the same unit as the thermal.
- Shooters who hate the “camera on a rifle” look and want something that mounts and handles like a regular scope.
- Thermion 1 and 2 owners wondering whether the jump is worth it. The bigger rangefinder and the HD sensor on the XT60 are the two things to look at.
Our take
The thermal riflescope class is getting busy. We just covered the Sightmark Wraith 2 LRF, and now Pulsar is answering at the top end. What I like about the Thermion is that Pulsar didn’t rethink the concept. It’s still a 30mm-tube scope with real zoom and focus rings, and the rangefinder is tucked into the objective housing instead of bolted on. A 1280 sensor plus a 1,200 m rangefinder in a classic package is a strong combination on paper. The tradeoffs are weight, since 2.9 lb is a lot of scope, and the cost of HD thermal, which is serious money. I’d also want to see how the XT60’s 8.5-hour battery holds up on a cold all-night sit. If you’re shopping right now, pick the XT60 for detail and field of view and the XR60 for reach and battery life.
Where to find it
Pulsar is taking pre-orders on its own site: the Thermion 3 LRF XT60 and the Thermion 3 LRF XR60. The Thermion 3 overview page has the footage recorded through the scope.
Related reading on SlavGuns
- Sightmark Wraith 2 LRF Announced: Thermal Riflescopes With a Built-In Laser Rangefinder
- KDG BOM Series Optic Mounts: Two Heights in One Box and a Rifle Mount for the Aimpoint COA
- Sightmark First Look: Volta and Element Mini Solar Red Dots, Citadel 1-10x and Wraith 4K
Sources
- Press release via The Outdoor Wire: Pulsar Introduces Thermion 3 LRF, the Third Generation of Its Classic-Design Thermal Riflescope
- Pulsar: Thermion 3 page, Thermion 3 LRF XT60 specs and Thermion 3 LRF XR60 specs
Which would you pick, the HD XT60 or the long-reach XR60? Let me know in the comments. Keep on squatting!
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