Squat Squad, ZeroTech Optics USA just added an illuminated option to its new Thrive HD 2.5-15×50. The Thrive HD 2.5-15×50 PHR 2 Illuminated is a second focal plane hunting scope with six red brightness settings, and it keeps the Adjustable BDC Turret that ZeroTech launched on the non-illuminated version last week.
The pitch is simple: a 2.5-15x hunting scope that comes in at 22.3 ounces, with a turret you set up around your own rifle and load instead of a factory-printed trajectory.
Quick note: this one is based on ZeroTech’s press release and ZeroTech’s own product pages. I haven’t had this scope on one of my rifles yet.
TL;DR
- What it is: a 2.5-15×50 second focal plane (SFP) riflescope in ZeroTech’s Thrive HD line, model THDB2155P-IR.
- New part: an illuminated PHR 2 reticle with six red brightness settings.
- Turret: Adjustable BDC Turret with five markers you lock one at a time, with the full 0.25 MOA scale still visible underneath.
- Weight: 22.3 oz (631 g). The non-illuminated version (THDB2155P) is listed at 21.7 oz (614 g).
- Built for: backcountry hunting, according to ZeroTech.
Key specs (from ZeroTech)
- Magnification / objective: 2.5-15x, 50 mm objective
- Focal plane: second focal plane, with reticle holds calibrated at 15x
- Reticle: PHR 2 Illuminated, MOA. ZeroTech lists holds at 1.1, 2.5, 5, 10, 15, 20 and 25 MOA, plus a floating center dot and a fine 6 o’clock post
- Illumination: red, six brightness settings. ZeroTech says the reticle still works unlit if you switch it off or the battery dies
- Adjustment: 60 MOA elevation and 60 MOA windage, 0.25 MOA clicks, no zero stop
- Parallax: 10 yards to infinity
- Eye relief: 4.0 in (101 mm)
- Field of view at 100 yards: 40.4 ft at 2.5x, 6.8 ft at 15x
- Exit pupil: 11.0 mm at low power, 3.3 mm at high power
- Tube: 30 mm, 6061-T6 aluminum
- Glass: fully multi-coated lenses
- Weather: IPX7 waterproof (ZeroTech says submersion to 3.3 ft for 30 minutes) and fogproof
- Diopter: -2 to +2
- Warranty: ZeroTech Triple-A Lifetime Warranty, which ZeroTech says is transferable with no receipt required
How the Adjustable BDC Turret works
This is the part that makes the scope interesting to me. Instead of a turret engraved for some generic load, you get five reference markers that you place from your own confirmed drops at the range, then lock each one in place on its own. The regular 0.25 MOA scale stays visible under the markers, so you can still dial normal clicks if you’re somewhere between your marked distances.
ZeroTech also includes a standard capped turret in the box, so if you don’t want an exposed dial on a hunting rifle you can run it capped. You also get flip-up covers and a removable magnification throw lever.
Who it’s for
- Backcountry and mountain hunters who want a 2.5-15x range on a scope that stays under a pound and a half.
- Hunters in timber and low light. The 2.5x low end and the illuminated reticle are aimed at close shots in dim conditions.
- Hunters who have actually confirmed their dope. The BDC turret only helps if you do the range work to place the markers.
- Anyone who likes the non-illuminated Thrive HD 2.5-15×50 but wants a lit reticle and is fine with 0.6 oz more weight.
A 2.5-15×50 hunting scope I’ve reviewed
I’ve spent time behind this class of scope before. The Styrka S7 2.5-15×50 got a full review on the channel back in 2020, and it’s a good reference for what this magnification range does on a hunting rifle:
Our take
2.5-15×50 SFP is about as proven as hunting scope configurations get, so what ZeroTech is really selling here is the turret. Five lockable markers built from your own drops is a smarter idea than a BDC dial engraved for a load you may not shoot. Adding six brightness settings to that package covers the dawn and dusk shots where a black reticle disappears against dark timber. The tradeoff is small: 0.6 oz more than the non-illuminated version. Things I’d want to check before calling it a winner: how the illumination looks on its lowest setting in real low light, how well the markers hold their positions after a season of being bumped around, and the lack of a zero stop if you plan to dial a lot. On paper, though, this is a well-thought-out hunting scope, and the Triple-A warranty that follows the scope to the next owner is a real plus.
Where to find it
The Thrive HD 2.5-15×50 PHR 2 Illuminated and the non-illuminated Thrive HD 2.5-15×50 PHR 2 are both listed on ZeroTech’s site, which also has a local retailer finder.
Related reading on SlavGuns
- Styrka S7 2.5-15×50 Hunting Scope Review
- Sightron S6 5-30×56 ED IR Gets a Lockable Turret: Three New Locking Models
- Element Optics Helix HD and HDLR Hunting Scopes
- Warne GuideLite Carbon Bipod for Backcountry Hunters
Sources
- Press release via The Outdoor Wire: ZeroTech Optics USA Adds Illuminated Aiming to the Thrive HD 2.5-15×50 – PHR 2 Illuminated
- Earlier release via The Outdoor Wire: ZeroTech Optics USA Brings Customizable BDC Control to the Thrive HD 2.5-15×50 – PHR 2
- ZeroTech Optics: Thrive HD 2.5-15×50 PHR 2 Illuminated product page, Thrive HD 2.5-15×50 PHR 2 product page and Adjustable BDC Turret
Illuminated reticle on a hunting scope: must-have for dawn and dusk, or one more battery to worry about? Let me know in the comments. Keep on squatting!
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