Guides

Guides

• Thermal handhelds under $1,000

  Six buyable handheld thermals under $1k, in plain English.

• Best rifle scopes by budget

  10 scopes to buy plus 3 to know, under $300 to $900+.

• Glass & thermal shortlist

  Thermals, binoculars, scopes and rangefinders worth a look before Black Friday.

• Glass for elk season

  Binoculars and spotter for a western elk tag.

• Whitetail glass pack

  Bright binoculars and deer scopes for last light.

• Pronghorn open-country glass

  Glass far, range every time, steady rest.

• What magnification for whitetail?

  8x or 10x for deer, by stand, cover and light.

• How to sight in a new scope

  Bore sight, 25 yards, then a 100 yard zero, with click math.

• Zero at 100, confirm at distance

  Bore sight, 100 yard zero, then a dope card for real ranges.

• Binocular numbers explained

  What 8x42 and 10x42 mean, and exit pupil for low light.

• How to glass a hillside

  The grid method, a steady tripod, and when to grab the spotter.

• Thermal vs night vision for hogs and coyotes

  How each works, which fits, and why to check your state rules.

• Hog hunting at night: thermal optics

  Scan, ID, pattern and close work picks for feral hogs after dark.

Which guide for your hunt

Quick how-to: zero at 100 yards

1. Bore sight so the first shot is on paper.
2. Fire a three-shot group at 25 yards and center it.
3. Move to 100 yards, fire a group, and count clicks: at 1/4 MOA, four clicks move about one inch.
4. Confirm with a final group.

Full steps in how to sight in a scope. Comparing gear? See Compare.

Ready to pick? Start with your hunt.

Before you buy a thermal: Pulsar vs RIX, full spec breakdown · Thermal buy-or-wait cheat sheet