Thermal optics used to cost about as much as a used pickup. That has been changing for several years, and one more step showed up this week. In a field review published October 19, The Firearm Blog (TFB) tested ATN’s ThOR 6 Mini 384 3.5-28x thermal riflescope. TFB also reports that ATN’s minimum advertised price for this model has dropped from $1,995 to $1,495.
The scope is worth a look for Southeastern hunters running hogs or coyotes at night, and for landowners who want to see what is moving along the fence line after dark.
What the ThOR 6 Mini 384 is
The Mini is ATN’s smaller, lighter version of its sixth-generation ThOR thermal scope. TFB lists the specifications as ATN’s own figures, which the reviewer did not verify on his own. The main ones:
- Sensor: 384×288 resolution with 12-micron pixels, refreshing at 50 Hz
- Lens and zoom: 35mm germanium lens, 3.5x base magnification with digital zoom to 28x
- Display: 1920×1080 OLED
- Size and weight: 7.48 inches long and about 1.19 pounds
- Power: two included 18650 batteries rated for about eight hours, plus USB-C external power
- Extras: 64GB of internal video storage, recoil-activated recording, Wi-Fi streaming to a phone app, and an included Picatinny mount
- Warranty: five years
The scope does not have a built-in laser rangefinder. TFB points hunters who want one to ATN’s larger ThOR 6 Elite LRF models.
How it did in the field
TFB’s reviewer used the Mini on a 640-acre lease in northern Michigan just before archery season opened. No lab testing was done, so his findings are field impressions. He found the image noticeably sharper than ATN’s earlier ThOR 4 and ThOR 5 scopes, with cleaner edges and better contrast between animals and cover.
He liked that the scope can do two jobs. It can ride on a light rifle, or come off the rifle and work as a handheld spotter, so a hunting partner can scan without pointing a gun at anything. ATN’s phone app can also stream the live picture so a second person can watch on a phone. TFB summed it up this way: “The Mini can fill either seat.”
The reviewer called it the best compact, budget-friendly thermal riflescope available. That is one writer’s opinion after one season of use, not a side-by-side test against other brands.
GUN Crusade’s take: what it means for you
A $500 price cut puts a 384-resolution thermal riflescope within reach for more working hunters. That matters in our part of the country, where feral hogs damage crops and food plots and much of the hunting happens after dark.
If you are shopping, a few things are worth keeping in mind:
- Check your state’s rules first. Night hunting and thermal-scope rules for hogs, coyotes and other species differ from state to state, and sometimes by season. Read your wildlife agency’s current regulations before you go out.
- Positive identification still applies. A thermal shows heat, not detail. Know exactly what your target is and what is beyond it before you touch the trigger.
- Use the handheld option. Scanning with a separate unit or a dismounted scope keeps your muzzle pointed in a safe direction while you look around.
- Confirm zero. TFB recommends checking zero after you take the scope off and put it back on. Do this before every hunt, not just once.
- Treat battery and range numbers as claims. Detection range and run time are manufacturer figures. Test them in your own conditions and carry spare batteries.
Read The Firearm Blog’s full review for more of its field notes, and confirm the current price with ATN or your dealer before you buy, since retail prices can change.
