THE HEAT IS ON
Thermal imaging optics open a whole new world to the air rifle hunter. Their ability to see heat makes them great for after-dark pest control when targeting species like rats and rabbits, but they can also be used by day when they offer some surprising advantages over a conventional scope. One of those gains is the ability to spot quarry that would otherwise be virtually invisible in our normal vision spectrum; squirrels that are just peeping over a branch high in the canopy suddenly stand out like a sore thumb when you’re able to see their heat signature.
One of the factors that initially stifled the popularity of thermal imagers was their price. Not so long ago, you had to pay four or five times the price of a top-end air rifle for a decent unit, which isn’t exactly a tempting proposition. Thankfully, things are changing and thermal sights like the Saim SCL35 (IRay) in this test are making this innovative technology a lot more accessible.
Supplied by Optical Solutions, the SCL35 retails for £2,595. Still far from cheap, any would-be
