Best Thermal Scopes for Hog Hunting

Hog hunting puts different demands on a thermal scope than calling predators in open country. Hogs move in groups, often through brush and timber, and shots tend to come closer and faster than long-range coyote work. That puts a premium on a wide field of view for keeping a moving sounder in frame, strong contrast to pick pigs out of cover, and a build that holds zero under bigger calibers. This page lays out three tiers — budget, the standard most hog hunters want, and premium — so you can match the scope to how and where you hunt instead of overbuying.

One thread runs through every option here: each scope carries a built-in laser rangefinder. When a sounder breaks and you’re picking a shot in low light, knowing the range before you press the trigger keeps the shot clean and ethical, so we’ve made it the baseline rather than a premium add-on.

Best Thermal Scopes for Most Hog Hunters

For most hog hunters, a 640-class scope with an LRF is the sweet spot — enough resolution to pick individual pigs out of a group and place a confident shot, without paying for capability you’ll rarely use on close-to-mid-range hogs. Within this tier the real choice is field of view versus reach: a wider view helps you track a moving sounder, while more magnification helps on the occasional longer shot across a field edge.

• AGM Rattler V3 LRF 35-640 Thermal Rifle Scope — A 640 sensor on a 35mm lens with a 2.5× base magnification — the wider field of view in this tier, which makes it easier to keep multiple hogs in frame as a sounder moves through cover. Integrated LRF and ballistic calculator included.

• AGM Rattler V3 LRF 50-640 Thermal Rifle Scope — The same current-gen 640 platform on a 50mm lens for more reach and a tighter image at distance — the pick when your hog setups run a little longer or more open. Integrated LRF, ADM mount included.

• Nocpix Rico 2 H50R Thermal Rifle Scope — A 640 variant of the Rico 2 platform with a 50mm lens, balancing field of view and detection range, plus the same stepless zoom lever and integrated LRF found across the Rico 2 line — a strong non-AGM option in the tier.

Who this isn’t for: If your shots on hogs are consistently close and your budget is tight, you’re paying for capability you won’t tap — drop to the budget tier. If you only ever shoot pigs at bait inside short range, a 384 will serve you for less.

Best Budget Thermal Scopes for Hog Hunting

You don’t need a flagship to be deadly on hogs. A 384-class scope with a built-in LRF will pick pigs out of the dark and let you take a confident shot at the close-to-mid distances most hog hunting happens. The scopes here are all capable, current-gen 384s; they differ mainly in magnification and how they fit a rifle you already run.

• Nocpix Bolt L35R Thermal Rifle Scope — A simple, rugged 384 that mounts on standard 30mm rings like a familiar day optic and includes a rangefinder — Nocpix builds it with field-clearing hog work in mind, and it’s the easiest entry point into thermal.

• AGM AdderV2 LRF 35-384 Thermal Rifle Scope — Starts at 4× — the highest base magnification in the tier — and ships with an American-made one-piece mount, suiting hog hunters who already run a 4-16x or 4-20x day scope and want a familiar sight picture at night.

Who this isn’t for: If you hunt open ground where hogs show at distance, a 384 sensor will leave you wanting cleaner detail far out — step up to the 640 tier. If you mainly need to find pigs before you set up, a handheld scanner is the smarter first buy.

Best Premium Thermal Scopes for Hog Hunting

The premium tier is about image quality and target separation at distance. These scopes carry a 1280-class sensor and larger glass, giving the detail to pick a single hog out of a tight group and identify it cleanly at ranges where lesser optics blur together. All three deliver that resolution; they differ in field of view, ergonomics, and a couple of genuinely useful extras.

• AGM Adder V2 LRF 60-1280 Thermal Rifle Scope — A 1280 sensor on a 60mm lens — the smaller objective of the three gives a wider field of view, which is a real advantage for tracking a moving sounder, and it’s the value entry to the 1280 class without giving up resolution.

• Nocpix Rico 2 S75R Thermal Rifle Scope — A 1280 sensor and 75mm lens with a stepless, LPVO-style zoom lever and long eye relief, built for comfort and fast magnification changes across long sits and quick group shots.

• RIX DBH D12 Thermal Rifle Scope with Laser Rangefinder — Matches the 1280 resolution and adds an integrated green laser pointer for marking downed game — genuinely useful on hogs, where a scattered sounder can leave several animals to recover in the dark.

Who this isn’t for: If most of your hogs fall inside close-to-mid range, this is more scope than the hunt requires — the 640 tier serves you better for less. These are also heavier and more complex; if simplicity matters, that’s a real tradeoff.

How to Choose Across the Tiers

Start with how you hunt hogs. If you’re working close cover and bait at short-to-mid range on a tight budget, the budget tier does the job. Most hog hunters land in the 640 tier — enough resolution to separate pigs in a group with field of view to track them. Premium earns its price when you’re reaching across open ground, identifying single animals in a tight sounder, or want the sharpest image for filming. Spend on resolution and glass only to the extent your real shooting conditions demand it.

Buyer Questions

When Is 384 Enough for Hog Hunting?

A 384 scope is enough for the way most people actually hunt hogs: close-to-mid range, often over bait or in cover, where the heat signature of a pig is large and easy to pick up. With a built-in LRF, a current-gen 384 will find pigs in the dark and let you place a clean shot at those distances while saving you real money. Where 384 starts to fall short is open ground and longer shots - past mid-range, the image softens and separating one hog from another in a tight group gets harder. If that describes your hunting, step up to 640; if it does not, a 384 is honest value, not a compromise.

Does Field of View Matter More Than Range for Hogs?

Often, yes. Hogs move in groups and frequently through brush, so a wider field of view that keeps the whole sounder in frame can matter more than raw magnification — it’s easier to track, pick your animal, and stay oriented when pigs scatter. That’s why a 35mm or 60mm lens can be a better hog choice than a longer 75mm setup, even though the bigger glass reaches farther. Range still matters if you hunt open ground or shoot across fields, but for typical close-cover hog work, prioritize field of view and target separation over maximum detection distance.

FAQ

What thermal scope resolution is best for hog hunting?

For most hog hunters, a 640-class scope with a built-in laser rangefinder is the sweet spot — enough detail to separate pigs in a group and shoot confidently at typical ranges. A 384 handles close-cover work well for less, and a 1280 is for open ground and identifying single animals at distance.

Do I need a laser rangefinder on a hog scope?

It’s strongly worth it. When a sounder breaks and you’re choosing a shot in low light, knowing the range keeps the shot clean. Every scope in this collection includes a built-in LRF for that reason.

Is a 384 thermal scope enough for hogs?

For close-to-mid range hog hunting, often over bait or in cover, yes — a 384 scope with an LRF will find and let you shoot pigs confidently. Open-ground hunters shooting farther out will benefit from stepping up to 640.

Why does field of view matter for hog hunting?

Hogs travel in groups and through cover, so a wider field of view helps you keep the sounder in frame, pick your animal, and stay oriented when they move — sometimes more useful than raw magnification at typical hog distances.

Can these scopes be used for coyote hunting too?

Yes. Every scope here handles coyotes and other predators as well as hogs. If predators are your main focus, see our coyote thermal scope collection, which leans toward open-country reach.

Who Should Not Buy a Thermal Scope From This Collection?

This collection is built for hog and predator hunters choosing a weapon-mounted thermal scope matched to their range and terrain. It isn't the right starting point if what you actually need is a handheld scanner to locate pigs before you set up — that's a different tool, and for many hunters it's the smarter first buy than a scope. It's also not the place to shop if you're after a daytime optic or non-hunting observation gear, since every scope here is purpose-built for thermal hunting. And if you're buying purely on lowest price without weighing how the scope fits the way you hunt, you'll likely outgrow it within a season — the honest move is to match the tier to your real shooting distances and conditions, even if that means waiting and buying once.