FLIR PTS233 vs Pulsar Review: Winner of these Thermal Rifle Scopes Comparison?

You know it is true:

FLIR and Pulsar are two top brands in thermal imaging industry.

Among their numerous products, comparison of FLIR PTS233 vs Pulsar at a similar price point has drawn interest of those looking for entry level thermal imaging rifle scope.

So which one is the better choice?

Let’s jump right in to review through, including video footage and images.

FLIR PTS233 Thermal Rifle Scope Review: Worth It?

The FLIR ThermoSight Pro Series is an excellent gear addition for hunting and spotting animal, as this thermal scope has great features that give you an edge in total darkness at night, as well as during the day on a hunt through thick forests or misty environment.

Equipped with and FLIR Boson 60Hz core and 12 μm pixel pitch thermal sensor –

FLIR Thermosight Pro PTS233 1.5-6x19mm thermal rifle scope is also powered with patent-pending High Visibility Technology (HVT) reticle and 19mm lens that provide clear visibility and thermal imagery.

Such built-in capabilities allow you to look at moving animals or track moving animals with very little motion blur or chopping of the image.

This small yet durable and powerful thermal rifle scope is protected by a robust aircraft-aluminum alloy body.

There are 7 interchangeable reticle options: Line Dot, Dot 4 MOA, Cross Center Dot, Cross, Crossdash, Crosshair, or ‘no reticle’. So if you want to use FLIR PTS233 as a handheld, you can turn the reticle off and have an unobstructed view of the scene.

Whilst its 7 color palettes and digital zoom control feature allow you to transit swiftly into any environment you find yourself in.
 
Check out what actual users say about FLIR PTS233 >> here
 
This thermal scope with soft eyecup also has shot activated video recording feature, supported by on-board video processing, to automatically capture video before/after a shot. It can save up to 2.5 hours of recording time, or up to 1000 images.

The uncompressed video signal run directly from the sensor into high definition FLCOS display for great clarity.

Package of FLIR Thermosight Pro PTS233 thermal scope includes CR123A (2) battery pack, battery cassette, spare battery cassette, USB to USB type C cable, lens cloth, quick start guide, and hard carrying case.

Running on the commonly used CR123 battery, you can continuously use this thermal imaging scope up to 4 hours battery life.

You could replace the batteries with rechargebles or disposables, or you could power it with a USB power bank whereby the USB connector will allow video in and battery will power the unit externally without the internal CR123 batteries. So the choice is up to you.

The 5 videos below cover the details and technical features you need to know about this FLIR ThermoSight PTS233 scope, including actual sample images.

There are also PTS233 hunting experience sharing >> here that you can check out, such as the practical FLIR PTS233 detection range according to user reviews, mounting of this thermal imaging scope to a rifle, etc.

FLIR ThermoSight Series: PTS233 vs PTS536 / PTS736

In case you are wondering what are the differences between PTS-233 vs PTS-536 and PTS-736 as the other two more powerful models within the FLIR ThermoSight PRO Series –

they have different specifications for the followings:

Lens System: 19 mm (PTS233); 50 mm (PTS536); 75 mm (PTS736).

Optical Magnification: 1.5x (PTS233); 4x (PTS536); 6x (PTS736).

Field of View (H x V): 12° × 9.5° (PTS233); 4.5° × 3.5° (PTS536); 3° × 2.5° (PTS736).

FLIR PTS233 vs Pulsar Thermal Scopes: Expert Reviews

For us to make a more meaningful FLIR PTS233 vs Pulsar review, it makes sense for us to compare FLIR PTS233 with selected Pulsar thermal rifle scope models that are at similar price range.

And here are two identified Pulsar thermal riflescopes that you can consider as alternative for FLIR PTS233:

#1: Pulsar Core RXQ30V

In our comprehensive review guide titled 3 Best ‘Cheap’ Affordable Thermal Rifle Scope Under $2000 For Hunting –

Pulsar Core RXQ30V emerged as the winner, beating Armasight by FLIR Predator 336 and ATN ThOR HD 384 in the process.

This Pulsar thermal scope is equipped with 384×288 thermal Microbolometer sensor, 50 Hz core, 640×480 AMOLED display, built-in “Picture in Picture” function, and variable magnification up to 6.4x (a base 1.6x magnification alongside 2x/3x/4x digital zoom).
 
 
In the video below, Jason Robertson and Hans compared Pulsar RXQ30V vs FLIR PTS233, which one does Hans and Jason prefer over the other – alongside their respective reasons:

As Hans and Jason mentioned in this comprehensive podcast review:

 
So, if you are looking for a cheap thermal riflescope without the bells and whistles but good enough to get the job done –

then we suggest you check out the Pulsar Core RXQ30V in this detail guide to learn more, because it is the best least expensive thermal rifle scope commonly recommended by the hunting experts, and it is cheaper than the FLIR ThermoSight PTS-233.

Pulsar Core RXQ30V has two potential deal breakers though, depending on your preference:

• This thermal scope does not have built-in video recording feature.
• It only has one color pallet (green).

Check out the brief video below to see FLIR PTS233 vs PULSAR RXQ30V side by side comparison of thermal image.

As Pulsar RXQ30V does not have built-in recording feature, so its video footage was captured using separate offline recording camera/tool. The actual image that users see on the Pulsar RXQ30V thermal scope itself is certainly much better than below.

 
In case built in video recording function is a mandatory requirement for you, then:

• Pulsar Core RXQ30V is not an option because it does not have video recording feature.
• You can consider Pulsar Apex XQ38 that is equipped with video recording function.

#2: Pulsar Apex XQ38

Pulsar Apex XQ38 is a Pulsar thermal riflescope model with the closest specification as the afore-mentioned Pulsar Core RXQ30V.

Here is the basic comparison overview:

 

FLIR ThermoSight Pro PTS233 vs Pulsar: The Verdict

The 3 thermal riflescopes recommended above are all great deals for those who want to have a cheap affordable thermal imaging scope for hunting and scouting.

It is recommended to check out the user reviews of FLIR PTS233, Pulsar Core RXQ30V, and Pulsar Apex XQ38 for comparison – then make an educated purchase decision.

FLIR ThermoSight Pro PTS233 or Pulsar thermal riflescopes?

You decide, based on your preference.

At these price points, you should be happy with any of these 3 choices, as all of them represent excellent value.