Estimated reading time: 11 minutes
The InfiRay BOLT TH50C packs sharp 640×512 thermal imaging, intuitive controls, and dependable battery life into a familiar riflescope form. It is expensive, but after a week of night hunting, sending it back still hurt.
Table of contents
- The InfiRay TH50C Puts Thermal in a Familiar Package
- The InfiRay TH50C Looks and Handles Like a Real Riflescope
- Intuitive Controls Keep the Hunter Behind the Scope
- 640×512 Thermal Resolution Makes the Difference Obvious
- Dual Battery Options Keep the TH50C Running After Dark
- InfiRay Outdoors and IRay USA Are Not the Same Company
- What Comes With the InfiRay BOLT TH50C
- A Week of Night Hunting Put the TH50C to the Test
- The One-Shot Zero Nearly Lives Up to Its Name
- Onboard Video and 32 GB of Storage Simplify the Hunt
- Where the InfiRay BOLT TH50C Hits Hard
- Where the TH50C Misses, Even If I Am Nitpicking
- InfiRay TH50C Pros and Cons After a Week in the Field
- InfiRay BOLT TH50C Thermal Scope Specifications
- The Verdict: Expensive, Excellent, and Painful to Return
- Related Thermal Optic Reviews from GunsAmerica Digest
The InfiRay TH50C Puts Thermal in a Familiar Package
A thermal scope in a riflescope form.
Thermal scopes are absolutely great tools for night hunting and also darn fun to use. Unfortunately, they are expensive. Despite a massive recession, people are still buying thermal scopes, and the thermal world continues to expand. More models of thermal scopes have been introduced in the last 3 years than in the previous 10. More models mean more choices, which is good for those of us who hunt predators at night.
One newer option is the InfiRay BOLT TH50C, distributed in the United States by IRay USA. The TH50C has the form factor of a traditional riflescope, which makes it a great choice for a bolt-action rifle. For this InfiRay TH50C review and evaluation, I mounted the thermal scope to my Sig Cross bolt action rifle.
The InfiRay TH50C Looks and Handles Like a Real Riflescope
If you look at the TH50C from afar, it looks just like any other midrange variable riflescope with a 50mm objective. In fact, it looks a lot like my old Leupold 3.5-10×50 scope with the illumination dial near the rear. The TH50C 30mm main tube may be mounted in standard 30mm scope rings or a one-piece mount.
While the scope comes with rings, I would not use them. I had a 30mm LaRue one-piece mount laying around, so that is what I used in this evaluation. It was a little higher over the bore than what I would normally use, but the Cross has an easily adjustable cheek rest, so I could get a good sight picture.
Intuitive Controls Keep the Hunter Behind the Scope
The main controls on the TH50C are on a pad on top of the scope near the eyepiece. Here you may easily adjust the color palette and brightness, turn on the camera, and handle other functions, all while staying on the scope. The knurled objective knob is the focus mechanism, and the eyepiece may be focused to suit your eyesight. The knurled top turret has tactile clicks and controls the digital zoom. The side turrets are for power.
Once you learn where the buttons are, you do not have to pick up your head to see what you are doing. That matters during night hunting, when unnecessary movement and complicated menus are the last things you need. I found the learning curve to be very short on the TH50C.
640×512 Thermal Resolution Makes the Difference Obvious
The display is unique because it is a circular 2560×2560 AMOLED pattern that gives the user the feel of a regular riflescope. Image resolution is provided by a “12 micron Micro II core with proprietary MATRIX III image processing.” In plain English, the image is very sharp, which is why I did not want to send this one back.
I normally use a 384×288 resolution thermal scope. The TH50C is 640×512, so the difference is pretty dramatic. While the former is perfectly serviceable for coyotes out to 250 yards, the added resolution of the latter is much preferred. The extra detail gives the InfiRay BOLT TH50C a clear advantage when identifying animals and making decisions at night.
Dual Battery Options Keep the TH50C Running After Dark
Power is supplied by an onboard rechargeable battery that uses a standard USB-C connection located under the right-hand turret. The left-hand turret houses a battery compartment to power the scope with a user-supplied 18500 or 18650 battery.
I only used the onboard battery and hunted for many hours at night in cold conditions, using the standby mode when moving from stand to stand. I never had to worry about running out of power, and carrying a secondary battery option adds another layer of confidence for longer hunts.
There are seven reticle choices, each with four color options. Color palettes are the typical white hot, black hot, red hot, and a couple of funky colored schemes. The selection gives hunters enough flexibility to match the display to the target, terrain, and personal preference.
InfiRay Outdoors and IRay USA Are Not the Same Company
People do not seem to understand the following, so I will repeat what I said in my last article featuring InfiRay products. InfiRay Outdoors is the manufacturer of the TH50C, along with the RICO HD 1280, the ZH38 Zoom, and other thermal products. IRayUSA distributes and warranties InfiRay’s products.
InfiRay Outdoors is located in China, whereas IRayUSA is located in Texas. One key point is that IRay’s warranty includes a five-day turnaround. If you have to send your unit back to IRayUSA, they will get you a replacement in five days. This service is industry-leading.
If you spend thousands of dollars on a thermal, it is good to know you will be up and running in less than a week should anything happen under warranty. At the TH50C’s price, that level of support is not a minor detail.
What Comes With the InfiRay BOLT TH50C
The TH50C arrives with a rigid case for transportation and storage should you take it off your rifle. Most of us would not need this, but it is a good enough case that I would not toss it away as with many included cases. A front scope cap protects the germanium objective. As mentioned, the included scope rings are not something I would keep.
A Week of Night Hunting Put the TH50C to the Test
To thoroughly test the TH50C, I took it on a weeklong trip where night hunting is allowed and where there are plenty of coyotes. The short-form evaluation is simple: I like this scope, and I did not want to send it back. The longer version follows.
Right off the bat, it was easy to use the TH50C. Anyone who has done any amount of night hunting knows that intuitive design is really important. The last thing you want to do is mess around with buttons, struggle to find a feature, or otherwise have your gear get in your way.
Turning the unit on, putting it in standby mode, NUCing it, capturing video, focusing, and zooming were all intuitive and simple. This is saying something because the button layout for the TH50C is not like the thermal scope I usually use. The controls still became familiar quickly enough that I could operate them without taking my head off the rifle.
The One-Shot Zero Nearly Lives Up to Its Name
Zeroing was also very easy. I have used thermals with a “one-shot zero” function before, but none of them were really a one-shot affair. Zeroing the TH50C was not exactly one shot, but it nearly was.
After taking a shot and going into zero mode, I could simply hold the scope still in my tripod, aim at the bullseye, and walk the reticle to the point of impact. That got me very close to zero, and I made precision adjustments from there. If I can do it, you can do it.
Onboard Video and 32 GB of Storage Simplify the Hunt
The TH50C camera can store video and still photos in the onboard 32 GB of memory. Alternatively, a wifi option may be used to stream to your phone via their app. I used the scope’s memory and never had to worry about running out of space.
I also did not have to worry about running out of power, which is great. Contrast that to my buddy’s high-end scope of another brand, for which he carries a pocket full of 123 batteries to get through the night. It is one less thing to have to deal with.
It was an easy transition from my usual thermal to using the BOLT at night. We had success almost immediately, and the only times we were unsuccessful had nothing to do with the scope. Read: missed due to a jerked trigger, forgot to turn on the camera, and so forth.
Some of the items I review are harder to return than others, and this one hurt. I liked it that much.
Where the InfiRay BOLT TH50C Hits Hard
The strongest parts of the TH50C are easy to identify: familiar riflescope form factor, intuitive controls, superb resolution, great battery life, great onboard video storage, functional one-shot zero, 6061T aluminum housing, and an industry-leading warranty.
Where the TH50C Misses, Even If I Am Nitpicking
I do not have any material complaints here save the one everyone complains about: price. It is just a lot of money, so it is not for everyone.
One minor miss is the rubber eyepiece boot that comes with it. It is the first thing you lose on the first stand of the first night. Another is that the focusable eyepiece is easily bumped out of focus. Really, I am just nitpicking at this point.
InfiRay TH50C Pros and Cons After a Week in the Field
- Pros: Familiar riflescope form factor, intuitive controls, superb 640×512 resolution, strong battery life, 32 GB of onboard storage, effective one-shot zero, 6061T aluminum housing, and an industry-leading warranty.
- Cons: The $5,499 price puts it beyond many budgets, the rubber eyepiece boot is easy to lose, the focusable eyepiece can be bumped out of focus, and the included rings are worth replacing.
InfiRay BOLT TH50C Thermal Scope Specifications
| Price | $5,499 |
|---|---|
| Resolution | 640×512 |
| Pixel Size | 12 micron |
| Refresh Rate | 50Hz |
| Warranty | 5 years with one week turnaround |
| Optical Magnification | 3.5X |
| Digital Magnification | 4X |
| Detection Range | 2400 Yards |
| Display Type | AMOLED |
| Display Resolution | 2560×2560 |
| Objective Lens Material | Germanium |
| Run Time | 8 Hours advertised (6 hours verified) |
| Color Palettes | White Hot, Black Hot, Red Hot, Color, Highlight |
| Additional Features | Stand-by Mode, One-Shot Zero, Picture-in-Picture |
| Recoil Rating | 300 win./7mm mag |
| Dimensions | 14.56”x3.34”x2.95” |
| Weight | 33.15 oz |
| Operating Temperature | -4F to 122F |
The Verdict: Expensive, Excellent, and Painful to Return
The InfiRay BOLT TH50C succeeds because it does not force the hunter to fight the equipment. Its familiar riflescope shape works naturally on a bolt-action rifle, the controls become intuitive quickly, and the 640×512 sensor provides a dramatic step up from a 384×288 thermal scope.
The price is substantial, and small annoyances such as the loose eyepiece boot and easily bumped focus deserve mention. Neither changed the field result. The TH50C was easy to mount, easy to zero, easy to operate, and effective during a full week of night hunting. Some review gear is easy to box up and return. This was not one of those items.
Related Thermal Optic Reviews from GunsAmerica Digest
- InfiRay Outdoor RICO HD RS75 1280 Review
- InfiRay ZH38 Zoom Thermal Review
- More Thermal Optic Reviews and Night Hunting Gear
Steve has been creating articles, photographs, and videos on a freelance basis for gun and hunting publications for 25 years. His topics have included bird dog training, predator hunting, defensive training, 3-gun competitions, and more. He is an avid hunter, chasing upland birds behind pointing dogs by day, and calling predators at night with thermal and night vision. A staunch 2A supporter, Steve has written about topics challenging the gun community.
In addition, Steve tests and evaluates guns, scopes, thermals, night vision, and all types of hunting and tactical gear. His favorite outdoor activities are upland bird hunting, calling predators, and shooting suppressed firearms. Whether creating content about hunts or doing product reviews, Steve’s goal is to take the reader as close to actual experience as possible.
— Writer, photographer, videographer — all content is experiential, meaning personally tested or used on a regular basis
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— Outdoor enthusiast – fishing, hunting, overlanding, kayaking, canoeing, hiking
I use Warne QD scope rings on all my semi-auto rifles, so that I can use iron and optical sights. I may lose 1/2MOA when reattaching scope. Can this scope be programmed with multiple profiles so that I can use it on different rifles and not have to re-zero it after mounting on a different rifle? Does it have a picture within a picture?
This guy writes very well, you get the feel he is not biased but real and transparent. Knowledgeable but writes in a way that brings it home very simple to understand. I like this guy.