A thermal scope for 22lr has a different job than one bolted to a big-bore rifle. Rimfire targets are small, close, and taken with a precise shot, so what you need is fine detail, not thousands of meters of reach. This roundup ranks ATN's current ThOR 6 scopes by how clearly they render little warm pests for a placeable rimfire shot.
Best for busy yards: ATN ThOR 6 640x512 2-16x — wider view to catch pests moving in cover.
Best value: ATN ThOR 6 384x288 2.5-20x — clean detail at 22lr ranges for less.
Why a 22lr scope is about detail, not distance
A thermal scope for a 22lr is about detail rather than distance because the rimfire cartridge is a short-to-moderate-range tool and its targets, rats, ground squirrels, rabbits, are small. What you need is enough sensor resolution to tell a rat from a clod and place a precise shot, not thousands of meters of detection. Every ATN ThOR 6 here is rated at ≤15 mK for sensitivity, but resolution is where a rimfire scope really shows its value on tiny, warm targets.
ATN ThOR 6 640x512 3-24x — best overall for rimfire pest control
The ATN ThOR 6 640x512 3-24x is the best thermal scope for a 22lr because its 640x512 sensor renders small pests in the fine detail a precise rimfire shot demands. Resolution is the pixel count of the detector; more pixels mean you can distinguish a rat's body and posture at yard-and-field ranges, so you know exactly where to hold rather than firing at a warm smudge.
Placing a rimfire shot with confidence
On a 22lr, shot placement is everything, and a high-resolution picture lets you confirm the target and its orientation before you press the trigger. The 3-24x range gives plenty of zoom to frame a small pest tightly, while SharpIR AI keeps the enlarged image clean so detail does not turn to mush.
Features that suit rimfire pest control
- 640x512 sensor — resolves small, warm targets like rats and squirrels clearly.
- 3-24x magnification — frames a tiny pest tightly for a precise hold.
- Recoil Activated Video — captures the shot; mild rimfire recoil still triggers it.
- Hot Point Tracking — marks a scurrying pest so you do not lose it.
Who it's for: rimfire shooters after rats, squirrels and rabbits who want clean detail to place the shot. Who it's not for: a budget-first buyer who does not need the flagship's resolution for close pest work.
ATN ThOR 6 640x512 2-16x — wider view for busy ground
The ATN ThOR 6 640x512 2-16x keeps the same 640 sensor and ≤15 mK sensitivity with a wider 2x base view, which suits rimfire pest control around barns, yards and brushy field edges where pests appear anywhere. A broader sweep catches a rat scurrying along a wall or a rabbit slipping through cover.
Finding pests before you zoom
Pest control is often a spot-first game: you sweep the wide view to locate movement, then zoom to identify and shoot. The 2-16x's wider base makes that first step faster on cluttered ground, and its 640 sensor still gives the detail you need once you zoom in.
Who it's for: shooters working busy yards and brushy edges. Who it's not for: those who want the tightest possible zoom for the farthest small target.
ATN ThOR 6 384x288 2.5-20x — the value rimfire pick
The ATN ThOR 6 384x288 2.5-20x is the value choice for 22lr work, keeping the same ≤15 mK sensitivity and features with a 384x288 sensor. At the short ranges a rimfire lives in, that resolution renders rats and rabbits clearly; the gap to a 640 sensor only really shows if you try to identify very small targets far off, which is beyond most 22lr work anyway.
Who it's for: value-minded rimfire shooters at typical pest ranges. Who it's not for: anyone wanting maximum detail on the smallest targets.
How to choose a thermal scope for your 22lr
Prioritize resolution and a comfortable zoom range over long detection; a rimfire rarely needs to reach far.
- Maximum small-target detail: the 640x512 3-24x.
- Busy, brushy ground: the 640x512 2-16x for its wide view.
- Value pest control: the 384x288 2.5-20x.
How we picked these ATN thermal scopes
We picked these for rimfire pest control by weighting the things a 22lr actually needs, sensor resolution and a usable zoom range for small targets, ahead of long detection range, then checked NETD sensitivity, refresh rate, weight and battery for a night of yard patrol. Only ATN's current 6th-gen ThOR line was considered. This is an in-house comparison of ATN's own range, not an independent lab review, so match the resolution and zoom to the pests and ranges you shoot. Honest trade-off: the flagship's long-range reach is largely unused on a rimfire, so a lower tier can be the wiser buy for pure pest control.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should I look for in a thermal scope for a 22lr?
Resolution and a comfortable zoom range, not long detection distance. A 22lr shoots small targets at short-to-moderate range, so you want enough pixels to identify a rat or rabbit and place a precise shot.
Is a 640x512 sensor overkill for a rimfire?
Not overkill, but the value 384x288 is often enough at rimfire ranges. The 640 sensor gives finer detail on very small targets and holds up better when you zoom in tight.
Will the recoil of a 22lr trigger Recoil Activated Video?
Yes. The ThOR 6's Recoil Activated Video is sensitive enough that even the mild impulse of a rimfire will start the recording so you capture the shot.
How much magnification do I need for 22lr pest control?
A range that lets you frame a small pest tightly is more useful than maximum zoom. All three ThOR 6 scopes have zoom to spare for rats, squirrels and rabbits at rimfire ranges.
Can I use these scopes for larger game later?
Yes. These are full thermal rifle scopes, so the same optic that handles rimfire pest control also works on larger quarry; the 640 models simply give you more reach if you move up.
Do I need the flagship's detection range for a 22lr?
Usually not. A rimfire rarely reaches far enough to use 3,650 meters of detection, so for pure pest control a lower tier can be the smarter, better-fitted choice.
For a 22lr, detail beats distance, and the ATN ThOR 6 640x512 3-24x gives you the resolution to place a precise rimfire shot on the smallest pests. If you want to weigh a wider view or a friendlier tier, compare it across the ATN thermal scopes for rimfire and beyond and match the sensor and zoom to the rats, squirrels and rabbits you shoot. A rimfire does not need to see for miles, so pick the ThOR 6 that renders your small targets cleanly at the ranges you actually work.
Created: August 5, 2026 · 19:53:46 UTC
