Preview: Burris BTS35 v3

by
posted on January 19, 2025
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **
Burris BTS35 v3

Hornady’s 22 ARC with Burris BTS35 v3Previous to my range testing, I had the opportunity to join four other industry professionals for a coyote hunt that went well into the evening hours. As these dogs are equally active at night, we used the cover of darkness to put some fur on the ground. Burris’ BTS35 v3 thermal riflescope proved to be an amazingly capable little unit, and I thoroughly enjoyed working with it on our multi-day pursuit.

I found the 400x300-pixel resolution to be more than adequate to identify coyotes at the distances we engaged them, and the internal battery life simply could not be beaten. Charging it up in the morning yielded enough run time for several nights, which saved a few of us who had forgotten to plug them in. During our downtime, I scrolled through the settings and found navigation to be intuitive, as it revealed important features such as reticle selection and picture-in-picture zoom for tighter shots.

Being that thermal imaging presents a two-dimensional re-creation of a three-dimensional scenario, any feeling of depth perception is lost. Therefore, the flat-shooting nature of the 22 ARC was well-suited to this style of hunting. It didn’t matter if the dog was at 20 yards or 206—just putting the reticle in the vitals and pressing the trigger proved successful. If those numbers seem rather specific, it is because they were confirmed through real-world use. With an MSRP of $3,000, Burris’ relatively affordable thermal can be fit into the budget of many hunters.

For more information about the BTS35 v3 riflescope, visit burrisoptics.com.

Latest

Armed Citizen Podcast John Lott 1
Armed Citizen Podcast John Lott 1

Why the Murder Rate Quickly Fell to a Likely Historic Low

If the gun-control Left is to be believed, then the murder rate in the U.S. should be going up. After all, gun sales and ownership rates have been rising for the last few decades and anti-gun groups claim that gun ownership is the cause of violent crime. This, of course, is nonsense.

16 New Bolt-Action Rifles for 2026

From cutting-edge precision rifles designed for competition or hunting to traditionally styled guns that emulate designs from yesteryear, 2026 saw the introduction of an incredible array of bolt-action rifles.

Review: Chiappa Rhino 60DS 10 mm Auto

The Italian-designed-and-manufactured Chiappa Rhino remains unique today as the only current revolver with the barrel mounted at the bottom of the frame, firing from the chamber at the 6-o’clock position.

5 New Large-Format Pistols for 2026

There's been a huge surge in the large-format pistol category, and 2026 continues to showcase new models answering the wants and needs of today's firearm owners.

Short & Powerful: The EOTech Vudu 4-12x36 mm Super Short Riflescope

EOTech's ultra-compact 3-9x32 mm Vudu was a popular addition to the company's variable-powered riflescope line, and the new 4-12x36 mm Vudu ups the ante with new features in a still-compact package.

The Armed Citizen® May 11, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.