The long-anticipated wait for the Holosun Thermal Fusion Sight (DRS-TH) has finally reached its end! For those who attend SHOT Show or stay up to date on industry news, you know this product has been at the top of the list for many gun owners, hunters, and enthusiasts. I know I have been looking forward to the day I get to test one out for myself. Thankfully, that day came at last. Let’s talk about what all this optic can do.
Holosun Thermal Fusion Sight: Red Dot & Thermal All in One!
By far, this optic’s biggest WOW factor is its integration of a red dot sight with a thermal camera. They are completely independent of one another, meaning you can turn them on separately or combine them for the full effect. The thermal camera works for both daytime and nighttime use. The sensor’s spectral band provides improved visibility through smoke, dust, rain, and smog and improves the traditional red dot sight’s low-light and no-light performance.
Reticles and Magnification
There are essentially two reticle setups in the Holosun Thermal Fusion Sight: the red dot sight and the thermal imaging reticle(s). The red dot has a multi-reticle system to provide a complete custom experience when combined with the thermal. The reticle options are a solo 2 MOA dot, a solo 65 MOA circle, or a 65 MOA circle with a 2 MOA dot. Hold down the minus button to switch between the reticles. There are eight daylight and four night vision-compatible brightness settings. The left side of the thermal optic has plus and minus buttons to adjust brightness levels. Just as you would zero any other red dot optic, you can adjust the red dot for elevation and windage for your gun and caliber of choice.
Holosun designed the red dot sight to have a manual mode and a lockout mode, as well as a sleep timer setting. The manual mode is what it sounds like, making manual adjustments to the reticle’s brightness. The lockout mode prevents you from making any setting changes. There are options for when you want the optic to go into sleep mode, which will power down your optic after no movement or operation. The DRS-TH also has Shake Awake technology, as with most of Holosun’s optics.
The thermal imaging system’s magnification levels are 1x, 3x, and 5x. To switch between magnification levels, all you have to do is click on the magnifying glass. Reticles are based on a 50-yard zero for 5.56 and a 100-yard zero for .308. There are holdover crosshairs and a holdover T-reticle. The holdover crosshair reticle is designed for the .308 caliber. Holdovers are scaled specifically for each magnification level. The numbers on the reticle represent 200 yards, 300 yards, 400 yards, and 500 yards, respectively. The holdover T-reticle is designed around the .223 caliber. Holdovers are scaled specifically for each magnification level. The numbers on the reticle represent 200, 300, 400, and 500 yards, respectively.
Record Video and Image Capture System
I don’t think I’d ever purchase a thermal optic or scope without the capability to record videos or capture photos. Holosun designed this optic to capture both. When you momentarily press the up button on the control panel settings, it captures a photo. When you long press the up button, it will start video recording. The blue indicator light on the control panel will constantly stay on while video footage is being captured. If you’re looking through the thermal, a dot flashes in the lower right-hand corner to confirm you’re recording. The internal storage capacity of the Holosun DRS-TH is 24GB.
Downloading the content couldn’t be easier. With the unit off, connect the USB interface cable to the optic and plug the other end into your computer. Then, turn on the device. Your computer will automatically recognize the device, and you will see JPG photo files and MP4 video files. There are three image modes on this thermal: WH (white hot), HL (highlight), and OL (outline). While the thermal screen is visibly green when looking through it, the video footage films in black and white.
What’s the Purpose?
The DRS-TH is a thermal and red dot optic all-in-one device, which makes the price more reasonable (even though it already is). It’s also not a heavy device, coming in at a little over a pound, unlike other thermal optics, clip-ons, or scopes on the market. With its Picatinny mounting capability, you can swap this optic from a pistol caliber carbine to a hunting rifle or home defense AR pistol in less than a minute. There’s no need to have to purchase scope rings or a cantilever mount just to set this optic up.
I see this thermal optic’s best use as a home defense optic or the optic of choice for someone who has a farm to protect and wants a simple optic to eliminate invasive, destructive species. It is a powerful thermal for such a small device. For most people, the magnification going up to 5x and the holdovers already integrated into the thermal is all they need in a hunting optic.
The Durability of the DRS-TH
I was lucky enough to shoot the DRS-TH at SHOW Show Industry Range Day, at a private night shoot event, and, of course, recently, with my one-on-one time with the optic. This device feels indestructible. It can manage the recoil of 9mm, 5.56, and .308 without losing zero or experiencing a loss of power. I have experienced no shortages, battery failures, zero shifts, or any other issues with the DRS-TH.
The lens covers probably also play a factor in preserving the glass of the optic in inclement weather or environments with more dirt, dust, or debris. The DRS-TH includes lens covers for the red dot sight objective lens (solid), ocular lens (transparent), and thermal camera lens (solid). When the solid lens cover of the objective lens is closed, the thermal camera function of the DRS-TH will not be affected and may enhance contrast in certain lighting conditions. I’d be curious to see if anyone puts the optic to the test with bigger caliber rifles in the future.
Get It While It’s Hot
The price of both the DRS-NV and DRS-TH is reasonable for the quality of the thermal and red dot optic. The multi-reticle red dot system allows you to use the 2 MOA with the thermal crosshairs for an even more precise shot. The magnification levels combined with the holdover reticles designed for 5.56 and .308 are powerful for such a small device. The ability to record video and capture photos is just a bonus. I think the Holosun Thermal Fusion Sight will be flying off the shelves!
For more info, visit holosun.com.
