Getting into the thermal scope game can be daunting, and few companies will come to mind when you think of quality thermal.
Aramsight is a company that consistently produces high-quality products.
The Armasight Contractor 320 is one of the more affordable high-end thermal scope options on the market today.
Build Quality and Design
What I really like about the Contractor 320 is how it feels as soon as you pull it out of the box.
You know you are holding a well-built, durable, long-lasting scope.
You might wonder how you can tell that right out of the box.
It's simple, solid-weight, and everything is sealed where it should be, including the battery compartment with a sealing o-ring.
The controls have a smooth but tactile feel, and the on/off switch is simple to depress and turn.
Thermal optics require a boot-up, much like the mini-computers they are.
The 320's boot-up is fast and gets you right to the optics functionality.
The 320 will absolutely hold up in adverse weather conditions, so there is no need to baby it or try to protect it if the weather turns bad.
Image Quality and Resolution
We can discuss the image quality and resolution until we are blue in the face, but it's a much better experience just showing you the image quality and resolution!
https://player.vimeo.com/video/1028149171?h=45f4c1f1e8&badge=0&autopause=0&player_id=0&app_id=58479
Here is a recording of a bunny standing in the open and an opossum in the underbrush.
The bunny was standing in the open and could be seen when hit with the white light but the opossum wasn't visible even with white light because of the brush.
The recordings are 720p, which is good for keeping the storage size low.
Detection Range and Field of View
This thermal scope has a fantastic range and makes it easy to identify your target.
Target identification using thermal imaging can sometimes be difficult, but with the clarity of the Contractor series, you can easily see what the animal is with this scope.
While using the 320, I found that changing the color palette would quickly and easily allow me to see more detail of the target if I couldn't make out the animal in the setting I was in.
Battery Life and Power Options
The battery life on the 320 is about four hours, depending on the weather conditions.
Colder weather can cause worse battery life if you leave it on for extended periods.
The great thing about the 320 is its quick boot-up time, which means you can leave it off until you see a potential target, saving battery life.
The CR123s are extremely easy to swap out if you keep some extras on you; you can run your thermal scope all day.
Controls and Ease of Use
The Wifi/Bluetooth streaming is a nice feature so someone around you can see what you see in your scope.
You can guarantee you won't miss recording your action with shot-activated recording.
The menus are really easy to navigate, and I like that there are only four controls on the entire scope.
One is the on/off switch, the other two dials allow you to navigate the very simple menu system, and there is a manual record button.
Armasight Contractor 320 Final Thoughts
I'm a big fan of what Armasight is doing, including its thermal clip-on optics.
My favorite thermal scope in the Aramsight lineup is the 640 but it comes at a pretty penny.
For bigger savings and much of the same great functionality, the 320 is a great option for money savings without compromising lots features and function.
