Last year, one of the coolest entries into the world of thermal scopes was the Holosun DRS-TH, an affordable thermal reflex sight. It was a bit of a tease because prototypes were on display at SHOT Show, but the optic never became available for purchase. A year later, updates were made to the original prototypes, and the Holosun DRS is hitting the shelves in early February 2024. Here are the details and a look at the updated optic.
Related: Holosun DPS: A First Look at the New Thermal Red Dot for Pistols
Holosun DRS Night Vision and Thermal Reflex Sights
Holosun DRS-TH Key Features
- Thermal Overlay
- Magnification: 1x
- Refresh Rate: 50 Hz
- Resolution: 256×192 pixels
- Battery Type: 18350
- Battery Life: 12 hours
- Water Resistance Level: IP67
- Weight: 18.5 oz
- Price: $1,600
DRS-NV Key Features
- Night Vision Overlay
- Reticle: 65 MOA Circle and 2 MOA Dot or T-style reticle
- Digital Zoom: Up to 8x
- Onboard video recording
- Waterproof Rating: IP67
- Battery: Two 18350
- Sensor Resolution: 1024 × 768
- Refresh Rate: 60 Hz
- Window Size: 1.25 × 0.98 in
- Price: $1,000
Holosun makes reliable, affordable red dots, and their DRS line is designed for use after dark. There’s a digital night vision model and a thermal model. They have features you’d expect to find on modern night optics like video recording, rechargeable batteries, different color palettes, and reticle options. I got hands-on with the Holosun DRS-TH at SHOT Show’s range day and found the resolution to be good at the close ranges the optic was designed for.
It’s important to note that I shot the above video with the scope cap closed to show what the optic looks like at night. With the scope cap up, looking through the DRS was like any red dot sight — a reticle overlaid on clean glass. I wasn’t able to see how the optic performed on heated targets, but I will be doing a full test and review of the DRS when they become available next month.
I like that both DRS optics have a small footprint (a little larger than their AEMS) and are affordable compared to competitive offerings like the Sig Sauer Echo 3 and X-Vision XVT. I found the controls intuitive and liked the updates the company made, including the easy-to-access battery door.
