Reviews iRay Rico Pro RH50 Thermal Weapons Sight: Feature-Packed Iain Harrison December 1, 2023 Join the Conversation At RECOIL, we review every product fairly and without bias. Making a purchase through one of our links may earn us a small commission, and helps support independent gun reviews. Learn More BUT STILL COSTS MORE THAN YOUR FIRST CARPhotos by Kenda LenseigneZooming in to take a better look at a potential target is intuitive when you’re dealing with day optics. When it comes to thermal sights however, it’s different. The user usually has to step through various levels of digital magnification, each more grainy and pixelated than the last, until the image looks more like an 8-bit video game than the crisp black-and-white picture you started out with. Enter the RH50 from iRayUSA.The main feature that differentiates this thermal optic from its peers is the ability to zoom from 1.5 to 3x, through optical rather than digital means. Just twist the objective lens, and you can go from a wide field of view for target detection to a narrow, more magnified FOV to take the shot — without any loss in image quality. We found that depending on the range, it was necessary to refocus when zooming, but this is easily handled by the separate focus knob on the objective bell (which falls naturally under your hand). Its 640 resolution is more or less industry standard these days, and its category-leading 17.5-degree FOV on the lowest magnification setting covers plenty of real estate when scanning for a thermal signature. We found the control buttons to be intuitive and easy to find with a bare hand but didn’t experience the environmental conditions necessary to warrant donning thick gloves. Still, the sight is easy enough to zero using chemical hand warmers taped to the target. While thermal weapons sights are still very expensive, the RH50 Pro offers a decent cost-to-value ratio within this category and has more features than most of its competitors. Our main criticism in this regard concerns its rechargeable battery pack — at $6,500, we’d expect a spare to be included in the package, rather than having to shell out another $170, but with a 6-hour life, it should cover most of your nocturnal activities. SPECSiRayUSA RH50 PObjective lens diameter: 50mm Resolution: 640×512 Magnification: 1.5-3x optical, 4x digital Weight: 30 ounces Battery Life: 6 hours MSRP: $6,500 Why you can trust RECOIL Since our founding in 2012, RECOIL remains the premier firearms lifestyle publication for the modern shooting enthusiast. We deliver cutting-edge coverage of guns, gear, accessories and technology. We go beyond basic reviews, providing no B.S. buyer’s guides, hands-on testing and expert analysis on everything from firearms and survival equipment to watches and vehicles. Our reviewers are the backbone of our operation and come from diverse shooting backgrounds: Former law enforcement, military veterans, competitive shooters, seasoned hunters and plain old firearms enthusiasts. Furthermore, we’re not just gun experts, but dedicated journalists who adhere to the strictest standards of our profession. At RECOIL, editorial independence is the foundation of everything we publish and the cornerstone of reader trust. Our editors, writers and content creators make all editorial decisions independently, free from outside influence. That boils down to: advertisers don’t dictate our coverage, the outcomes of our reviews or what we recommend in our buyer’s guides. First and always, our commitment is to our audience—ensuring every review and article is accurate, unbiased, and driven by real-world experience. Whether you’re selecting your next firearm, upgrading your gear, or exploring the latest innovations in the shooting world, RECOIL provides the trusted insights you need to make informed decisions. Learn more about our Editorial Standards and how we review products. NEXT STEP: Download Your Free Target Pack from RECOILFor years, RECOIL magazine has treated its readers to a full-size (sometimes full color!) shooting target tucked into each big issue. Now we've compiled over 50 of our most popular targets into this one digital PDF download. From handgun drills to AR-15 practice, these 50+ targets have you covered. Print off as many as you like (ammo not included). Get your pack of 50 Print-at-Home targets when you subscribe to the RECOIL email newsletter. We'll send you weekly updates on guns, gear, industry news, and special offers from leading manufacturers - your guide to the firearms lifestyle.You want this. Trust Us.
