Burris Optics officially joined the Thermal Club in 2021 when it introduced the BTS 35 and BTS 50 thermal riflescopes. I reviewed the BTS 50 soon after it was available, then used it while night-hunting hogs in East Texas. 

The BTS 50 featured 3.3×13.2 magnification, 400×300 resolution, and a 50mm objective lens. Plus, it offered clear and fairly detailed images and solid menu controls, and was easy to zero. The only issue I had with the unit was a rather flimsy mounting system. Otherwise, I rated it as very functional, especially as it helped me take a trio of wild hogs.

However, Burris was clearly not satisfied with this early foray into thermal. The company discontinued that first lineup and more recently launched its Third Generation thermals (I completely missed the Gen II) denoted by the “v3” tag. These third-gen units include a clip-on, a handheld and two riflescopes.

I recently used one of those scopes, the Burris BTS35 v3 640, and soon discovered that Burris has really upped its thermal game. The BTS35 v3 boasts extremely intuitive controls and menus, impressive heat detection and a slim profile at a time when all sorts of thermals are going in a very boxy direction.

The Basics

The Burris BTS35 v3 640 rifle scope, as that last number identifies, is a 640x480 resolution thermal designed with the proprietary Burris Cybercore technology. The unit sports a 35mm objective lens and a 1024x768 Color OLED rear screen. 

The unit has a 50HZ refresh rate and a 12µM pixel pitch, and a 1 to 8 digital zoom,

Among its many features are picture-in-picture, hot spot tracking, and 10 customizable reticles, as well as nine color palettes. Zeroing the scope can be accomplished manually by moving the X and Y axes or by using the Freeze function, a one-shot type of system. 

Real-time video streaming and photo capture are accomplished through the Burris Connect app, downloadable onto a cell phone or tablet. 

A pair of batteries power the BTS35 v3 640: an internal 18650 battery and a replaceable 18650 battery fitting into a compartment on the right side of the word. The internal battery charges via a USB-C port located on the left side of the unit, the replaceable battery by the included recharging station. The two-battery operation allows a hunter to carry an extra battery and switch out batteries as needed. 

Burris rates the power setup to provide over six hours of runtime with the air temperature at 77 degrees.

The scope sells with an American Defense Mfg. Quick-Detach m1913 Picatinny Mount with adjustable cantilever. This QD unit fit right onto the rail of my AR-15 and held solid through my shooting. Definitely not flimsy!

Menus 

I have not used a thermal with an easier menu system than the Burris BTS35 v3 640.

Most other thermals rely on buttons or rubberized pads to navigate the menus. Generally, you press down on a central button to bring up the main menu, then use the other buttons to scroll up and down the menu list. Then, once you get to the  menu function needed, more pressing and moving to accomplish what’s required.

It all works, with some units better than others. But that pressing and moving, pressing and moving, fingertips sliding over buttons, gets confusing. It’s easy to screw things up, especially at 2:14 a.m. in the field chasing after hogs and coyotes when you suddenly have to change up a setting.

With the BTS35 v3 640, press the power button to start. Then, press the rotary knob on the left rear of the unit to bring up the menus. Turn the knob and move the selector to the needed menu function and press the knob to enter that function. Now, turn the knob to move with the menu selection.

Yes, you have to make adjustments to move within the menus. But it’s all done on the single knob. Fast, very intuitive and easy to learn. 

Oh, you want to increase or decrease the digital zoom? Turn the knob.

A+, Burris.

Hot Shots

I mounted the Burris thermal onto my FM-15 223 Rifle Gen. II, from Foxtrot Mike. The FM-15 features a forward placed, non-reciprocating charging handle along the left side of the 16-inch barrel. For easier transport, the FM-15 also sports a Magpul Zhukov folding stock.

I’ve used the rifle in reviews and numerous hunts, and it’s my favorite AR — extremely accurate and never fails to function like a pro.

For ammunition, I selected Norma Tactical .223 Rem. firing a 55-grain full metal jacket bullet.

I zeroed the scope at 50 yards using the Freeze function. I fired a couple shots, low and right hits, and then froze the reticle. Then, I moved the secondary reticle that came up with the Freeze function to the approximate spot of the first hits and saved that setting. My next two shots were close to the HotHands heat pack I used as a target, but somewhat left. So, I accessed the manual zeroing adjustment, shifted the point of impact and my next two shots drilled the target dead center.

At 100 yards, bullets hit a little high. No problem. I made manual adjustments once more and I was on. I tried three shots at a small HotHands packet I’d taped to my lifelike wild hog target. That group looked a little wide in my spotting scope (later measured out to 1.35 inches). 

Not too good, I thought.

I changed up my position at my table, braced my legs against the table’s legs and slid a small shooting bag under my shooting forearm. I aimed my next five shots at the center of the larger HotHands taped over the hog’s vitals, and they drilled in at .80 inches. 

Color Options

Of note, it was 24 degrees at my outdoor range the day I shot the Burris, though the wind gave the air a 12-degree feel. Humidity sat at 71%, with the ground covered by a couple of inches of new snow.

Playing around with the palette options pre-shooting, I discovered that the IRON setting worked best for my weather scenario. The yellowish-orange and purplish hues really popped and set off the HotHands very well.

At the end of my shooting, I saw that the darker wild boar paper target and the larger light-brown cardboard behind the target were clearly differentiated. At 100 yards, the top end of the boar target paper made a neat, straight line against the cardboard. So, despite no sun and the cold temp, the Burris thermal picked up a slight heat difference between the darker paper and the lighter-colored cardboard.

It was a very impressive display of the unit’s ability to separate out heat signatures.

Eye Catching

Burris offers its dealers all the help you’d expect from a major optics manufacturer, including in-store or zoom training for sales staff, co-op ad funding, and sales staff incentive programs. Banners, floor mats and LED signs are also available.

But Burris doesn’t stop here, not where the v3 thermals are concerned.

“Our sales team offers an in-store display option with our v3 thermals,” says Jordan Egli, director of marketing for Burris. “Simply put, our units can connect to a TV via HDMI. Our display puts people in your shop up on a TV in thermal colors. It is eye catching!”  

Once potential customers are interested, focus on the many features of the BTS35 v3 640.

“The Burris Thermal line, including the rifle scope, is the most intuitive thermal to use on the market,” Egli says. “Our menu structure and controls are easy to learn. The image quality is fantastic, and battery life is more than enough to get you through the night.”

Run customers through some menu changes. Have them switch out palettes and reticles. Show them the zeroing process. 

A real pro move: download the Burris Connect app onto a store cell phone and show how the app allows a user to take and retrieve photos and video.

 

Media

The BTS35 v3  and other Burris thermals have featured in numerous media outlets, including print, digital and social media. These include Crossroads with the Burtons,  Deer Meat for Dinner, Major League Bowhunting, the NRA’s American Hunter magazine, and Small Town Hunting. 

“Really, there are too many media outlets to count and list that have featured the v3 units,” Egli says. “And there are more outlets coming online to feature our thermals. For 2025, we plan continued coverage from our ambassadors and our new ambassadors.”

Three More

As noted, the BTS35 v3 Scope represents just one unit in a line of thermal units. Burris also offers the BTC35 v3 Clip-On Thermal and the BTH35 v3 Handheld Thermal. 

Both thermal units feature Burris Cybercore technology, 400x300 resolution, picture-in-picture ability, and hot-spot tracking. They can also record videos through the Burris Connect app.

Like the BTS35 v3 scope, the clip-on and handheld v3s sport exceptional run times, battery hot swapping, and convenient USB-C charging. Plus, they feature the same Burris rotary dial controls to access the menus and to make adjustments. 

Burris also offers the BTS35 v3 400, with 400×300 resolution. 

If you sell thermal, it definitely looks like a Burris v3 kind of world. Be ready for it.