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I currently own one and have another newer version on the way. Who else has one? If you have any questions ask. An affordable NV option. I have not taken the thermal plunge yet as this works for my needs. Attached is a pic of a cow with it blocking my shot to the feeder.... Little out of focus because I had it set for the feeder another 40 yards back..
Attachment 436
Is it worth it to get the higher end stuff, or does ATN work well enough? I may want something for occasional use on backyard coyotes.
I like my ATN scope for open areas like fields or a few sparse trees. In thicker brush it turns the whole area white and you can’t see anything.
The X-Sight HD 2 can be had for sub $500 now and I just ordered the new 4k version for sub $600 (usually $700). I use it 2-4 times per month and have no issues. That cow in the pic is actually one I took about 75yds away. Like I said, the feeder was another 40 yds or so back. The thing I like about these is that when on my 308, I have a profile for 125gr bullets and one for 168gr Bullets. Switching profiles allows me to aim as normal because it moves the reticle for me. Can Therese challenges... yes... most of the time I find it is user error because people try to do it the way a glass scope works and this is more of a computer style. There is a good ATN group on FB that solves 95% of issues. I may go thermal one day but at 4x the cost, that is a hard pill to swallow. Plus side is this is day and or night. The sensor will not get hosed from exposing to bright sunlight. Think of it more as a good security camera that has a reticle on it...
Actual Video from HD2 during the day...
https://youtu.be/q2brsCnhi00
Not my video but another one with a crappy IR light.
https://youtu.be/0EmxezJTl1Y
Does anyone have the ATN Thor 4 2-8?
Thinking about getting one. I have looked at the pulsars but the batteries CR123s and short battery life has me looking elsewhere in the same price range
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I have the 4k pro 5x20 on top of my 458 pistol for dispatching hogs. Love the scope even while they are working the bugs out of the firmware.https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/201...e340fb5218.jpg
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Joe so you haven’t had many issues with it? Some pages and forums talk trash about them so I just want to be sure paying that much money for one. I’ll help some of the farmers out around here with hogs coyotes and armadillos tearing up hay fieldsQuote:
Originally Posted by Joe9216
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There have been some quirks with it, but they will get them sorted out like they did with the x-sight II. A lot of the issues have been fixed with firmware updates.Quote:
Originally Posted by JTram
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Both atn and pulsar can do battery packs. Atn has more features but people seem to do well with Pulsars. Try to find a person local in the forums that can ket you do them side by side. I did leave a couple of Facebook groups due to the you should just suck it up and spend $5k when I am not hunting every week
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Only person here close has an ATN HD 2-8. No pulsars around that I know of.Quote:
Originally Posted by TracyG
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No dealers with live samples? Wow... that stinks... I think nightvisionguys.com will let you rent one and have the rental fee go toward a purchase
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I didn’t know that thanks I may check into thatQuote:
Originally Posted by TracyG
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I have a weak ir light I use when there is alot of brush so it doesn't flash out from the bright ir light on it..for the price I can't find anything better so far..I am getting one if the cheap ad in cams for a regular scope just to see how it compares.
Tracking says my new 4K will arrive tomorrow. I hope the weather holds enough for me to get mounted and do a head to head on the same stuff at the same distance with the same light etc...
If you don’t care let me know. I have never owned a NV or thermal. Sometimes I think the NV with a Hog Light IR would be OK but I really think I want the thermalQuote:
Originally Posted by TracyG
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I will post here. Basically if open ground NV with IR is good. If buses all over the place Thermal helps you spot them.
My two units will be IR NV....
Any new info guys? I may be in a position to get the ATN Thor 4, I'm liking the 2-8 power...?
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I got my unit and had an issue. Had to send it in for warranty service. They replaced it with. a new unit. Only downside is had to wait for them to get more in. It was scheduled back while I was on vacation so literally got it back Friday. Mounted and taking it to the range to site in today. The 4k Picture is greatQuote:
Originally Posted by CritterGitter
Was the issue the unit powering off and resetting everything? I had an ATN night vision (one of the lower end ones) that did that several times. Let me know how the new one works bud.Quote:
Originally Posted by TracyG
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My opinion re. green kill lights,night vision,and thermal.
1. A LASER green kill light is adaquate for 60% of all night hunting situations involving hogs,deer,and the smaller critters. Especially over bait. My Laser Genetics kill lights are good for several hundred yards. Especially the 50mm model. The downside is that it emits a visable green light. Upside is that you can use your regular gun and scope combo.
I have used mine to kill deer at night also. (with a depredation permit)
2. Night vision is adaquate for most night hunting. Gen3 only and with a high powered IR illuminator. Downside is that critters can easily hide from NV in even fairly sparce brush. Also the distance you can positively ID an animal. A high powered illuminator will help greatly but they are somewhat expensive. Some illuminators will give off a faint glow that coyotes can see.
3. Thermal Sights - - -> They are costly. The cheaper ones start about where the most costly NV stops (+ illuminator). I believe that I have seen them for about $2000. lately. For comparison,mine cost $7000. five years ago.
You gotta hunt a bunch to justify the expense. Most people do not hunt enough to justify the elevated cost.
Thermal detects a temperature differential. Light will not hurt thermal unless you look directly into the sun or a welders arc. I can look directly into a street light or car headlights with my unit. No harm done. Anything that is hotter OR colder than the ambient air will light up in my thermal. You can use a Hot Hands or a pill bottle with frozen water in it as a target to sight in the thermal. Other things also. You can hunt in daylight with thermal.
My unit will detect a target at 1200yds. Recognize the target at 436yds. And positively ID the target at 267yds.
Realistically . . . I can tell the difference betweern a hog and a deer at 600yds. A armadillo and a possum at 250yds. This,in a harvested peanut field. (Open ground)
My unit is a ATN ThOR,640,3X,60hz. I has three zooms. 3X-6X-12X It is 8 inches long and weighs 30oz. It takes 3, CR123 batts.
Weather you need a thermal or not is up to you. If nothing else remember these two things.
1. With thermal . . you OWN the night.
2. NOTHING ESCAPES THERMAL.
I truly wish that every NV hunter could look thru my thermal.
Any questions re. thermal or its use . . just ask.
Good Huntin' --- SAWMAN
Sawman, thanks for the great insight. I'm an avid year round coyote hunters, but never got into the night hunting much yet. I've tried a few times and got a lower end ATN NV scope once. Wasn't impressed as my red flashlight and normal scope worked far better than the NV. I live in Eastern Montana where long distance is always a possibility but close range happens frequently. I'd like to see coyotes coming in farther than a hundred yards, the more time ya got, the more prepared ya are ya know. I'm pretty sure I'm gonna get the ATN Thor 4 in 2-8. I've got the opportunity to afford it and I'm pretty excited to become a night predator [emoji16]Quote:
Originally Posted by SAWMAN
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When my wife ok'ed the thermal purchase,I set out to read everything that I could get my hands on about thermal. Where I live there was no one that owned thermal for me to look thru or talk to about it.
At the time (about 5 years ago) thermal sights went from about $4000. to well over $20,000. We set the budget at $6000 but then I sold several higher end guns and this bumped the budget to $8000.
The new thermal buyer needs to figure out what he needs the thermal to do. Nowadays they have built in Wi-Fi,GPS,compass,altimeter,rangefinder,and others. And you will pay dearly for RESOLUTION.
Make sure you understand how thermal works. It is the nighthunters dream,but it has a few limitations. Like . . . it will not look thru glass. Glass is a thermal barrier. There are others.
When your talkin' thermal,you must be a super informed buyer. --- SAWMAN
I was unaware of the glass thing, thank goodness coyotes don't know that!!! I'm seeing all the bells and whistles, but I feel that most of it is unnecessary (personal opinion). Mostly I just want to know what is around me and be able to identify my targets at the greatest distance possible. The rangefinder feature may come in handy there, but we'll see. Thanks for all the input Sawman!
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I'm running an atn X sight 2 I've had it for almost 2 years and so far this unit has treated me very very well. It has a bug or two but I can't complain as most of them are my fault not the optics
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You have to talk to many people on Thermal that have experienced a LOT.
Things to add to what Sawman said.
1) Lights are OK but the animal still sees it. It appears gray so if you get many misses they will learn to be skittish. You also have to account for your own eyes. I have issues with green but do not have any seeing using red lights.
2) IR based NV does have limitations but significantly lower entry cost. The 4K out performs the HD2 on whiteout caused by brush close in. Fog can be an issue unless you have a remote light to get thru it. Military grade NV runs what thermal does.
3) You can see critters thru grass with thermal and you can see in the woods easier. Downside to thermal is when it comes to identification as compared to some NV. I have zero issues identifying animals out over 400yards in moonlight or with good light. Glass will not be a problem in the woods but so will fog or a fresh coat of mud on a hog. It will warm up the longer it is on him but have heard stories.
If I had $4k to spend... thermal would be it... for less than $650... I am doing an ATN all day long.
BTW... sighted in the 4K today.... it worked great. Hunt next weekend will tell more.
My unit is/has:
* dioptor adjustment
* range focus adjustment
* 5 different pallet adjustments
* 5 different crosshair choices
* 4 different crosshair colors
* on screen viewing of battery power left,pallet color selected,crosshair choice,and pallet choice
Another important thing to remember. You are looking at a miniature TV screen. You have no depth perception. It is extremely hard to judge distances. But expierance with your particular unit helps determine distance somewhat.
The very best hunting with thermal is the nights with no moon or before it has come up,or after it has set. You would be surprised how well animals can see your movement even with 1/4 moon.
And like a sunny day,during full moon that is high up,use the shadows to help hide you.
Wear all dark clothing. My buddy and I wear all black. --- SAWMAN
Truth.... I bought old school Mossy Oak Bottomland because it is the best night cam except maybe dark gray... Black can make me stand out in an open field... Attachment 842Quote:
Originally Posted by SAWMAN
Awesome input, thank you!!!Quote:
Originally Posted by TracyG
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