ATN Thermal

Austin Laughlin

Austin Laughlin

Well-known member
I’m looking to get into the thermal game, and seen a couple of ATNs for a decent price.

Is their stuff worth it? I know there’s probably a lot of this but I was just trying to get into the thermal game without spending $2-$3k.

I can understand there may be some features that I may miss out on at their prices but that’s alright too. I just don’t want to spend the $800-$1200 on one and it be junk, wishing I would’ve saved and spent it on the $2k scope.
 
Save your money. When it comes to thermal you really get what you pay for... I had an ATN DNV scope, and when it got below 20 degrees the scope would shut off unless you ran it on external battery pack. They are that cheap for a reason.
 
ChrisLD said:
Save your money. When it comes to thermal you really get what you pay for... I had an ATN DNV scope, and when it got below 20 degrees the scope would shut off unless you ran it on external battery pack. They are that cheap for a reason.
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Wow, that’s wild. I kind of figured it was a “get what you pay for” kind of thing. I didn’t know it’d be that bad though.

Our night season is only February 1st - March 31st. So I was trying to get into one on a budget if I could, for only hunting 2 months out of the year
 
I took a chance and bought a RIX Leap 3 which I’ve been really happy with. It’s a 384. I wish I spent more and got the Leap 6 which is the 640 version honestly. Quite a bit more than you’re looking to spend though. I did just see they have a new Storm series of thermal out. I can’t tell you anything about them other than the company has been solid as far as CS and my optic works well for my needs and any problems have been very small issues and taken care of promptly. Just throwing it out there for something to look into.

Like has been stated, you’ll want to buy as high end as possible. You’ll only wish you did later. Good luck.
 
hunt0168 said:
I took a chance and bought a RIX Leap 3 which I’ve been really happy with. It’s a 384. I wish I spent more and got the Leap 6 which is the 640 version honestly. Quite a bit more than you’re looking to spend though. I did just see they have a new Storm series of thermal out. I can’t tell you anything about them other than the company has been solid as far as CS and my optic works well for my needs and any problems have been very small issues and taken care of promptly. Just throwing it out there for something to look into.

Like has been stated, you’ll want to buy as high end as possible. You’ll only wish you did later. Good luck.
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I surely appreciate the information and the advice. I’m not trying to come off or sound as cheap and trying to slink by. I was just hoping they made a decent budget thermal, since I can only use it 2 months out of the year anyway.

Which I guess if there was a budget in to thermals, everyone would be doing it too.
 
I may have the only two fully functioning ATN night vision scopes ever made. I have the HDII and the 4K Pro. I have used them extensively and have never had one problem.

However, when it came time to invest in Thermal it seems everywhere I came upon a discussion of a certain topic I kept hearing the refrain "Friends don't let Friends buy ATN".

So, I own AGM, Bering Optics and FLIR

ya!

GWB
 
alf said:
Do your due diligence and search out reviews and woes with their customer service, it won't take long to look past ATN......
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I’ve been reading every article and thread I come across on thermals. It’s obvious there’s a lot better options. I just thought I’d see if ATN was a decent scope, just without the features or plain junk.

Its taken me 4 replies to realize its not worth it
 
Geedubya said:
I may have the only two fully functioning ATN night vision scopes ever made. I have the HDII and the 4K Pro. I have used them extensively and have never had one problem.

However, when it came time to invest in Thermal it seems everywhere I came upon a discussion of a certain topic I kept hearing the refrain "Friends don't let Friends buy ATN".

So, I own AGM, Bering Optics and FLIR

ya!

GWB
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Do you like the nightvision? I’ve never looked through one, but some people are here claim they like theirs over their thermal. There’s also guys there that say they like to use a nightvision monocular to scan, and a thermal scope.
 
Or I’m sorry, I have that backwards I think. I think they said that they like to use a thermal monocular to scan and a nightvision scope.
 
When I went to digital night vision I bought an ATN LTV. It went back to them after 2 hunts. Nothing but issues. I spent a few hundred more on an Accufire Noctis TR1 and it was solid. It was a hard pill to swallow for me too as far as getting into the Thermal game. The Rix Leap series was brand new but had features I really liked so I went for it hoping for the best. For $2500 it wasn’t “cheap” but well below other similarly spec’d optics. Like I said, I’m happy with it. If I knew it was going to be as solid as it has been i would have spent more to get the 640.
 
The guys who like DNV over thermal, dont have a good thermal. You can get a more PID on a critter sure, but thats if its standing in a wide open field and your IR light source doesnt spook it off in the first place....

I made the mistake of buying DNV scope instead of just saving longer for a thermal scope. It was a 1000 dollar waste of my time and money. I think I replaced it within 6 months...

as far as scanning with NV over thermal, that person is wrong... Not oppinion, fact.
 
ChrisLD said:
The guys who like DNV over thermal, dont have a good thermal. You can get a more PID on a critter sure, but thats if its standing in a wide open field and your IR light source doesnt spook it off in the first place....

I made the mistake of buying DNV scope instead of just saving longer for a thermal scope. It was a 1000 dollar waste of my time and money. I think I replaced it within 6 months...

as far as scanning with NV over thermal, that person is wrong... Not oppinion, fact.
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Yeah, I think I had that backwards. I’m fairly certain they said they use a Nightvision scope and use a thermal monocular for scanning. That’s my fault
 
hunt0168 said:
When I went to digital night vision I bought an ATN LTV. It went back to them after 2 hunts. Nothing but issues. I spent a few hundred more on an Accufire Noctis TR1 and it was solid. It was a hard pill to swallow for me too as far as getting into the Thermal game. The Rix Leap series was brand new but had features I really liked so I went for it hoping for the best. For $2500 it wasn’t “cheap” but well below other similarly spec’d optics. Like I said, I’m happy with it. If I knew it was going to be as solid as it has been i would have spent more to get the 640.
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Well you guys have more than answered my questions. I guess I’ll just hold off.

I’m using a Foxpro light right now, have been for 3 seasons and just wanted to try my hand at the scope game. Light works fine, I can usually kill 20-30 in 2 months if I really really hunt hard. But I spook a lot more than I kill, and I can only imagine what I missing out and can’t see without a scope.
 
DNV is a step up from lights in a couple ways. W/ dnv wide open country and clear conditions are a must. Add any kind of obstruction between you and the target it’s useless. Snow, rain, brush or branches, you aren’t seeing that animal out there.

Detection is incredible with thermal and after using thermal I would never recommend DNV to anybody that hunts the terrain that I do.

Positive identification is tricky for some. It was for me for about 2 hunts. Then I paid attention to movement, gait, tails, etc and I have no problems knowing what I’m looking at. If ever I do, I just won’t shoot. Simple as that.
 
hunt0168 said:
DNV is a step up from lights in a couple ways. W/ dnv wide open country and clear conditions are a must. Add any kind of obstruction between you and the target it’s useless. Snow, rain, brush or branches, you aren’t seeing that animal out there.

Detection is incredible with thermal and after using thermal I would never recommend DNV to anybody that hunts the terrain that I do.

Positive identification is tricky for some. It was for me for about 2 hunts. Then I paid attention to movement, gait, tails, etc and I have no problems knowing what I’m looking at. If ever I do, I just won’t shoot. Simple as that.
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This would be the thing for me. 99.9% of my terrain would be open grass fields in big creek bottoms when I’m calling at night.

And as far as detection, that’s my main thing. Making 100% sure I know what I’m shooting. Coyotes and hogs are the only thing we’re aloud to hunt at night during that period. No fox, coons or cats. So I’m with you completely, if I have the slightest doubt, I’m not shooting. Whether that boogers up the coyotes or not.

I guess I should’ve explained my situation a little better and not been so broad and vague.

Shots are 200-250 yards max, and terrain will be very open. That’s with my night calling terrain anyway.
 
Which do I like better. Since I got the hang of my thermals, I have not used my ATN 4K Pro. I have only used the Sightmark Wraith Mini once.
That occasion was late last December.
I stand hunt over feeders or a water source for hogs. Coyotes and foxes are targets of opportunity.
The DNV works well when one is set up for hunting over a feeder or designated spot where you can point your beam. When the animal comes into view it's no problem discerrning/determining what it is. For running and gunning in an open field, forget about it.

Above I mentioned taking the Sightmark Wraith to the stand. I had both the BeringOptics Super Yoter and the Wraith mini with me that eve. One of my feeders in about 90 yds @12 0'clock. I usually see a half dozen bunnies once it gets dark at most all my feeders. I decided to do a test of sorts. I spotted the bunnies with my AGM taipan Scanner. Next I looked through the Wraith. I have an upgraded NightSnipe N750 IR Illuminator used in conjunction. Finally I looked through the SuperYoter. It is amazing the difference. After that, chances are `I will not be using my DNV.

ya!

GWB
 


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