#2
32winspl
Senior Member
This is a review of a generation 1 ATN night-vision scope that I own.
Join Date: 11-04-07
Location: Wausau, Wi.
Posts: 319 I have an ATN (brand) Aries 390 Paladin series 1st generation night-vision rifle scope with a 450miliwatt infra-red illuminator. I have never hunted with it and don't even know if it is legal to do so in this State. The rulebook seems a bit ambiguous.
That aside, I've played with the scope quite a bit, mostly off my rifle and handheld. First, you need to know that I have no other experience with night-vision devices of whatever developmental Generations. This is, if I've been told correctly, a Russian built unit incorporating some US technology. Overall, I'm VERY impressed with it.
About the scope. The objective lens is a touch under 3" and has a spring loaded lenscap with a "pinhole" in it, so it can be sighted in on a cloudy day. I think it's a 2 1/2 power. It has a focus ring, and can be focused from about 15' to infinity. The scope and illuminator use (one each) a standard 3 volt lithium battery.
The controls on the scope include a push-button on/off, and a rotary button that turns the reticle (red reticle on a green screen) on or off, and varies the reticle intensity. On the other side of the scope are 2 cap-covered adjustments for windage and elevation.
The IR illuminator is detachable, and mounts on top of the scope via a single knurled thumbscrew. There are several adjustments on the IR. The beam is fucusable, like a mini-maglite flashlight, from spot to flood. The intensity of the light is click-adjustable from pretty bright to really bright. It is also capable of being adjusted (windage and elev) to coincide with the reticle at a preset range.
Now, the stuff you really want to know... how it works.
Ok, I have pretty good night vision. The scope, by itself, allows me to see much better, and I don't have to "look away" 15 degrees to see what I'm looking at. I know that what I'm saying is completely subjective, and unquantifiable. Sorry about that. Basicly this. If it's too dark for you to see a racoon at all, this scope isn't going to make it too much more visible... until you turn on the IR. The IR really changes things! The IR really lets you see pretty much everything, even in TOTAL darkness. You won't see in color mind you. It's like watching black and white television, only in shades of green. But you're gonna see it! With this rig, I've quite clearly seen the bodies of deer moving around at over 100 yards in near pitch darkness. I think you'd be able to see their eyes at nearly any distance. With the reticle turned on at it's lowest setting, and the IR on, I believe I'd easily be able to hit a beer can at 75 yds. or more.
Passive versus active;
I'd never thought about it until I started to play with this rig, but, clearly, there are plenty of critters out there that "see" infrared light. I turned on the scope (only) and walked away. I turned around to look where I'd set it down and couldn't see it. Then I turned on the IR, walked away 50 yards and turned back to it. I could see a very faint red dot. I covered my eyes as I walked back to it because I don't know if a focused beam of IR is bad for my eyes. Having used the combo to spot animals at night, I know that Eagles, Owls, and Deer have all been very interested in the IR device. I can't say for sure if they were zeroed in on the IR or if they were looking directly at me to determine what I was doing moving around in the dark. I did try another test though. I took the scope and my TV remote down to the basement at night (no lights or windows). Scope on and IR off, I couldn't see a thing. While looking through the scope and pressing the volume or channel buttons, I could see a little. Turning on the IR device, I could see as though in green daylight. If you were to ever be out in the woods with an IR on, your IR would show up like brilliant green road flare to anyone else with a night vision device.
Mounting the scope;
This is a pretty big, heavy, device. The entire length of the scope including eyecup is about 14". Total height including top-mounted IR is about 6" from the top of the IR to the buttom of the integral (standard 7/8" Weaver style) base. The whole thing weighs around 2 lbs, maybe a touch more. The only real downside to this rig is that you can forget getting a good "cheek-weld" to your rifle stock. It's more like a "Jaw-weld". The scope sits really high. The centerline of this scope is going to sit approximately 3 1/4 to 3 1/2" above bore centerline. You can get used to it, but it's not a "natural" hold.
I bought this from the ATN website about 3 years ago. Total price was $525 and included a weather/water tight pelican case (GOOD stuff), 2 batteries, The scope, built-in mount, infra-red illuminator, adjustment wrenches and allen wrenches. I thought then, and still do, that I got a helluva good deal.
Again, I have no idea how much better a gen ll or gen lll scope would be. But I'm still WOWed by how well this scope works with the IR unit provided. If your rifle will accept an aftermarket adjustable cheekpiece, or you can get used to a jaw-weld, this rig should surely solve your dead-of-night critter problems.
Oh, a couple more things. Both the scope and IR have a tiny "power on" light. They are really bright. 2 little pieces of electrical tape will take care of them. Also, I've probably used both the scope and IR device well in excess of 12 hours, and am still on the original batteries.
If you have more specific questions, click on my username and email me.
