Anyone used a cheap NV scope yet?

[gunnutery]

About a month or so ago I saw an ad for an ATN night vision rifle scope for about $400-$500. I didn't have time to investigate until recently. The reviews for some of them on amazon.com weren't too bad, but I'd like to hear from anyone here that has used or tried them (or comparable brand/model).

My department doesn't have NV so I've been toying with the idea of buying my own so I don't have to use the Sheriff's while on patrol. It would be nice to have one mountable to a rifle if I'm buying one anyway (although I would only mount it to a rifle for personal use as magnified rifle scopes require a lot of training for the state to feel a person is qualified). Is Gen 1 NV even worth it? If not I'll probably scrap the idea.

Thanks for any input.

 

[cougar1717]

My experience was with a Gen 1 monocular. Green, grainy, and grossly overrated. Had to use the infrared booster to see the anything beyond about 30 yards. It needs some sort of ambient light. Very little detail compared to newer technology. Gen 1 equipment was awesome in 1995, but with today's technology, it's like playing 8 bit nintendo.

 

[gunnutery]

Thanks for the evaluation. I kind of figured it'd be too good to be true, especially considering the price jump from Gen 1 to Gen 2 was about $2500 .

 

[regal]

With LED technology you would think one could find a high powered IR light. I would love to have a cheap NV scope for possums to put on my Savage .22L

 

[taliv]

ATN stinks. I've got one of their day scopes sitting in a box that didn't even last a month.

 

[CTW]

For 4-5 hundred I would not even waste my money. There is a reason that the next step up is 2000-3000 dollar's.