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 km2006dmax
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Posted: 1/29/2012 5:06:33 PM
THE IMAGE ABOVE IS A PAID ADVERTISEMENT I've never been to high on using thermal for anything more than detection, but in the river bottoms on dark nights this might be the cats ass. Shots 50-100 yards in super dark conditions. |
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Posted: 1/29/2012 5:29:18 PM
I spoke with my local gun shop owner after he came home from the shot show he looked at the new ATN Thor demo while there.Like most everyone he is not a ATN fan but he really liked the thor scope said it seemed pretty solid, good size/weight, and price was very good as far as thermal scopes. I would like to see some user feedback myself before pulling the trigger on anything ATN.
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Posted: 1/29/2012 5:48:23 PM
I had a good look at the ATN THOR and for what it's worth, it looked nice. I didn't get a chance to use it and have no idea how solidly it's made but I imagine it works OK in use too.
Though one criticism I do have is that the unit was completely un-evaluatable from an ergonomics perspective and almost unusable on the example rifle it was mounted on. Take a look at the mounts and the eye position given the size. Perhaps it was just me, but I found it very uncomfortable though I imagine you can make up some custom mounts for it so that's not a huge issue.
The issue with ATN hasn't always been their parts - they buy a lot of stuff elsewhere and put an ATN badge on it. The PVS-14 is a good example. The issue has always been around how they look after their customers and how well they ensure what they sell is of merchantable quality. Though of late I am hearing the occasional good tale so I live in hope that's changing but it still doesn't help the victims of their past and until they make a solid effort to address those they've left without support in the past, I won't support them.
In the mean time, there are other options, eg, the new TWS-13, that are coming in to compete more directly with the THOR at a similar price and I'd probably look more favourably towards products by companies with a track-record of supporting their customers. Especially as there is a lot of new development going on in that area at the moment.
Regards
David
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km2006dmax
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Posted: 1/29/2012 6:39:14 PM
[Last Edit: 1/29/2012 6:40:49 PM by km2006dmax]
David, can you elaborate any on the tws-13 you speak of? Was there a prototype at the show? I agree I would rather deal with another company with a much better track record in CS.
I've heard of a system coming from Night optics usa. Is this the system? |
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Posted: 1/29/2012 11:02:03 PM
Originally Posted By km2006dmax: David, can you elaborate any on the tws-13 you speak of? Was there a prototype at the show? I agree I would rather deal with another company with a much better track record in CS. I've heard of a system coming from Night optics usa. Is this the system? Yes, that's the one, though I am going on memory for the name. David. |
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Posted: 1/29/2012 11:10:01 PM
From memory I remember a conversation where ATN was selling a 320x240 kit to dealers. Had everything but the housing. My understanding was the core was made by FLIR. Once you have the optics and core a housing should be pretty easy. Heck, we saw it done very well with an old PVS-7 housing. I was told the kit was in the $2,300 range.
My source is very credible but I can't say who it is. Was not TNVC. |
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Posted: 1/30/2012 11:19:30 AM
a youtube link of the scopes:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QUn2Ip_lNnM |
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OdDuMet
Oderint Dum Metuant
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Posted: 1/30/2012 6:07:30 PM
"made completely in the US" that's interesting.
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km2006dmax
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Posted: 1/30/2012 10:30:07 PM
I really like the size of the unit. Would be great on a sbr with titanium can. Im curious of how much of a increase in price there will be for the 640 core. If it's around 2k i think I'll pick one up.
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Posted: 2/1/2012 1:13:54 PM
I'm pretty sure I'm going to be snagging one of the ATN Thor 2x's this week. I'll probably use opticsplanet unless you guys have better ideas.
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Posted: 2/2/2012 8:59:31 AM
Cool let use know if you pick one up. A friend that attended the shot show told me he didn't think the new Thor Mini models would be shipping though until sometime late Feb?
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Posted: 2/2/2012 10:44:24 AM
That's what I understand too, but I don't know the exact date.
I'll be calling opticsplanet today sometime, I'll let you know what info I pull out of them. |
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Posted: 2/2/2012 11:39:40 AM
From optics planet chat: The current eta that is listed for that item is for around the week of February 26th.
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TCBA_Joe
2 Round Burst
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Joined: Oct 2006 NH, USA
 
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Posted: 2/2/2012 1:00:30 PM
Originally Posted By cj7hawk:
Originally Posted By km2006dmax:
David, can you elaborate any on the tws-13 you speak of? Was there a prototype at the show? I agree I would rather deal with another company with a much better track record in CS. I've heard of a system coming from Night optics usa. Is this the system? Yes, that's the one, though I am going on memory for the name. David. Any pics or info on this unit? |
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Posted: 2/2/2012 2:10:08 PM
I just snagged a 2x version of the ATN scope from sportsmans guide for 5k after shipping. Way less than what I was going to pay at optics planet. You have to sign up for their member's club deal at a cost of $29 bucks and a savings of $500 :)
http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/atn-2x-thor-thermal-scope.aspx?a=938965 |
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Posted: 2/2/2012 7:31:18 PM
Be sure to give us a review of it!
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Dawg180
Student of the Assault Rifle
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Posted: 2/2/2012 11:37:40 PM
Originally Posted By BushmanLA:
I just snagged a 2x version of the ATN scope from sportsmans guide for 5k after shipping. Way less than what I was going to pay at optics planet. You have to sign up for their member's club deal at a cost of $29 bucks and a savings of $500 :) http://www.sportsmansguide.com/net/cb/atn-2x-thor-thermal-scope.aspx?a=938965 Man, that is a hell of a deal you got there...I hope they start carrying the 1x unit soon... |
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OdDuMet
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Posted: 2/3/2012 8:27:35 AM
[Last Edit: 2/3/2012 8:30:15 AM by OdDuMet]
OK well I'm confused now.
"Choose from 3 different optical powers (1X, 2X or 3X), each enhanced with 2X digital zoom, doubling your magnification power (2X, 4X or 6X total)! " I'm guessing this means the 2X they list is actually the 1X. Seems like they are named with the 2X zoom feature activated. The 2X on SG has a FOV of 24deg. The 1X on the ATN site has a FOV of the same 24 deg. The 2X on the ATN site has a 15deg FOV. Looks like SG is either confused or being deceptive. |
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Dawg180
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Posted: 2/3/2012 8:34:53 AM
Originally Posted By OdDuMet:
OK well I'm confused now. "Choose from 3 different optical powers (1X, 2X or 3X), each enhanced with 2X digital zoom, doubling your magnification power (2X, 4X or 6X total)! " I'm guessing this means the 2X they list is actually the 1X. Seems like they are named with the 2X zoom feature activated. The 2X on SG has a FOV of 24deg. The 1X on the ATN site has a FOV of the same 24 deg. The 2X on the ATN site has a 15deg FOV. Looks like SG is either confused or being deceptive. Good catch, I was wondering why they had a 6x model but no 1x model like everyone else. Hopefully we will find out when the poster in this thread gets his. These are stupid expensive, but for some reason the cost doesn't bother me at all, i would love to have one of these! Maybe it is a day/night usability and the fact that i never though thermal would be even remotely approachable in my price range... |
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Posted: 2/3/2012 9:16:29 AM
Yep I had about ruled out a Thermal weapon sight the cost being the main factor but these new models have me taking a second look. When I really think about it I think my Aqulia/Nighthawk Nv sight would work better for my shooting needs 90% of the time but there's just something about thermal that makes me still want one.
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Posted: 2/3/2012 11:12:58 AM
I do not own any NV as of yet but getting close, I really thought thermal was way out of my price range but with devices like the ATN Thor ariving on the market I am starting to re-think. Is thermal the direction everyone is headed? Are we on the verge of more and afordable products hitting the market?
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Posted: 2/3/2012 3:17:40 PM
Blah... looks like I may have gotten tricked. It looks like they are indeed selling the 1X's as 2x's etc.
Not sure if I'm going to just settle for the 1x and try it out or fix the order now. |
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Posted: 2/3/2012 5:56:30 PM
ATN claims that the new thor is 100% US made. Anyone know what company made the core,lense,and the body. Didnt ATN just put their name on it? This sure looks like a heck of a deal on a 640x480 thermal sight cant wait to to see some user feedback.
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km2006dmax
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Posted: 2/4/2012 1:54:30 AM
Posted: Yesterday 4:56:30 PM CST
ATN claims that the new thor is 100% US made. Anyone know what company made the core,lense,and the body. Didnt ATN just put their name on it? This sure looks like a heck of a deal on a 640x480 thermal sight cant wait to to see some user feedback The 640 units are priced in the 11-12k area. That really sucks imo. Double the price basically for a 640 core? Wow! |
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GAhunter95
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Posted: 2/4/2012 7:22:20 AM
Originally Posted By km2006dmax:
Posted: Yesterday 4:56:30 PM CST
ATN claims that the new thor is 100% US made. Anyone know what company made the core,lense,and the body. Didnt ATN just put their name on it? This sure looks like a heck of a deal on a 640x480 thermal sight cant wait to to see some user feedback The 640 units are priced in the 11-12k area. That really sucks imo. Double the price basically for a 640 core? Wow! I was told the 640 core is a $4k upgrade. I was there at the show looking very hard at these.  Is anyone else making a 640 core for thermal? I didn't find any others at the show, but may have missed them if there were.
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Posted: 2/4/2012 1:15:51 PM
Originally Posted By km2006dmax:
Posted: Yesterday 4:56:30 PM CST
ATN claims that the new thor is 100% US made. Anyone know what company made the core,lense,and the body. Didnt ATN just put their name on it? This sure looks like a heck of a deal on a 640x480 thermal sight cant wait to to see some user feedback The 640 units are priced in the 11-12k area. That really sucks imo. Double the price basically for a 640 core? Wow! On ebay an atn 1.5x 30hz 640 scope is 10,499 or best offer.(NOT BAD CONSIDERING) Most 640x480 thermal scopes start at 15k and go up. I think what ATN has done will bring the price of other thermal scopes/viewers down or at least i sure hope so. |
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