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_CTAIRGUNNER_

_CTAIRGUNNER_

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May 30, 2022
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Woodstock Connecticut
I am having a back and forth dilemma with myself. Currently on my rat gun I am running a sightmark wraith 4k mini and it does really well, however I looked through a thermal and got bit by that bug. What are you guys using or do you prefer to use and why?

I have had thoughts about upgrading the torch on the sightmark since that is its weak link for me , its apparent when spotting through my ATN Binos. With that said I also have looked at the AGM Rattler 25-384 ..... as it would be cool to be able to switch back and forth between rifles should I ever decide to night hunt some coyotes, but I could use the sightmark for that as well..

Just looking for opinions and insight from you as all as I value it

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The IR-version of the Acebeam L19 is an IR illuminator that works fantasticly with the Wraith Mini. On its lowest setting it's perfect for 10-25 yards, i.e. not too bright. You can easily target well beyond 100 yards with this light.

Thermals are fantstic. I use both the Wraith Mini and a thermal sight. So far I'd agree, a thermal sight is a bit overkill for pesting. I'm a bit of a tech addict so I couldn't help myself.

Right after I purchased a thermal sight, I went and spent over $40k on guns and ammunition. So let this be a lesson for you. If you open your bank account for the thermal you'll soon be thinking "oh I really need that gun, and that one. This gun eats a new ammunition family, and I need at least 1000 rounds for that gun. If I get that new ammunition family, I really ought to get a 2nd gun that eats that ammunition." On it goes!
 
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Well just ask yourself how many thousands of dollars does it take to kill rodents. I occasionally use expensive setups to shoot mice and think, my god, I hope this isn’t this guns destiny. You seem to get bored with stuff quickly or are always looking for where the grass is greener so I say go for it. You’re eventually going to buy one anyway. Why put it off.
 
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Vetmx said:
I say go for it.
You’re eventually going to buy one anyway. Why put it off.
Click to expand...

That last question is priceless.
Quite literally priceless:
"Why put it off?" — No price is too high to use this question with — and click the place-in-cart button.


O my goodness, Frank, you're a master enabler! 😄
At AGN I get to learn from the best. 🤣

Matthias
 
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Vetmx said:
Well just ask yourself how many thousands of dollars does it take to kill rodents. I occasionally use expensive setups to shoot mice and think, my god, I hope this isn’t this guns destiny. You seem to get bored with stuff quickly or are always looking for where the grass is greener so I say go for it. You’re eventually going to buy one anyway. Why put it off.
Click to expand...
It wasn't boredom that got me where I am but was finding what I like. I was chasing what marketing was saying I should have and it got the best if me.

Then I figured out (I think anyways, pretty sure) what that was. I'm already $3000 into my rat setup as is lol I'm hard to please

The why put it off is a good point though, I will likely end up there

The other reason I didn't mention that it interests me as well is MA and CT allow coyote hunting with air , I could see myself saving a weapon profile and using it there too
 
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I looked into a night vision scope, but none of them offered the magnification I wanted (much more than is offered even today) and I don't like digital zoom.

Anyway, I have flood lights in my back yard. They are more than the light of a full moon, but they are not really that bright for the area they cover.

However, if I already have the indoor lights off (eyes already adjusted to the dark) and go to my sniper window, I can see just well enough to spot rats, etc. And even the scope on the Fortitude gathers just enough light to shoot rats even at max (27x) power.

Maybe one of these days I'll get a NVS, if only to be able to video my shots. (smile)
 
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Well, as most of you already know, I have an ATN THoR 4 384 1.25-5x Thermal Scope paired with an ABL Laser Rangefinder and I love it! I have been contemplating selling my unit so I can upgrade to the THoR 4 640 1-10x or 1.5-15x.

Pros of the ATN System:
  • Very long battery life (18 hours on a charge is a real world battery life).
  • Records photos and video with audio.
  • A mostly traditional scope form factor.
  • Integrates well with the ATN product line (ABL Laser Rangefinder, Binoculars, X-Trac remote control.)
  • Plenty of color profiles, but I mostly use Black Hot mode.
  • Ballistic Calculator is a godsend for an air gunner.
Cons:
  • It's heavy by itself. It's heavier with the ABL installed.
  • Color profiles are relative temperature, not absolute. So when you look at an object, and then something else which is larger enters your view, it can shift the hue of an object that did not change temperature. This is mostly undetectable in Black Hot/White Hot mode.
  • Compass loses Cal often - not a really big deal to me.

The date is wrong on most of the photos, but I just took these around 04:30 The first series of photos the focus was not completely sharp. The last photo was focused better.

ATNX0114.JPG

Bunny Rabbit White Hot Mode

ATNX0116.JPG

Bunny Rabbit Black Hot Mode

ATNX0118.JPG

Black Hot


ATNX0120.JPG

White Hot


ATNX0124.JPG

Red Hot



ATNX0127.JPG

Green Hot


ATNX0130.JPG

Fusion


ATNX0133.JPG

Glowbow


ATNX0136.JPG

Ironbow

ATNX0142.JPG

Rainbow


ATNX0144.JPG

Rain

20221008_043030.jpg

Cellphone View of my yard.


ATNX0002.JPG

Thermal View of my yard, Black Hot Mode.
 
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WOW!!!!!

Just looked up the prices for the ATN Thor 640x480 and all I can say is I will never own one or the cheaper model either! (chuckle)

Oh well, I can still enjoy the pics and videos from the folks that can afford/justify/rationalize that expense. (smile)

I'll just buy some brighter bulbs for my flood lights... maybe $20 or $30 max! (grin)

p.s.

Had not looked at NV scopes since the dempanic, so I was really unaware of the price increases on ALL NV scopes, not to mention just about everything else! (heavy sigh)

Oh well, those things I could not afford or rationalize the cost before? Now, there is no question that I simply can't afford them. No matter how I try to rationalize it. :eek:
 
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ATN has some lower end thermal scopes that can be had as low as $900. You cut your resolution greater than half (160 vs 384), lose color profiles, the ability to record photo and video, no Ballistic Calculator feature, no Bluetooth/Wi-Fi capability, and no ammo/weapon profiles.

You lose a lot of features, but you still get the benefits of a thermal scope, which may be enough for some pesting jobs.
 
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Vetmx said:
You may have just crippled yourself by buying a Wraith mini. Not sure how things look when you look through the mini but here is what my Wraith 4k not mini looks like at 30 yards. This is a screen shot from a video of this little guy jumping around like a nut.

View attachment 295763
Click to expand...
They look essentially the same. The only significant difference is the base magnification.
 
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BackStop said:
WOW!!!!!

Just looked up the prices for the ATN Thor 640x480 and all I can say is I will never own one or the cheaper model either! (chuckle)

Oh well, I can still enjoy the pics and videos from the folks that can afford/justify/rationalize that expense. (smile)

I'll just buy some brighter bulbs for my flood lights... maybe $20 or $30 max! (grin)

p.s.

Had not looked at NV scopes since the dempanic, so I was really unaware of the price increases on ALL NV scopes, not to mention just about everything else! (heavy sigh)

Oh well, those things I could not afford or rationalize the cost before? Now, there is no question that I simply can't afford them. No matter how I try to rationalize it. :eek:
Click to expand...
My sightmark setup brand new with rechargeable battery pack is under $1000.00
Vetmx said:
You may have just crippled yourself by buying a Wraith mini. Not sure how things look when you look through the mini but here is what my Wraith 4k not mini looks like at 30 yards. This is a screen shot from a video of this little guy jumping around like a nut.

View attachment 295763
Click to expand...
I love my mini , I think it's awesome. I've had it for about 3 months and have used it about 10 to 12 times pesting. My only gripe with it is the factory IR light.
 
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If your looking at more affordable like I was and don't need all the bells and whistles look into the the 320 LT models from atn I really like mine can also save money by going with a refurbished model look up refurbished atn thermal Scopes come with 3 year warranty also but I wouldn't go any lower than the 320 thermal I tried a 160 hand held and couldn't make anything out past 45 yards my 320 LT 5-10 x50 I can see deer and coyotes out past 300 yards and more once you know the body language of the animals
 
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ATNX0133.JPG



ATNX0114.JPG



ATNX0142.JPG





Ed! Ed?!? 😳

What have you done?!? 😱


I thought I could at least keep my nose (and wallet) out of the the thermal business....
Now I see those totally awesome, beautiful photos.... — what am I to do?!? This looks so much cooler than the gray-boring nightvision....

I am doomed. 😬 Terminally doomed.... ☠


Matthias


PS: You are such a notorious bunch of brilliant enablers.... 🤦🏻‍♂️
 
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