Thor HD... 4.5x18 384

[blake]

Anyone have any info on this scope? Thinking of going with the 4.5x18 384 or the 2x8 384. I just hope it doesn't have issues like the X sight ll. I am leaning towards the 4.5x18 do go the 50mm objective. Won't do anything until I see reviews and videos. Any help would be appreciated.

[Joe Kriz]

Hi blake, there's not much information out there besides that on the ATN website. We'll know more once they get closer to shipping.

[Shamble]

Has anyone used a Thermal in South Texas in the Middle of summer? I would like to know how well it worked at night with the Heat we have.

[dixon]

I ordered the 384 2-8 for FOV and price point. The 640 2.5x would have been my top pick.
I had the ATN Thor 320 2x and FOV was about right. The 320 2x was slightly more with a 30mm lens. I could see rabbits at 250 yards but couldn't identify them until about 100 yards depending conditions and cover. I could walk with the 320 scope held up to my eye and scan for signatures easy enough. And most of my shooting is under 200 yards. I didn't want to give up any FOV.
I was between a few groups of hogs and when I started shooting I was charged by one from a group to my left. I picked it up running through the cane fast enough to deter it from coming closer. SO FOV is very important to me.

[dixon]

My biggest complaint with my 320 was identifying coyotes from deer at 100 yards in tall grass.

And my biggest worry with the HD is batteries. I don't like leaving the unit on the gun until I am calling. It takes alot out of my shoulder to scan with the unit on the gun. I scan until I find a place to sit then mount up the unit. I am hoping this new HD platform will take the Rechargeable lithium AA's and then I can hook to the gun and larger battery back for on the gun use?

[dmarkie]

I'm new to thermals and have been studying up since Jan in anticipation of getting a 384 2x8 (or 4.5x18). I must admit shelling out this kind of $$ and hearing the 320 has difficulty in distinguishing a coyot from deer at 100 yds is concerning. I hunt coyote in upstate NY. Most shots are in 100 yrd range. Then to read lacking responses from cust svc and firmware upgrade issues on the X sight areas is worrisome to. I like hearing from regular hunters/users that it will be fine, and not to worry. :-)

Dave

[dixon]

In tall grass and out at 200 yards. I am from upstate NY and the hunting in the south has a lot more "jungle" that died off from summer. The ability to see through the grass is a plus for the Thor over NV. In comparison it would be like being able to see bedded coyotes and deer in a ny golden rod field. Orchard grass (which i hunted in mostly) in NY there would be no problem. The short grass down here is 4' tall. Through the 3-4' tall grass I am seeing a head at 100 yards. I wait for a tail to confirm a coyote before shooting.
And ny has a Coyote season in which all the grass is matted down from snow. Where i am hunting year round down here. My friends live in NY and were smoking the foxes and coyotes with a Thor this winter.

Also I can tell the difference from a rat and mouse at 25 yards if that helps to.

[cybrown]

Gents, heavy foliage can conceal an animal from thermal. If there is just a small amount of animal visable, you will probably be able to tell that something is there, but not be able to tell what. That being said, thermal is MUCH better at finding things in cover than the naked eye and traditional night vision.

What you really need to be careful of is deciding to pull the trigger on something that is partially concealed. It will take a few hours of eyeball time behind a thermal scope to adjust to what you are seeing and what you are not seeing.

Thermal works just fine even in the summer months at night. The problem is that hot rocks and other objects might fool you into thinking that there is something there when there isn't. Just spend a little observation time and remember that hot rocks move much less often than animals.

In hot weather and full sunshine conditions you will find that there are many things that are hotter than live animals, but a live animal moving around is still very easy to detect with thermal.

Another bad condition is just after rainfall and high humidity situations. Animals still show up just fine, but you loose a lot of detail of the surrounding landscape that helps you judge distance and get a frame of reference etc.

[dmarkie]

Thank you for the further explanation. My questions where derived more from identication and clarity of game that is in clear view and at distances of 100, 200 yd etc. Issues of concealment in cover is perfectly understandable and as you point out knowing with certainty ones target is fundamental hunter safety.

Thanks again your experience and observations of the Thor performance.

Dave

[grady]

I have a 384 Thor 4.5-18x on the way. should be here in about a week. Never used a thermal, so ? I have two gen 1 X-sights and I am looking for something better.

[dmarkie]

I'm where you are Grady just haven't put my cash up yet. Lil concerned about reading posts on the X sight firmware and glitches. Im looking to see if the new Thor's experience these issues. Really looking forward to your posts on the score's performance and your impressions.

Thx
Dave

[chris v]

New to the forum here. Hoping for updates on the question of the Thor 384 4.5-18X vs 384 2-8X. The price difference is $800. As far as I can tell the main practical difference is a 50mm 4.5X optical lens vs 25mm 2x optical lens. Seems like the big 4.5x lens should collect a lot more photons than the smaller lens resulting in better resolution at a distance. Also seems that the higher zoom capability should more than double the range. Any comments on whether those things are true, and worth the extra $$?

I'll be shooting coyotes primarily in open country in northern CO and southern WY.

[alex]

I just talked to my local rep of ATN... Asked them if changing a 50mm lens for a 100mm lens (on a Thor 640 2.5-) is possible at all.
Surprisingly, they said they know several cases when people did that and the picture became radically better... apart from the fact that ATN cancel the warranty for such device... According to ATN people, the guy changed 50mm lens on a Thor 640 2.5-25 for a 100mm Armasight lens...

It has been also discussed here: www.ar15.com/forums/industry/Thermal-Lens-Sizes-50mm-vs-100mm/646-251903/

[rootershooter]

4.5 x 18 works good day or night. Houston heat and humidity.

[duster223]

I have a 4.5X18 on the way with the abl 1000 I am hoping this is a good system.