Night Vision Gear ATN Aries Paladin MK 390 Gen 1 Rifle Scope

Though digital night vision (NV) technology is making inroads into our night hunting the tried and tested traditional NV units are still in the majority. Using an image intensifier tube (IIT) to create the sight picture, it’s very much a case of you get what you pay for; more money = a higher grade tube and therefore better performance. However, for airgun hunting, virtually any quality Gen 1 unit will give the required observation and target ID for a 12ft lb air rifle.

Sensible Ranges

Hunting ranges need to be kept sensible in the day time and even more so at night! Rule of thumb says a zero of 25yds and a self-imposed limit of 30 should be adhered to. We’re not chasing Charlie here, but the rabbit and rat. The former can be ambushed in daylight at these ranges; the latter almost trip over at night! Adding some form of IR illuminate will also improve performance.

ATN, a major manufacturer of NV Equipment has re-vamped most of their units to give better performance and to be much more user friendly. They’ve improved the optical configurations, lowered the F-stop factor and increased optical resolution. This means more ambient light travels through the objective lens to the tube. More light and better resolution creates a brighter and sharper sight picture at the eyepiece.

An easily accessible control layout is found on the left hand side of the unit including a push button power ON/OFF switch, reticule brightness dial (rheostat) and on the body casing is the main focus ring with deep lugs for ease of use. A newly designed and detachable 450mW Infrared Illuminator with windage and elevation adjustment comes included in the price.

Fixed Four

The build offers a fixed X4 magnification and the body is black-anodised, aircraft grade aluminium. At 3.4 lbs it’s considerably heavier than a conventional day scope, which can take a bit of getting used to. Equally it will sit higher over the action. There’s a Weaver base mounted on top for the IR Illuminator supplied, or any other higher power torch or lamp with IR filter. All lenses are glass and multi-coated and the objective measures 90mm so should allow a lot of light inside.  Add in the easy reach controls and this a very user-friendly unit.

Typically the unit has twin focus controls, the one nearer the objective is for getting the target sharp and the one on the eyepiece is to do the same for the reticule, which comes up red in the view. A rough zero and general set up can be achieved in daylight as the rubber objective cover, which is permanently attached to the body has a pin hole in the middle for this purpose. However, I would always say check all this at night too before going out, so it can be fine-tuned with the lens cap off as this is how you will be using it for real…

Moving Image

The turrets are located at the rear of the unit with one on top (elevation) and windage on the left side, below this is the battery compartment. They are capped and attached by rubber straps, underneath they are finger dialable and offer 1/8” clicks. Typically they are of the moving image type so as you dial in a correction the actual reticule moves in relation to the view.

This does make zeroing easier as from a supported position all you do is keep the rifle still and move the reticule on to the point of impact and you are there. However, also be aware that the direction markings on the turret are not for bullet drop but for reticule direction. For example winding the elevation turret UP will move the reticule up, which will result in a lower point of impact when you realign your aiming point as you have lowered the line of sight. It’s simple when you understand it.

In use I could clearly identify rabbits using the vary power IR out to 60yds, the optional Genesys 120 illuminator upped this to around 80yds, which was on a very dark night. For close range ratting you won’t always need the IR. Overall an impressive product!

www.nightvisiongear.co.uk

PRICE: £499 incl carry case, 450mW IR Illuminator with CD-ROM & booklet plus limited 2yr warranty

FOR - A well-priced and effective airgun-orientated NV scope
AGAINST - Not a lot
VERDICT - Don’t discount quality Gen 1 NV Scopes, as they have their place