Any reviews on the Athlon Argos BTR?

[300_whisper]

Just bought two Athlon Argos BTRs in 6-24-50mm with 30mm tubes, FFP, Parallax adjustment, in MOA/MOA. I haven't had a chance to test them. Ive watched about 7 or so youtube videos on them that's why I purchased two. Reviews say its on par with the vortex viper HST scopes.

Does anyone have first hand experience testing them, so I know what to expect? Its more for expectation management more than anything considering I already bought them. Thanks for the help!

 

[Riesel]

TAG

 

[CharlieNC]

Nice features for the cost, and pretty good optical quality. The reticle is really functional. Turret clicks were a bit mushy on mine, required cleaning the o-rings. My only dislike is its a bit heavy.

 

[300_whisper]

Nice features for the cost, and pretty good optical quality. The reticle is really functional. Turret clicks were a bit mushy on mine, required cleaning the o-rings. My only dislike is its a bit heavy.

Thanks for the info. Anyone have any info on the tracking and toughness?

 

[CharlieNC]

My tall target test showed turret was off only 3%. Too soon to know durability.

 

[300_whisper]

TTT...anyone else with experience?

 

[tbeasley]

As a Athlon dealer, the Argos optical clarity is pretty until 20x and higher. The images lose their color and become more white wash. The turrets are little mushy, yet functional. The reticle is well thought out as well.
What I tell folks, this is the BEST introductory FFP scope out there. It's easy on the wallet and will give you the basics of a FFP before dropping bigger dollars for better glass.

 

[300_whisper]

As a Athlon dealer, the Argos optical clarity is pretty until 20x and higher. The images lose their color and become more white wash. The turrets are little mushy, yet functional. The reticle is well thought out as well.
What I tell folks, this is the BEST introductory FFP scope out there. It's easy on the wallet and will give you the basics of a FFP before dropping bigger dollars for better glass.

Thanks for the honest feed back. I have the MOA reticle, so I will be primarily cranking the turrets for the fire solutions. I think tracking is my biggest concern. But the unboxing and first impressions, it is a very, very nice scope for under $400.

 

[tbeasley]

Thanks for the honest feed back. I have the MOA reticle, so I will be primarily cranking the turrets for the fire solutions. I think tracking is my biggest concern. But the unboxing and first impressions, it is a very, very nice scope for under $400.

I agree with you as well

 

[hogan]

I have had an Argos 8-34x 56mm BTR for a couple weeks now. I have noticed only remarkable clarity even in evening twilight in deep woods. Perhaps the reflectivity of the snow has some aid to this, but it was dark... I spent the last hour or so on my deck with the scope mounted on a tripod. I have been trying to photograph through the scope but with the substantial eye relief in sunlight it was difficult. Perhaps with a view camera cape?

I was focusing for fine detail on a couple trees that were in my field of view, a spruce at 101yds and birch at 80yds with a cluster of tiny birch brances in front of the spruce. I have not yet discovered the lens or setting that will allow me to digiscope through my scope. Will keep trying. I'm using Micro 4/3 gear with high end Lumix camera bodies.

Anyway, I could detect no color shift or aberation at 32x or at 8x. I was able to fine tune to see individual spruce leaves, which are about 1" long and maybe between 1/16" and 1/32" thick. The scope would also resolve with clarity the budding spruce nibs just now coming on and not yet near budding-out. That is likely 3wks on out. Perhaps the clarity and color constantness is the result of a clear sky sun?

I once purchased an IOR-Valdada 2-12x 32mm 35mm tactical scope which had severe distortion at both low and high magnification. It was like staring down a coke bottle bad. The guy who worked with Val at the time, Scott (iirc) said to me before I sent it back to be repaired or replaced, "You didn't buy that scope to use at 2x, did you buddy?" Well Val "inspected" the scope and I got it back with a letter saying it was "in tolerance". A $1400 scope that I sold on Ebay for $900 after disclosing the letter... None of that kind of concern with this 8-34x Athlon Argos. Not the most compact scope, but the FFP mil-rad and illum reticle, side-focus and optical clarity for $390 are an incredible value.

There are plenty of optical test charts. I have a calibrating tool for my Dell 27" monitor that I used for photo editing. I am able to usually score an 8 or 9 to mid-teens in a online color acuity test. I have 15/20 vision. There is a great amount of subjectiveness in optical evaluation without very spendy lab quality test eqpt.

I also have an Argos 6-24x 50mm BTR. Have noticed it to be a bit brighter at full magnification than the 8-34 and not as critical as to eye relief distance; but that is As Expected. Any zoom mechanism is more light restrictive at higher mag levels, even the best spotting scopes. I will say the side-focus on the 8-34 is smooth and responsive. The turrets are excellent. I owned a NF NXS 8-32x 56mm which I sold to a guy on snipershide years ago. It was too heavy and didn't have the clarity I expected. This Argos BTR is suitable for serious application, yet there are the Helos and Ares series coming with much better rated glass and coatings, plus other feature advancements. They will sell at under $600 and around $800.

For serious optical excellence, I posted my first impressions of the new Athlon Cronus BTR. At sug retail of $2200 it competes and excels with the other big name "great glass" products. As far as shading the ocular from direct sunlight, guess I need to wear a baseball hat. Maybe one of them Florida Bonefishing hats with the Foreign Legion courtain that covers your neck? Do they come in camo?

 

[Jhayesvw]

I've been running an Argos BTR 6-24 for over a year. I've shot at least 6 PRS style matches with it and 4 NRA highpower at 600 and 1000 yards.

I dial for about 35-40 different targets each PRS match and it's always returned to zero.

I have no complaints.

If you want more feel in the turrets, remove the caps and clean the grease out. Replace it with a thinner, o ring safe grease. It works well.

 

[300_whisper]

Gents thanks for the replies. Not worried about the glass at all. It's very clear just looking down it.

JHayes, thanks for the feedback on reliability. Thats what I was looking for. If it can take that kind of abuse with firing solutions then I'm not concerned.

 

[hogan]

More info...

Yesterday, took Cronus BTR, and both Argos Mil-Rad scopes 8-34x 56mm and 6-24x 50mm to local airfield. The Cronus BTR, as may be expected, IS Very Capable. From my tripod position next to runway, I had 1120yards of precision enabling track. Both Argos show excellent and accurate color rendition and sharpness/accuity. However, The Cronus XTR optics are truly amazing! The treeline at 1300yds was crisp and super-defined. Talking small diameter sapplings and even a neighborhood sized power-line at least another 100yds out. Talking 1400yds and crisp 1" dia wire.

The Argos are exceptional in glass quality out to about 1200yds, but the Cronus BTR and high quality 60mm 1.25" eyepiece spotting scope showed their superiority at the greater distances. Phenomenally, the Argos 8-34 shows no degradation at high magnification.

The new Helos series which is basically the Midas BTR but in Mi-Rad reticle config, like Midas has HD Glass and improved coatings. For $200 more... These coming in about 10 days. The Ares series due in early to Mid-May will have Light Optical Works glass and internals at around $800.

So Better than the already excellent Argos BTR is coming... The Cronus BTR 4.5-29x delivers top spotting scope quality at distances that can be measured in miles... Of course in a bright blue sky with no clouds, but a 8mph wind gusting to 15 or 20mph, conditions weren't really perfect; but how often are they? I had the scopes in their rings mounted on a Pic Rail that threaded onto a tripod adapter. Still forgot to bring anything for shielding the ocular, but maybe that is more realistic too?

Great Performance in my book for these Athlon Optics. Going to try both the Helos and Ares as soon as they're released.

 

[300_whisper]

Hey hogan. Thanks for the update. I believe you about the optical quality. I finally got one of the scopes mounted on my semi custom Remington 700 .243 win. It's a clean looking scope to match my clean looking rifle.

Looking through the scope it, has similar quality to my Nikon monarchs. I really appreciate that in a $300 Optic. I just need to get it to the range now and test it. I'll post results hopefully soon.