FFP Scope for PCP

[Mark W]

I tried this post in the scope section and didn’t get any traction, so I’m trying it here.

I’m considering an Athlon Argos BTR Gen 2 6-24 for squirrel and other small critter shooting with a 22 caliber PCP air rifle. I’m interested in FFP because of the consistent hold over across the range of magnification, but I’m a little concerned about the reticle size at lower magnification. I’m sure that the lighted reticle helps, I’m just not sure how much. Does anyone have experience with this model scope and application?

https://www.amazon.com/Athlon-Optics-Argos-6-24X50-Riflescope/dp/B082972C5G?th=1&psc=1

 

[dantiff2]

FFP is a MUST for PCP guns if you are at all serious. I run a 4x14 primary arms and use the hold over constantly throughout the shot count. I'm sure the Argos is a great scope and will serve you well!
Dan

 

[dgeesaman]

Phew that is a finely marked reticle. Even at 24x the hashes appear to be impossibly small.

I’m sorry I don’t have this scope to offer a better answer. I’m just here to say I think your concern is valid.

I do have a Hawke Frontier 5-25 FFP on my RAW .22 and I shoot it in extreme field target and I don’t find that reticle to be too fine. In that I’m shooting on brightly painted targets with plenty of time.

(Edit: corrected scope model but that does not change my comments.)

 

[JEFFPPC]

Second focal plane and a range finder work fine for me. I never owned a Athlon but have looked through them. To me they always seemed a bit dark and way to busy reticles. Pretty much one power for me.....the highest. I have done a lot of shooting and hunting out to 1000yds with my set up.

 

[Rank Amateur]

With .22 cal PCP, depending on the rifle, you won’t likely be reliably shooting over 100 yds. Better at distance with slugs, but presuming you’re using Diablo pellets, you’ll tune to just under 1000 FPS at muzzle, so you’ll be pretty slow by 100 yds. All that to say you’re scope will only need to keep you on target at short range. FFP won’t be an issue (for things like reticle getting too fat at high magnification). Athlon will be perfectly adequate for your purposes, as would Hawke or other mid-range scopes. Not making a recommendation, but for squirrels at 50-75 yds or less, even low end (read: cheap) scopes from manufacturers like UTG or Monstrum will be adequate. With a decent PCP rifle, even chipmunk-sized targets are pretty straightforward at ranges below 50 yds. The lighted MOA Christmas tree reticle will make holdovers easier once you spend the time to determine how they correspond to YOUR rifle’s projectile/velocity ballistic profile, but reticles are also a matter of personal preference and the Christmas tree is probably overkill for your application. No worries of scope damage from recoil as PCPs have virtually none. I.E., enjoy!

Edit: Sorry, additional thought: I’m presuming you will be shooting from a stable position (bench, tripod, bipod). For targets this size at these ranges, the usability of Christmas tree holdovers at magnifications like 24X will be significantly reduced if trying to shoot from walking/standing/off hand kinds of positions. IF you will be hunting in any position except for solid support, a simpler reticle may serve better, and you’ll certainly be using low magnification. Ignore these thoughts if shooting from a very stable base, in which case detail and magnification will be your friend.

 

[Mark W]

I appreciate the feedback so far. I’ll add a little additional color.

The scope will be destined for use on a Daystate Huntsman Revere in 22 caliber that I will use for plinking, backyard pest control, and some squirrel hunting. I expect to use pellets in the 15-18 grain range.

I don’t plan to shoot beyond 50 yards at game, but I may do so at targets. Using my current 22 caliber PPC as a guide, I do believe that the ability for a consistent hold over will help me at the distances that intend to shoot, although I don’t mind dialing for targets. I’m not one of those people who are overly bothered by a "busy" reticle.

As @Rank Amateur eluded to, I’m not worried at all about too large of a reticle at higher powers. It’s potential issues with the reticle being too small when at lower power for tne added field of view while chasing game that concerns me. I’m sure that it would be fine for target shooting at higher powers.

@dantiff2, it looks like that model scope from Primary Arms has been discontinued.

@dgeesaman, I’ll check out that Hawke Frontier before I pull the trigger.

 

[Rank Amateur]

OP, Daystate Huntsman is certainly a good quality PCP and should make pesting/hunting at these ranges easy. I know your question was about optics, but also recommend experimenting with heavier pellets. Found much better precision in my Daystate RedWolf when using JSB Monster pellets (not making a specific recommendation), but suggest trying the common ammo in your 15-18gr range (probably will work fine for your setting) as well as heavier premium pellets. At the outside limits of your 50 yds the lighter pellets will drift significantly more. Also light pellets are much more easily deflected by leaves/twigs, while the heavies can blast right through. Huntsman isn’t easily adjustable, but if you can chrono pellets and having them leaving the muzzle consistently at some velocity around 900 FPS, I think you’ll be impressed by your ability to place shots. Of course, the heavies also hit hard given adequate velocities. Again, enjoy.

 

[dantiff2]

I shoot my 22 cal from 20 feet out to 100-110 yards daily. The FFP holdover is a must! If pesting, it's very nice to be able to back off on the zoom to scan around and know that my holdovers are still correct but 99% of the time I'm on my max power(14x). In your case, you may not always be at 24 power so the FFP will be a huge value in your possible scenarios
Dan

P.S, I find the heavies such as H&N 21.14gn barracudas in 5.52 head diameter to shoot well at 50 yards and beyond compared to anything lighter. The 15-18gn stop shooting good for me at about 30 yards.

 

[dantiff2]

OP, Daystate Huntsman is certainly a good quality PCP and should make pesting/hunting at these ranges easy. I know your question was about optics, but also recommend experimenting with heavier pellets. Found much better precision in my Daystate RedWolf when using JSB Monster pellets (not making a specific recommendation), but suggest trying the common ammo in your 15-18gr range (probably will work fine for your setting) as well as heavier premium pellets. At the outside limits of your 50 yds the lighter pellets will drift significantly more. Also light pellets are much more easily deflected by leaves/twigs, while the heavies can blast right through. Huntsman isn’t easily adjustable, but if you can chrono pellets and having them leaving the muzzle consistently at some velocity around 900 FPS, I think you’ll be impressed by your ability to place shots. Of course, the heavies also hit hard given adequate velocities. Again, enjoy.

Agreed^^ At 100 yards (on steel targets) my 21.14 gn Barracudas flatten out perfectly flat to about .400 thou diameter. I would never have believed that from a pellet gun!
Dan

 

[dgeesaman]

My Huntsman was set around 28ft-lb and it liked the 18 grainers. The new 20.8 are worth a look - they are surprisingly stable out to 100y.

Everyone has their own way of doing it but if you zero at 30 and keep your scope mounted low you won’t have as much holdover. But I’ve never had an airgun that didn’t require significant holdover somewhere between 10y and 50y. My field target rigs are zeroed at 25 and I need at least 3 mils for a 10y shot and 1-1.5 mils for a 55y shot.

 

[Tomiboy]

Athlon Midas TAC 6-24 x 50

 

[drewh]

I just picked up a Vortex Venom 3-15 for a rimfire. Focuses down to 10 yards, is FFP, and has a zero stop. They reticle is a bit busy, and in not illuminated. I shot through it last weekend and the clarity is excellent. the reticle gets pretty small at lower powers.

 

[Mark W]

I ended up buying the Athlon Argos 6-24 that I linked in the first post. I don’t think it was a bad buy for tne cost, but it has two big cons that were both brought up in this thread. First off it’s heavy, and second is that the reticle is useless to my eyes at anything below 12 power.

I really like the clarity of the glass, the zero stop, and that the parallax setting matches up with actual yardage out to at least 100 yards, which is as far as I’ve checked it so far.

I’ll end up getting something else for hunting purposes, but I believe this scope will find a place in the stable.

I also made a last minute change and instead of the Daystate Huntsman Revere in .22, I ended up going with a Taipan Veteran 2 in 25 caliber. This thing hammers at 50 yards and isn’t a slouch at 100.

The paper target pic was shot at 40 yards. When I shot at the bull on the left, the wind was gusting pretty good. I left the gun set up in the bags and came back at dusk when the wind settled and shot the second bull. After placing 4 in a ragged hole, I gave the scope two clicks down and shot the bullseye. The next day I picked up the rimfire spinner target at rural king and set it up at 50 yards. The pic was taken the first three shots.

 

[Coyotefurharvester]

I have a place I can shoot rats. Saving up for my first pcp. I have a Gamo swarm, but I don't think I should use my Sightmark wraith NV on the springer. Most shots will be inside 60', torn between .22 and .25 cal.

 

[Mark W]

I

I have a place I can shoot rats. Saving up for my first pcp. I have a Gamo swarm, but I don't think I should use my Sightmark wraith NV on the springer. Most shots will be inside 60', torn between .22 and .25 cal.

Shooting rats would be a blast. It’s probably a smart move not putting your expensive NV scope on a springer. I have both .22 and now the .25 and if I had the opportunity to shoot pests in and around any type of structure, I would definitely use the .22. Yesterday, I stuck some Target stickers on a piece of scrap 1”x 6” and propped it against a tree at 93 yards and the .25 still shot through it.

I’ll send you a PM with some contact info for the member who helped me get set up with my first PCP.

 

[rcs9250]

I used several high end PCP’s for pesting but recently switched to a Tikka T1-x .22LR. I use an Element Helix 6-24x50 SFP. I leave it set on 8x as it is the same power as my monocular I use for scanning. I get dope at the range from 10 yds to 50 yds in 5 yd increments and keep a dope card on my phone and a laminated 3x5 card in my pack. At my sits in the woods a range several features and try to memorize them for quick doping. Fortunately for 25-40 yds my zero is the same for the shorter than 25 and longer than 40 I quickly reference my dope chart. Being my .22LR shoots pretty flat from 25-40yds a lot of the time it stays on zero elevation. I laser range all my targets and dial so FFP is no advantage, and at 8x ( on a 6-24 power scope) with a FFP, the reticle and subtensions would be tough to see. For me, there’s no advantage to a FFP. I would be very happy to find a fixed 8x scope with side focus to 10 yards, but they don’t exist.