How much magnification?

[Dud]

I say wait a bit and try shooting 500 yards with your current scope.

I have shot 1,000 yards with a fixed 12x scope. It's not ideal but it is doable.

Shooting with what you have got will let you know what you need to improve. It might be nothing. I've shot 600 yards with a 3-15x42 with no problems.

My eyes aren't as old as yours but for casual shooting at 500 yards, you shouldn't need all that much.

 

[Ned Ludd]

I personally prefer to run my scopes for F-TR shooting from 300 to 1000 yd at ~32 to 36X. If I set the mag any higher than about 36X, I often can only see a small part of the target number board and run a very high risk of cross-firing. Even at only 32X, I do not have any noticeable difficulty holding as fine as I need to. For example, with a good scope/reticle, it is not difficult hold center-X, or left/right edge of the X-ring. The X-ring is 0.5 MOA in diameter, so that translates to holding an increment of ~0.25 MOA with a 32X scope out to 1000 yd. Frankly, my eyes aren't that great, but I daresay I could probably hold even a little tighter than that if I had to, although whether I can reliably shoot that tight is a whole different story .

I would strongly suggest actually looking through some of the scopes you might consider purchasing, if at all possible. Most of the time people at the range are more than happy to let you take a peek through their scope. If you see someone at the range with a scope you might be interested in, tell them you're potentially interested in that exact same scope, ask them nicely, and they'll most likely be happy to let you look through it. If you have the opportunity to do this, see what your own eyes can resolve at a given distance on a specific mag setting. Tall grass, small branches/twigs, rocks, shotgun clays, or targets of known dimensions can all give you a pretty good idea whether a given optic and/or mag setting is sufficient for your eyes. You really don't have to go "overboard" with magnification, but there is one fact regarding scope magnification that is impossible to get around: you can't turn a scope that is already on the highest mag setting up any further. So make sure you get a scope with sufficient mag for your needs.

You didn't give a lot of detail on the type(s) of shooting you intend, other than the distance (500 yd). Obviously, magnification is an important consideration, but there are also other features such as the quality of the glass, tracking and turret adjustments, reticle offerings, etc., that are also very important. A few more details on the type(s) of shooting you intend to do might net you even better feedback.

 

[CharlieNC]

You did not mention what type of targets you plan on shooting? I have the 6-24 BTR which I use to shoot long range steel, and for hunting. To my knowledge ALL BTR are FFP, and I can tell you that this in conjunction with it's moderate optical quality do not provide good resolution for shooting smaller paper targets. This was once again made "clear," when I was recently doing load development work on small paper at 200yd. Be very careful getting a high mag ffp scope for small targets, and pay attention to the published reticle subtension size as it may be larger than your target size.

 

[Robert Weidler]

I have 3 Athlon scopes and like them. They are a very good value for the price. I would definitely go with the 8-34. I usually shoot at 34x with no issues. Like others have said, much better to have the magnification and dial it back if needed. Clarity and brightness at 34x is still good. I have 63 year old eyes and don't have any problems. They have held up well with all of my rifles.

The only consideration would be the reticle. If you go with the MIL version, you get a nice christmas tree style reticle that has noticeably thinner lines. If you dial the power way down, the lines will look pretty thin. I don't use mine at low power so the reticle size looks better at 34x. The MOA reticle is more like a traditional crosshairs and the lines are much thicker. The thick crosshairs might cover a fairly large part of the target - especially if you start going out to 500 yards with a small target. If you are comfortable using MIL I would go with the MIL version.

Either way, it is a great value.

I have a new Athlon Argos 10-40 X 56 and love it. The reticle is simpler and IMO much easier to use for target shooting out to 1000 yd +. I typically use 3/4" red aiming dots at 200 yd. and have no problem holding them. I like this scope much more than my high end Athlon Cronus with the mil dot reticle.

 

[laangler]

I had a Athlon argos 8 x34x56 scope at one point it was a good scope for the money only complaints were more heavy than I wanted and adjustment knobs a little mushy.

 

[Scott Harris]

I’m not well versed in scopes so I’m asking for some advice. I’m 69 years old and have eyes that are at least that old. I currently have a 4-14 variable power scope that I use at 200 yards with good success however I’ll soon be shooting at a new range that offers up to 500 yards so I want to go with more magnification. I’m currently looking at the Athlon Argos BTR in either 6-24 or 8-34. Price difference is only twenty dollars so that isn’t a factor. I would likely be shooting 500 yards at 24x with that scope but would probably shoot the 8-34 at something less than 34x. I know that some of the less expensive higher variable power scopes give less than stellar results at full magnification so I’m wondering if it would be better to go with the 6-24 and dial it to full magnification or go with the 8-34 and dial it down some.

Thanks in advance for any opinions you can offer.

some thoughts:
-you should get a minimum of 20X for 500+ yards
-its easier to make a great scope at a moderate price when the magnification is lower.
-clarity/sharpness are more important than magnification IMHO. This gets more difficult to achieve with higher magnifications...it is certainly more expensive to achieve.

That said, I think 30X is a work-horse magnification: plenty enough and not so high that you get a bunch of other problems. Super-high magnification(45+) is overrated in my opinion. I shoot f-class, so maybe different in BR.

 

[tcoz]

I’m sorry that I didn’t check back in sooner but I decided to go with the 8x34 due in no small part to the recommendations given here. As some have said, I can always dial the magnification down. Turbulent Turtle answered one of my biggest questions when he said that turning the 8-34 down to 24x will yield a larger exit pupil than turning the 6-24 all the way up.

I neglected to mention that the scope will be on a Savage 10 in an MDT ESS chassis and I’ll be shooting both steel and paper targets (for groups) at 500 yards.

Thanks to everybody for your comments and recommendations.