Hunting Scope Opinions -- Burris vs. Athlon

[TTE]

Looking for opinions Burris vs Athlon for a hunting rifle.
5x25x50 range of scope magnification and objective diameter.
Both price points are similar ($800 - $900 range)

Is one any better than the other or is it a toss up ?

Any other brand close to these for the price ?

Thanks for your opinions

Edited: first focal plane

 

[Mark M.]

Looking for opinions Burris vs Athlon for a hunting rifle.
5x25x50 range of scope magnification and objective diameter.
Both price points are similar ($800 - $900 range)

Is one any better than the other or is it a toss up ?

Any other brand close to these for the price ?

Thanks for your opinions

Rifle Scopes

Each rifle scope is built using the highest quality glass and components and is backed by the TRACT Trust Assurance.

tractoptics.com

 

[TTE]

Rifle Scopes

Each rifle scope is built using the highest quality glass and components and is backed by the TRACT Trust Assurance.

tractoptics.com

Thanks for the link. I have looked at the Tract scopes. Like them, but about $400 more.

 

[lawman29]

*CLEARANCE* Zeiss - Rifle Scope - Conquest V4 - 6-24x50 - #93 ZMOA-1 Reticle

Get exceptional value with the Zeiss Conquest V4 6-24x50 Rifle Scope on clearance. Featuring the #93 ZMOA-1 Reticle, this scope offers top-notch clarity and performance for long-range shooting.

redhawkrifles.com

Non- illuminated reticle

Like New Zeiss Conquest V4 6-24x50mm Illum ZMOA-1 #93 Ext. Elev. Turret Riflescope 522955-9993-080

FREE SHIPPING on Like New Zeiss Conquest V4 6-24x50mm Illum ZMOA-1 #93 Ext. Elev. Turret Riflescope 522955-9993-080

www.eurooptic.com

Illuminated

 

[Kracken McGraw]

https://bulletcentral.com/vortex-optics-venom-3-15x44-ffp-ebr-7c-mrad/
Just saw Bullet Central had this Vortex on sale this weekend.

 

[Mark M.]

Rifle Scopes

Each rifle scope is built using the highest quality glass and components and is backed by the TRACT Trust Assurance.

tractoptics.com

And for the extra 400 you get more than twice the scope

 

[CJ6]

My 2 cents.....Stay away from Vortex.
My buddy is on his 3rd ( returned) in 6 months.
His 2nd and 3rd in the last month.

 

[mic2377]

Zeiss is not a bad option. Some of their better scopes are Japanese manufactured, which is a good thing.

Not sure what Burris you are looking at. I have more than one XTR3 in 3.3-18 power and they have been great scopes. Durable and pretty good glass. Eurooptics/Scopelist is running a deal on the 5.5-30 XTR3's in MOA for right at $1k, and that is a lot of scope for the $$$.

 

[K22]

Burris, at least in the past, made high-quality scope, even their middle prices scopes. The ones I've owned albeit about 14X and under, performed well. Have no experience with the other brand.

Side Note for consideration:

You said you wanted the scope for a hunting rifle. What type of hunting? Are you sure you want a 25X scope? The reason I ask is that in my experience, only top of the line high grade scopes have the resolution at 25X to render them useable. Also, a 50 mm objective will necessitate high rings which, unless you have an adjustable comb, could create cheek weld problems.

 

[Kracken McGraw]

Looking for opinions Burris vs Athlon for a hunting rifle.
5x25x50 range of scope magnification and objective diameter.
Both price points are similar ($800 - $900 range)

Is one any better than the other or is it a toss up ?

Any other brand close to these for the price ?

Thanks for your opinions

Edited: first focal plane

https://www.grafs.com/retail/catalog/product/productId/78201
This would be a good buy on a quality FFP scope.

 

[DLT]

My 2 cents.....Stay away from Vortex.
My buddy is on his 3rd ( returned) in 6 months.
His 2nd and 3rd in the last month.

I will agree with that

 

[TTE]

Burris, at least in the past, made high-quality scope, even their middle prices scopes. The ones I've owned albeit about 14X and under, performed well. Have no experience with the other brand.

Side Note for consideration:

You said you wanted the scope for a hunting rifle. What type of hunting? Are you sure you want a 25X scope? The reason I ask is that in my experience, only top of the line high grade scopes have the resolution at 25X to render them useable. Also, a 50 mm objective will necessitate high rings which, unless you have an adjustable comb, could create cheek weld problems.

Yes, for a hunting rifle (6.5 '06AI), Deer and maybe larger in size.
I don't use it much, some at the range and a couple of hunting trips.
I have a 3x9x50 on it now, would just like more magnification
at 200 - 250 yards. cuz my peepers are not as good as they used to be.

The 18 power scopes would be enough magnification, but they are about the same price, so thought I'd go with the higher power.
And any objective over 42mm would require taller rings as well.

Additionally, many of the ads do not mention first or second focal plane.

 

[Clancy]

Trijicon has several options with great glass within your price range.

 

[TTE]

Trijicon has several options with great glass within your price range.

Looks like they are all second focal plane

 

[Fern]

My 2 cents.....Stay away from Vortex.
My buddy is on his 3rd ( returned) in 6 months.
His 2nd and 3rd in the last month.

They have lifetime warranty because you will need it. I have couple vortex they are great scopes but seen many issues with them.
I just picked up a second ZEISS the one linked above and love it

 

[Presis Skytter]

Thanks for the link. I have looked at the Tract scopes. Like them, but about $400 more.

I have a Tract Toric 4x25x50 moa I’d sell you for $1125 shipped. Wouldn’t have to pay tax either. Pretty much brand new.

 

[CJ6]

They have lifetime warranty because you will need it. I have couple vortex they are great scopes but seen many issues with them.
I just picked up a second ZEISS the one linked above and love it

He's learning that point for sure.
His plans are to sell the incoming replacement scope and look into a different brand.

 

[Fern]

I had a friend on a deer hunt that took a fall. During their glassing he saw a buck at 150 yards away no problem. He shot and missed, shot missed after the 3rd shot he took off. He had checked zero on his rifle before the trip and all was fine
Other buddy checked his rifle and looked through his scope and for what ever reason the cross hairs were canted. We laugh about it now and call it his x force scope . He sent it back to cortex and they fixed it and said rings must have been over torqued which we highly doubt

 

[WileyG]

I'd be looking at Sightron.....

 

[K22]

Yes, for a hunting rifle (6.5 '06AI), Deer and maybe larger in size.
I don't use it much, some at the range and a couple of hunting trips.
I have a 3x9x50 on it now, would just like more magnification
at 200 - 250 yards. cuz my peepers are not as good as they used to be.

The 18 power scopes would be enough magnification, but they are about the same price, so thought I'd go with the higher power.
And any objective over 42mm would require taller rings as well.

Additionally, many of the ads do not mention first or second focal plane.

Of course, it's your decision and you need to be satisfied with it.

But having hunted deer for 50+ years at the approximate ranges you mentioned, I never found a 3 x 9 with a 40 mm objective lacking especially with the Burris I have that has the heavy duplex reticle. And yes, I've hunted primarily in low light, early morning and early evenings. Shot the largest buck of my life 5 minutes or so before the close of legal shooting hours.

In my experience, with almost all the deer I've taken there wasn't a lot of time to take a shot. Field of view (lower power) becomes critically important hunting here in the big woods of PA to locate the animal, get on target and make a controlled shot.

I absolutely would choose a second focal plane scope. The last thing you want in dim light and wooded areas is a "faint" reticle. In addition, one should never be "glassing" with a rifle scope, only binoculars.