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Athlon
#7112425
03/15/18 09:06 PM
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Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 34
ranger_jackson
OP
Light Foot
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OP
Light Foot
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 34 |
Has anyone tried the Athon scopes yet? They have several lines and I have been eyeballing the Argos... would like to get the Cronus but don't know much about them.
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Re: Athlon
[Re: ranger_jackson]
#7112454
03/15/18 09:20 PM
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 4,437
TFF Caribou
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Extreme Tracker
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Posts: 4,437 |
I really really like my talos btr 1-4. I’ve owned a lot of $200 scopes and it has the best glass.
The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference. -George Washington
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Re: Athlon
[Re: ranger_jackson]
#7112565
03/15/18 11:05 PM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,219
dee
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,219 |
Looked through a cronus but wasn't impressed. It was a cloudy/rainy day and it didn't seem to handle it as well as my razor. Granted it was a sample of one but based off that I wouldn't purchase.
"A vote is like a rifle; it's usefulness depends on the character of the user" Theodore Roosevelt
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Re: Athlon
[Re: dee]
#7112567
03/15/18 11:06 PM
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 4,437
TFF Caribou
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Looked through a cronus but wasn't impressed. It was a cloudy/rainy day and it didn't seem to handle it as well as my razor. Granted it was a sample of one but based off that I wouldn't purchase. How does the price compare to a razor?
The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference. -George Washington
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Re: Athlon
[Re: ranger_jackson]
#7112602
03/15/18 11:41 PM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,219
dee
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,219 |
Mine was a gen 1 razor which are in the 1100-1300 area it seems. Can't say how much a cronus is.
"A vote is like a rifle; it's usefulness depends on the character of the user" Theodore Roosevelt
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Re: Athlon
[Re: dee]
#7112693
03/16/18 12:45 AM
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 4,437
TFF Caribou
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Mine was a gen 1 razor which are in the 1100-1300 area it seems. Can't say how much a cronus is. depending on the model on Cronus I think it’s about the same. Good info
The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference. -George Washington
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Re: Athlon
[Re: ranger_jackson]
#7112705
03/16/18 12:53 AM
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Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 35,123
Brother in-law
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Jul 2007
Posts: 35,123 |
Back when I was looking for a $5-1000 scope I looked through a bunch. For me they are behind the pst2 and he XTR 2 in clarity.
The cheap models have nice reticles for "cheap" scopes and a lot are ffp
The Cronus is their best scope unless something new came our recently. It didn't wow me but a lot of people like them. I think it's the magnification and price point driving the wagon.
Go play with some , maybe your eyes will like them
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Re: Athlon
[Re: ranger_jackson]
#7112740
03/16/18 01:21 AM
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 5,919
Jgraider
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 5,919 |
Except for their highest end model, Athlon is Chinese made stuff. That's all I need to know.
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Re: Athlon
[Re: ranger_jackson]
#7113465
03/16/18 06:44 PM
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Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 34
ranger_jackson
OP
Light Foot
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OP
Light Foot
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 34 |
Good stuff, thanks for all the input. I have vortex and nikon... my just stick with the vortex going forward.
I will see if I can track some down and look through them. I knew that the price was too low to be as good as the high dollar stuff but they have a good warranty....
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Re: Athlon
[Re: ranger_jackson]
#7114016
03/17/18 03:34 AM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 3,636
DStroud
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The only scope I have compared my Cronus to is a Kahles as I was checking it on my 6.5 SAUM that day to make sure it was on before a hunting trip. My Cronus was bought when Cabelas had them on sale at XMas and with coupons I got it for around 950.00 The Kahles cost near 3000.00 and is a fine piece of gear and very well made IMO. So it was kind of embarrassing really when flipping between scopes to notice a slight edge in resolution and clarity with the Cronus while looking at steel targets at 650 yards. Maybe I got a really good one but I definitely wish I had bought two that day. Next time I take it out I will try and take the US Optics and a Nightforce if I can remember. Been too busy coyote hunting to get any range time in recently
"Anyone taking up handloading necessarily plays with unknown factors and takes chances. But so does anyone who drives a car,goes to a cocktail party,eats in a restaurant,or gets married."
Jack O'Connor 1963
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Re: Athlon
[Re: DStroud]
#7115029
03/18/18 01:41 PM
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Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 34
ranger_jackson
OP
Light Foot
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OP
Light Foot
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 34 |
The only scope I have compared my Cronus to is a Kahles as I was checking it on my 6.5 SAUM that day to make sure it was on before a hunting trip. My Cronus was bought when Cabelas had them on sale at XMas and with coupons I got it for around 950.00 The Kahles cost near 3000.00 and is a fine piece of gear and very well made IMO. So it was kind of embarrassing really when flipping between scopes to notice a slight edge in resolution and clarity with the Cronus while looking at steel targets at 650 yards. Maybe I got a really good one but I definitely wish I had bought two that day. Next time I take it out I will try and take the US Optics and a Nightforce if I can remember. Been too busy coyote hunting to get any range time in recently Great info, thanks!
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Re: Athlon
[Re: ranger_jackson]
#7115124
03/18/18 03:40 PM
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,183
Mike Honcho
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,183 |
“Two things that define an individual what you do when you have everything, and what you do when you have nothing."
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Re: Athlon
[Re: ranger_jackson]
#7115303
03/18/18 07:11 PM
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Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 22,716
BigPig
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
Joined: Aug 2009
Posts: 22,716 |
My dad bought the cheapest Athlon FFP 6-24 they sell, thinknit was $369. Figures for that money if it was a failure it would go on a backup rifle and be just fine set at 100yards. Haven’t had a chance to test it other than sighting it in before deer season. Dad is 65, I am 33, both of us thought it was very clear for the money spent, but the turrets seemed a little mushy to me which I didn’t care for. Hopefully within the next couple of weeks I can run it out to 600-800 and do a tracking test
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Re: Athlon
[Re: Mike Honcho]
#7115313
03/18/18 07:22 PM
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Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 34
ranger_jackson
OP
Light Foot
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OP
Light Foot
Joined: Jan 2017
Posts: 34 |
Yes Sir, I spent the money on a vortex-viper-hs-lr-6-24x50mm and love it. I was just wondering if Athlon might be an "Up and comming" company... with good prices until they catch on in the market then they will jack the price up. I have both ffp and sfp... I would like more ffp scopes.
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Re: Athlon
[Re: BigPig]
#7115617
03/19/18 01:09 AM
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 4,437
TFF Caribou
Extreme Tracker
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My dad bought the cheapest Athlon FFP 6-24 they sell, thinknit was $369. Figures for that money if it was a failure it would go on a backup rifle and be just fine set at 100yards. Haven’t had a chance to test it other than sighting it in before deer season. Dad is 65, I am 33, both of us thought it was very clear for the money spent, but the turrets seemed a little mushy to me which I didn’t care for. Hopefully within the next couple of weeks I can run it out to 600-800 and do a tracking test I think that would have been the Argos BTR. I’m nearly positive it is the same scope as the Primary Arms FFP and the Falcon Menace just rebranded for Athlon. I don’t know that for sure, but they all look identical, including the box the turrets are mounted to. If that’s the case, it should do ok out to 600-800 yards. A lot of guys online use the Primary Arms scope as their baseline for cheap long range optics
The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference. -George Washington
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Re: Athlon
[Re: ranger_jackson]
#7115639
03/19/18 01:25 AM
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Joined: Nov 2011
Posts: 4,564
patriot07
Extreme Tracker
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Extreme Tracker
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It's fine for a cheap long range optic, but it doesn't come without compromises. I have looked through nearly everything under the Cronus line at the range and none of them held a candle to the PST2 optical clarity and reports are that the tracking accuracy isn't really spot on either. I've even heard that the reticles on some of the FFP models don't subtend correctly. Does this mean it won't work at all? No - it's a fine option if your budget dictates a low-end scope for long range shooting. But I don't believe you're getting higher-end performance for a lower price.
All that being said, the Cronus has an excellent reputation on snipers hide. I haven't ever looked through one, but if I was spending that type of money on a scope, I just don't see why you'd buy an Athlon. It's kind of like buying a $60k Hyundai Genesis. It really is a nice car, but I don't personally understand the idea of spending $60k on any Hyundai. I'd rather have an SWFA HD, Razor, or even a PST2 honestly.
Now if I remember right, caribou has a 1-4 talos that he uses on an AR, and I think they'd be great for the price for something like that. They have good reticles and decent optical clarity that would fit the type of precision and glass quality needed for an AR application. But for long range precision shooting, they're a decent beginner option but you're going to want to step up down the road if you get serious about it.
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Re: Athlon
[Re: patriot07]
#7115658
03/19/18 01:36 AM
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Joined: Aug 2012
Posts: 4,437
TFF Caribou
Extreme Tracker
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It's fine for a cheap long range optic, but it doesn't come without compromises. I have looked through nearly everything under the Cronus line at the range and none of them held a candle to the PST2 optical clarity and reports are that the tracking accuracy isn't really spot on either. I've even heard that the reticles on some of the FFP models don't subtend correctly. Does this mean it won't work at all? No - it's a fine option if your budget dictates a low-end scope for long range shooting. But I don't believe you're getting higher-end performance for a lower price.
All that being said, the Cronus has an excellent reputation on snipers hide. I haven't ever looked through one, but if I was spending that type of money on a scope, I just don't see why you'd buy an Athlon. It's kind of like buying a $60k Hyundai Genesis. It really is a nice car, but I don't personally understand the idea of spending $60k on any Hyundai. I'd rather have an SWFA HD, Razor, or even a PST2 honestly.
Now if I remember right, caribou has a 1-4 talos that he uses on an AR, and I think they'd be great for the price for something like that. They have good reticles and decent optical clarity that would fit the type of precision and glass quality needed for an AR application. But for long range precision shooting, they're a decent beginner option but you're going to want to step up down the road if you get serious about it. Yep. I have a 1-4 talos btr on a .357 mag lever action that really is great. I love it.
The very atmosphere of firearms anywhere and everywhere restrains evil interference. -George Washington
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Re: Athlon
[Re: ranger_jackson]
#7115748
03/19/18 03:09 AM
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Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,183
Mike Honcho
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 6,183 |
I have no experience with athlon optics, but if you're looking for the best value in FFP look at the weaver tactical line. Natchez has them on sale often. They offer a traditional mildot and they have what they call the "emdr" reticle enhanced mildot reticle. I have 2 of the latter and think they are the best value under 1k. I got my 3-15x50 30mm illuminated for $579 this Christmas. They are made in Japan by LOW (light optical works) same place where all the higher end scopes made in Japan are made. The new primary arms platinum is made there, higher end bushnells and old vortex razor as well. I'm also pretty certain the night force shv line gets the glass from there and possibly more components from LOW. I've shot with the 3-15x50 out to a 1k many times. It's not a S&B or the like but at the price point you can't expect it. Call skylar at swfa for his opinion on the weavers. I like the mildot, and although it's not the most precision reticle it's still useful and teaches the finer points of using the FFP scope to its fullest extent. I believ right now the std mildot 3-15x50 is on sale at Natchez for $499 and free shipping.
“Two things that define an individual what you do when you have everything, and what you do when you have nothing."
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Re: Athlon
[Re: Mike Honcho]
#7118922
03/21/18 09:56 PM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,219
dee
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,219 |
certain the night force shv line gets the glass from there and possibly more components from LOW. . The nxs line is low too. Also the gen 2 razor is built there then shipped stateside and once it's here they rebuild with proprietary internal parts. The bushy elites have always been a great bang for buck imo.
"A vote is like a rifle; it's usefulness depends on the character of the user" Theodore Roosevelt
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Re: Athlon
[Re: ranger_jackson]
#7122069
03/25/18 03:50 AM
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Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 868
Txhillbilly
Tracker
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Tracker
Joined: Aug 2015
Posts: 868 |
I have two Athlon scopes. A Cronus and a Midas BTR. The grease that Athlon uses on their turrets is too thick,and causes the turrets to feel mushy & not very audible. I cleaned the grease off both scopes turrets and replaced it with a better grease. They are very tactile and audible now.
The Cronus is an excellent FFP scope for the price,the lens coatings give off a brighter/whiter contrast than my IOR Recon,and other top end scopes that I've compared it to. It will hang with the big boy scopes without giving up much,and cost half as much. I've shot out to a mile with both my 6.5 CM's,and the Cronus scope didn't give up much at all shooting beside my $3k IOR Recon.
The Midas BTR is a SFP scope,and it compares really close to the Sightron SIII and Vortex Viper PST scopes. It tracks good,the optic quality lacks a little from my Sightron's. The reticle choices in the Midas are really good compared to Sightron. For a Chinese built scope,they are built really good.
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Re: Athlon
[Re: Txhillbilly]
#7122442
03/25/18 06:38 PM
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Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,219
dee
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Apr 2010
Posts: 6,219 |
The Cronus is an excellent FFP scope for the price,the lens coatings give off a brighter/whiter contrast than my IOR Recon,and other top end scopes that I've compared it to. It will hang with the big boy scopes without giving up much,and cost half as much. I've shot out to a mile with both my 6.5 CM's,and the Cronus scope didn't give up much at all shooting beside my $3k IOR Recon.
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Bright days doesn't tale the tell very often. Heavy mirage will seperate on a brighr day though. Had one (cronus) squaded with us last weekend and the guy had issues in the heavy overcast foggy conditions. Granted some others had troubles too but not near as bad or noticed.
"A vote is like a rifle; it's usefulness depends on the character of the user" Theodore Roosevelt
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