Optic delima. AR15 precision shooting.

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SamT1

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So I need an optic for an AR. I have some criteria.

0-800 yards. Targets and varmints.
I’m a turret twister
Needs to be a mil reticle, I’m familiar with it and like it and use it for ranging.
Wide field of view so I can turn it down for up close work.
I want to spend about 400. Used is fine.

I love the vortex viper PA mil dot reticle. But I don’t see that they made it in anything with less zoom. I have one of those and love it.

The closest thing I’ve found is the Athlon Midas 2.5-15x50 with Mrad reticle. The only issue I have with it is the adjustment is in .1 mil. And my vortex is in Moa. Any suggestions?

http://m.cameralandny.com/spec_shee...uids][0]=64a0bbf0-9f98-0135-0380-00163ecd2826
 
I’m thinking along the same lines as Jackal. My totally unscientific observation with nothing to back it up, is at $400.00 you can get good glass or good twistability but not both.

One thing I would do is call Camera Land, talk to Doug or his assistant Neil, give your parameters and see what they have to say. You could also call Skylar at SWFA.
 
The 1" tube is why it is cheaper, yup that and the 40 mm bell limits the light and adjustment range, however in good light on a range it fits your 800 yard .223 original parameters. Leupold lens have jumped a quantum leap agin these last two years IMHO and the warranty is fabulous and forever.
 
I've owned a non mod 1 Mark AR 6-18x40. Unless the optics are significantly better on the mod 1 I'd class it in the VX-2 range. Turrets tract well from what little twisting I did, but at 500+ I'm not sure I'd go for it.

I've not messed with the Midas series of Athlon scopes but I'm happy with my Argos. One thing you may want to ask the guys at Cameraland is how the tracking holds up over time. My only compliments about my Argos series scopes are the clicks.
 
LoonWulf said:
I've owned a non mod 1 Mark AR 6-18x40. Unless the optics are significantly better on the mod 1 I'd class it in the VX-2 range. Turrets tract well from what little twisting I did, but at 500+ I'm not sure I'd go for it.

I've not messed with the Midas series of Athlon scopes but I'm happy with my Argos. One thing you may want to ask the guys at Cameraland is how the tracking holds up over time. My only compliments about my Argos series scopes are the clicks.
Click to expand...

Yea the Midas is the next line up from the Argos I’ve watched a lot of YouTube reviews and it seems to be even more well liked than the Argos line.

The 2.5-15 midas has an incredible field of view on low too. Seems like everything else is around the 20’ range. Vs 41’ with the Midas. My vortex 6-20 PA is 17.4 and it’s too narrow for coyote hunting within 100 yards or I’d just buy another of those. I really like it.

Mk4 4-14 is 20.2
Mark ar is only 15.2
Viper pa 6-20 17.4
Midas 2.5-15 41
Nikon Black 4-16 27.2
 
Walkalong said:
Nice. Out in the real world the wide FOV helps. Targets only? Doesn't matter.
Click to expand...
Yea gun will be used for coyotes and target work. So it needs to function well in both.

The viper with 17’ it’s dang hard to stay on a runner coming in that’s under 100.
 
There just aren't that many FFP's south of $650, period, let alone any of sufficient quality to 1) hold up to regular turret dialing, and 2) hold up in poor visibility conditions.

I forget the model line name, but Bushnell just brought out a new line which I believe will be formidable in the low cost FFP market. I played with one a bit at the NRA AM, and it was on track with the Elite Bushnells I've been using for years, but with the improved feature set more suitable for precision long range games.

The Vortex Viper PST typically holds the title for most popular, low cost FFP Milling scope. I have an HSLR 6-24x50mm, effectively the same glass, just slightly different feature set. Great optic.

I was very happy to snag a pair of SigSauer Tango4 4-16x44 scopes on different deals, $599 for one, $650 for the other. FFP, milling reticles, and illuminated. Great tracking, very clear, they've quickly became my favorite hunting rifle scopes, firmly displacing the Leupold VX-3 4.5-14x50mm. The Sig optic is more clear, brighter, and tracks better, PLUS is FFP, illuminated, and comes from factory with mil graduated reticles. All around better scope than the Leupold.

SamT1 said:
The viper with 17’ it’s dang hard to stay on a runner coming in that’s under 100.
Click to expand...

I shot my buck this year on the run at 30yrds with a Vortex Viper HSLR 6-24x50mm, set on about 18x. Shooting with both eyes open makes a big difference. So does practicing with a rifle more than a few times a year.
 
I have been playing with a Athlon ares btr. I like the knobs, the optics, but the field of view is non existant. I would suggest you get a chance to play with a ffp scope do it. 800 is hard to swallow with buyers remorse.
 
This midway sale sealed the deal for me.
https://www.midwayusa.com/product/3...15x-50mm-side-focus-illuminated-reticle-matte

I’ll do a range report when I get it and get used to the reticle.

The primary arms was tempting because it’s ffp and all their stuff had good reviews. No doubt it’s a good deal. I’m just at the point where I really want a $500 optic. Based on all the Athlon reviews I think I’m getting a $500 class optic for $300. Time will tell.
 
sweet! good price too, if i had any use for another big scope id buy one myself. let us know how it goes!
 
So I received the Midas today. I opened it up and mated it to its new partner!
Initial impressions.
Packaging is very nice. Optic itself kinda looks cheap on the outside, but when you look through it everything comes to life.

Generous eye relief. Very easy to get a good view.
Excellent FOV, you could use this thing for 2 eye close quarter defense like a red dot.

Super clear and easy to focus.

Turret clicks are nice and firm.

Pretty compact for what it is. Nice and small like a Leupold mK4. About the size of a standard 3-9x50.

I’m excited to try it out. Seems pretty promising so far.
 
So I did a little range work this morning with the Midas and a Ruger MPR.
I didn’t bother to bore sight it or anything since I’ve read about simply using the tree to move poi. I picked up some PPU 55gr bullets at LGS since I haven’t had time to set a press for 223. I ran a brush down the barrel, and went to work.

So I fired shot #1 at the 10” gong at 100. Saw it hit the sand low and right. Sat the reticle tree over where I saw the dust and simply adjusted the turrets the required amount. That got me on target. One more adjustment had me zeroed. So 3 shots to zero using the BTR. I proceeded to run the rest of that magazine on the 2 and 3” gongs. Not a miss so I’m assuming the gun is pretty dang accurate to stay on the little gongs with cheap ammo.

I got a coyote a little later. He was very easy to follow in the reticle even at only 100 or so yards with it zoomed in pretty good.

I haven’t done any long or mid range work yet. I’d have probably tried the 600 gong but the scope caps are not quick reset. So you have to remove 4 small screwes to reset them. I did glass some turkeys at about 1000 yards with the scope as well as my vortex. Clarity is slightly superior to my vortex viper PA, though I believe I still like the vortex mil dot reticle better.

So the early observations:
The Athlon midas: other than some external astetics is definately a quality optic. Super clear, excellent focus, generous eye relief range, nice fov even on high power. Will see how it holds up overtime and how it tracks soon.


​
 
SamT1 said:
So I did a little range work this morning with the Midas and a Ruger MPR.
I didn’t bother to bore sight it or anything since I’ve read about simply using the tree to move poi. I picked up some PPU 55gr bullets at LGS since I haven’t had time to set a press for 223. I ran a brush down the barrel, and went to work.

So I fired shot #1 at the 10” gong at 100. Saw it hit the sand low and right. Sat the reticle tree over where I saw the dust and simply adjusted the turrets the required amount. That got me on target. One more adjustment had me zeroed. So 3 shots to zero using the BTR. I proceeded to run the rest of that magazine on the 2 and 3” gongs. Not a miss so I’m assuming the gun is pretty dang accurate to stay on the little gongs with cheap ammo.

I got a coyote a little later. He was very easy to follow in the reticle even at only 100 or so yards with it zoomed in pretty good.

I haven’t done any long or mid range work yet. I’d have probably tried the 600 gong but the scope caps are not quick reset. So you have to remove 4 small screwes to reset them. I did glass some turkeys at about 1000 yards with the scope as well as my vortex. Clarity is slightly superior to my vortex viper PA, though I believe I still like the vortex mil dot reticle better.

So the early observations:
The Athlon midas: other than some external astetics is definately a quality optic. Super clear, excellent focus, generous eye relief range, nice fov even on high power. Will see how it holds up overtime and how it tracks soon.


​
Click to expand...
Good to hear, Im saving for a Midas HMR right now.
 
Thanks for the report. I have been looking at Athlon scopes, but am still a bit leery. Every positive report ups the likelihood I will eventually try one.
 
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