A Supprising Find In a fine Scope!

[KnifeMaker]

Yes, their scopes focus down to 10 yards.

I will be testing the scope you speak of in a few weeks.

Knife

[Wayne52]

I envy you guys that do the long range shooting, the best scope I've ever bought is my Bug Buster compact rifle scope for $100 at my door.  Basically the only scopes that I ever hunted with are mounted on my Ruger 10-22(Weaver), Sheridan (bought new in 77 along with the Weaver B4 and mounting accessories), my modified 2240 (has a CP 4x) and the last one that I purchased was the Bug Buster 3-9 compact (love it).  Normally when I use to hunt deer a lot I always used open sights with either a rifle or muzzle loader but I have shot them with a slug from a shotgun looking down a vent ribbed barrel.  I have a friend that was a sniper in the gulf war, next time I see him I'll ask him what they were using because he used a 50cal up to a mile with that thing.  Pretty much here where I'm at and the kind of hunting I do I guess this old fart really doesn't need anything better than a Bug Buster but it still doesn't hurt to dream

[customcutter]

From what I've read i think a lot of the special forces optics are March, Schmidt-Bender, Nightforce, and a couple of others.

[KnifeMaker]

I don't know about March. Not seen any proven G-force readings for them. They are for match shooting.

Other popular contenders are the newer Tactical  Lupy's, Hensholt, (The Military Division of Zeiss), U.S. Optics, and most recently I.O.R Valdada optics.

But then again folks, these are only "BB" guns we're playing with after all. LOL!!! Not ultra tough, mil spec Sniper Rifles that "Lives" depend on. I think we get a little ahead of ourselves, and the grandeur of our guns and their importance.   
  I still use the Zeiss a LOT!   But am more and more impressed with the Athlon offerings. 

[Fishkat]

KnifeMaker,
I'm new to the forum and really enjoyed your post. I picked up an nib RWS 460 a week ago at a very good price and was searching for a scope when I ran across your post. Anyway I just order from Optics Planet the Athlon Talos BRT 4-14x44 for a total cost of $266.61. Most of the Athlon scopes are on sale and if the banner at the top of the page says call for special offers, DO It, another 10% off. I know this scope won't compare to my Nightforce or Khales but I do like how they are set up and feel sure it will do what I need, chipmunk eradication.
Now looking for the correct mount, and finding out airgun items are alot different than for precision centerfire rifles. 
Thanks again for your post!

[jp_over]

KnifeMaker,
I'm new to the forum and really enjoyed your post. I picked up an nib RWS 460 a week ago at a very good price and was searching for a scope when I ran across your post. Anyway I just order from Optics Planet the Athlon Talos BRT 4-14x44 for a total cost of $266.61. Most of the Athlon scopes are on sale and if the banner at the top of the page says call for special offers, DO It, another 10% off. I know this scope won't compare to my Nightforce or Khales but I do like how they are set up and feel sure it will do what I need, chipmunk eradication.
Now looking for the correct mount, and finding out airgun items are alot different than for precision centerfire rifles. 
Thanks again for your post!

KnifeMaker's review has also got me eyeing (no pun) this same scope since 14x is more than I need but I'm interested in the FFP.  I just wish it was a bit lighter & without an illuminated reticle:  Athlon Optics Talos BTR 4-14x44

[Fishkat]

KnifeMaker,
I'm new to the forum and really enjoyed your post. I picked up an nib RWS 460 a week ago at a very good price and was searching for a scope when I ran across your post. Anyway I just order from Optics Planet the Athlon Talos BRT 4-14x44 for a total cost of $266.61. Most of the Athlon scopes are on sale and if the banner at the top of the page says call for special offers, DO It, another 10% off. I know this scope won't compare to my Nightforce or Khales but I do like how they are set up and feel sure it will do what I need, chipmunk eradication.
Now looking for the correct mount, and finding out airgun items are alot different than for precision centerfire rifles. 
Thanks again for your post!

KnifeMaker's review has also got me eyeing (no pun) this same scope since 14x is more than I need but I'm interested in the FFP.  I just wish it was a bit lighter & without an illuminated reticle:  Athlon Optics Talos BTR 4-14x44

I like high magnification and would prefer more than 14x but you really need good glass and at this price point you won't get the best glass. Don't let the weight or illumination bother you, 5 or 6 ounces more isn't much and no battery = no illumination. Mine shipped today so i'll follow up with first impressions when I receive it.

[jp_over]

Thanks Claude - looking forward to hearing about it!

[tbs]

The Athlon Talos 3-12 with mildot looks like a winner for a .177 springer.

[KnifeMaker]

Thank You so Much FishKat!

I had to do a bit of mid-night varmint hunting last night.

I had a problem with a particular type of wild critter, killing anything it could. Particularly my baby rabbits and roadrunners in their nest.

Well, I had never used a lit ret. before, and never needed it. However, as the ffp ret. shrinks at low mag, it is a real help with night shooting.

The offending critter made a fast pass across my property at apx. 10:30 last night, and was VERY weary, and moving fast about 50 yards out.

I knew it would be back before too long. Well, it didn't show back up until almost 12:30, and it was getting a little cool out.   I sat in the dark, (star light) until I knew it was about time. The Altaros was able to gather enough light to let me see well enough at 70 yards to make out the offender when he showed himself again sneaking along a log infront of my shooting berm.     

I could make out its silhouette with no problems, but I wanted a clean shot. I set the lit. Ret. on the 8 setting, and hit the light.

 The offender turned and looked at me for a split second and ran fast to the right at about 75 yards. I led it about 5-6 inches, and let a 80 gr. HP .257 fly. I could actually see the base of the bullet glowing in the light and streaking toward its intended target.  And the rest is as they say,"Is history"!
 DRT!!! 

Man, I'm Lov'n this Altaros more every day, (And night)!

Knife

[Joekrooz]

I'm glad I finally read this post after passing over it for several days, very interesting indeed.  I ordered the Athlon Argos last night.  I'm curious to see how it stacks up against the Optisan Viper which is currently my favorite scope as of recently.  Amazon guarantees it will be here on Monday.

[jp_over]

Thank You so Much FishKat!

I had to do a bit of mid-night varmint hunting last night.

I had a problem with a particular type of wild critter, killing anything it could. Particularly my baby rabbits and roadrunners in their nest.

Well, I had never used a lit ret. before, and never needed it. However, as the ffp ret. shrinks at low mag, it is a real help with night shooting.

The offending critter made a fast pass across my property at apx. 10:30 last night, and was VERY weary, and moving fast about 50 yards out.

I knew it would be back before too long. Well, it didn't show back up until almost 12:30, and it was getting a little cool out.   I sat in the dark, (star light) until I knew it was about time. The Altaros was able to gather enough light to let me see well enough at 70 yards to make out the offender when he showed himself again sneaking along a log infront of my shooting berm.     

I could make out its silhouette with no problems, but I wanted a clean shot. I set the lit. Ret. on the 8 setting, and hit the light.

 The offender turned and looked at me for a split second and ran fast to the right at about 75 yards. I led it about 5-6 inches, and let a 80 gr. HP .257 fly. I could actually see the base of the bullet glowing in the light and streaking toward its intended target.  And the rest is as they say,"Is history"!
 DRT!!! 

Man, I'm Lov'n this Altaros more every day, (And night)!

Knife

Well done & excellent shooting!

[Hobbyman2007]

Just received the Argos Btr 6-24x50 mil/mil . Straight from the box in comparison with the BSA offering ,the build looks similar but not the same . Proportions for the Athlon are bigger, the turrets have a positive feel in comparison , the flip up shades are also a nice perk in comparison to the bikini covers with the BSA. The glass is better from initial look through and the IR works perfectly with no fuzzy glare from the reticle like I experienced with a cheaper leapers I have.  I'll be mounting  and testing soon . So far looks real good .

[KnifeMaker]

Thanks JP!
I love the way it gets the blood pressure up and pumping. It never gets old!

Knife
 

[Hobbyman2007]

Here's a couple of pics to compare with the BSA .

[39M]

I like Leupold scopes for what they are. And that is, in my opinion, the lightest, sleekest scope there is, and one of the toughest. These are things that I value highly in a hunting scope.

I certainly don't need a large, bulky, 6-24x50 scope to do long range hog hunting at night with an air rifle, because I'm simply not going to do that. This is an airgun site, right..?...

[Methuselah]

I like Leupold scopes for what they are. And that is, in my opinion, the lightest, sleekest scope there is, and one of the toughest. These are things that I value highly in a hunting scope.

I certainly don't need a large, bulky, 6-24x50 scope to do long range hog hunting at night with an air rifle, because I'm simply not going to do that. This is an airgun site, right..?...

I believe the allure was price-point vs. clarity and FFP design.  Unfortunately it went on sale briefly and now it's well out of my reach 

Sokay, UTG makes good scopes...

[39M]

I like Leupold scopes for what they are. And that is, in my opinion, the lightest, sleekest scope there is, and one of the toughest. These are things that I value highly in a hunting scope.

I certainly don't need a large, bulky, 6-24x50 scope to do long range hog hunting at night with an air rifle, because I'm simply not going to do that. This is an airgun site, right..?...

I believe the allure was price-point vs. clarity and FFP design.  Unfortunately it went on sale briefly and now it's well out of my reach 

Sokay, UTG makes good scopes...

Actually, I would buy a big scope like that for a target rifle.

[TunedAccuracy]

I usually take these scope reviews with a grain of salt.
I am an Optics snob. I freely admit it.

Usually what happens is as follows.
Guy buys a new scope. Guy likes his new scope. For the money, not a bad scope.
Next thing you know, scope is being compared to high end optics costing hundreds more.
Shortly thereafter, scope becomes the best scope you can get for under 1000.00. ( such is the case in one of the threads here about Mueller scopes)
As time goes on , scope is then compared to,,,,, you guessed it........Leupold, Zeiss, and other top tier brands costing much much more.
Buyer then goes on to tell the masses , scope is as good or better than the top tier brands. I'm here to tell you that this is not the case AT ALL.

The Argos offers a decent FFP scope, for the money. It is by no means the equivalent of the top tier brands.
Leupold , Ziess and quite a few others will be optically superior in every way. They are also engineered far better. Even the finish is leaps and bounds ahead of the bargain brand. The turrets are better, no slop in zoom rings. They remain crystal clear and sharp as a tack throughout the zoom range. Edge to edge. Better tracking, better everything. Bargain brand FFP , Argos is likely a good choice. But that is where it stops.

Until you use top tier glass, you will not realize this. And then after using top tier glass, you are never going back to bargain brands.
I can well assure you of that.

I have Two Hawke Scopes. Decent scopes for the money. Nice reticles. Compared to My Leupold 6.5-20x44 VX3 EFR the two Hawke scopes are 489.00 pieces of junk ( though much better than Mueller). Easily outclassed by the Leupold in every optical category.

One of the members above stated something to the effect of " Well these are bb guns no use going overboard on optics."
I completely disagree with this for a number of reasons. Guy buys 1500.00 PCP gun, tops it with a bargain brand Mueller. NO.
What you see when looking thru optics is part of the fun. The image quality, perfect contrast, great resolution, on any magnification nothing gets hazey at highest magnification.In short, you SEE the difference. This is exactly what top tier optics offer the buyer. Optics are every bit as important as the gun you choose or the pellets you use. Aside from the gun , optics rank FIRST on the priority list pertaining to " gear."

But you know. Any old scope will work. You could top it off with a 79.00 tasco and that will work too.
Not me. No more cheap bargain brand optics for me. The Meopta 4-16x44 ZD is next on my list. And believe me, it is an absolutely STUNNING rifle scope.

[nced]

Great review! It's a shame that Athlon doesn't offer the Argos in 3-12x or 4-16x version that doesn't weigh almost two pounds (29.6 ounces).
Anywhoo....thanks for the excellent write up!