You can check the price here. First focal plane reticle stays valid at all power settings allowing you to fully utilize the specially designed reticle that shrinks or grows along with your target as you zoom in or out. The 10MIL locking turrets on the Match Pro alone make it worth going to the top end of your budget range. I have access to a 1,200 yd range now and want to get into long range. Spotting Scope Accessories Thermal Imaging Thermal Imaging Monoculars . The upside: Its especially weather- and moisture-proof. The 27 to 55-power is the sweet spot for combining magnification with a reasonably bright image. The angled eyepiece and rotating tripod mount increase its versatility, and the controls are relatively tight and precise, especially for the at around $400. Its a pattern weve seen play out over two decades of the Outdoor Life optics test. Since you're talking 22LR and not sure if you'll shoot competitive, I'm going to throw out Hawke here. QUICK LIST: Best First Focal Plane Scopes in 2022. I have a Hawke Vantage 3-9x40 on a Diana 240, and a Hawke Vantage SF 6-24x44 on a Savage Mark 2 22LR. Bresser Pirsch Compact Binoculars. But I will say, that no matter what I did, I could not get my eye comfortable behind the glass. If you want to be counting antler points on mule deer from a few miles away youre going to have to have perfect conditions and a very high end scope, regardless of the zoom power. Full-sized spotting scopes can cost well over $2,000. Athlon Optics / RIFLE SCOPES / ARGOS BTR GEN2 / ARGOS BTR GEN2 6-2450 APMR FFP IR MIL. For a first scope in this FFP arena, it was fine, I did not miss, even at 1k+ because of my argos. We rate the tightness and precision of their controls, how comfortably the scopes fit our hands and eyes, and then assess their style, versatility, and durability. The two-speed focus control allows you to riff from close-in to far-distant targets with a single revolution, and then feather the focus for precision. Maven has a direct to consumer business model, so you can get it customized if you want, and you know that no retailer is taking a huge cut of the price you pay. The downside is that in order to do so, you will have to either sacrifice zoom power, or get much larger objective lenses (and therefore increase weight). On this review we are going to be using the Vortex Diamondback HD 10x42 as the benchmark. . If you want to take your photography game to the next level, particularly if photographing animals you dont want to disturb or things that are dangerous to get to close to, a spotting scope with a digiscoping setup can make all the difference. The lenses are also fully multicoated, meaning better light transmission and clearer looks at the night sky. +1-800-504-5920 Live Chat Contact Us Check Order Status. Nikon BLACK FX1000 Riflescope 6-24x50SF Matte IL FX-MRAD FFP 16516, Ive had my hands on both scopes, I still havent used the illuminated reticle, I personally liked the Argos better than the diamondback.. but I feel if your taking a step above diamondback then I would go vortex .. but since you want ffp I think Argos would be a bit better imo. You'll find a spotting scope useful for outdoors activities such as. Put it on a 40-50 MOA base and you can dial a .22 out past 500 yards. As you have seen in our list of recommendations, both Vortex and Athlon offer multicoated optics. Most of the above options will work just as well for any kind of wildlife viewing, but here are a few more options just in case you want them: Vortexs least expensive spotter series, the Diamondback is a top seller with great reviews. While the best binoculars for hunting have close focus of about 6 to 8 feet, spotting scopes can only focus to about 12 feet. Full Member. I use the binoculars to cover wide swaths of ground, and then use my scope to get really zoomed in on an animal that Ive found. An ideal companion for long-range shooters and hunters, the angled viewing Vortex Optics Viper HD 20-60x85 Spotting Scope delivers bright and sharp high-contrast images with true-to-life color and crisp clarity at all . Vortex viper hst is the nicest scope I have had. 1. Athlon Optics , Argos BTR, Riflescope, 6-24 x 50 First Focal Plane (FFP) 30 mm Tube, Illuminated APMR MIL Reticle, Black. I've checked the specs and features of both and there are things I like about each. Here are the specs that matter most: You should seriously consider this combo, check the price here. The image delivered by the 23-70-power eyepiece is stunning, and the amount of light delivered to the eye through the 95mm objective lens makes even low-light glassing a pleasure. These are big, expensive optics for a fairly narrow segment of the market, and most hunters dont buy a new spotter every year or even more than a couple times in their careers. I built a 6.5 Creedmoor for my son in law.he wanted the mid level Athlon. Its hard to label a single scope as the best available since they are so personalized to different uses. 3 reviews. This scope has one function: To get you close eyes on a subject far, far away. The other differentiation from the Argos HD model: the aluminum-alloy chassis of the Ares UHD. . And the rubber armor is as grippy as it is protective. Its more than up to the task at picking out bullet holes from long range, saving you a lot of walking. Note that the price varies widely on these different models of Razors, with the smallest scope costing half as much as the biggest. You can buy it here. Budget is a very firm $500 or preferably less. Dielectric-Coated Porro Prism. ), here are some great resources to help you buy a scope: Cheap vs. Emarth 20-60x60AE Angled Spotting Scope (Spotting Scope Under $100) Athlon Optics Argos HD 20-6085 Spotting Scope. . Hook it up to your camera with Zeisss extensive catalog of accessories and youll be taking pictures you never thought possible. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. It offers very impressive light transmission and gives unbelievable image quality to its viewer. I'm looking at 6-24 versions and they seem similar. The Vortex DB HD 10x42 are by volume the most sold pair of binoculars in . The question for the market: Is this spotter twice as good as the Argos HD, and is it worth double the cost? Anyone know the low end focus on the Argos? Youll notice the images starts to get dark and grainy at about 45-power, and our low-light test confirmed that, compared with its UHD brother, the Argos HD will wink out several minutes before its peers. The Vortex strike eagle 5-25x56 FFP The Athlon Midas TAC 5-25x56 FFP Are there people who have been able to compare these 2 scopes? There is a massive difference between HD and regular definition television, and everyone has seen it. Or look at even smaller scopes, like the 9-2756 Hawke in this years test. The Mavens eyepiece is fixed, which means you wont be able to swap out eyepieces for different magnifications. While they have specialized in cameras, all of the knowledge theyve accumulated in building camera optics has transferred over into some incredible sporting optics. Models that have both designs typically have identical glass, magnification ranges, and components, so theyll likely deliver an identical image. Pros. The Argos mechanism has proven to track and is robust. Find many great new & used options and get the best deals for Athlon 214061 Argos BTR 6-2450 Riflescope APMR FFP MIL at the best online prices at eBay! Athlon over the years has been talked fairly highly with budget long range rifle builds and I see they have a really price friendly spotter with the entry model Talos. $329.99 - $399.99. This pricey, indulgent, magnum-sized optic is the last spotting scope youll own, and it parses details like no other spotter in this category. They are known to provide some of the best mid-range optics. Vortex Diamondback HD vs Athlon Argos G2 UHD Binoculars Bullets4Bucks 18.8K subscribers Join Subscribe 212 Share Save 16K views 2 years ago Buy Here: Athlon Optics Argos:. The 45-degree angled eyepiece is also a nice touch, as it allows for users to use it in a number of different stances. Did a quick sight in using a snow bank ( makes things so quick and easy being able to see impact as it happens), and was able to start hitting some targets. That means you need to think about what you want and need a spotter to do. Show Out of Stock Items. Not everyone can afford a Zeiss. Anyone have more details on that? Sold two to a friend(bought Athlon Ares and Tacticle). A product-line extension following Meoptas successful angled MeoStar S2, this 82mm spotter has the optical horsepower for just about any hunting situation, and the straight-barrel design makes it easy to slide into a backpack sleeve. At 40 to 55x, the scope has enough magnification to enable users to count points on a distant buck without making the image maddeningly dark. The Gosky 20-6060 HD Spotting Scope is a top seller in that price range, and gets decent reviews from its many users. Thats because the glass and controls of the Argos HD are slightly disappointing. Or is it to view in the bright light of midday? They sent me a prepaid label without a fight. But if you want to make it easy, the winner from all this testing and analysis (as of March 2023) is the Athlon Argos HD 20-60x85mm the best scope for most uses. free shipping & returns. But maybe you want a spotter to mount on a tripod and use from a vantage point. But for scouting use its perfect, or for spotting from the road. Its a tough trade off, and has to be made based on your hunting style. They have been used and recommended by a lot of the most influential people in the industry, like Steven Rinella from Netflixs Meat Eater. Vortex Diamondback Tactical VS Athlon Argos Gen 2. Just picked up an Argos 6-24 for $249 and am very pleased. Thread starter Kyle Wheeler; Start date Nov 11, 2020; Nov 11, 2020 #1 Kyle Wheeler Well Known Rokslider. Thread starter Wrencoforge; Start date Jan 20, 2020; Forums. Find Athlon Optics Cronus Gen II 20-60x86mm UHD Spotting Scopes-311004 with New Product and 20% Off today at Rangefinders.com +1-800-504-5995 Live Chat Contact Us Check Order Status. If youve ever been to a rifle range, you know youre in for some walking. You can learn more about them at VortexOptics.com. Or should I wait until the Element optics Titan comes out? Objective Lens Diameter. And with $500, I would definitely buy the Diamondback 20-60x85mm. Vortex Optics Diamondback HD Spotting Scopes. A great all-around spotter, the SIG OSCAR8 has enough optical horsepower for most hunting situations and exterior styling that fits right at home on a rifle range. Spotting Scope, Soft sided case, Lens caps, Cleaning Cloth: Spotting scope^hard case^soft case^instructions^tripod: Athlon Optics 315001: 20-60X80 Spotter: Soft Carrying Case, 20-60x zoom Eyepiece, Spotting Scope, Soft sided case, Lens caps, Cleaning Cloth Item Dimensions: 16.9 x 4 x 4.5 inches: 18.25 x 6.5 x 9.5 inches: 16.5 x 3.75 x 6 inches The size of that beam of light is directly derived from two of the factors mentioned above: zoom and objective lens size. Eye relief is the range of distances from the lens within which you wont get any black rings and missed images from your scope. Which makes it a perfect option for hunters. Another great option that is even more affordable, this scope from Vanguard will give you everything you need as a target shooter. A handsome, versatile, and rugged spotting scope, the OSCAR8 has a sensibly restrained magnification range that zooms from 27 to 55-power. Features: FFP, Illuminated, Lowlight-visible, CR2032, . Lastly, full-sized spotters are designed to be mounted on a tripod, so consider the mounting hardware. The eyecups and sunshade move with snappy precision. Anything further out than that will not be visible. The straight-style tactical spotter is built like a tank, with double-tough armor and attachment points for Picatinny rails, so you can add accessories like thermals or lights to the optic. The CS.1 is built around the same mid-level class of glass that Maven uses in its C Series binoculars. The Hawke AirMAx is THE ONLY scope that has survived my Diana 34 springer. In other words, will you use it just for hunting, or should you consider a model with removable eyepiece so you can trade out wide-angle eyepieces or ones with reticles? The Vortex Viper is a great choice. Not my choice but I dont want to be sleeping on couch for the rest of life. If you have the budget, Celestrons Regal is a huge optical upgrade over the Ultima. Can be easier on the neck, particularly if looking up at something above you. Vortex Optics Viper HD Spotting Scopes. Moreover, weighing 24.6 ounces it is one of the lightest offerings from Athlon. And if youre shooting at really long ranges, an afternoon trip to the range can feel more like a lengthy hike. We've also streamlined the exterior for a sleeker, snag-free profile, building in a helical focus wheel. Free shipping for many products! A spotting scope helps you get crystal clear, up close views of birds, and can also help you take pictures of them. The Maven has especially good manners. The redesigned Diamondback HD spotting scopes have all the horsepower the long-distance hunter needs, and they excel in lowlightright when you need it most. At about 40 ounces, it isnt the lightest scope, but it gives you an excellent performance to portability ratio. Learn more about it here. Would love to hear any pros or cons or comparisons. Perhaps the highest end brand in the optics world, Swarovski caters to those who want the absolute clearest glass and the best quality images. The Ultima 80 is the definition of the intersection between quality and affordability. . Hi, looking for a new scope for my 22lr. It may not have their optical clarity, but it is more than good enough for the vast majority of bird watchers. Mil Dot Hunting Rifle Scopes, 50 Loft 6-Iron Golf Clubs . One example is hitting the coldbore shots on steel often out to 1122Y. One of the lesser known technical specs that you may need to account for is eye relief. Doug asked me to review two Athlon scopes for him. Has anyone out there got first hand experience with this scope? Athlon Ares Spotting Scope VS. Vortex Razor Spotting Scope Review 73,201 views Mar 13, 2016 263 Dislike Share Save Backcountry Brotherhood 8.15K subscribers Watch as we review the new. Athlon vs Vortex - Part 1 18,034 views Mar 29, 2019 93 Dislike Share Blue Line Optics 627 subscribers Two extremely good optics companies who market themselves fairly comparatively - high. . Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made. I personally used it this last year when hunting pronghorn in Idaho extensively, and it helped me pick out minute details on horns from absurdly far away! Here are some good picks: You dont necessarily need a scope youre going to use for target shooting to be portable, so you may as well get something with a beefy objective lens. But if its the latter, than less expensive glass might be fine. But you wont be tempted to compare the image delivered by the Maven to that of a Swarovski or Leica. We may receive a sales commission if you purchase any products after using one of our links. Here are my top recommendations: If youre a serious bird watcher and want to see every detail of the birds youre looking at from a long way away, Swarovski is probably going to be your go to brand. Videos for related products. I have purchased 3 Athlon Argos BTR scopes, and zero issues with any of them. Nikons Monarch Fieldscope 82ED-A W/MEP-20-60 is a fantastic one to consider for someone who has a larger budget. Most of their consumer scopes are affordable, and are great options. A good spotter can help you see your shots from where you are shooting, eliminating the need to go down range as often. Bushnell is one of the older players in the sporting optics world, having been founded in 1948. Since some of the most prime hunting hours are during low light dawn/dusk conditions, it can be tempting to get a scope with a larger exit pupil. The UHDit stands for ultra-high-definitionglass also boosts its performance. The viper has better glass, but I am able to see .22 holes in paper In the shade at 350yds with the Argos. That glass is good, but its not quite as bright and sharp as that Japanese S-series glass. Usually works better from a vehicle window mount. Darling of our best spotting scopes test is the new compact CS.1 from Maven, but we also like a couple of nicely priced full-sized spotters. The optic with the highest Price/Value score wins our Great Buy award. It is used solely as a marketing hook by companies to make their optics seem very high quality. High end manufacturers like Swarovski and Zeiss charge thousands of dollars for their scopes, and will give you crystal clear images that are hard to beat. Athlon BTR vs Vortex Diamondback. Observation & Sighting Devices . Hunters dont want to have to haul around the most massive scope, but it needs to be substantially more powerful than their binoculars. Say you have a 20- to 60-power eyepiece on an 80mm spotter. Maybe, but maybe not. In this test, we mount all scopes on tripods, set their magnification to 20-power, and then measure how long they can see into the dark, averaging the results to assess performance. Vortex diamondback FFP scope also comes with elevated finger-adjustable turrets. F FlatCat Member In case you want to know about the scopes, in brief, this comparison table below is tailor . I just believe you get what you pay for. Precision rifle shooters will appreciate the fixed 22-power lens that contains a milling PRS reticle, which allows users to make precise calls when spotting for a long-distance shooter. All the money is going straight into the glass. As youll see in the two Athlon scopes in this years test, better-quality glass can double the price of a spotter. But it could be perfect scope if you are setting it up on your back porch to stargaze with. I honestly don't have experience with either model, but do with others of both brands. Leupolds flagship spotting scope delivers a quality image at pretty much every magnification. All in, theres a lot of scope here for $800, a price that represents the savings possible from the direct-to-consumer optics brand. Some users like angled eyepieces because of their versatility. Purpose-built as an aid to precision rifle shooters, the integrated reticle in the LMSS2 allows spotters to effectively call shots for their teammates on rifle. Can the tripod adapter be used with a wide variety of tripod models and heads? $249.99. They were the company that made optics available to the masses for the first time by importing binoculars from manufacturers in Japan, Taiwan and Hong Kong. And its ultra-compact size means youll take this optic more places than a larger spotter or a big-boned binocular. A dual focus knob is also great for fine tuning in on far away celestial bodies. While some scopes fall into the trap of giving more magnification while sacrificing clarity, this scope hits it perfectly at the max end of its range. . Spotting scopes are good from fairly close to nearly infinity. They are well known for supplying many of the high end scopes used by military snipers and special operations units. Vanguard Endeavor HD 82A. At lower powers, you can get by without a stabilizing tripod. If youre a hunter who packs in deep its worth serious consideration, as its lightweight frame makes it easy to carry into the backcountry. Scopes are generally sold either with a straight body or with the eyepiece angled up 45 degrees. I think youade the right choice. Having to go down and check your target every few shots means you can only get in so many practice shots per round. When you see 20-60x85mm, that means that the objective lens (the one that points out towards whatever you are viewing) is 85mm in diameter. If youre a hobbyist photographer who doesnt care about squeezing the maximum amount of performance possible from a scope, give the Celestron Regal a look. The Hide Armory. Are you going to pack it deep into the backcountry? If you're money-concience (i am too for the same reason! https://athlonoptics.com/product/rifle-scope-argos-6-24x50/, Looking for the best budget optic for my sniper rifle. W. Wrencoforge Sergeant of the Hide. The Argos HD 20-60x85mm falls into the perfect category of spotting scopes for high power use. Its affordable and the glass is super high quality. Founded by Frank Galli in 2000, Snipers Hide has been offering informational videos, podcasts, and other support to its users in one location. At longer distances, from 400 yards to infinity, you lose resolution in the magnified image, but youll still be able to see details that you could never see with your naked eye or even a binocular. Its virtually impossible to hold a powerful scope still enough to use effectively. (130) Compare Product. At first sight, the Argos 10x42 is quite a compact binocular. But only barely, and only because they are more established and I have had good experiences directly with them in the past. I would highly avoid getting a true budget scope (one that costs less than $200). Get the Bushnell Match Pro over either. That makes a great combination for hardscrabble backcountry hunters who dont want to sacrifice optical performance, knowing that seeing long distances can save them many miles and thousands of feet of elevation in their boots. Nikons Monarch Fieldscope 82ED-A W/MEP-20-60, Fully Multicoated, Excellent Image Quality, Field of view: 108 to 60 feet @ 1,000 yards. $199.99. Nikon is one of the most well known optics brands in the world. You could try using it freehand or leaning it against something, but trust me when I tell you this will significantly hamper your viewing. The first spotter from this direct-to-consumer is a versatile powerhouse. This scope is offered in either an angled or straight body, and either way you can get a 16-48x65mm or a 20-60x85mm for viewing far off wildlife. But the magnification range, zooming from 9x up to 27x, gives this little unit more range and a surprisingly nice image. I honestly would be fine with a 65mm but they only offer this one. Should the spotter ever fail, its fully backed by SIGs excellent five-year warranty. I am a fan of vortex but the diamond back not so much . I shoot spring airgun and 22LR, and Hawke is on ALL of them. The Athlon reticle does offer a more dynamic design with a crosshair that has tons of hash marks for range and windage estimation. At low magnifications, the SIG has a bright image and wide field of view. These scopes have features normally only found on high-end scopes. I have had a couple of Argos's in the past with excellent tracking and good-enough glass. The first is the magnification, which generally refers to a range between the lowest and highest magnification. You can think of it like the limits of your peripheral vision. There are different scope models that are designed specifically for all these purposes. For example, the Athlon Argos we recommend has a field of view of 48-102 feet at 1000 yards. The ED glass delivers a bright image that showed only minor color fringing and slight deformity on the very edge of the image at lower powers. Its angled body, with rotating tripod ring, allows for infinite adjustment, and the Arca-Swiss compatible tripod system mates up with any number of mounting options. Updated: October 2, 2020, 79 optics, 152 reticles. 2.1 Choosing the Best Spotting . What is the rep of the Athlon Argos 2-10x40 BDC 600? Vortex Diamondback Tactical 6-2450 FFP EBR-2C MOA reticle diagram. In that case, weight and portability arent an issue; you should consider a full-sized scope, with magnification ranges from 20-60-power and an 85 or even 90mm objective lens. HobieH3; Mar 26, 2019; 2 3 4. Its on the larger side for a hunting scope, and you may not want to pack it in if youve already got a heavy pack and are going in deep. Optically, its a solid performer, but its image is like the rest of the spotter, sort of middling. We've rarely seen this much glass and optical horsepower for under $400. They have a similar long eye relief, but the eyebox isn't as fast to focus as the Vortex. Though its the same size and about the same in terms of zoom power, the money is spent on the quality of glass. $170.00. Range spotters often have a reticle in the eyepiece that allows you to call shots for a buddy. If you are buying a lower-mid range scope, the odds of it coming from Bushnell in one form or another are very high. And while their telescopes are awesome for picking out constellations, their spotting scopes give you some flexibility to use in different situations. Field of view is obviously heavily influenced by the magnification power of your scope. They also have several subsidiaries underneath them, including names you might recognize like Tasco, Browning Sport Optics, and Simmons. Still, if you use this scope in daylight and dont max out its magnification, its a worthy companion for most hunting situations or first-time buyers.