About Us Policies. For example, the Athlon Argos we recommend has a field of view of 48-102 feet at 1000 yards. That would mean that the scope has an adjustable zoom range of 20 to 60. F FlatCat Member Ok, folks - here it is: The Bushnell Match Pro Riflescope. Which begs the question: Why arent more bird hunters using them? Easier to switch between binos and spotting scope. Our Editors independently research, test, and rate the best products. I have had both and still have the Athlon. Theres several companies using that mechanism successfully. Its a very solid scope with exceptionally high quality glass. However, astronomers might consider this as one of their primary things to look for given their viewing happens always in low light conditions. ArmorTek Technology: The build quality is as expected top-notch. You wont be counting antler tines on a bull three miles away with this thing, but it will at least get you closer than your naked eye. Athlon submitted two full-sized spotters for this years test, but the Argos HD version (as opposed to the Argos G2 UHD) version represents the best combination of price and performance. 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. 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. This family of rifle scopes featuring FFP and SFP models, True Precision Zero Stop, Fully Multi-coated Lenses, Direct Dial Elevation & Windage Turrets (Capped in 1-8x24), Illuminated Reticle, 30mm Tube. . 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. -Vortex diamondback tactical 6-24x50 EBR -2C MRAD -Bushnell match pro 6-24x50 DEPLOY MIL -Bushnell nitro 6-24x50 -Bushnel forge 4.5-24x50 DEPLOY MIL -Athlon argos btr 6-24x50 gen2 APMR MIL -Athlon midas tac 6-24x50 APRS3 MIL -Athlon ares btr gen2 4.5-27x50 APRS5 MIL -Athlon helos btr 6-24x50 APMR MIL 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? Vortex diamondback vs viper. Apart from its compact design, it is also ergonomic. This direct-to-consumer brand delivers bright ED glass and quality Japanese build at a relatively accessible price. 4 models Vortex Diamondback HD 20-60x85mm Spotting Scopes As Low As $498.49 Save Up to 17%. Bird watching is one of the most popular and fast growing hobbies world wide. Not sure how good it is but the cronus rifle scope line has a good reputation. Here are some excellent scopes for that purpose: Zeiss makes premium optics, and this scope is no exception. Vortex Optics Diamondback Spotting Scopes - Top Pick. On this review we are going to be using the Vortex Diamondback HD 10x42 as the benchmark. Check its price right now by clicking here. Because our test doesnt intentionally punish submissions until they break, the durability question is necessarily unanswered. Snipers Hide is a community of Snipers of all kinds, focusing on long range shooting, accuracy, and ballistics. 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. The 27 to 55-power is the sweet spot for combining magnification with a reasonably bright image. But of course all else isnt equal, and there is a trade off. . It is dramatically more affordable than the other optics were recommending here for bird watchers. 1:24 . I have had a couple of Argos's in the past with excellent tracking and good-enough glass. However, it can be hard to get your scope on target with an angled eyepiece because the 45-degree angle means the eyepiece isnt pointing at your target, like a straight-body spotter, so target acquisition occurs much faster. A nice feature it has that I wish more scopes would include (especially angled scopes) is a sighting line to help you line up with what youre trying to look at. Ask yourself when youre most likely to use the optic. And you might be a little disappointed at how dark and grainy it gets above about 38-power. +1-800-504-5920 Live Chat Contact Us Check Order Status. thanks! But if you want to make it easy, the winner from all this testing and analysis (as of March 2023) is the. Since you're talking 22LR and not sure if you'll shoot competitive, I'm going to throw out Hawke here. Spotting Scope Review - 24hourcampfire It'll give you some intel on Athlon . Therefore it stands to reason that you want the spotter labeled HD, right? Learn More . Select which one you want here. Click to play video. Dispersion is an effect in glass that causes distortion as light travels through it, or actually with any kind of waves. Vortex Diamondback Tactical 6-2450 FFP EBR-2C MOA reticle diagram. Leupold Mark 5HD 5-25X56 - Best for Long Range. If we have a ding, its the tripod foot, which seems slightly undersized for the frame. CF2-31023. The Maven has especially good manners. So should you avoid scopes labeled as HD? athlon leupold spotting scope vortex Help Support Long Range Hunting Forum Become a supporting member. This dot is what is often called the exit pupil, and refers to the actual dot of light that gets transmitted to your eyes through the lenses. Very few other manufacturers give you that kind of choice with their high end scope options. 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. This scope is perfect for someone: Who is looking for an all-in budget build of under $1,000 (gun and scope) A beginner long-range shooter who wants to stretch into those longer distances, but doesn't want to stretch their wallet Now, don't get me wrong, this scope is a high-quality scope Consider the durability of a spotter. A good spotter can help you see your shots from where you are shooting, eliminating the need to go down range as often. Makes sense. Big 80 and 85mm scopes from premium brands can cost upwards of $3,000. This is not a particularly exciting year for spotting scopes. Range spotters often have a reticle in the eyepiece that allows you to call shots for a buddy. Vortex Viper PST Gen II 5-25X50 FFP EBR-2C MRAD - Best FFP Scope Under $1500. The bigger the objective lens, the more light will be allowed into the scope. And we conclude that the priceyou should be able to find this retailing for around $650was fair for the performance. NightForce ATACR 5-25X56 F1 - Best for Competition. And with $500, I would definitely buy the Diamondback 20-60x85mm. The Diamondback HD has decent high-definition glass in the objective lens, but experienced hunters may be disappointed with the clarity and brightness of the image. That glass is good, but its not quite as bright and sharp as that Japanese S-series glass. The lenses are also fully multicoated, meaning better light transmission and clearer looks at the night sky. Is it to assess distant animals in the first and last light of the day? Andrew McKean is Outdoor Lifes hunting and conservation editor, drilling into issues that affect wildlife, wildlands, and the people who care about them. . It's a 20-60x80 only weighting about 33ozs. Hook it up to your camera with Zeisss extensive catalog of accessories and youll be taking pictures you never thought possible. There is a range of designations that manufacturers use, and unfortunately there isnt much standardization. Most spotting scopes that zoom up to 60-power get so dark and grainy at that magnification that theyre really only useful up to about 50-power. Vortex Crossfire II 4-12x50 AO Riflescope with Dead Hold BDC Reticle (MOA). Now if youre using your scope from a fixed position and dont have to carry it around, this wont be a problem. Rifle Scopes Athlon Argos vs Vortex Diamondback. The Harpia 95 has a little sister, the Harpia 85, thats a little more portable and only slightly more affordable. The Gosky 20-6060 HD Spotting Scope is a top seller in that price range, and gets decent reviews from its many users. Once you look through Zeisss Harpia spotter, no other scope will quite satisfy you. Again thanks for everyones input, truthfully I had been leaning towards the Diamondback but the Athlon supporters swayed my decision. The Vortex Diamondback Tactical 6-24x50 & the Athlon Argos BTR 6-24x50. Vortex Optics Diamondback Tactical FFP Riflescope 6-24x50, EBR-2C MRAD DBK-10029. 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. Athlon Optics , Argos BTR, Riflescope, 6-24 x 50 First Focal Plane (FFP) 30 mm Tube, Illuminated APMR MIL Reticle, Black. The first is the magnification, which generally refers to a range between the lowest and highest magnification. The Athlon reticle does offer a more dynamic design with a crosshair that has tons of hash marks for range and windage estimation. At lower powers, you can get by without a stabilizing tripod. . Also, they are generous with the hash marks on their mil dot. Vanguard Endeavor HD 82A. It can be had with three different sizes of objective lenses, so you can choose just how big your scope is going to be. This pricey, indulgent, magnum-sized optic is the last spotting scope youll own, and it parses details like no other spotter in this category. Its an expensive scope, but its worth a look. Spotting Scope Accessories Thermal Imaging Thermal Imaging Monoculars . The Vortex Optics Diamondback is the best spotting scope for 300 dollars as it has 20x-60x magnification and a 60mm lens diameter. I just believe you get what you pay for. At almost 4.3 pounds this spotter feels like a tank, which means its a better base-camp scope than a walk-about optic. The Mavens eyepiece is fixed, which means you wont be able to swap out eyepieces for different magnifications. Founded by Frank Galli in 2000, Snipers Hide has been offering informational videos, podcasts, and other support to its users in one location. $139.99 - $169.99. 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. Their HD-ATS-80 body is awesomely powerful when paired with a 20-60 power eyepiece. You must log in or register to reply here. Sold two to a friend(bought Athlon Ares and Tacticle). Which makes it a perfect option for hunters. free shipping & returns. And the wide-angle eyepiece provides a constant 66-degree field of view throughout the entire magnification range. The straight-barrel design will appeal to viewers who want to make quick target acquisition, instead of the hunting-and-pecking sometimes required with angled eyepieces. I just got the argos for my 22. Theres nothing particularly ground-breaking in this introduction from Athlon, just a sized-up version of its very good 65mm Ares G2 UHD model. 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. Large 85mm Objective Lens. Hunters may have a bit of a trade off here. They are one of the largest and most popular companies in this space. Bushnell is one of the older players in the sporting optics world, having been founded in 1948. Show More. Spotting scopes are good from fairly close to nearly infinity. I have a Hawke Vantage 3-9x40 on a Diana 240, and a Hawke Vantage SF 6-24x44 on a Savage Mark 2 22LR. They have been used and recommended by a lot of the most influential people in the industry, like Steven Rinella from Netflixs Meat Eater. This can be important depending on what youll use your scope for. They are well known for supplying many of the high end scopes used by military snipers and special operations units. I have both and would buy another Athlon. But even more approachable scopes will set you back around $1,000. I'm an optics snob and all my rifles sport Vortex Razors, AMG, Nightforce NSX, Swarovski and Zeiss. We measure and record the optical attributesfield of view, eye relief, weight, and other specificationsand mount every submission on a tripod suitable for that particular size and weight. Budget is a very firm $500 or preferably less. We were able to arrive at a consensus on the optical talents of this spotter. Would love to hear any pros or cons or comparisons. Demerits include the slippery, non-textured armor and the underwhelming glass, which makes images above about 45-power pretty dark and grainy with some distorted edge detail. Vortex is a well-known manufacturer of optical material such as binoculars, spotting scopes and rifle scopes. Nikons Monarch Fieldscope 82ED-A W/MEP-20-60, Fully Multicoated, Excellent Image Quality, Field of view: 108 to 60 feet @ 1,000 yards. Anything you point this scope at, youre going to get a clear view of. The Athlon warranty is every bit equal to the warranty provided by Leupold and Vortex, which is saying something. But if you made me choose, I would have to pick the Athlon Argos 20-60x85mm. Its hard to label a single scope as the best available since they are so personalized to different uses. Here are the specs that matter most: You should seriously consider this combo, check the price here. Superdoo. Optically, its a solid performer, but its image is like the rest of the spotter, sort of middling. Other labels you might see that all communicate the same thing are LD (low dispersion), SLD (special low dispersion), ELD (extraordinary low dispersion), and ULD (ultra-low dispersion). I honestly would be fine with a 65mm but they only offer this one. The question for the market: Is this spotter twice as good as the Argos HD, and is it worth double the cost? All the money is going straight into the glass. Vortex viper hst is the nicest scope I have had. 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. German Precision Optics ED Binoculars. They produce quality optics that are simple and straightforward, and they stand by them 100% with their lifetime warranty. Spotter-Vortex Viper vs. Athlon Ares. And at nearly $4,000, most of us arent willing to subject the Harpia to the indignities and dings of the field. . The CS.1 is built around the same mid-level class of glass that Maven uses in its C Series binoculars. We only make money if you purchase a product through our links . . Long Island. The CS.1 is a great option for a hunter looking for a scope they can take into the backcountry. But if its the latter, than less expensive glass might be fine. Is it going to be aimed permanently at the stars? Or look at even smaller scopes, like the 9-2756 Hawke in this years test. Like we mentioned above, the HD-ATS-80 HD is a fantastic scope body that you wont be disappointed by, and when coupled with their 20-60x eyepiece makes for a powerful spotting scope. But for scouting use its perfect, or for spotting from the road. That means dusty days in a pickup and all sorts of conditions mounted to a tripod. They are known to provide some of the best mid-range optics. Like most scopes, the Athlon Argos BTR Gen2 does not come with a mount and rings included. Full Member. Likewise, the triply more expensive Vortex Viper is optically superior to the Vortex Diamondback. Also, is 40 or 48 power enough to spot holes at 500 yards? But for someone on a budget, it will do the job. Dielectric-Coated Porro Prism. Anyone know the low end focus on the Argos? Its glass is protected by double-walled armor that resists scratching. Mil Dot Hunting Rifle Scopes, 50 Loft 6-Iron Golf Clubs . At low magnifications, the SIG has a bright image and wide field of view. Another great option depending on your uses is a car window mount. Deploy MIL First Focal Plane reticle. You can buy it here. Whether you choose an angled or a straight-body spotting scope is largely a matter of personal preference. 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. But only barely, and only because they are more established and I have had good experiences directly with them in the past. While the best binoculars for hunting have close focus of about 6 to 8 feet, spotting scopes can only focus to about 12 feet. You can learn about them at Leupold.com. QUICK LIST: Best First Focal Plane Scopes in 2022. Subscribe to OL+ for our best feature stories and photography. They are going to stop rifle optics but Nikon isnt going anywhere. 10 MIL turrets. In all, the Meopta compares favorably to premium spotters from Swarovski, Leica, and Zeiss at a lower price. 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. All in, theres a lot of scope here for $800, a price that represents the savings possible from the direct-to-consumer optics brand. They are heavy to carry into the field, but the work is worth it if it can save you from stalking an animal that you dont want to harvest thanks to being able to identify it from so far away. 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! They rapidly expanded into a full suite of optics products spanning the entirety of the price ranges, which they still are today, though they mostly focus on the lower/mid range. Its not quite as spendy as the higher end Razor we recommended for hunting above, which shooters who would rather spend their hard earned money on ammo will definitely appreciate. Thread starter idahohikker; Start date Apr 21, 2018; Apr 21, 2018 #1 I. . Its a solid scope that is large and powerful, is available in angled and straight body options, and will get the job done. If you spend a few hundred dollars, youre going to get something that will definitely improve on your naked eyes vision and help you be successful at whatever activity you are doing. Perhaps the highest end brand in the optics world, Swarovski caters to those who want the absolute clearest glass and the best quality images. What about 600 or even futher? Athlon Optics Argos BTR 6-24x50mm FFP Rifle Scope; Table of Contents. The Argos gives excellent images for a scope in this price range, is large enough to be seriously powerful, and has intuitive, solid controls. Theres limited utility for a spotting scope with an objective lens better suited to a full-sized binocular. Show Out of Stock Items. There is no such standard in the world of sporting optics, and the term is essentially meaningless. The optical quality, overall . Especially in low-light conditions, those extreme ranges are rarely usable. If you got sick of reading about scopes (or, lets be honest, you saw there was video and skipped ahead! Ive been using spotting scopes for years and have used dozens of them in testing and in the field. The Vortex DB HD 10x42 are by volume the most sold pair of binoculars in . Models that have both designs typically have identical glass, magnification ranges, and components, so theyll likely deliver an identical image. Emarth 20-60x60AE Angled Spotting Scope (Spotting Scope Under $100) Athlon Optics Argos HD 20-6085 Spotting Scope. Gwine Well-Known Member Joined Mar 3, 2013 Messages 423 Location Southern Oregon Jul 3, 2020 #3 Welcome to the forum. 1.6 #6) BARSKA 30-90100 WP Gladiator Spotting Scope. Spotting scopes are usually used on a tripod, so you dont need to worry about your hands shaking and distorting high zoom images like you do with binoculars. Gosky Newest 20-6080 Dual Focusing Spotting Scope. Unsurprisingly, letting more light in is what you want. Side By Side Review Athlon NEOS 10x42 vs. Vortex Diamondback HD 10x42 Binoculars Home ADVENTURES Store About Updates Contact MIL/LEO Custom Shop Group Buy Polices UPDATE STATION . Athlon sells their own rings and mounts, which obviously mesh well when used in tandem with their scope . Another is I won State overall in Field Target air rifle in 2016 and my division last year. Spotting scopes work best from mid to far distances. $170.00. Meopta is said to be on higher tier than vortex razor. While this is likely the first spotter that a hunter or shooter may buyowing to the approachable priceit wont be the last. These coatings help the scope transmit and gather light better, thus increasing the quality and clarity of the image it delivers. The best magnification for a spotting scope depends on how you plan to use it. The most hard-wearing models have oversized controls that can be used with gloved hands, and they are double-sealed against dust, grit, and moisture. That means clearer images day and night. 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. I will test and be able to give better feedback as soon as I get to the range. Here are the main positives of each: Many scopes, particularly the higher end ones, are sold with the option of getting either straight or angled, so youll get to choose what works best for you. Thats because the glass and controls of the Argos HD are slightly disappointing. 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. Scopes are generally sold either with a straight body or with the eyepiece angled up 45 degrees. This durable one-piece design keeps dust out of the innards but also prevents users from trading out the variable-power eyepiece for a different zoom range or a fixed-power alternative. Check it out here. When budget isnt a limitation, I tend to recommend Swarovski. 60mm scopes are popular with hunters, although they definitely dont have the image quality of an 85mm. While this Argos was very well built (and very similar in style and quality to the Vortex Diamondback which is a much higher-priced scope I've used in the past), I found the optical quality to not be as good . These fit with the maxim 'you get . Its a tough trade off, and has to be made based on your hunting style. However, with Vortexs best-in-class warranty, youll never have to worry if it fails to perform. He already had a high end Vortex ($1,000). In short: IGNORE THE TERM HD. Minuteman. Alternatively, the rails allow you to mount the LMSS2 on either rails or a traditional tripod. These describe the zoom and the objective lens size. Specifications. quigley257; Mar 17, 2020; Replies 6 And the 27-55-power zoom range covers most hunting scenarios, while the 80mm objective lensmade with extra-low dispersion glasslets in plenty of light. They have a similar long eye relief, but the eyebox isn't as fast to focus as the Vortex. And if youre really a beast and can pack it in, youll be rewarded with great images. Leupolds flagship spotting scope delivers a quality image at pretty much every magnification. For a first scope in this FFP arena, it was fine, I did not miss, even at 1k+ because of my argos. 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:. Vortex has become a staple in the optics world recently, and for good reason. 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). The Hide Armory. You can read more about them here. Hi, looking for a new scope for my 22lr. It is worth a trip to your local sporting goods store to look through some scopes and make sure that your glasses do not interfere with the normal eye relief on models you are considering. Learn more about it here. 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 . While any scope will meet most peoples needs, it makes sense to get the optimal one. The spotter with the highest overall score wins our Editors Choice awardthis year it went to Mavens CS.1. The Ultima 80 is the definition of the intersection between quality and affordability. They tend to give mediocre images at best and quality is low. Another very high end scope from an excellent optics company, the Kowa TSN-883 Prominar is a great option for bird watchers trying to get the best. Half felt it implied a lack of durability. We did notice a fair amount of slop in the threaded eyepiece adapter and would rather see a bayonet mount rather than the threaded ring. All else being equal, you want the biggest lens possible. Field of view is obviously heavily influenced by the magnification power of your scope. Most of their consumer scopes are affordable, and are great options. The unit defaults to a 20-70x eyepiece, which you have to purchase separately from the body, but the wide-angle 30-60x eyepiece may have even more utility. They are still honoring their warrantee but have made some changes and dont have the no fault warrantee any longer. Its a testament to the Hawkes spotter that it adequately handles all that magnification. Field of View at 1,000 Yards: 174-81 feet, Field of View at 1,000 Yards: 234-108 feet, Field of View at 1,000 Yards: 102-48 feet, Field of View at 1,000 Yards: 108-60 feet, Field of View at 1,000 Yards: 176.4-58.5 feet, Field of View at 1,000 Yards: 105-73 feet, Ships with dust-resistant neoprene jacket, Interchangeable 22-power eyepiece with MRAD PRS reticle available, Removable eyepiece design can allow dust and grit to enter body, Angled eyepiece and rotating tripod collar enables multiple viewing angles, Removable eyepiece can be traded out for other variable or fixed-power eyepieces, Center-barrel control is hard to finely focus, Field of View at 1,000 Yards: 250-50 feet, Eyepiece contains Horus H-32 milling reticle, Multiple attachment points for Picatinny rails, Reticle matches those in precision riflescopes, Throw lever makes magnification changes fast, Slender build easily fits in backpack sleeve, Utilizes Bushnells best glass and coatings, Excessively heavy for a 60mm walk-about spotter, Field of View at 1,000 Yards: 144.36-68.9 feet, Oversized center-barrel focus easy to turn with gloves, Field of View at 1,000 Yards: 110-52 feet, Angled eyepiece and tripod rotation enable wide range of viewing options. I don't really want more than 3-4 x on the low end at least around here MDs are putting targets close and starting at 6x makes things tricky. It offers very impressive light transmission and gives unbelievable image quality to its viewer.