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). No offense intended but The only reason to hate on this scope is you realized you paid way to much for your whatever. These scopes are every bit as good as the Vortex Razor HD for a thousand less and weigh a pound less. They are the real deal and the guys at Athlon are great to work with. I have called them several times with questions and they have always been extremely gracious. USA Ex-military owed I believe. If your serious about ELR and trying to stay under $1500 you will not go wrong with the Cronus or Ares ETR. The ETR can be had for around $1200 and is 50 BMG rated as well. It is a great scope but if I had the extra coin I would go with the Cronus. Additionally, both scopes have 32 mils or 110 moa of internal elevation.I have the Athlon areI have worked in the sporting goods industry and been a competitive shooter and pro staffer off and on for more than 30 years. I have hunted big game all over the world. I have friends who are guides in Africa and Alaska and I have worked along side local law enforcement and ex-military to set up there sniper rigs. Overwhelmingly there are two scopes that stick out. For the hunters it has been through the years Leupold and for my tactical friends NF or Leupold.
That said, I suggested earlier Athlon and I will stick by it! They are bomb proof and come with a lifetime no questions asked warranty. Same as Vortex. I am a scope snob. I own Leupold, Burris, and Athlon scopes. Lots of them. I have owned highend Zeiss, NF, SB, Kahles, and a lot of others over the years. IMHO the NF Atacr is the scope by which all other tactical scopes are measured, I just don't particularly care for their reticle design. That being said if you are considering anything below the Atacr in a NF you are just paying for the name. There is nothing wrong with those scopes but the Leupold Mark 5 is better IMO. The only other scopes I would consider for serious tactical applications or extreme LR in that category is the Kahles or SB PM2. That being said those scopes will set you back between $1600 and $5400 respectively, depending on the model.
That is where Athlon comes in. We recently had the opportunity to test and shoot the NF, Leupold and Kahles side by side along with the Athlon Cronus and Ares ETR and Vortex Razor, at ranges out to close to a mile. All of these scopes are excellent scopes. If you own one you have IMO the best of the best. They are all packed with features and come with excellent warranties and glass. That being said, on light gathering ability and clarity alone I would rank them this way. NF Atacr, Vortex Razor HD or Athlon Cronus (Tie), Leupold Mark 5(so close to the other three only the most discriminating among us could tell and my old eyes are not what they used to be), Kahles, and finally the Athlon Ares ETR.
The only two of these scope that can be purchased for less than $1600 are the Athlons. The Cronus is a Japanese made scope, possibly made in the same OEM as NF. The glass is some of the best I have ever seen. They are 50 BMG rated and come with a lifetime warranty. The gen 2 has turrets that just get it done every time. They are tactile and track as good as anything out there. Some people don't like the reticle because they say it is to busy but I do. It is thin and precise. If you don't like a tree it can be had with a simple mil or moa reticle. This scope has all the features you could possibly ever want and MSPR is $2000. If you shop around you can find one for between $1400 and $1600. Get the Gen 2! You ask if there was a scope on the planet that could do it all and be tough as nails for around $1500. The answer is yes. The Athlon Cronus Gen 2. It as good or better than some of the big boys and nothing else in its class even comes close. (I hope they send me a commission check for this
Final thoughts, a couple of the top ELR shooters last year won shooting Athlon optics. If you are going less than $1200 go with a Leupold Mark 4. They can usually be had for around a grand and less than that I would look for a Leupold VX-R tactical which can be had for probably less than $600 if you can find them. JMO! Rant and sales pitch over!
I have the Athlon Ares Btr with the upgraded turrets made in China all the reviews puts it up there with 1500 scopesthen I discovered Meopta the only thing they are lacking is the big name they are european made they make and coat their own glass they will be a big name in the future right now there affordable gun why not gice Meopta a chance they have come out with a lot of scope choices in the last 2 yrs with the optica 6 and 5 series scopes check out theor history they are offering really good optics for half the price of other european made scopesI have worked in the sporting goods industry and been a competitive shooter and pro staffer off and on for more than 30 years. I have hunted big game all over the world. I have friends who are guides in Africa and Alaska and I have worked along side local law enforcement and ex-military to set up there sniper rigs. Overwhelmingly there are two scopes that stick out. For the hunters it has been through the years Leupold and for my tactical friends NF or Leupold.
That said, I suggested earlier Athlon and I will stick by it! They are bomb proof and come with a lifetime no questions asked warranty. Same as Vortex. I am a scope snob. I own Leupold, Burris, and Athlon scopes. Lots of them. I have owned highend Zeiss, NF, SB, Kahles, and a lot of others over the years. IMHO the NF Atacr is the scope by which all other tactical scopes are measured, I just don't particularly care for their reticle design. That being said if you are considering anything below the Atacr in a NF you are just paying for the name. There is nothing wrong with those scopes but the Leupold Mark 5 is better IMO. The only other scopes I would consider for serious tactical applications or extreme LR in that category is the Kahles or SB PM2. That being said those scopes will set you back between $1600 and $5400 respectively, depending on the model.
That is where Athlon comes in. We recently had the opportunity to test and shoot the NF, Leupold and Kahles side by side along with the Athlon Cronus and Ares ETR and Vortex Razor, at ranges out to close to a mile. All of these scopes are excellent scopes. If you own one you have IMO the best of the best. They are all packed with features and come with excellent warranties and glass. That being said, on light gathering ability and clarity alone I would rank them this way. NF Atacr, Vortex Razor HD or Athlon Cronus (Tie), Leupold Mark 5(so close to the other three only the most discriminating among us could tell and my old eyes are not what they used to be), Kahles, and finally the Athlon Ares ETR.
The only two of these scope that can be purchased for less than $1600 are the Athlons. The Cronus is a Japanese made scope, possibly made in the same OEM as NF. The glass is some of the best I have ever seen. They are 50 BMG rated and come with a lifetime warranty. The gen 2 has turrets that just get it done every time. They are tactile and track as good as anything out there. Some people don't like the reticle because they say it is to busy but I do. It is thin and precise. If you don't like a tree it can be had with a simple mil or moa reticle. This scope has all the features you could possibly ever want and MSPR is $2000. If you shop around you can find one for between $1400 and $1600. Get the Gen 2! You ask if there was a scope on the planet that could do it all and be tough as nails for around $1500. The answer is yes. The Athlon Cronus Gen 2. It as good or better than some of the big boys and nothing else in its class even comes close. (I hope they send me a commission check for this
Final thoughts, a couple of the top ELR shooters last year won shooting Athlon optics. If you are going less than $1200 go with a Leupold Mark 4. They can usually be had for around a grand and less than that I would look for a Leupold VX-R tactical which can be had for probably less than $600 if you can find them. JMO! Rant and sales pitch over!
Sorry for the spelling errors
Their is nothing wrong with Meopta at all. They have been around for years. When I worked in retail, both in sales and as an owner, we sold them. I have a friend who owns a shop and that is his go to scope. That said the OP's original question was about ELR and hunting. A one and done scope to do it all for $1500 or less. IMHO the Cronus is the best for the money. Additionally, the btr glass is good. I have several Midas's with it, but the Cronus and ETR are on a whole different level and the scopes are built like tanks.
Meoptas being a european made scope with all the new offerings especially the Optica 6 scopes for hunting I dont see how you can go wrong I dont know about competition shooting with these scopes but would not be surprised that they will be coming on strong in the future if not allready all of their scopes are made in Checklisavakia the 4.5 X 27 might be a good choice for long range I have that in the Athlon 3x18 in the Meopta zero lock and stop on the ele turret capped windage turret
Check out the 4.5 x27 x50 and the 5x30x56 Meopta mil or moa optica 6
Thats why I'm trying to tell folks about Meopta Optica6 scopes
Elevation and windage turret style usally exposed in mil or moa and reticle
I gave the Optica6 a try this past fall. Wasn't able to finish load development on my 25-284 before it failed. I'm not saying all meopta are bad. But unfortunately this was my first and only experience with them. Dealer I bought it through refunded me all my money back. So I was treated good.
I guess all scopes fail ever now and again I have 2 meoptas one meopro and one optica 6 3 x 18 on a 6.5 prc so far so good never heard any problems until now
