In 2020, Athlon decided to upgrade its Athlon Argos BTR gen 1 scope. Before then, this first-gen scope had been doing pretty well in the market, but Athlon was not satisfied.
Scopes are important gadgets for shooters, especially long-range shooters who value accuracy. Whether it is tactical shooting, hunting, or other leisure shooting —a good scope is important.
Athon is a US-based optics manufacturing company that makes its products in China and Japan, with the bulk of them happening in China. One of its prominent scopes is the Athlon Argos BTR which is a long-range scope with an impressive magnification range. This will cover a lot of your long-range shooting needs.
Athlon Argos BTR 6-24×50 Scope
The Argos BTR riflescope by Athlon Optics has a 6-24 x 50 first focal plane (FFP) with a 30mm tube. The 6061T6 aircraft-grade aluminum tube has exceptional strength and superior mechanical integrity for rough and tough use.
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In this piece, we’ll be looking at the Athlon BTR 6-24×50 scope in detail. We’ll see why it has become popular among long-range shooters.
Table of Contents
Features of Athlon Argos BTR 6-24×50 Scope
As mentioned earlier, this is the second generation of the Athlon Argos BTR, and it was first released in 2020. This gen 2 Athlon BTR scope upgraded on a lot of factors and made this piece highly sought after. The aim here is to see the features that make up this gadget and how it works.
1. Magnification
With a magnification range of 6 to 24x, Athlon Argos BTR is a scope made for medium to long-range shooting with abilities to capture images at far distances. The magnification allows you to toggle the power of the scope to match the distance so you can get precise images.
It doesn’t matter whether you’re hunting or using the scope for tactical shooting across varying distances; you’ll get great accuracy at 6-24x magnification. Blurriness starts to show above 20x magnification.
2. Optics
One of the most important factors to consider in a scope is the optics, as it determines the accuracy of your shots. This Athlon Argos BTR scope has an objective lens diameter of 50 mm which is wide enough for the right amount of light to enter the scope and produce crisp images. However, at higher magnification, typically after 20x, the light entering wouldn’t be enough to produce crisp images.
This gen 2 Athlon BTR scope uses an advanced fully multi-coated glass that enhances the light transmission through its 50 mm objective lens. The coatings on its lenses also reduce light dispersion, so you can get clearer images. This is especially good for people shooting under the sun or facing bright light, which may otherwise reduce the image quality formed. One of the coatings is an XPL layer that protects the lens from dirt, scratches, and grease.
The glass quality used here ensures there’s no image distortion at any magnification. It also sports a parallax adjustment knob that works from distances above 10 m.
3. Durability and Build
As much as a scope is not primarily for aesthetics, its look and feel cannot be overlooked. Athlon understands this, and that is why it has made this sleek piece. It is a 30 mm tube scope made from 6061-T6 aluminum for durability to ensure it is shockproof. It weighs 30.3 ounces with a length of 14.1 inches. It is bulky and will add a bit of weight to your backpack and set up when in the field. Its lenses are fully multi-coated to provide extra durability as the layers prevent scratches and dirt on the lenses, thereby improving the lifespan of the scope.
The tube is O-ring sealed to keep water out while the inside is purged with argon, so fog is forced out and the lens kept clear to produce crisp images. The precision zero stop system used in this second-generation BTR scope allows you to lock in your zero and also accurately return to it by dialing back.
It is a single-piece tube that has been heat-treated to increase its durability. The single-piece tube significantly reduces the point of entry for moisture and improves the strength of the scope.
4. Reticle
Athlon Argos BTR uses an illuminated APMR nil reticle. This glass-etched reticle allows you to use it without a battery for illumination. This is possible when the light condition is ideal. You can use this BTR scope at low light, high light intensity, or no light, given the proper amount of illumination.
It is a first focal plane reticle which is rare for scopes in this price range. In the first focal plane reticle scopes, the reticle tends to change in size as you adjust the magnification. Thus, making it suitable for long-range shooting. Its cross lines are illuminated with harsh marks for quick and accurate target acquisition. It is a LED illumination type with red color.
5. Adjustment Knobs
Athlon Argos BTR gen 2 comes with elevation and windage turrets so you can zero your scope and achieve accurate shots. These turrets may not have the best feel to them but are big and easy to adjust. They make an audible click that allows you to make adjustments without looking at the knobs. It holds zero well, and the turrets are ridged to make it easier to hold. The elevation and windage turrets make ½ MOA adjustments per click.
There’s also a parallax adjustment knob that works from 10 m to infinity. To fix the issue of the turrets being a little too mushy, remove the turret caps, clean the factory grease and regrease with halofun green slime lubricant.
6. Eye Relief and Eye Box
Without a proper eye relief and eye box, you’ll struggle to see images through your scope at some angles and inclinations. You’ll also leave your face open to scope injuries caused by recoil pressure when you shoot. The Athlon Argos BTR gen 2 scope comes with a decent 3.3 inches eye relief which may not be the best but shouldn’t be a problem for normal recoil guns. Shooters using heavy recoil guns may face a problem with this eye relief.
The eye box is decent for magnification under 18x but may become tighter as you move above 18x.
7. Mounting and Rings
Athlon Argos BTR gen 2 scope does not come with mount and rings. Hence, you’ll have to purchase it separately. The good thing is that Athlon produces these gadgets, so you won’t need to purchase general mounts as you can get a more fitting mount and rings to mount the scope on your rifle.
8. Affordability
For the kind of features this scope possesses, you would think it’s close to the top end scope, but it is priced at under $500. This makes it an impressive piece and makes some of its drawbacks insignificant.
This scope is affordable not because it stands up as the best of it is low priced, when compared the value per dollar,. Coupled with the lifetime warranty Athlon offers for its optics, you see why this is a great pick.
Pros and Cons of Athlon Argos BTR 6-24×50
There are always reasons for and against a buying decision like this. So to make it easier for you to make this decision, here are reasons why you should buy this scope and reasons to have a rethink before spending your money on it.
Pros:
- A wide magnification range of 6-24x makes it perfect for medium and long-range shooters.
- Wide objective lens diameter of 50 mm for optimum light transmission across the tube.
- Preheated one-piece tube built with durable aluminum, O-ring sealed and purged with argon to make it shockproof, waterproof and fogproof.
- First focal plane illuminated glass-etched reticle.
- Affordable.
- Precision zero stop system to lock down your zero and quickly return to zero when recalibrating.
- 11 brightness settings.
Cons:
- It weighs over 30 ounces and is just over 14 inches long, making it bulky, which adds a little bit of extra weight to your setup.
- Eye relief and eye boxes could be better
- Blurriness occurs at higher magnification levels.
Who is the Athlon Argos BTR Gen 2 Scope Made for?
This scope is perfect for shooters looking for a more than decent scope option at under $500. Shooters on a budget that cannot go for the more expensive high-end options can settle for this scope without a huge drop in quality.
It is also great because of its versatility as it possesses a wide magnification range covering medium to long-distance areas. Hunters who would like to shoot targets at 200 yards at a point and also have the ability to do 500-yard shots without issues would love this scope.
Finally
Without a doubt, this scope possesses a lot of advantages to shooters, as evident by the number of people that have purchased Athlon Argos BTR 6-24×50 from amazon or any other popular online stores. Athlon Argos BTR gen 2 scope is a sleek and impressive scope.
