Comparison: 3-18x50 FFP: Athlon ETR —vs.— Bushnell Match Pro ED

Comparison:​

𝐀= Athlon Ares ETR 3-18x50 FFP
vs.
𝐁= Bushnell Match Pro ED 3-18x50 FFP


I can compare the specs here.
Please, help me comparing glass and turrets! Thanks!!


Min. Parallax:
𝐀
= 10y
𝐁= 12y tested [thanks, Jake!] (15y indicated)

FoV (in ft @100):
𝐀
= 39.2-6.7
𝐁= 41.0-6.8

Max. Elevation Adjustment:
𝐀
= 30mil
𝐁= 40mil

Reticle Unit of Measurement:
𝐀
= in MIL and MOA available
𝐁= only in MIL

Reticle: Thickness of the main line of the cross
𝐀
= 0.05 mil
𝐁= 0.06 mil

Weight:
𝐀
= 31.4oz (890g)
𝐁= 28.4oz (805g)

OAL:
𝐀
= 14.2" (36.6cm)
𝐁= 13.2" (33.5cm)

Elevation Turret Type:
𝐀
= exposed elevation
𝐁= exposed, locking elevation

Turret Turn Counter:
𝐀
= Turret turn counter (lines)
𝐁= Mechanical turn counter (pop-up pin)
I wonder if the 𝐁 zero stop with the pop-up pin will limit the turret travel to 20mil (instead of allowing the full 40mil)....

Windage Turret:
𝐀
= exposed, locking
𝐁= capped, non-locking



❓️ How does the glass and the turrets compare?

❓️ When is it worth to spend the extra money on the 𝐀?


Thanks!

Matthias



Factory Web Pages:
𝐀
=

𝐁=
 
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I'm going to guess that the ETR is higher quality, especially turrets, maybe a hair better IQ, but getting a bit dated, while the Bushy is a bit more modern in Spec on paper/ lighter, wider FOV, more elevation travel. I bet when the travel is all the way up near 35 mils the image becomes very compromised. Though It looks good on paper as far as selling scopes goes. This happened with my old Bushy HDMR during a ELR match so I had to stop dialing at 20 mils, then hold over the rest using the reticle just to see clearly enough to make out the targets. Yeah the IQ was horrible when elev was topped out.

In the past I found Bushnell to make pretty decent products but the warranties were iffy seeing one particular case where the guy came out really good and a bunch of people that didn't.

Athlon on the other hand has been more consistent with repairing or replacing scopes. If something breaks often Athlon will just send you out the latest Gen scope if they are out of the older Gen's.
 
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I'm going to guess that the ETR is higher quality, especially turrets, maybe a hair better IQ, but getting a bit dated, while the Bushy is a bit more modern in Spec on paper/ lighter, wider FOV, more elevation travel. I bet when the travel is all the way up near 35 mils the image becomes very compromised. Though It looks good on paper as far as selling scopes goes. This happened with my old Bushy HDMR during a ELR match so I had to stop dialing at 20 mils, then hold over the rest using the reticle just to see clearly enough to make out the targets. Yeah the IQ was horrible when elev was topped out.

In the past I found Bushnell to make pretty decent products but the warranties were iffy seeing one particular case where the guy came out really good and a bunch of people that didn't.

Athlon on the other hand has been more consistent with repairing or replacing scopes. If something breaks often Athlon will just send you out the latest Gen scope if they are out of the older Gen's.


Thank you, Steve, for your helpful comments. 🫱🏻‍🫲🏼

I'd love to buy the Athlon at a good used price.... (in mil). In moa I have seen it recently from two stores for under $600 new!).

Matthias
 
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Bushnell was NO warranty,, or it sucks, So take off 90 points for that,,, I sent a 500 $ optic back to Bushnell and they said they could only give me a 100 $ credit , Thats not a warranty ...
Mike
I sent a brand new scope back to Bushnell that wouldnt hold zero, they sent me back a used scope with pretty deep ring compression dents in it and scuffed up caps. I didnt even bother saying anything that told me all I needed to know about their warranty. I still like Bushnell scopes but know not to expect any kind of warranty service.
 
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Yupp.
I'm starting to see that.

So... — WHERE can I get an
Athlon Ares ETR 3-18x50 MIL
for a good price (used or new, I'm no stickler)❓

Matthias 😊
@JungleShooter Bushnell scopes are ok as long as your scope is good and you caught a good sale. Warranty service has been spotty at best for me. It took me several months just to get in contact with a Bushnell rep. Once I reached someone, she sent me the part I requested free of charge. I wouldn’t rush to buy another of their products, but I like most of the Bushnell gear I have.

Here’s a link to the Athlon scope For $900.Dunno if that’s a good price to you. It appears to be back ordered 1-2 weeks from the manufacturer.
IMG_9156.jpeg

Still cheaper than ordering from Athlon. Here’s the reticle
IMG_9155.jpeg



Here’s what Athlon is charging ordering direct.
 
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@JungleShooter Bushnell scopes are ok as long as your scope is good and you caught a good sale. Warranty service has been spotty at best for me. It took me several months just to get in contact with a Bushnell rep. Once I reached someone, she sent me the part I requested free of charge. I wouldn’t rush to buy another of their products, but I like most of the Bushnell gear I have.

Here’s a link to the Athlon scope For $900.Dunno if that’s a good price to you. It appears to be back ordered 1-2 weeks from the manufacturer.
View attachment 570002
Still cheaper than ordering from Athlon. Here’s the reticle
View attachment 569998


Here’s what Athlon is charging ordering direct.


Thanks for the links! 😊

Yeah, "good price" is a relative term.

For weeks now I've been seeing this scope on sale at EuroOptic.com and at ScopeList.com for
$584 new.

So, THAT'S what I consider good (the problem is, I'm a MIL guy, and they are out of the MIL version just now...). 😃

A price for a used scope would have to adapt to that 584$ new, I suppose.

Matthias
 
Thanks for the links! 😊

Yeah, "good price" is a relative term.

For weeks now I've been seeing this scope on sale at EuroOptic.com and at ScopeList.com for
$584 new.

So, THAT'S what I consider good (the problem is, I'm a MIL guy, and they are out of the MIL version just now...). 😃

A price for a used scope would have to adapt to that 584$ new, I suppose.

Matthias
@JungleShooter Dunno. Could be that there is a higher demand for the Mil variant. I’ll try to remember to keep you in mind if I see anything around $600. Not a lot came up in a quick search.