Scope selection is often determined by four “P”s: purpose, preference, performance and price (in no particular order). I started shooting airguns in my backyard offhand at distances up to 35 yards. I liked scopes that were light and clear and good values. As I bought more airguns and my shooting distances increased up to 100 yards and my eyes got worse and I almost always shot with a rest when I could, my preferences changed. I started dialing turrets instead of using holdover. I stopped buying scopes that did not have side-focus parallax adjustment. I started buying scopes with external turrets and better optics. I had to tolerate more weight and higher prices. I like Nightforce scopes but I can’t afford enough of them. Since I am a scope junkie (and bargain hunter) I wanted to try the Athlon first focal plane (FFP) scopes that were getting a lot of positive reviews. On the basis of statistics and price, I could not decide between the Talos 4-14 x 44 ATMR2 IR-Mil and the Argos 6-24 x 56 APMR IR-MIL so I bought both and offer this perspective comparison.
First Focal Plane Athlon Talos BTR 4-14x44 vs Argos BTR 6-24x50
Magnification: 4-14 6-24
Objective Lens Diameter: 44 mm 50 mm
Reticle: APLR2 FFP IR MIL, Glass Etch ATMR FFP IR MOA, Glass Etch
Surface Finish: Matte Matte
Lens Coating: Wide band full multicoat Wide band full multicoat extra protective
Tube Material: Aircraft grade aluminum 6061 Aluminium
Tube Diameter: 30 mm 30 mm
Exit Pupil: 11.2-3.3 mm 8.2-2.1 mm
Eye Relief: 3.23-3.15 inches 3.3 inches
Field of View @100 yards: 27.2-7.85 feet 16.7-4.5 feet
Click Value: 0.1 MIL 0.1 MIL
Adjustment range per rotation: 5 MIL 5 MIL
Total Elevation Adjustment: 20 MIL 16 MIL
Total Windage Adjustment: 20 MIL 16 MIL
Turret Style: Exposed Exposed
Parallax Adjustment: Side Focus – yards 10 to ∞ Side Focus – yards 10 to ∞
Purging Material: Nitrogen Argon
Length: 13.1" 14.1 inches
Weight: 23.5 oz 29.6 ounces
As you can see the scopes have similar features including illuminated FFP reticles with 30 mm tubes and side-focus parallax adjustment from 10 yards to infinity. Considering the differences that will help you choose between them, the most obvious is magnification and its attendant consequences. As magnification goes up so do weight and price. If you need the higher magnification your choice is the Argos with 24 power magnification and a 50 mm objective. The Argos is about 6 oz. heavier and an inch longer than the Talos which has a 44 mm objective. The Argos weight is almost 30 oz. --about the same weight as my Nightforce SHV 5-20 x 56. The price of the Talos is about $300 and the Argos approximately $370 (both can be found for 10% discounts). The SHV costs $1171 without illumination and parallax only adjusts down to 25 yards and Nightforce scopes are not discounted.
Considering less obvious and more subjective performance comparisons, lets look at turrets. Turrets on the Talos are smooth but somewhat difficult to turn if you are dialing elevation instead of using holdover. The clicks are distinct but soft. After dialing the elevation for 3 hunts, I noticed the turret becoming more stiff. When I had reset zero on the turret after zeroing the scope, I saw two o-rings that kept water out of the exposed turret. I removed the turret cap again and put a minimal amount of silicon grease on the o-rings. That made the turret easier to turn and made the clicks relatively more discernable. Neither scope has a zero-stop like the SHV. However, you can easily make a zero-stop on the Argos using thin fiber washers as explained in this post. This is no more difficult than setting the turret cap to zero after zeroing the rifle. (I heard from an Athlon source that he heard a rumor that the company was considering a zero-stop on the Argos.) The turrets on the Argos are larger and easier to turn than those on the Talos. Clicks are more crisp on the Argos. The parallax is also easier to turn on the Argos. The Talos has more adjustment range, 20 Mil compared to 16 Mil on the Argos.
I purchased the APLR2 Reticle on the Talos and ATMR on the Argos. I like the detached cross in the center of the Talos reticle. When you are shooting paper you can locate the center of the ring even if the x-ring is shot away (not that that happens to me as often as I would like). The numbers and the interim hash marks on the Argos are easier for me to see than those on the Talos. I like both of these reticles as well as anything I have seen. Illumination works well with no glare on both scopes. I have shot the Talos with illumination on pest control for 30 minutes after it was too dark to see non-illuminated reticles.
Glass is so subjective that opinions differ widely. Comparing the resolution of this two scopes on the same power (14) I find the resolution of the Argos is just perceptibly better than the Talos. Can I actually see the difference in glass between the Argos and Nightforce SHV? Yes, I can. Perhaps the Athlon Midas would provide a fairer comparison but I have not tested that scope. I find the glass on both of Athlon FFP scopes much better than anything I have seen in their price range. My Argos came with flip up scope covers, my Talos did not.
Cons on the Talos: The mechanicals are stiffer than I would like. No zero-stop. The ocular lens is too close to the end of the eye bell so it is hard not to brush against it. You can remedy the problem by adding flip up scope covers.
Cons on the Argos: The eye bell is larger in diameter than I would like and it has the battery compartment and control for illumination on the side of the eye bell. The bulky eye bell leaves little clearance for bolt actions like my Wolverine B. No zero-stop (but you can add one).
Bottom line on making the choice between these two scopes: If you shoot bench rest or you usually dial elevation, get the Argos. If you just use holdover and don’t need high magnification I think you will be pleasantly surprised at the quality of the budget-priced FFP Talos. The weight and bulk difference in these two scopes and the fact that you can make a zero-stop on the Argos are key factors in making the choice. I will probably keep both scopes and sell something else in my optics arsenal.
First Focal Plane Athlon Talos BTR 4-14x44 vs Argos BTR 6-24x50
Magnification: 4-14 6-24
Objective Lens Diameter: 44 mm 50 mm
Reticle: APLR2 FFP IR MIL, Glass Etch ATMR FFP IR MOA, Glass Etch
Surface Finish: Matte Matte
Lens Coating: Wide band full multicoat Wide band full multicoat extra protective
Tube Material: Aircraft grade aluminum 6061 Aluminium
Tube Diameter: 30 mm 30 mm
Exit Pupil: 11.2-3.3 mm 8.2-2.1 mm
Eye Relief: 3.23-3.15 inches 3.3 inches
Field of View @100 yards: 27.2-7.85 feet 16.7-4.5 feet
Click Value: 0.1 MIL 0.1 MIL
Adjustment range per rotation: 5 MIL 5 MIL
Total Elevation Adjustment: 20 MIL 16 MIL
Total Windage Adjustment: 20 MIL 16 MIL
Turret Style: Exposed Exposed
Parallax Adjustment: Side Focus – yards 10 to ∞ Side Focus – yards 10 to ∞
Purging Material: Nitrogen Argon
Length: 13.1" 14.1 inches
Weight: 23.5 oz 29.6 ounces
As you can see the scopes have similar features including illuminated FFP reticles with 30 mm tubes and side-focus parallax adjustment from 10 yards to infinity. Considering the differences that will help you choose between them, the most obvious is magnification and its attendant consequences. As magnification goes up so do weight and price. If you need the higher magnification your choice is the Argos with 24 power magnification and a 50 mm objective. The Argos is about 6 oz. heavier and an inch longer than the Talos which has a 44 mm objective. The Argos weight is almost 30 oz. --about the same weight as my Nightforce SHV 5-20 x 56. The price of the Talos is about $300 and the Argos approximately $370 (both can be found for 10% discounts). The SHV costs $1171 without illumination and parallax only adjusts down to 25 yards and Nightforce scopes are not discounted.
Considering less obvious and more subjective performance comparisons, lets look at turrets. Turrets on the Talos are smooth but somewhat difficult to turn if you are dialing elevation instead of using holdover. The clicks are distinct but soft. After dialing the elevation for 3 hunts, I noticed the turret becoming more stiff. When I had reset zero on the turret after zeroing the scope, I saw two o-rings that kept water out of the exposed turret. I removed the turret cap again and put a minimal amount of silicon grease on the o-rings. That made the turret easier to turn and made the clicks relatively more discernable. Neither scope has a zero-stop like the SHV. However, you can easily make a zero-stop on the Argos using thin fiber washers as explained in this post. This is no more difficult than setting the turret cap to zero after zeroing the rifle. (I heard from an Athlon source that he heard a rumor that the company was considering a zero-stop on the Argos.) The turrets on the Argos are larger and easier to turn than those on the Talos. Clicks are more crisp on the Argos. The parallax is also easier to turn on the Argos. The Talos has more adjustment range, 20 Mil compared to 16 Mil on the Argos.
I purchased the APLR2 Reticle on the Talos and ATMR on the Argos. I like the detached cross in the center of the Talos reticle. When you are shooting paper you can locate the center of the ring even if the x-ring is shot away (not that that happens to me as often as I would like). The numbers and the interim hash marks on the Argos are easier for me to see than those on the Talos. I like both of these reticles as well as anything I have seen. Illumination works well with no glare on both scopes. I have shot the Talos with illumination on pest control for 30 minutes after it was too dark to see non-illuminated reticles.
Glass is so subjective that opinions differ widely. Comparing the resolution of this two scopes on the same power (14) I find the resolution of the Argos is just perceptibly better than the Talos. Can I actually see the difference in glass between the Argos and Nightforce SHV? Yes, I can. Perhaps the Athlon Midas would provide a fairer comparison but I have not tested that scope. I find the glass on both of Athlon FFP scopes much better than anything I have seen in their price range. My Argos came with flip up scope covers, my Talos did not.
Cons on the Talos: The mechanicals are stiffer than I would like. No zero-stop. The ocular lens is too close to the end of the eye bell so it is hard not to brush against it. You can remedy the problem by adding flip up scope covers.
Cons on the Argos: The eye bell is larger in diameter than I would like and it has the battery compartment and control for illumination on the side of the eye bell. The bulky eye bell leaves little clearance for bolt actions like my Wolverine B. No zero-stop (but you can add one).
Bottom line on making the choice between these two scopes: If you shoot bench rest or you usually dial elevation, get the Argos. If you just use holdover and don’t need high magnification I think you will be pleasantly surprised at the quality of the budget-priced FFP Talos. The weight and bulk difference in these two scopes and the fact that you can make a zero-stop on the Argos are key factors in making the choice. I will probably keep both scopes and sell something else in my optics arsenal.
