Quick Athlon Helos BTR Gen II 6-24x56 review

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Teber66

Teber66

Member
Feb 27, 2021
334
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Oklahoma, United States
Picked up my Helos BTR Gen II 6-24x56 last night and figured I’d do a short and sweet review on it. The weather today was a bit dark and gloomy. The dealer I purchased this from said it’s the same tube that they use for the ETR and looking at the specs online it’s showing the same length for both. It’s 14.3” long with a 34mm main tube. The locking turrets are a nice feature especially if that’s something your looking for. I compared all the features to my Midas Tac 6-24x50.

Turrets: The Helos and the Midas Tac both feel like it takes the same amount of force to rotate them. Only difference I could tell was the Midas Tacs clicks are a tad more audible. Both have 10mils per revolution, the Helos has 29 mils and the Midas Tac has 25mils of elevation. 


Parallax was easily adjusted on both. As well as setting the diopter up for my eyes. 


Zoom range was effortless on both and didn’t see any unwanted horizontal movements. I did not perform a tall target tracking. 


Glass: I know everyone see things differently when it comes to optical clarity and resolution, so this is just what I saw between the scope with my eyes. 
clarity to me was pretty good considering the cost range that this scope falls in. Even with it being on the dark side today I could make out individual blades of grass at 100 yards. Comparing it to the Midas Tac. I’d have to give the edge to the Midas. Things just seemed to be a tad brighter with it over the Helos. Both will do what you want. I broke out my Vortex Gen II Razor 4.5-27x56 and compared all three. The Helos and Midas both don’t have the clarity, brightness and pop that the Razor has but I didn’t expect them too, there’s $1400 difference between them and the Razor. The Helos had a bit more CA than the Midas did but nothing to terrible. You should be able to see the difference in the CA between the two in the pics below. 
The Helos is right there with the Midas Tac. You get just a touch better glass with the Midas but with the Helos you get a 34mm tube, locking turrets and illumination. The Helos sells for $599.99 and the Midas Tac for $629 and the new Midas Tac HD is $849.

I don’t think you’d be disappointed buying one of the new Helos. Sorry if this is all jumbled, it’s my first review on a product. If there’s anything else you want looked at just let me know.

Helos BTR 6-24x56 and Midas Tac 6-24x50

18D36B4B-E8E0-405E-9B00-0697D87AD9D8.1634237107.jpeg
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Midas Tac 6x 100yds

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Midas Tac 20x 100yds

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Helos 6x 100yds

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Helos 20x 100yds

BC2D10AD-A2FD-45C7-A408-FA45282C26D2.1634237493.jpeg



 
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Nice review. The Midas Tac seemed to have a noticeable difference in glass quality. I have used a Midas Tac before and thought the glass was very good considering the price point. I would be very interested in hearing how the Argos Gen2 stacks up against these scopes in case you ever get to compare one.
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Before I switched to a Vortex Razor on my match gun I ran several of the Athlon scopes when just starting out in NRL22. I’ve used Midas Tac, Ares ETR and the Cronus. I’ve shot our MD’s loaner gun one day at a range session and it had an Argos BTR on it. Not having the Helos and Argos side by side I’m not 100% positive but from what I remember the two as far as glass are pretty close but everything else is a step up on the Helos. 
 
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You can still find the old 50MM Midas Tacs around for less than $600 if you look. I don't know if the 56MM is going to supersede the 50MM variety or not, but it's $200 more and the 50MM suits me fine.
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I still have one of the 6-24x50 Midas. They are a good scope especially when you can get them sub $600 with a little haggling. To me if Athlon phases these out with the new 5-25 Midas Tac they’re making a mistake. The new Midas only parallax’s down to 25yds. 
 
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Teber, I have to say that you hit the nail on the head with this one. I also give the TAC a slight edge in glass quality but having the other features on the Helos G2 is what pushed me over to it, ESPECIALLY the APRS6 reticle. Also the reticle is daylight bright in my Helos G2 6-24. It is one amazing scope for the price!

But if I had to walk around hunting stuff I'd opt for the 6-24 TAC. Just wish they'd put the APRS6 in it too.


 
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For the first time I finally got to use my Helos G2 6-24 in a match yesterday. I suppose the biggest test of the day was easily making out the very small Kill Zones used in the Phoenix XFT match, some were painted the same brown color as the face plate. My eyes aren't the greatest so this goes to show the glass is good, especially for the price! The scope also tracked well as somewhat proven by getting high score for the day.

I truly like this scope and it was nice not having to worry about the windage turret turning by accident, "because it locks" while in the drag bag I carried the rifle in.

Love this reticle too!

This is one of those scopes that is hard to fault. Heavy maybe could be one, but that's actually an advantage when mounted on a match rifle.


 
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Hi there,

I am interested in the Athlon midas tac and Helos btr gen 2, I just can't decide which one. I am curious what the illuminated reticle looks like on the helos and can anybody post a real picture of it?
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Sorry for the late reply, just seen this. 


Athon Helos 6-24 

both pics from inside my reloading room( too dang cold to go outside). On 10x, first is on 2 and the last on 6. 6 is the brightest setting. It’s definitely daylight bright. 

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The Helos is definitely a decent scope depending on what your used to using. I run Gen II Razors on both my match guns and have owned Nightforce and Schmidt and Bender’s so I’m used to using much better glass but with that being said I don’t think the Helos would hamper you in anyway. Like I said to me the Midas Tac’s glass looked a touch better to me but the sticker price on the Helos is cheaper and you get illumination, locking turrets and a tad thicker reticle. 
 
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The Helos is definitely a decent scope depending on what your used to using. I run Gen II Razors on both my match guns and have owned Nightforce and Schmidt and Bender’s so I’m used to using much better glass but with that being said I don’t think the Helos would hamper you in anyway. Like I said to me the Midas Tac’s glass looked a touch better to me but the sticker price on the Helos is cheaper and you get illumination, locking turrets and a tad thicker reticle.
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That sums it up perfectly.

I have/ had/ NF, S&B, March, USO, Vortex Razor, Athlon Cronus, etc, and the Helos G2 will not hold someone back. Though the glass in the Midas TAC is a touch better I like the features in the HG2.
 
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