What scope to buy?
- Thread starter TexasAirGunner82
- Start date
I’m liking my athlon Midas tac, I like it more then some of my scopes costing almost double.
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I asked JWR the same question on price point. His recommendation was Bushnell’s Nitro or Engage for under $500 hands down.
Midway was recently running sales on MSRP $950 Bushnell Forge for well under $500.00
I personally don’t like FFP so old Bushnell’s, Weavers, SWFA SS, some Hawke scopes. I also don’t shoot on high magnification but sometimes it’s nice to zoom in to 18 or 24 to see groups up close. It may not make sense to anyone but I do way better on 4-10x. Just enough to see POA & I wish more scopes had Weaver Super Fine reticle.
Natchez Sports has some Weaver T36’s for around $369 & those are MSRP $750+ scopes. But I’d only ever use that on dedicated 200+ yard BR rifle and I’d need a locked in to F Class rest if I expect to keep a group. I can’t help overcompensating & moving on high mag.
Midway was recently running sales on MSRP $950 Bushnell Forge for well under $500.00
I personally don’t like FFP so old Bushnell’s, Weavers, SWFA SS, some Hawke scopes. I also don’t shoot on high magnification but sometimes it’s nice to zoom in to 18 or 24 to see groups up close. It may not make sense to anyone but I do way better on 4-10x. Just enough to see POA & I wish more scopes had Weaver Super Fine reticle.
Natchez Sports has some Weaver T36’s for around $369 & those are MSRP $750+ scopes. But I’d only ever use that on dedicated 200+ yard BR rifle and I’d need a locked in to F Class rest if I expect to keep a group. I can’t help overcompensating & moving on high mag.
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I just put a Hawke Airmax 4-12x40 on my .25 Sumatra. It was recommended by several. The reticle looks really nice. I haven’t had a chance to try it out yet.
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any Athlon FFP budget wise. I use the Argos. I even use one on my FT rifle.
The beauty of the FFP for hunting is, no matter what the magnification, you use the same holdover. Loved them on our prairie dog hunt this last summer. Didn't have to waste time guessing aim points.
The beauty of the FFP for hunting is, no matter what the magnification, you use the same holdover. Loved them on our prairie dog hunt this last summer. Didn't have to waste time guessing aim points.
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Like others have said, for hunting I would recommend a FFP scope. I’ve been using an Aztec Emerald FFP IR for 10 months now. Hundreds of dead pests would attest to it effectiveness if they could. The hold overs are the same from 5x-25x, I have taken pests throughout the magnification range. The Christmas tree allows repeatable hits in the wind. It’s always there, unobtrusive, but instantly available. The illumination lights up the entire reticle and works great in dark areas and in barns, etc. I am hooked on this reticle, for me it has been a game changer. Lots of good scopes for $500, good luck.
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I have old B&L Elites that are TOUGH to beat in terms of clarity and precision . BUT the reticles are plain and mainly useful for straight on hold. I was introduced to FFP with the Athlon Argos by Steve123. It's a clear and versatile scope and pretty good but I've never really trusted it's precision, no matter how good it tests. So... along the way I've picked up more FFP scopes and the one standout to me is the MidasTac. It's quite clear and all movements are smooth and give a feeling of precision. I've found no reason to not trust it yet. I also picked up a Nitro in FFP 24x. It's just as clear but there are several things about the MidasTac that I like better. The Engage was a bit more vague in it's movements comparatively, but still seemed pretty good , especially for the money. None of the others I purchased were close. Most were models that have been discussed on this site and seemed well recommended.
Keep in mind that my wants/needs may be different than yours. I mainly buy scopes I can use for airguns which means close focus, but I really hate limiting use to short range, so those that only go to 50 or 100 yds are out, as are those that won't go below 50. I want a versatile scope that is clear and precise. The MidasTac is that for me. An added bonus is that on 24x, the depth of field is small and the focus precise , so it's going to be useful for FT.
It IS a bit over your budget from what I have found in 24x, though.
Good luck
Bob
Keep in mind that my wants/needs may be different than yours. I mainly buy scopes I can use for airguns which means close focus, but I really hate limiting use to short range, so those that only go to 50 or 100 yds are out, as are those that won't go below 50. I want a versatile scope that is clear and precise. The MidasTac is that for me. An added bonus is that on 24x, the depth of field is small and the focus precise , so it's going to be useful for FT.
It IS a bit over your budget from what I have found in 24x, though.
Good luck
Bob
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My expensive scopes on my powder burners are FFP. But I’m told it costs a lot of money to lock down lenses in the manner required to prevent POI drift with FFP. So on a budget, I tend to go with SFP since it dies not suffer the POI drift like FFP.
Someone told me that holdovers are not that hard with SFP if I stick with magnification levels that are easy multiples or easy divisors of the magnification level at which the reticle is indexed. For example, if the reticle is indexed at 10x, then I use half as much hold at 5x, twice as much hold at 20x, etc. I haven’t tried it yet though. My 4-14x is indexed at 10x, so I plan to work up my holdovers at 8x for easy application at 4x, 8x, and 12x.
Another issue with FFP is that the bottom of the holdover tree can drop out of the field of view at higher magnification. Using an airgun at 100 yards can involve a lot of holdover at exactly the time you want to use a high magnification. Depends on the airgun power.
Someone told me that holdovers are not that hard with SFP if I stick with magnification levels that are easy multiples or easy divisors of the magnification level at which the reticle is indexed. For example, if the reticle is indexed at 10x, then I use half as much hold at 5x, twice as much hold at 20x, etc. I haven’t tried it yet though. My 4-14x is indexed at 10x, so I plan to work up my holdovers at 8x for easy application at 4x, 8x, and 12x.
Another issue with FFP is that the bottom of the holdover tree can drop out of the field of view at higher magnification. Using an airgun at 100 yards can involve a lot of holdover at exactly the time you want to use a high magnification. Depends on the airgun power.
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Yep, I agree with Arzrover and others, Athlon Midas TAC is "THE" FFP scope to have in that/it's price range!
I'm itching to try the new Gen2 Athlon Ares BTR 4.5-27x50! It's got improved controls, stainless steel turret assembly, new glass prescription, and has an all .2 mil reticle. 25Y minimum focus though, which works fine for the firearms and larger caliber air rifles.
Pewpew, most of my AG's have from 3.4 to 4.5 mils of drop at 100Y so there is ample reticle holdover in most FFP scopes at highest magnification. I haven't noticed any POI shifting if comparing SFP to FFP. I think in that aspect it comes down to the quality of the scope more than anything else. More often than not I see POI shifts because of the gun or using cheap rings.
I have a SFP 4-16 mildot scope on one of my rifles so I can see the reticle well on 4x but when I use holdovers I sometimes forget to put it on 10x since I'm so used to FFP. Yes that's user error but with FFP I don't need to think, just shoot.
I'm itching to try the new Gen2 Athlon Ares BTR 4.5-27x50! It's got improved controls, stainless steel turret assembly, new glass prescription, and has an all .2 mil reticle. 25Y minimum focus though, which works fine for the firearms and larger caliber air rifles.
Pewpew, most of my AG's have from 3.4 to 4.5 mils of drop at 100Y so there is ample reticle holdover in most FFP scopes at highest magnification. I haven't noticed any POI shifting if comparing SFP to FFP. I think in that aspect it comes down to the quality of the scope more than anything else. More often than not I see POI shifts because of the gun or using cheap rings.
I have a SFP 4-16 mildot scope on one of my rifles so I can see the reticle well on 4x but when I use holdovers I sometimes forget to put it on 10x since I'm so used to FFP. Yes that's user error but with FFP I don't need to think, just shoot.
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Great discussion.
I really miss the Leupold 6.5-20. Glass was so clear, but damn duplex reticle.
What's the min focus distance on the Midas TAC? Checked the specs, but not listed.
Thanks,
Bill
Michigan
I really miss the Leupold 6.5-20. Glass was so clear, but damn duplex reticle.
What's the min focus distance on the Midas TAC? Checked the specs, but not listed.
Thanks,
Bill
Michigan
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If using holdover, the POI on an SFP scope moves down the reticle at higher magnifications, and that POI will eventually drop off the field of view. So the problem of insufficient holdover at high magnification is present in both FFP and SFP scopes.
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Look at the Aztec's. I have a FFP and love it. I looked and did research and this scope has some very good reviews from some of the best shooters in the business. Matt Dubber has a great review on Aztec. It also was on the winning gun in 2017 at the extreme benchrest competition I believe. Also after going FFP i will never go back to second focal plane.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ac17QMMD4AY
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ac17QMMD4AY
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I am absolutely addicted to reticle on the Aztec Emerald FFP, this reticle is just right for airgun hunting.
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