I am considering one of these 2 for my B14r. I don't shoot any matches yet but would like to get into it. Of these two what do y'all recommend and why. And is there anything else in the same new-used price range as these that I should be looking at. Definaltly want mil. And the higher power range. 25-30x top end
Rifle Scopes Burris XTR 3 Vs Athlon Cronus
- Thread starter jkmccoy11
- Start date
I’ve only got the 3-18 xtr3 to compare to my cronus but I would take the cronus every day, ignoring glass and fixing in the scope and it’s controls and how everything feels.
But the glass goes to the cronus too.
But the glass goes to the cronus too.
My 3-18 XTR3 kinda sucks in glass department, Delta Stryker (very similar to Cronus) is much better.
However I like the turrets and FOV better on the XTR3.
I think I'd go for the XTR3i 5.5-30, glass is meant to be better than the 3-18, even if the Cronus glass is a bit better better the wider FOV, better illumination (main cross only), capped windage and lower profile elevation turret make the Burris a better option IMO.
However I like the turrets and FOV better on the XTR3.
I think I'd go for the XTR3i 5.5-30, glass is meant to be better than the 3-18, even if the Cronus glass is a bit better better the wider FOV, better illumination (main cross only), capped windage and lower profile elevation turret make the Burris a better option IMO.
These are helpful comments for sure. Field of view is important to me. That's one reason I hate the nightforce scopes I have had. How much of a glass quality difference are we talking. Can anyone compare the xtr to another brand of scope.
XTR3 is slightly below the glass quality of the Cronus if center-axis clarity is all you're looking at - XTR3 Pro is ahead of both by a fair margin in center clarity and definitely above the Cronus in FOV, eyebox, off-center CA, etc.
Yes I have owned all 3 and have a significant amount of time behind them. At today's prices, I'd 100% look for a Delta Stryker before a Cronus and I'd rather have the XTR3 Pro than any of them if I could afford it.
Yes I have owned all 3 and have a significant amount of time behind them. At today's prices, I'd 100% look for a Delta Stryker before a Cronus and I'd rather have the XTR3 Pro than any of them if I could afford it.
You probably won't like the Cronus then, FOV isn't horrible and you don't see a huge amount of scope body but it is narrow.
My XTR3 3-18 has very good glass from 3-12, probably similar to the Styker. However from 12-18 the resolution drops off noticeably, probably still on par with scopes like the PST Gen2, so not horrible.
It's more a case of how noticeable it is, if it was a more subtle drop off it would probably be fine.
Sounds like the latter 3i scopes have better glass and the 5.5-30 doesn't have this issue. I intend to pick up a 5.5-30 XTR3i at some stage so my 3-18 experience hasn't put me off buying future XTR scopes.
My Burris XTR-III 5.5-30x56 SCR2 MIL is phenomenal. It might be that "exception" (a freak of nature) that you hear about where you just luck-up and get a REALLY good example of one, but it has some of the best glass I have on any scope in my stable... And that includes Kahles K624i & K318i, Razor Gen3, Zeiss LRP S3, NF ATACR F1, etc...
I don’t have a Cronus and it’s been a long time since I’ve used one and don’t believe it was the current generation.
I do have an XTR3 3.3-18i here (had 4 of them not that long ago) and an Athlon Helos 4-20 which is a much lower end model than the Cronus and that Helos is better is just about every way than the XTR3. I’d say the turrets and reticle design are about equal with the Helos being a little easier to pick up on the low end but everything else goes to the Helos. The magnification, illumination, and parallax controls are smoother and less stiff, the illumination control isn’t like a circular saw blade, the image and glass quality is better, and the image quality doesn’t suffer on the higher magnification like the Burris does.
I couldn’t tell you if the FOV is larger on one or the other though. People like to tout that as an advantage on the Burris but if it is larger it’s not enough to make a noticeable difference in actual use and it certainly doesn’t make up for all of its other shortcomings.
I’d buy the Cronus over the Burris all day if those are the two options. Or a Helos and a case or two of ammo. Or a MK4HD, Bushnell Elite or any one of a number of other optics over an XTR3.
That's because the FOV on the Helos Gen2 is pretty wide, definitely wider than a Cronus.
If your 4 XTR3 3.3-18s were anything like mine then I get why you found them underwhelming.
Did you ever have a 5.5-30 model, that can confirm if glass was better?
I’m big Cronus fan. I’ve had a couple of the gen1 BTRs and have had zero complaints. Good reticle options, great glass and mechanics. I think it’s still the best value in performance per optic dollar.
You should try that new Ares BTR G3 2.5-15x50 because it's such a killer scope for the price. Compared to the HG2 4-20 it's more refined in just about every way, almost daylight bright illume, and it has better IQ. Also the turrets are even nicer than the ETR's are and maybe better than the CG2 in that they are lower profile and wider.
Spending $800 on a Chinese scope is a hard pass for me. With the rumors about Athlon holding the chronos that dealers and customers have paid for so they don’t have to eat the higher tariffs I’m probably done buying anything Athlon moving forward.
Hadn't heard that. Are you sure they just didn't run out of stock and were waiting until the next shipment?? I've seen this more than a few times over the years with their scopes, some of which are sold out quickly, maybe even before the shipment arrives.
The 3-18xtr is a good scope for $750-900 which is what I have paid for mine. The 5-30xtr is fantastic for the money, great for sub $1k and probably worth the MSRP than the 3-18.
The Pro is my favorite and best glass but not far ahead of the XTR3 5-30. Worth $2200, no but again great for $12-1500 you can pick them up for.
The Pro is my favorite and best glass but not far ahead of the XTR3 5-30. Worth $2200, no but again great for $12-1500 you can pick them up for.
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