Rifle Scopes Burris XTR ii 3-15 x 50mm or Athlon Midas Tac 4-16x44?

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rmantoo

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Aug 31, 2014
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#1
I am trying to decide between the following 2 scopes: Burris XTR ii 3-15 x 50mm or Athlon Midas Tac 4-16x44? The Burris is used, and the Athlon is new...

They're the same price.

This will most likely go on a 6.5 Grendel Ar w/a 22" barrel. Currently shooting it intermediate ranges with a REALLY OLD Tasco 3-9...so anything will be an improvement, but want to work on longer ranges, mostly steel, 600-900 yards. Daylight only. Probably won't do any competition type shoots with this, just for fun.


What do you guys think?
 
#5
bschneiderheinze said:
Athlon is way clearer than the Burris XTR II I had. I just bought another one of the Ares BTR on sale
Click to expand...

That's the 1 thing I keep going back to: I've read several posts where people were comparing the XTR to much higher dollar scopes, and saying the XTR was clearer... and then there are just about as many saying the Athlon is clearer...

it's just that the cheap part of me (I've only ever purchased I think 2 or 3 new firearms out of well over 150 in the last 30 years) says buy used and get a good deal... but the Ares BTR simply don't come up used at decent prices... the only 1 that's used on ebay right now is $612, buy it now, lol.

I'm Robert Williams, and am a bargainoholic. There, I"ve admitted it.
 
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#6
rmantoo said:
That's the 1 thing I keep going back to: I've read several posts where people were comparing the XTR to much higher dollar scopes, and saying the XTR was clearer... and then there are just about as many saying the Athlon is clearer...

it's just that the cheap part of me (I've only ever purchased I think 2 or 3 new firearms out of well over 150 in the last 30 years) says buy used and get a good deal... but the Ares BTR simply don't come up used at decent prices... the only 1 that's used on ebay right now is $612, buy it now, lol.

I'm Robert Williams, and am a bargainoholic. There, I"ve admitted it.
Click to expand...

$550 from Doug (linked a couple of posts above).

ILya
 
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#9
Wow. I'm honestly surprised: even after all the good reviews of the Athlon in general and Ares specifically, I really thought more -or some- would really prefer the Burris.

Ordered an Ares today. Thanks, guys!
 
#10
rmantoo said:
Wow. I'm honestly surprised: even after all the good reviews of the Athlon in general and Ares specifically, I really thought more -or some- would really prefer the Burris.

Ordered an Ares today. Thanks, guys!
Click to expand...

With all product lines, some models acquit themselves better than others. With XTR II scopes, I really like the 1-8x24, 2-10x42 and 4-20x50. 3-15x50, in my opinion, is not quite as good. Given that, and since Ares BTR is on a major sale, this was kind of a no-brainer.

ILya
 
#11
I have both the Burris XTR II 3-15 and the Ares ETR and BTR. Glass wise, the ETR > BTR. The BTR is slightly better than the Burris. Construction wise, I find the Burris way more meaty / tanky. I love the turrets on the Burris. The internals / zooming just make it feel very reliable, whereas the BTR I don't know how well it'll hold up, but at least there's a lifetime warranty on it.

Even with the grease/o-ring removed on the BTR, they're no where as nice as what I like from the XTR II turrets.

My ETR had a defect in the glass, like some sort of smudge on the inside. After 20x, there was a faint smudge like effect about 2mil up and 2 mil to the right. Got a 1-day shipping form to Athlon... we'll see what they say, hopefully their CS is as good as they claim... otherwise that Vortex sale on euro optic might be the right deal...
 
#13
littlepod said:
I have both the Burris XTR II 3-15 and the Ares ETR and BTR. Glass wise, the ETR > BTR. The BTR is slightly better than the Burris. Construction wise, I find the Burris way more meaty / tanky. I love the turrets on the Burris. The internals / zooming just make it feel very reliable, whereas the BTR I don't know how well it'll hold up, but at least there's a lifetime warranty on it.

Even with the grease/o-ring removed on the BTR, they're no where as nice as what I like from the XTR II turrets.

My ETR had a defect in the glass, like some sort of smudge on the inside. After 20x, there was a faint smudge like effect about 2mil up and 2 mil to the right. Got a 1-day shipping form to Athlon... we'll see what they say, hopefully their CS is as good as they claim... otherwise that Vortex sale on euro optic might be the right deal...
Click to expand...

Quick follow up, Athlon CS got me back a new scope really quickly. Both my Ares ETR and my BTR have been running great between my 308 and 22LR and haven't lost any zero and tracks great.
 
#14
Monstershot said:
Ilya, what would you recommend between the Burris XTR II 2-10x42 and the Athlon Ares 2.5-15?
Click to expand...

That's a tough call. Magnification ranges are different and reticles are different.

If you dial elevation and hold for wind, for the XTR II.

If you prefer to use a reticle tree for everything, go with Ares BTR.

I prefer the turrets on the Burris and it is an exceedingly robust scope. G2B reticle, while looking a bit archaic, works really well for the 2-10x mag range. I think Burris dropped the ball by not offering more reticle in the 2-10x.

Ares BTR does not have the same length of track record, but it seems to hold up OK and it has a modern tree reticle.

Pick what works best for you.

ILya
 
#15
Thanks for that. I’m leaning toward the burlier Burris with the simpler reticle, but am tempted by the higher mag range and mostly the current price tag on the Athlon. I assume glass wise they’re similar and that the Burris could not be considered as twice as good. ($800 vs $400). General purpose optic for a 6.5 Grendel with an 18” barrel.
 
#16
Monstershot said:
Thanks for that. I’m leaning toward the burlier Burris with the simpler reticle, but am tempted by the higher mag range and mostly the current price tag on the Athlon. I assume glass wise they’re similar and that the Burris could not be considered as twice as good. ($800 vs $400). General purpose optic for a 6.5 Grendel with an 18” barrel.
Click to expand...

$400 for AresBTR is a really good deal. Depending on how you use your Grendel that would be hard to pass up.

I really like 3-9x and 2-10x scopes on SPR type find though. I have two SWFA 3-9X42 scopes because of that.

ILya
 
#17
Thanks again for that ILya. After deliberating a bit more, I couldn’t pass up the $699 deal on the Bushnell LRTSi 3-12x44 from CaneralandNY. I think it’ll be just right for my 6.5 Grendel and uses. Seems to get good reviews.
 
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