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Poor SPR Optic

R

Ronin22

Sergeant of the Hide
Full Member
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Aug 19, 2023
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TX
#1
Lightweight low budget SPR optic? 5.56 77 SMK

Athlon Midas Gen 2 4-16X44: (Just hit market)
athlonoptics.com

MIDAS TAC GEN2 HD 4-16x44 APRS14 FFP MIL - Athlon Optics

Our Midas Tactical Scope line of rifle scopes offer a wide range of features, including HD glass, fully multicoated lenses, and capped windage turrets.
athlonoptics.com athlonoptics.com

Athlon Helos BTR 2-12X42: (C_does favorite)

Helos BTR GEN2 2-12x42 FFP IR MIL | DMR Scope

A wide range field of view with ample magnification. A DMR scope ideally suited for riflemen preferring a MIL based reticle option.
athlonoptics.com athlonoptics.com

or?
 
#5
The Helos would be the one, but for the fact that I've got a RDS for everything within 300yds. The scope would be for 300-800, so I think the reticle in the Midas would suit me better. Either way, Cameraland is getting the sale.

ETA: After watching the c_does review, that thin crosshair in the 4-16 would piss me off. Then the exit pupil at max power would have me even more pissed.
 
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#6
I like Athlons products, in my opinion, they do the best job with Chinese made optics.
For some reason, they have a good reticle in moa version of the and a very poor, accuracy wise, reticle in mil version in the 2-12.
The aiming point is a huge dot that subtends more than an inch at 100 yards.
If your goal is an sort of precision, then that isn't the reticle for you.
Swampfox makes a very similar 2-12, I don't think it has a zero stop.
The Midas tac is an excellent scope, sadly no illumination. I'm a big fan of them, especially the 4-16.
I have the Midas HMR HD, which is a SFP scope in MOA. I'm not an MOA guy, so I am gifting it to my son in law, however, I find it to be an excellent scope. I like the reticle design (except for the moa thing), it has very good illumination. the only downside is no zero stop, some folks don't like the capped turret, but I'm okay with that. It has REALLY good glass and the power range, 2.5-15 is perfect for a DMR.
 
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#7
fdkay said:
I like Athlons products, in my opinion, they do the best job with Chinese made optics.
For some reason, they have a good reticle in moa version of the and a very poor, accuracy wise, reticle in mil version in the 2-12.
The aiming point is a huge dot that subtends more than an inch at 100 yards.
If your goal is an sort of precision, then that isn't the reticle for you.
Swampfox makes a very similar 2-12, I don't think it has a zero stop.
The Midas tac is an excellent scope, sadly no illumination. I'm a big fan of them, especially the 4-16.
I have the Midas HMR HD, which is a SFP scope in MOA. I'm not an MOA guy, so I am gifting it to my son in law, however, I find it to be an excellent scope. I like the reticle design (except for the moa thing), it has very good illumination. the only downside is no zero stop, some folks don't like the capped turret, but I'm okay with that. It has REALLY good glass and the power range, 2.5-15 is perfect for a DMR.
Click to expand...
That big dot is the main reason I went with the Ares 2.5-15 over the 2-12 for my Aero M5. It has a .06 mil crosshairs and works well enough on the low end although not perfect. I might end up getting the 2-12 for my SPR later on because I think it might fit that purpose ok, but I’m still on the fence about it.
 
#9
DM1975 said:
That big dot is the main reason I went with the Ares 2.5-15 over the 2-12 for my Aero M5. It has a .06 mil crosshairs and works well enough on the low end although not perfect. I might end up getting the 2-12 for my SPR later on because I think it might fit that purpose ok, but I’m still on the fence about it.
Click to expand...
Yeah, that's too fine for me.
 
#12
I think it’s important to point out that the reticle in the c_does video is a .04 mil thick APRS2 reticle and not the APRS14 with the .06 thickness that the one you linked has unless it’s a different video that I’m not finding.

You might still find it too thin but for me it’s decent enough for most things at 2.5 and very useable at 4x.
 
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#14
If you want to easily see the reticle for fast shooting then the HG2 is awesome for that. Often what ends up happening is people will put this scope on mid power so the dot doesn't appear as large and the FOV is wider. I love this scope and reticle personally and use it foremost for shooting on steel fast.
I've have quite a few stories of good times and success with this scope in varied match scenarios on different guns with other competitors using a huge array of all kinds of different brands and mag ranges and this scope didn't hold me back much on some and was definitely beneficial in others.
Sure I can think of improvements for a G3 version but this scope is just a fun one to have and covers a lot of bases.

The Midas TAC G2 should be an incredible scope based off how nice MT's are anyway and assuming this MT G2 is as well built as my new Ares BTR G3 2.5-15 is. As DM1975 stated, that yes, by 4x the .06 mil reticle can be made out pretty good.
I use 15x quite a bit and don't feel .06 mil looks too thick or bothers me at all. I prefer it vs thinner reticles until I get into the 5-25 type of scopes

I found that my H59 reticle at .05 mil thick needed to be around 7-8x to appear the same thickness as the APRS13 reticle in my Ares BTR G3 was at 5x. Basically .06 mil is a step in the right direction for scopes in this mag range.
 
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#15
DM1975 said:
I honestly think a dual focal plain center dot would work really well for this purpose.
Click to expand...
It would but it's difficult for manufacturers to align the reticles on both planes perfectly. I see this a little in my March DFP 1-10 and have read posts of other experiencing the same thing.

The easiest solution is nuclear daylight bright illume in the center of the reticle which for whatever reason(likely cost) is hard to find in less to mid priced scopes.
 
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#16
steve123 said:
It would but it's difficult for manufacturers to align the reticles on both planes perfectly. I see this a little in my March DFP 1-10 and have read posts of other experiencing the same thing.

The easiest solution is nuclear daylight bright illume in the center of the reticle which for whatever reason(likely cost) is hard to find in less to mid priced scopes.
Click to expand...
I agree that daylight bright illumination would solve that issue well.
 
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#17
Another Helos Btr 2-12 user here. Its ok but I dont love everything about it. The center dot is big as mentioned above. The reticle is also very small on 2x. I almost have to use it as a 2.5x-12 or 3x-12 honestly. The illumination is very dim even at the highest setting which also doesn't help.

I got a very good deal on it so that helps but I would not pay full price for it.
 
#18
So, I need to rope it in a bit as to my use. The primary scope will be on 8X or more at any given time. I will engage with my RDS for anything not needing a magnified optic. That RDS eliminates the need to see a FFP reticle at low power. With that said:

1. The Helos BTR 2-12 would be great, but for the RDS. If I didn't have an RDS, I would have bough that scope by now.
2. The Midas Tac Gen 2 is new, and the only thing I have is a review by C_does on the previous gen and that previous gen review didn't make me happy. Is the exit pupil better on max mag with the Gen 2? No clue.
3. I like the Continental 2-12, but it's not in stock anywhere.
4. Ares 2.5-15 Gen 2 exit pupil as stated by @DM1975 is pretty daggum great, and $499 with upgrade to HD glass and $499...hmmm

ETA: Ares Gen 2 2.5-15X50 enroute. Thanks everyone!
 
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#22
I had to use that on the AR15 I bought the Trijicon Credo 2-10 that had 3.9" eye relief. It put the ocular 1/4" in front of the charging handle which is nice to keep the scope out of the way. This Athlon claims the same eye relief. You find the eye relief to be that long?
 
#23
Ronin22 said:
I had to use that on the AR15 I bought the Trijicon Credo 2-10 that had 3.9" eye relief. It put the ocular 1/4" in front of the charging handle which is nice to keep the scope out of the way. This Athlon claims the same eye relief. You find the eye relief to be that long?
Click to expand...
That’s about where I have mine mounted. I haven’t shot mine yet as I have to wait for this snow to go away and for it to dry up some before I can drive across the pasture to my range. In testing with it if I’m squared up on it standing behind the tripod I have to bring the stock in one click. In the prone it’s perfect at full extension. I mainly went with the mount because I like Seekins and also wanted 20moa. I know I don’t “need” 20moa with it but I wanted to keep the travel all in the middle and off the bottom end when I do stretch it out. I’m also a pretty big guy (6-02) so you’re placement might be different.

IMG_8550.jpeg
 
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#24
DM1975 said:
That’s about where I have mine mounted. I haven’t shot mine yet as I have to wait for this snow to go away and for it to dry up some before I can drive across the pasture to my range. In testing with it if I’m squared up on it standing behind the tripod I have to bring the stock in one click. In the prone it’s perfect at full extension. I mainly went with the mount because I like Seekins and also wanted 20moa. I know I don’t “need” 20moa with it but I wanted to keep the travel all in the middle and off the bottom end when I do stretch it out. I’m also a pretty big guy (6-02) so you’re placement might be different.

View attachment 8623082
Click to expand...
That's daggum perfect!
 
#25
I sat on that rifle for 3 years without an optic. Never could decide. Then I took about three months or so of really searching and another month of contemplating before I got this one. Budget was a huge consideration but I think I made the right choice. Reticle was the other big one. I’ll probably get another one soon to replace that junky ass Leupold Mk3hd 3-9 on my SPR.
 
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#26
DM1975 said:
I sat on that rifle for 3 years without an optic. Never could decide. Then I took about three months or so of really searching and another month of contemplating before I got this one. Budget was a huge consideration but I think I made the right choice. Reticle was the other big one. I’ll probably get another one soon to replace that junky ass Leupold Mk3hd 3-9 on my SPR.
Click to expand...
Oh yes, the struggle can be real. lol
 
#27
Ronin22 said:
Oh yes, the struggle can be real. lol
Click to expand...
I would have gone with the Helos 2-12 as I think it has a good reticle for most things but I couldn’t get over that huge center dot and that full mil worth of open space around it. I’m sure in the end it would have worked fine but it just wasn’t the nit I chose to pick. I grew up hunting varmints and coyotes at night back home in Texas with a duplex and I’m pretty fast with that. I don’t see the need for a big center dot to get on target fast.
 
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#28
DM1975 said:
I would have gone with the Helos 2-12 as I think it has a good reticle for most things but I couldn’t get over that huge center dot and that full mil worth of open space around it. I’m sure in the end it would have worked fine but it just wasn’t the nit I chose to pick. I grew up hunting varmints and coyotes at night back home in Texas with a duplex and I’m pretty fast with that. I don’t see the need for a big center dot to get on target fast.
Click to expand...
That's exactly what I thought too. I have a RDS on the gun for that use. Wanted more precision on the top scope.
My only worry with this scope is the protruding illumination dial. I hope it doesn't get caught up on my gear when in a patrol style two point sling.
 
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#29
I might end up with a red dot on top in the long run but I want to fully try it out on its own at low power first. I’m sure if I can shoot fox running at 10 yards under a red light with a crappy tasco with a duplex or an old K4 at 3-4x then this should be more than useable.
 
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