-
Having trouble using the site?
Contact support
Athlon FFP Helos BTR G2 2-12x42 in hand!
- Thread starter steve123
- Start date
Have been coyote hunting with one on a Kimber longmaster 223 the past 3 weeks. Early sets at daylight and all conditions between. I believe this is my favorite ever scope/reticle for coyote calling. I can't believe they are this good (not to mention, absolutely perfect tracking.............I've raped this thing) Perfect tracking, return to zero, zero retention..............and way, way above the price glass quality, really have you shaking your head.
Best scope since the SWFA 3-9
Best scope since the SWFA 3-9
My 3-9 Super Chicken was kind of a letdown in shitty light conditions in the last 4 minutes of legal shooting time. I didn’t pull the trigger on a huge buck because of it and I mean huge. When he came closer I could make him out better and was kicking myself for not dropping him at 175 yards. I’ve been fooled before. If I’d had my Weaver Super Slam or Nikon Monarch I’d have done the deed. Oh well, that’s what keeps me coming back.
I have high hopes for this Athlon. I wish I’d have bought one when they first dropped so I could have played with it this late summer and fall.
Good to hear you like it and have been flogging it hard. I like Athlon’s stuff. I have a Cronus spotter and a couple Cronus binos. Extremely happy with the quality.
I have high hopes for this Athlon. I wish I’d have bought one when they first dropped so I could have played with it this late summer and fall.
Good to hear you like it and have been flogging it hard. I like Athlon’s stuff. I have a Cronus spotter and a couple Cronus binos. Extremely happy with the quality.
Ive been using one on my deer rifle/coyote rig.
I agree with screaminweasil, its a great optic at a nice price.
watching deer at 600 yards its perfectly clear. if i miss it wouldnt be scopes fault.
I agree with screaminweasil, its a great optic at a nice price.
watching deer at 600 yards its perfectly clear. if i miss it wouldnt be scopes fault.
Waiting to find out if anyone will be selling these on Black Friday.
Ready to pounce on a good deal.
Ready to pounce on a good deal.
I just did a low light test with my one vs my PST Gen1 2.5-10x32, from just before sunset till after dusk.
The Athlon held up ok for about 10-15 minutes after sunset but dropped of relatively quickly after that, watch some cows grazing about 300m away the worst part was not being able to make out the reticle on a dark animal, the lowest level of illumination was way to bright so completelt washed out the image.
The PST eyebox was a bit tighter with both on 10x but with the magnification turned down a bit the image was notably brighter in the PST despite the smaller objective lense. The reticle was easier to make out on against dark animals and the lowest illumination was a lot dimmer and didn't wash the image out like the Athlon.
I know the comparasion to the PST is a slightly odd one being that it's not available to buy anymore and was a more expensive scope, but it's the only scope I have that is similar.
My experience was very similar to beetroots. Glass goes from clear during daylight to okay about 10 minutes after sundown. At the 15 minute mark it’s pretty hard to tell a smaller type buck apart from a doe at 500 yards. And again I’ll say the center dot is to big they should have made that smaller for sure. Other than that it’s holding up well I haven’t been beating on it but it’s definitely been used this season.
I bought another Helos G2 2-12 last month to go on my AR. I think I need one more. These are really great scopes for what I use them for.
I'd like to see a Cronus version that is lighter weight, maybe a 2-14x38. Also a .2 mil dot since some feel the .3 mil dot is too big.
I still think it'd be cool to somehow come up with a 1" tube super lightweight FFp model without all the bells and whistles. Just a great holdover reticle with capped .1 mil turrets and great glass.
I'd like to see a Cronus version that is lighter weight, maybe a 2-14x38. Also a .2 mil dot since some feel the .3 mil dot is too big.
I still think it'd be cool to somehow come up with a 1" tube super lightweight FFp model without all the bells and whistles. Just a great holdover reticle with capped .1 mil turrets and great glass.
Alright, last night was ideal for seeing how good the glass really is. It was very overcast and dark in the woods. Deer were blending in well. I went behind the shed and looked into the hayfield 250 yards out with the scope dismounted from the gun and rested on a hay wagon. This was 30 minutes after sunset which is too late to shoot in WI but would be a good test for coyotes after deer is done. There was a doe and fawn in the field that I could make out with My Cronus binoculars. Through the Helos on 6X they were a dark blob. Increasing magnification made it worse. I was disappointed but expected this as the scope isn’t geared towards hunting and excellent glass. SWFA 3-9 has better glass. The donut of death is nice but the center dot probably should have been .2 mil. I’ll play with it more before I pass judgement completely on the reticle.
I‘ll move it from my XBolt to a 20”AR after rifle season. I’ll probably go back to a light scope and good glass for 400 yards and in for deer hunting around here. I just can’t seem to find what I’m looking for as a crossover thats under $1000. I’d settle for a 6X SWFA with upgraded glass for the shitty weather conditions we always get for half the rifle season. Time to cancel my Athlon Helos order with SWFA they’ve been sitting on for a week and a half. Good thing my wife didn’t need that scope and her issue was shitty ammo from Nosler.
I‘ll move it from my XBolt to a 20”AR after rifle season. I’ll probably go back to a light scope and good glass for 400 yards and in for deer hunting around here. I just can’t seem to find what I’m looking for as a crossover thats under $1000. I’d settle for a 6X SWFA with upgraded glass for the shitty weather conditions we always get for half the rifle season. Time to cancel my Athlon Helos order with SWFA they’ve been sitting on for a week and a half. Good thing my wife didn’t need that scope and her issue was shitty ammo from Nosler.
Finally finished my Grendel pistol build and got some time behind this scope. Eyebox is a little tight at 12x, which is expected, glass is quite good but not amazing, edges have a little distortion, illumination is barely daylight visible, not bright, center dot is good for quick acquisition, not fine accuracy. All in all it's a perfect scope for my application and very good in it's price range.
I just got one of these for my RECCE / SPR and really dig it. I would maybe prefer if the center dot was a bit smaller for paper targets - it’s a .6-.7MOA rifle and a 1MOA dot isn’t ideal for groups. But on the other hand I like that it’s visible at low power, and I think overall it’s a good reticle for the practical uses for which the rifle could ostensibly be used. I do wish the illumination was a bit brighter for emergency close-quarter use, but it’s serviceable. Glass is solid for the $450 I paid, with good clarity and surprisingly little chromatic aberration.
Does anyone know what size butler creek caps it takes?
Does anyone know what size butler creek caps it takes?
Last edited:
I've got a chance to buy one of these for $300. It's tempting even though I like the 4-20 reticle more.
For that price I bet most of us here would pick that thing up. I know I would!
My windage wiggles a tad. The screw for the windage is a little more proud than the elevation screw. I wonder if shortening it up would help? They’re pretty good about answering emails promptly.
I just grabbed my large frame AR in 308 and the Weaver tactical 3-15 (LOW scope) pull up turrets wiggle a tad also.
Edit: Nevermind, just ordered some Butler Creek caps for the time being.
Curious if anyone has a good flip cap recommendation other than MK Machine? I ordered a set of those for my Cronos but the wait was quite long and I'd like to get something available asap. Mine came in last week and I haven't had a chance to use it in the field yet. Was actually hoping it'd be a bit smaller but I'm simply using for load development on rifles where lower powered optics usually reside.
Curious if anyone has a good flip cap recommendation other than MK Machine? I ordered a set of those for my Cronos but the wait was quite long and I'd like to get something available asap. Mine came in last week and I haven't had a chance to use it in the field yet. Was actually hoping it'd be a bit smaller but I'm simply using for load development on rifles where lower powered optics usually reside.
Last edited:
I just mounted the Mil version on my T3x .243 to try out this season. It’s mounted in Sportsmatch TO84 rings, and the package weighs in at 8lbs even. The windage knob is large and the scope is low enough empties can hit it and land back in the chamber. I removed the recoil pin and slid everything slightly forward to alleviate this issue (I tried it on another railed Tikka in low rings without issue). I’ve had a SHV 3-10x on this rifle for the last four years, (it’s been reliable as rain and isn’t going anywhere), and this year will be my first time trying a FFP scope on a dedicated hunting rifle.
Well, you all finally convinced me that these are legit. I just ordered four to go on a few new bolt guns and upgrade a few other SFP topped ARs. I'll be curious to see what sample variation, if any, exists in these once I get them.
I'd love one these, but a 0.3 mil floating dot past 2-300, yards is piss poor for precision work on a hunting gun. These should have been offered with another reticle choice making it a true hunting optic.
I understand that complaint entirely. For me, none of the rifles I'm going to use these on are impacted by that limitation.
I had one of these (sold due not impressed with glass) and found the center dot to not really be an issue for precious work.
Reticle was fairly easy to see on low power, I thought it was a dead fairly good crossover reticle.
Curious as to what you think could be improved to make reticle better for hunting.
Who wants to use that big a center dot, at 500-600y the aim point would nearly cover the entire vertical body of a coyote. Idk its very coarse, more fitting a 1-8, not a 2-12 optic I feel. The trijicon 2-10, and 2.5-15 have a finer reticle. There was a bushnell nitro 3-12, lrhs 3-12, the mil based 2 or 3 base to 12X or 15X max scope with a good ffp mil reticle are almost non existent anymore.
If one were so inclined, using the top of the dot for an aim point is more than doable as to not obstruct any of the target. Just a thought.
I have one of theses on an AR for varmint eradication out to and including 250ish yards and find no fault.
At 600 yards, the dot is large and your point is valid.
I have one of theses on an AR for varmint eradication out to and including 250ish yards and find no fault.
At 600 yards, the dot is large and your point is valid.
I put the mil 2-12 version on my 6.5 creedmoor deer rifle and sighting in was a bit weird since i put 3/4" orange stickers on 8 1/2×11 paper and the center dot completely covers the sticker. It just makes it a bit tougher to be a tack driver.... but on deer, it is a fantastic reticle. I never put the battery in, and without illumination it was super easy to see 30 minutes after sunset. I don't think it would be a problem on our minnesota deer out to 500 yard and just a bit cumbersome but doable at 600. But at 200 yards on 4 power at 30 minutes past sunset... fantastic! I took a zeiss v4 conquest 4-16 x44 off this rifle to test it out, and i don't think it is going back on.
I still think my favorite $1000 or so scope for hunting is my burris veracity 3-15 x50 e1 FFP... i just wish they had a mil hunting reticle.
I still think my favorite $1000 or so scope for hunting is my burris veracity 3-15 x50 e1 FFP... i just wish they had a mil hunting reticle.
Been a while since I've viewed this thread.
If you guys are like me - I haven't found a perfect scope yet!!! Everything is a trade off, right?!.
I have a SWFA 3-15 FFP. Glass is dismal, reticle is ok. Do I use it at 3x?, nope, and most of the time its on 15x. No illume, turrets feel not that great, has held up for the last 7 years. I keep it because I like to compare it to other scopes and it focuses down to 7Y.
Had a Athlon Helos G2 1-10. It didn't work well for my old eyes - long story that I won't go into detail about but it worked fine for my younger friends. Had a Athlon Midas 1-6, pretty good but 6x max isn't my thing. Edit, I had a Burris 1-8 FFP as well, glass was kinda wonky and the longer I owned it the more annoying it got?? Man 8X wasn't cutting it for me either but it was a decent 3 gun match scope on 1x.
Traded into a March DFP 1-10 compact. Neat scope, well built, lots to like, but I don't use it very much. After using it for long range I do know I prefer 12x to 10x and also I hardly ever use 1x.
Had a Bushnell LRHS 3-12, a NF 2.5-10, a NF 3.5-15 F1, a Ares 2.5-15, and Midas TAC 4-16. There are things I can complain about with all these scopes as well.
I can't remember if I put it in this thread but I didn't have a problem connecting on a 19" tall x 21" wide steel plate at 1122Y a year or so ago with my 6mmFatRat and the HG2 2-12.
For the money and for what I need a scope like this for the HG2 2-12 is still my #1 choice. Suffice it to say I'm happy with my two HG2 2-12's. Not one problem so far.
Ha, I put one on my Pistol Field Target/PFT pcp airgun and won our state match with it last year. I really do like this scope!
I named it the PURP = Purple(PU)/Reign(R)/Pistol(P). Or affectionately called THE PERP just because its a funny looking and quite a serious offender, lol.
Rifle version in top pic with March 5-42 and converted to THE PERP in lower pic.
If you guys are like me - I haven't found a perfect scope yet!!! Everything is a trade off, right?!.
I have a SWFA 3-15 FFP. Glass is dismal, reticle is ok. Do I use it at 3x?, nope, and most of the time its on 15x. No illume, turrets feel not that great, has held up for the last 7 years. I keep it because I like to compare it to other scopes and it focuses down to 7Y.
Had a Athlon Helos G2 1-10. It didn't work well for my old eyes - long story that I won't go into detail about but it worked fine for my younger friends. Had a Athlon Midas 1-6, pretty good but 6x max isn't my thing. Edit, I had a Burris 1-8 FFP as well, glass was kinda wonky and the longer I owned it the more annoying it got?? Man 8X wasn't cutting it for me either but it was a decent 3 gun match scope on 1x.
Traded into a March DFP 1-10 compact. Neat scope, well built, lots to like, but I don't use it very much. After using it for long range I do know I prefer 12x to 10x and also I hardly ever use 1x.
Had a Bushnell LRHS 3-12, a NF 2.5-10, a NF 3.5-15 F1, a Ares 2.5-15, and Midas TAC 4-16. There are things I can complain about with all these scopes as well.
I can't remember if I put it in this thread but I didn't have a problem connecting on a 19" tall x 21" wide steel plate at 1122Y a year or so ago with my 6mmFatRat and the HG2 2-12.
For the money and for what I need a scope like this for the HG2 2-12 is still my #1 choice. Suffice it to say I'm happy with my two HG2 2-12's. Not one problem so far.
Ha, I put one on my Pistol Field Target/PFT pcp airgun and won our state match with it last year. I really do like this scope!
I named it the PURP = Purple(PU)/Reign(R)/Pistol(P). Or affectionately called THE PERP just because its a funny looking and quite a serious offender, lol.
Rifle version in top pic with March 5-42 and converted to THE PERP in lower pic.
Last edited:
So, how would you compare specifically the NF NXS 2.5-10x to the Athlon 2-12x (besides the fact the NXS is SFP)? I'm in the market for an optic in this range, but surprised to find someone recommending this scope over the NF. The NF gets good reviews elsewhere including for the MIL-R reticle which has a finer crosshair reticle to address the issue that the Athlon's dot is too large.
There are lots of diffrent reasons someone chooses a scope. I see the Athlon 2-12 for as little as 450 new. The Nightforce 2.5-10 is about 1600 new. Clearly Steve said "for the money and for what I need." I don't remember my NF having parallax adjustment which would be a no go on an air rifle. I sold mine because I wanted FFP. It was a great scope and I definitely regret selling to buy a POS first Gen Cronus.
I understand the "for the money" argument definitely, and wanting FFP. The NF NXS 2.5-10x42 has parallax adjustment ( https://www.nightforceoptics.com/riflescopes/nxs/nxs-25-10x42-compact/ ).
My impression from the line I quoted from Steve is that he says "there are things I can complain about with all these scopes as well", including the NXS. So, interested to hear what those things are, besides the price difference and the fact NXS is SFP.
Mine was the NightForce 2.5-10×24. That was around 14 years ago that I owned it. Back then the IQ in these was only decent at best and I'd put this HG2 2-12 at least equal to it in that regard.
Although I like the quality in my HG2 2-12's a lot we'd hope the NF is built to a higher standard.
At the time I was still learning about scopes. My NF was SFP and had a BDC reticle. I made it work for holdovers and would dial if need be but normally I didn't shoot past 600y.
The HG2 2-12 is FFP in mil and has that big dot and circle in the reticle. It's more like a scope I want to shoot fast with kinda like a RD but still works for precision on steel or for hunting.
This reticle is very polarizing. Some people hate it and some love it, lol.
Turrets wise there's no contest. The NF had a low amount of travel per turn in the turrets and no revolution indicator so I'd get lost on where I was at sometimes. Kind of mushy to.
The HG2 2-12 has super nice locking 10 mil turrets and a ZS.
I dial for long range and often get first round hits so it tracks well out to our 1122y steel which is as far as I've gone with it.
Oh and of course I appreciate the 10y close focus on the HG2 2-12.
Last edited:
The dot in the HG2 2-12 is a hair more than moa at .3 mil.
Most stock rifles including the semi auto's don't even do moa at 100y and worse the farther away the bullet gets.
My AR's are around .8" at 100y and by 300y are getting as big as the dot. So I know that my bullet will hit inside the dot somewhere which is fun to me.
The edge of the dot is a good hold spot for low wind farther out.
Let's face it, this isn't a target scope, it's for picking up the reticle quickly and shooting at medium sized to larger steel and hunting. MPVO....
Most stock rifles including the semi auto's don't even do moa at 100y and worse the farther away the bullet gets.
My AR's are around .8" at 100y and by 300y are getting as big as the dot. So I know that my bullet will hit inside the dot somewhere which is fun to me.
The edge of the dot is a good hold spot for low wind farther out.
Let's face it, this isn't a target scope, it's for picking up the reticle quickly and shooting at medium sized to larger steel and hunting. MPVO....
^Fair/detailed response, thanks. I guess the useful update for me was that the NF you're comparing to was a 14-year-old NF, not the current NF NXS 2.5-10x42 model. Other than the fact the new one is SFP and more than twice the cost, I'd bet if you had a chance to compare the NF today, you might like it a lot better. I hear a lot of good things about this optic as one of the few 10X Mil-based hunting/DMR-type optics with parallax adjustment.
Sorry if I missed this in earlier posts but how does the hg2 2-12 compare to the primary arms glx 2.5-10 mil grid?
I know this is an older thread but there isn’t much consolation of info about this scope so I’ll add to it.
To the poster above if I had to pick the helos 2-12 or the NF 2-10x42 I’m picking the Helos. I’m going to sound crazy but the helos is clearer, easier to get behind and has an easier reticle to pick up against the trees.
As for my overall impression of the scope. I love it. I can’t find anything to replace it with. The only reason I would is because it’s one of the best SPR scopes I’ve used and I would prefer a Japanese build at the least.
But speaking on durability I’ve had this scope on a gun that goes everywhere with me. Tossed in my truck, seat of the gator, strapped to me or on the rack on the atv. I do not baby it. It’s been in the rain and cold. It’s not given me any issue other than the rubber around the ocular lens slipped off and I just super glued it back. And lastly the numbers on the parallax mean nothing. Adjust till clear.
Athlon if your reading this. Shrink center dot for the dial folk, add one more lower and one higher illumination, illuminate only the center ring and dot, make it jap glass, give us a built in throw lever and get it closer to 20oz and for 1500 I’ll buy two today. Or leave it as is, Japanese glass and for 1000 I’ll buy them
To the poster above if I had to pick the helos 2-12 or the NF 2-10x42 I’m picking the Helos. I’m going to sound crazy but the helos is clearer, easier to get behind and has an easier reticle to pick up against the trees.
As for my overall impression of the scope. I love it. I can’t find anything to replace it with. The only reason I would is because it’s one of the best SPR scopes I’ve used and I would prefer a Japanese build at the least.
But speaking on durability I’ve had this scope on a gun that goes everywhere with me. Tossed in my truck, seat of the gator, strapped to me or on the rack on the atv. I do not baby it. It’s been in the rain and cold. It’s not given me any issue other than the rubber around the ocular lens slipped off and I just super glued it back. And lastly the numbers on the parallax mean nothing. Adjust till clear.
Athlon if your reading this. Shrink center dot for the dial folk, add one more lower and one higher illumination, illuminate only the center ring and dot, make it jap glass, give us a built in throw lever and get it closer to 20oz and for 1500 I’ll buy two today. Or leave it as is, Japanese glass and for 1000 I’ll buy them
I love for the form and idea behind the 2-12, however the guys over on rokslide drop tests optics. The install on a rifle, zero the optic, confirm tracking, and rtz. After, the drop the rifle/scope onto a padded matt, each side and top from 9" 18" and 36" to simulate if you were to drop or impact the rifle/scope in the field. This tests the optics ability to hold zero. They've tested a LOT of optics with the same protocol and procedures. This particular scope failed(severely) on the drop test and didn't track properly prior to the drop test. I was going to get one for a hunting rifle prior to their findings. I'm rough on stuff and need a scope that holds zero. The nxs 2.5-10 didn't have these problems. I have not tested this scope as I was too reluctant to purchase, but these were the results of sample 1 of 1. Your sample may be better from a durability stand point.
Athlon Helos BTR Gen2, 2-12x42mm Field Eval
This is a field evaluation of the Athlon Helos BTR Gen 2, 2-12x42mm scope. This scope was handed to me from from Ryan Avery for evaluation. It was sent to him from a forum member. The ammunition used was Hornady Black 168gr AMAX that was purchased by Ryan. The 20 round proof group was just over...
rokslide.com
Interesting. I check my zero a few times a year and don’t have the issue shown there but I’m a sample size of one. However I can see the possibility. It’s a sub 500 scope with ALOT of features made in china. And its reliability potential is my biggest concern.
Let’s hope in 24 companies take notice and give us what we want.
Let’s hope in 24 companies take notice and give us what we want.
I'd like to see Meopta come out with something. They have a few that are oh so close in their R1 line. My 3-18 is exceptional albeit on the large side. Exceptionally bright and clear though and is my favorite scope to get behind.
Haven't noticed any tracking errors with my Athlon either. I'll have to test it today. Gets bounced around between rifles quite a bit which is why I may not have noticed.
Haven't noticed any tracking errors with my Athlon either. I'll have to test it today. Gets bounced around between rifles quite a bit which is why I may not have noticed.
Similar threads
