Rifle Scopes Athlon Midas BTR quick review

[patriot07]

Picked one up from Doug on major sale ($250) recently. I own/have used some cheap and expensive scopes ($100-$3k), and I have to say that the Midas BTR is really a nice scope for the money. I got the 2.5-15 version. It's SFP, but that's not a major issue using it on my 10/22. It's got the best glass I've seen in the sub-$500 price range, I like the reticle, the eyebox is good, and the turrets are even pretty nice for something in this range. Parallax adjustment is easy and it's just generally a very easy scope to use and look through.

I know it's not a sexy scope being SFP and made in China, and I haven't tested tracking yet, but I am really, really pleasantly surprised after first impressions.

 

[spife7980]

Me too, not bad at all for 250!

 

[Singleshot]

In terms of overall quality, what would you compare it to? PST gen 1? Etc...

 

[patriot07]

In terms of overall quality, what would you compare it to? PST gen 1? Etc...

It's better than PST1 in terms of build quality. I think PST2 is fair. PST2 is made in Philippines and this is China, but I don't see a world of difference in quality. Only had it a few weeks though, although I only had my PST2 about that long as well.

Glass quality is tough to say because I haven't used a ton of scopes in the mid price range (more than $200 but less than $700). I think this is better than the PST 1 scopes that I've seen, maybe a hair better than the SWFA 3-15 that I had (glass quality only - not build quality), a good bit better than the lower-level Athlon scopes I've used (Talos, etc.). Glass quality, they're as good or better than most everything I've seen before getting to PST2 3-15 at $800-ish. PST2 is definitely better, but it's a different animal being FFP, made in Philippines, and 3x-4x the price.

 

[Cfshooter]

I just mounted and sighted in an Argos and I am liking it. Wish I could get a Midas for $250 now also. The Athlon line seems like a bargain right now.

 

[gr8fuldoug]

We sold out of the Midas BTR 2.5-15's, however, we do have some of the Athlon Midas BTR 1-6x24 - ATSR1 SFP IR MOA for only $219.99

 

[Mooseknuckles]

I have bought two of the athlon Midas btr’s. I bought a 2.5x15 moa and a 4.5x27 mil. The 2.5x15 glass was very good and turrets were decent, the glass on the 4.5x27 is good in the low end but gets a little hazy on the upper end. The turrets on the 4.5x27 are kinda disappointing. They seem to track true but they are a little mushy and are not very audible. I have cleaned the grease out and put light grease in them still the same.
Overall seem to decent for the price I got them from Doug for.

 

[Areeves08]

I agree 100%. I should have bought 5 instead of 2 from Doug.

 

[DaleGribble82]

I used my BTR-1-6x24-ATSR1-SFP-IR-MOA this week, and I was highly impressed. Purchased it about a week ago from Doug. It worked great for me glass was easily on par with a PST. Had no problems getting it zeroed. Rain water beaded off the glass with ease. Very good value to be had with the Athlon optics. They may be made in China, but so the hell is everything else we buy in this country.

Hope to shoot some matches with it in the spring and really put it to the test. It definitely did its job this past week though. So far no complaints other than it does not ship with any scope caps or a rubber eye cover for lense protection.

 

[A-Rob]

I had 2 BTR's that I ended up selling, but I had to get one of the 2.5-15's when they went on sale. They are a ton of value for the price.

 

[steve123]

Even the Argos SFP 4-16x40 I bought is decent for the money, it was a $169 scope IIRC, I paid less so it was a great value.

Now if I could only remember to put it on 10x for holdovers, lol.