Just a warning to EVERYONE based on my own FIRST HAND EXPERIENCE here.
I have had my first top of the line Athlon Cronus BTR 4.5-29x56 that had a defective illuminated reticle which only lights up 2/3's of the reticle while the other lower left hand portion is really dim ever since it was brand new straight out of it's box and dealer told me they got lifetime warranty so don't worry just send it in and wasn't purchased from a return friendly dealer OBVIOUSLY.
Denied warranty for a brand spanking new never used UNmounted (NEVER BEEN MOUNTED) top of the line Athlon Cronus BTR 4.5-29x56 straight out of the box.
Athlon warranty and customer service manager higher up in charge stated within specs and not a factory defect based on design SOME percentage in their sample lots NEW MODELS and OLDER Cronus BTRs WILL have this noticeable dead spot in lack of illumination and to then it's TOTALLY NORMAL to have some Cronus BTR G1 and newer G2s with this very noticeable issue AND they will NEVER EVER (specific up front quote by manager) exchange them for brand new replacements as long as reticle illumination turns on regardless if it's dark on one portion and even if it's like this brand new straight out of their boxes. The Athlon sent in for warranty has to be obviously defective due to manufacture defect and not abused or dropped and that manager even stated they are NOT LIKE VORTEX REGARDING WARRANTY EXCHANGES FOR BRAND NEW SCOPES (UNQUOTE). Found out first hand the hard way. Illuminated reticles with deadbor dark spots or non consistent illumination over entire reticle aren't considered a manufacture defect.
I asked how about the Ares BTR Gen 2 and Midas Tac scopes which are my all time Athlon brand favorites what about if they have defective illuminated reticles? He said they won't because only the Cronus BTR line both new and old has this very obvious dark spot when the illumination turned on phenomenon at all brightness settings and zero illumination issues with the Chinese Ares BTR Gen 2 since they got a totally different illuminated reticle design and Midas Tac doesn't even have illuminated reticle anyway.
If you're even thinking of buying an Athlon Cronus please be sure to insist the dealer open the sealed box and install battery to check reticle at all illumination settings make damn sure it's perfect not dark on one part of the reticle before shipping otherwise you be stuck with one you won't get warranty exchange on due to illumination defect that Athlon straight out doesn't consider to be defective and will not improve on this obvious manufacturing issue I already asked that manager he said no plans to introduce any improvements nor have any plans for a Gen 3 Cronus at least past 2025.
The other recommendations is that Athlon customer service warranty manager said to buy the Nightforce sunshade for it and go read "snipers hide" for which model Nightforce sunshade and where to buy since I stated my Amazon problems buying several different Athlon factory sunshades multiple times returns and all that did not fit or did not match in color.
They do not have any plans to address the manufacturing issue with illuminated reticle nor improve on the fitment and color of the sunshades since they don't buy their sunshades from same manufacture of their scopes while he stated Nightforce buys the sunshade from same JAPAN manufacture as their scopes that's why they match perfectly no wonder because he even said the Cronus BTR Gen 1 and 2 are in fact made at that exact same Nightforce factory in JAPAN that's why the Nightforce sunshade fits and perfectly matches the Athlon Cronus. He said the genuine Japan sunshade cost too much so they decided to buy from other much cheaper manufacture that's why they don't fit or match perfectly and they have to charge at least $55 for it if they used proper genuine JAPAN OEM for the sunshade. (Strange since the Japan made Nightforce sunshade cost $30.00 MSRP RETAIL regular price when bought direct from Nightforce USA)
At least that higher up Athlon customer service warranty manager said the Ares BTR Gen 2 and Midas Tac no need worry about illumination issues unlike the Cronus BTR Gen 2 if you're one of the unlucky ones with the half side lit illuminated reticle they will not replace under warranty.
Fortunately (for me) the brand new Cronus BTR Gen 2 I received last week illumination is absolutely perfect aside from the unbelievably nearly unmanageable overly stiff turrets and controls with really sharp edges that WILL give everyone blisters if they don't use gloves. The manager even claimed due to Athlon upgrading to all stainless steel internals make everything super tight compared to my older much smoother controls Cronus BTR with illumination issue that's not covered under warranty.
Funny since my much cheaper Chinese made Ares BTR Gen 2s and Midas Tacs also have stainless steel internals too but have way smoother knobs and function that don't give me blisters or peeled bloody skin on my fingers.
Remember that manager outright said WE AREN'T LIKE VORTEX!!!
Better believe it.
I no longer recommend buying the Athlon Cronus BTR Gen 2 or any used Cronus BTR scopes regardless of price. If you get a replacement with a crappy illuminated reticle you're SOL no warranty.
Buy the Ares BTR Gen 2 or Midas Tac instead. Or better yet spend a little extra for an Element Theos around just over $2000 or Black Vortex Razor Gen 3 for $2450 I can guarantee you will be much happier especially with the Vortex Razor Gen 3 where you get absolutely no BS about warranty that's 4 sure. Too bad the new Cronus BTR Gen 2 is clearer than my Tract Toric ELR but the Tract Toric has night and day buttery smoother controls like a perfectly well oiled machine except for the stiff illumination knob.
Why am I not totally surprised since the owners of Athlon used to work for BUSHNELL!!!
I have had my first top of the line Athlon Cronus BTR 4.5-29x56 that had a defective illuminated reticle which only lights up 2/3's of the reticle while the other lower left hand portion is really dim ever since it was brand new straight out of it's box and dealer told me they got lifetime warranty so don't worry just send it in and wasn't purchased from a return friendly dealer OBVIOUSLY.
Denied warranty for a brand spanking new never used UNmounted (NEVER BEEN MOUNTED) top of the line Athlon Cronus BTR 4.5-29x56 straight out of the box.
Athlon warranty and customer service manager higher up in charge stated within specs and not a factory defect based on design SOME percentage in their sample lots NEW MODELS and OLDER Cronus BTRs WILL have this noticeable dead spot in lack of illumination and to then it's TOTALLY NORMAL to have some Cronus BTR G1 and newer G2s with this very noticeable issue AND they will NEVER EVER (specific up front quote by manager) exchange them for brand new replacements as long as reticle illumination turns on regardless if it's dark on one portion and even if it's like this brand new straight out of their boxes. The Athlon sent in for warranty has to be obviously defective due to manufacture defect and not abused or dropped and that manager even stated they are NOT LIKE VORTEX REGARDING WARRANTY EXCHANGES FOR BRAND NEW SCOPES (UNQUOTE). Found out first hand the hard way. Illuminated reticles with deadbor dark spots or non consistent illumination over entire reticle aren't considered a manufacture defect.
I asked how about the Ares BTR Gen 2 and Midas Tac scopes which are my all time Athlon brand favorites what about if they have defective illuminated reticles? He said they won't because only the Cronus BTR line both new and old has this very obvious dark spot when the illumination turned on phenomenon at all brightness settings and zero illumination issues with the Chinese Ares BTR Gen 2 since they got a totally different illuminated reticle design and Midas Tac doesn't even have illuminated reticle anyway.
If you're even thinking of buying an Athlon Cronus please be sure to insist the dealer open the sealed box and install battery to check reticle at all illumination settings make damn sure it's perfect not dark on one part of the reticle before shipping otherwise you be stuck with one you won't get warranty exchange on due to illumination defect that Athlon straight out doesn't consider to be defective and will not improve on this obvious manufacturing issue I already asked that manager he said no plans to introduce any improvements nor have any plans for a Gen 3 Cronus at least past 2025.
The other recommendations is that Athlon customer service warranty manager said to buy the Nightforce sunshade for it and go read "snipers hide" for which model Nightforce sunshade and where to buy since I stated my Amazon problems buying several different Athlon factory sunshades multiple times returns and all that did not fit or did not match in color.
They do not have any plans to address the manufacturing issue with illuminated reticle nor improve on the fitment and color of the sunshades since they don't buy their sunshades from same manufacture of their scopes while he stated Nightforce buys the sunshade from same JAPAN manufacture as their scopes that's why they match perfectly no wonder because he even said the Cronus BTR Gen 1 and 2 are in fact made at that exact same Nightforce factory in JAPAN that's why the Nightforce sunshade fits and perfectly matches the Athlon Cronus. He said the genuine Japan sunshade cost too much so they decided to buy from other much cheaper manufacture that's why they don't fit or match perfectly and they have to charge at least $55 for it if they used proper genuine JAPAN OEM for the sunshade. (Strange since the Japan made Nightforce sunshade cost $30.00 MSRP RETAIL regular price when bought direct from Nightforce USA)
At least that higher up Athlon customer service warranty manager said the Ares BTR Gen 2 and Midas Tac no need worry about illumination issues unlike the Cronus BTR Gen 2 if you're one of the unlucky ones with the half side lit illuminated reticle they will not replace under warranty.
Fortunately (for me) the brand new Cronus BTR Gen 2 I received last week illumination is absolutely perfect aside from the unbelievably nearly unmanageable overly stiff turrets and controls with really sharp edges that WILL give everyone blisters if they don't use gloves. The manager even claimed due to Athlon upgrading to all stainless steel internals make everything super tight compared to my older much smoother controls Cronus BTR with illumination issue that's not covered under warranty.
Funny since my much cheaper Chinese made Ares BTR Gen 2s and Midas Tacs also have stainless steel internals too but have way smoother knobs and function that don't give me blisters or peeled bloody skin on my fingers.
Remember that manager outright said WE AREN'T LIKE VORTEX!!!
Better believe it.
I no longer recommend buying the Athlon Cronus BTR Gen 2 or any used Cronus BTR scopes regardless of price. If you get a replacement with a crappy illuminated reticle you're SOL no warranty.
Buy the Ares BTR Gen 2 or Midas Tac instead. Or better yet spend a little extra for an Element Theos around just over $2000 or Black Vortex Razor Gen 3 for $2450 I can guarantee you will be much happier especially with the Vortex Razor Gen 3 where you get absolutely no BS about warranty that's 4 sure. Too bad the new Cronus BTR Gen 2 is clearer than my Tract Toric ELR but the Tract Toric has night and day buttery smoother controls like a perfectly well oiled machine except for the stiff illumination knob.
Why am I not totally surprised since the owners of Athlon used to work for BUSHNELL!!!
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