Looking for a scope to mount on my new T1X. I don’t want to spend too much and have been looking at the Athlon Midas tac and the Diamondback tactical ffp. Does anyone much have experience with these? The Diamondback looks like a great deal at $400. Thanks for your replies
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Midas tac or Vortex Diamondback tac
- Thread starter Dbike73
- Start date
I'll be the first to chime in on the Midas TAC. I know quite a few of us on here are using this optic and speak very highly of it. What are you plans for the rifle. I think the Midas TAC is a steal for NRL22 type matches. Parallax down to 10 yards. Plenty of adjustment with both models, available with and without a tree reticle for MIL. Also has an MOA version I think. Has a zero stop on the elevation which I don't think the Diamonback does.
I can't compare glass because I haven't seen the Vortex but I will say that the Athlon has really good glass for the money.
You won't be disappointed with the Athlon
I can't compare glass because I haven't seen the Vortex but I will say that the Athlon has really good glass for the money.
You won't be disappointed with the Athlon
Like MDrimfirerookie, I've not seen the Vortex. But I am really happy with the Midas Tac with the APRS3 (Xmas tree) MIL reticle. If you decide to get Midas Tac APRS3, just be careful and check the model number. Several vendors were listing the APRS3 and shipping the APRS2 (non- Xmas tree) scope. I suggest contacting Doug (aka gr8fuldoug) at CameraLandNY who not only is a SnipersHide supporter and authorized Athlon dealer, also provided a great price on the scope.
I have had both. I currently still have the Midas Tac and wont let that thing go. The diamond back tactical turrets are very mushy. The glass is good but it doesnt compare with clarity of the Tac. I also dont think the vortex has 10 mil turrets either.
It edges out the diamond back in just about every category. I'm happy with both Athlon and Vortex so dont think I'm loyal to one, it's just that the Tac really is that good of a scope for the price.
It edges out the diamond back in just about every category. I'm happy with both Athlon and Vortex so dont think I'm loyal to one, it's just that the Tac really is that good of a scope for the price.
Another vote for the Midas TAC, and I'm the owner of four Vortex scopes (Viper PSTs and Razors). If the TAC had been available when I got my first .22 scope, I would have used it instead.
Do yourself a favor and CALL, on the telephone, @gr8fuldoug at CameralandNY (one of the Hide supporting vendors). He'll get you squared away.
One other thing: I don't think the TAC comes with a sunshade. Doug can set you up with one. I personally have shades on all my scopes; I shoot competitively on two ranges that face south, where the shades are golden.
Do yourself a favor and CALL, on the telephone, @gr8fuldoug at CameralandNY (one of the Hide supporting vendors). He'll get you squared away.
One other thing: I don't think the TAC comes with a sunshade. Doug can set you up with one. I personally have shades on all my scopes; I shoot competitively on two ranges that face south, where the shades are golden.
I have 2 Midas tac’s And have had a Vortex Diamondback Tactical. I like Vortex but these two optics are not in the same class. The Midas Tac is head and shoulders better than the Vortex. Better glass, better 10mil turrets, true zero stop, capped windage and on and on..... call Doug at Cameraland. You may get a better deal than you anticipate.
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Rover31,
Call Doug at CameralandNY to get pricing on the specific model of Midas Tac you are interested in purchasing.
Call Doug at CameralandNY to get pricing on the specific model of Midas Tac you are interested in purchasing.
I will chime in to pile on the Midas Tac bandwagon. I have on e on my Vudoo for NRL22 matches and it is a fantastic optic. Clear glass, FFP, center dot with .2 MIL spacing up and down to the first MIL, helpful for that 25 yard hold with a 50 yard zero, and an excellent zero stop.
A buddy in the NRL matches has the Vortex and it is a nice scope, but I prefer the Athlon for all of the reasons stated.
Doug at Camera Land is very helpful as well.
A buddy in the NRL matches has the Vortex and it is a nice scope, but I prefer the Athlon for all of the reasons stated.
Doug at Camera Land is very helpful as well.
I have a Diamondback Tac on my 22 and really not very impressed with it. Turrets are real mushy,parallax is so so and the eyebox is really tight.
The Diamondback is more appropriate as compared to the Argos BTR, as you can tell by the landslide win of the TAC.
I’m guessing you are seeing the pattern here. The Vortex is a decent scope for the money. But you are getting a $400 scope. The Midas is just an extraordinary scope for the money and in my opinion has the performance and features of scopes costing a lot more. I had an issue with my rifle and shot a 22 match with my sons 22 yesterday which has a Midas Tac on it. Every time I use that scope it impresses me more. I have shot with it in the bright sun, cloudy with rain, foggy and about every other condition you can think of. I have always felt the scope was up to the task and have never wished I had something better. You really can’t do wrong with it. That 10yd parallax will come in handy if you shoot NRL22 also. One other thing I will throw in there is to be sure you get a sun shade with it. Several of the ranges where I shoot the sun comes up right in front of the firing line and that sun shade has been a life saver. It is also nice to have in the rain. Given the fact that it seems like rain is a foregone conclusion at matches now it was a good investment.
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The only thing the Midas Tac doesn't have that some shooters may want/need is an illuminated reticle. I have lighted reticles on other scopes and never use that feature, so it wasn't important that the Midas Tac didn't have one to me.
Personally, I really like the fine target dot of the Midas Tac. It's one of my favorite features. There are some that are less fond of it. I will admit that you can lose sight of the tiny dot when aiming where prior shooters have already knocked off the paint/leaded up the steel of a little target like the 1/4th inch KYL. If I ever lose focus on the dot, it's easy to just fall back to using the lines of the reticle to place your shot.
Personally, I really like the fine target dot of the Midas Tac. It's one of my favorite features. There are some that are less fond of it. I will admit that you can lose sight of the tiny dot when aiming where prior shooters have already knocked off the paint/leaded up the steel of a little target like the 1/4th inch KYL. If I ever lose focus on the dot, it's easy to just fall back to using the lines of the reticle to place your shot.
Thanks to everyone for all their replies. Sounds like I definitely need to spend the extra cash for the Midas tac!
I'm glad to see so many shooters are pleased with their Midas TAC scopes. For awhile there, I wondered if I was just an Athlon fanboy when it came down to how much I enjoyed the one I put on my little lightweight Vudoo V-22 Ranch carbine. All my other precision .22s have Athlon Cronus scopes mounted, so I was used to pretty good glass & reticles. But every time I shoot that little Ranch carbine, it reinforces my positive opinion of the Midas TAC 6-24x50.
Another great feature of the Midas Tac is it is fairly light for a 6-24x50. That undoubtedly ads to its appeal on a light weight ranch rifle. In fact that’s one of the reasons I bought them for my sons rifles. When we went from the optic he had to the Midas Tac we dropped about 10oz. While that doesn’t sound like a lot it is a lot of weight to a kid who needs to maneuver the rifle. Around barricades and shot it off hand.
Same here. I felt like I was developing a bias towards them, but again, the Tac for the features and the price is the best deal going.
It depends on which model of Midas TAC you want. They vary in price range. The Midas TAC 6-24×50 APRS3 FFP MIL has a MSRP of $803.99 with an average street price of $670. CameraLandNY sells them to Sniper's Hide members for less.
The Midas TAC 4-16×44 APRS2 FFP MIL has a MSRP of $689.99 with an average street price of $589.99. Of course shopping around you can find better deals.
The Midas TAC 4-16×44 APRS2 FFP MIL has a MSRP of $689.99 with an average street price of $589.99. Of course shopping around you can find better deals.
I have neither, having a Vortex Viper PST Gen II SFP. But just a suggestion for whatever scope your decide on,
One thing I have noted in shooting NRL type matches is that due to the time constraints it is advantageous to have a reticle marked in one MOA graduations. This allows you to shoot multiple distances without dialing - just use the graduations to match the trajectory of your ammo. Example: targets located and both 50 and 100 yards - hold center for 50 and hold up 8 moa for 100.
One thing I have noted in shooting NRL type matches is that due to the time constraints it is advantageous to have a reticle marked in one MOA graduations. This allows you to shoot multiple distances without dialing - just use the graduations to match the trajectory of your ammo. Example: targets located and both 50 and 100 yards - hold center for 50 and hold up 8 moa for 100.
prebanpaul, you may feel that way but it is not my experience at all. I shoot RF BR, RF Prone, RF F-Class, and RF NRL . I have a High Master classification in F-Class CF and a Master class in RF F-Class. Practically no one is using MIL except the new shooters that have been reading all the "tactical" threads, I think they also vote Democrat.
Just because “your” experience is different does not mean it isn’t happening. In the NRL22 matches I participate, most are using scopes with mil adjustments. I am not a “tactical” kind of guy but I like using the same angular measurement in both rimfire & centerfire rifle’s. Know your dope and rock on.
My holds are:
25 = .2 mil down
50 = zero
75 = 1 mil up
100 = 2.1 mil up
300 = 16.5 mils
This is another reason n I like my Midas Tac, it has a .2 mil spacing from the floating dot to the first stadia in all four directions, to the first 1 mil mark. A scope with .5 mil spacing isn’t useful there.
My holds are:
25 = .2 mil down
50 = zero
75 = 1 mil up
100 = 2.1 mil up
300 = 16.5 mils
This is another reason n I like my Midas Tac, it has a .2 mil spacing from the floating dot to the first stadia in all four directions, to the first 1 mil mark. A scope with .5 mil spacing isn’t useful there.
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@Travelor @bnanaphone Are you serious, that you could not see the joke in that comment. I even brought up the 90’s. Thin skinned much.?
My point is that one should use what they are most familiar with, learn it and go. No one way is “best”. We all have different frames of reference based on our experiences, but that does not make it the norm.
LOL. I also got the joke.
I shot my first smallbore F-class match last weekend and used my Midas Tac in {{{{{{mils}}}}}}
, and don't even vote democrat. The scope did just just fine.
I don't own it Athlon Midas Tac I have several vortex I think I'm going to go out by an Athlon Midas put least on one or two of my 22s just to try it must be pretty damn good for the price to have this many people love it it's good enough for me
I just compared my new Ares ETR with my TAC 6-24 and it was very close in control feel, apparent build quality, etc. Subjectively, the ETR feels higher quality, but that might be my brain justifying its higher price.
The image in the TAC does not resolve as well looking at my 100yd informal reference point (twists in a power line across the road - the creases in the wires where they join are clearly visible in both but aren't as defined with the TAC) but it was damn close. Obviously that would be more important at longer distances. The turrets are great on both, better than my Tango6, which has solid but muted clicks. I was not impressed with the turrets on my Vortex at all, but the glass was OK for short distance use.
I need to test tracking, but every Athlon I've had including an Ares BTR and an Argos 10-40 passed my tall target and box tests with no issues.
The image in the TAC does not resolve as well looking at my 100yd informal reference point (twists in a power line across the road - the creases in the wires where they join are clearly visible in both but aren't as defined with the TAC) but it was damn close. Obviously that would be more important at longer distances. The turrets are great on both, better than my Tango6, which has solid but muted clicks. I was not impressed with the turrets on my Vortex at all, but the glass was OK for short distance use.
I need to test tracking, but every Athlon I've had including an Ares BTR and an Argos 10-40 passed my tall target and box tests with no issues.
Midas Tac 6-24x50 on my CZ 457 Pro Varmint.. first "REAL" scope I've bought.. was using a Vortex Crossfire II and a Primary Arms on other rifles.. When I got the Midas set up, I found out what I was missing.. It was 608 otd from A&J Sporting in Okla.. talk to Aaron, he's the man!!!
