Rifle Scopes Stopgap rifle scope

[wichitaguns]

Hey guys, need some input.
i want to get a scope that will allow me to start shooting right away. I also know that swfa has a great thanksgiving sale...with all that should I get a swfa 3-15 non HD around Thanksgiving or get an athlon Ares. I would eventually sell this scope and upgrade to something else. So between the two which do you recommend, this would go on an air mkii for PRS style competition

 

[steve123]

My stop gap, has turned into the Athlon Talos BTR 4-14x44, this was from the SWFA 3-15 but even before that the BSA 4-14. I've seen used Talos scopes go for $250. Then what you do is put it on a 22rf when you upgrade to the Ares for the centerfire.

I have a Talos on my AR in 6mmFatRat (as well as 4 other rifles) and was flogging a 19" steel last week at 1122Y. Just before that I got a first round hit on our 5" steel at 550Y, first round hit and the other two on a 10" at 675Y, after a few misses because of wind increase I hit the 12" at 812Y three in a row. These cheap little scopes track and the glass is way above price, the reticle awesome! I've also won FT matches with the Talos. My local friends love these scopes. I've got some cool stories about them in use from 1st time long range virgins!

 

[IanHusaberg]

I went Ares(4.5-27), after having owned a Cronus. I wish Athlon would make a center dot reticle. I'm impressed with the Ares. I'm going to buy a second in 2.5-15 for a sako quad build I'm doing.

 

[BobinNC]

Both the SWFA and Athlon are fine choices for stopgaps, here some more:

https://swfa.com/sig-sauer-3-12x42-tango4-30mm-riflescope-9.html

And don't forget the SWFA Sample List of used and Demo scopes, always some bargains to be found here and there.

https://samplelist.com/entire-sample-list/riflescopes.html

 

[wichitaguns]

Thanks for the input. I am leaning heavily toward the Ares. I feel that it gives me almost everything I want butt still leaves money for great rings (34 mm with a reducer to 30mm) and an atlas bipod. Not to mention ammo. Thanks

 

[Sheldon N]

Thanks for the input. I am leaning heavily toward the Ares. I feel that it gives me almost everything I want butt still leaves money for great rings (34 mm with a reducer to 30mm) and an atlas bipod. Not to mention ammo. Thanks

If you're going to just be reselling it later on, and you're going to have to use different rings or ring inserts (I'd recommend against that), why not just buy a used scope with the same tube diameter? Somthing like a Bushnell G2DMR (gen I) or a ERS would work, lots of other choices too. You will save money in the long run vs buying new and selling used for a couple hundred $$ less, plus you don't have to spend time/money on the wrong rings or inserts.

 

[demolitionman]

Help my noobness; what is meant here when op says "stopgap rifle scope"? Wth is stopgap?

 

[IanHusaberg]

Help my noobness; what is meant here when op says "stopgap rifle scope"? Wth is stopgap?

Temperary scope until a better one can be afforded or he'll be able to figure out which scope he actually wants/needs.

 

[demolitionman]

Temperary scope until a better one can be afforded or he'll be able to figure out which scope he actually wants/needs.

I've read the term stopgap a few times and have never heard it or read it elsewhere in my life. Thanks for the reply....

 

[hlee]

I would only add that whatever “stopgap” you choose, consider not selling it. Eventually you will have another rifle and want to shoot right away, but will need a scope. If you already have a reasonably good scope you won’t need to wait to start shooting.

 

[wichitaguns]

Good point on not selling it. We will see if my ability t save money wins over my desire for a new scope. As it stand leaning heavily toward the Ares. Hope to have it by dEC, doing some research in the mean time. And I believe stopgap is pretty much synonymous with temporary.

 

[Danco411]

You may end up keeping that Ares. It is one heck of a scope for the price. I have an Ares, Chronos and two Midas' for hunting. Just killer for the price.

 

[flatland1]

I'm always looking for a good buy on scopes that can be used on some of the rifles I have & like to shoot, but don't use in competition. I've got Kahles K624i AMR scopes on all three of my Bighorn comp rifles, and Athlon Cronus 4.5-29x56 scopes on 22RF 40X repeaters I shoot matches with, But a guy would have to make a lot more money than I do to put scopes like these on all his rifles... I've got a couple of the Ares 4.5-27x50 mil scopes on two of my rifles, and like them a lot. The glass is pretty good, the reticle is the same as that used in the original Cronus, they've got a for-real zero stop, with 10 mil/rotation knobs, and they track good. Don't have a ton of experience with either of these two Ares, but have also sold a couple more to friends that I shoot comps with, and they're pretty happy with theirs. You may not be wanting to sell it down the road after you've used it for awhile & compared it to some of the more expensive 34mm tube scopes, but where's the harm in that? Someone just starting out in PR shooting can never have too many decent scopes...

 

[Bender]

SWFA or a Bushnell waaaaaay before an Athalon.

 

[steve123]

SWFA or a Bushnell waaaaaay before an Athalon.

It's Athlon.

Personal Bushnell LRHS is for sale and I traded the SWFA's except for one. No plans going back either.

Last two months at our NRL22 was won with Athlon Argos and I won state in freestyle with a Argos. I've used SWFA for years, definitely not "all that".