The new Athlon Ares BTR G3 2.5-15x50, initials, and ongoing thoughts.

[steve123]

What the glass like?

I've only seen one 2.5-15 BTR G2 in real life and the glass was horrible compared to my PST G2 scopes.

I've been waiting to find the goldilocks $1000 +/- scope for a while now, would prefer capped windage (my main complaint about the PST) but the thicker reticle in this would be nice for hunting (or even target/comp use IMO).

I'm gonna have to let you guys judge for yourselves.

I've mentioned this before but the IQ in my G1 2.5-15 wasn't bad at all. Unit to unit variance between yours and mine???
The IQ in my G1 and G2 4.5-27 wasn't bad but the prescription didn't work for my eyes, like if I had the diopter set for a clean reticle the focus was a little strained, and it's hard to describe otherwise, but enough so that I sold them.

This G3 is not like them, the IQ to me is fine, and I'm okay with it. It's one of those scopes that I can't fault it based on my price to satisfaction index so it's worthy to keep.

I had a March HM 5-42x56 that was pretty bad optically above 38x according to my old eyes. It was essentially more like a 5-30 because above 30x it started to get to dim and slightly blurry, so I sold it. One of those scopes that I wanted to like, wanted to keep, but nope my intent was to use it at high mag which it failed at there.

 

[brazz04]

Not quite the same scope, but I just added a Gen 3 Ares in 4.5-27x from Cameraland and I'm really disappointed in the glass. I put it on my Tikka 22lr thinking it would be a step up from my Helos BTR Gen 2 4-20 but less cost than a used Cronus. It's almost as if the focus on it isn't quite fine enough so at 100 yards, you can't bring the picture into clarity. I'm a big fan of the Cronus and Helos I have so I was hoping this would fall somewhere between, but It just isn't what I was hoping on the glass clarity.

 

[EscapeVelocity]

Not quite the same scope, but I just added a Gen 3 Ares in 4.5-27x from Cameraland and I'm really disappointed in the glass. I put it on my Tikka 22lr thinking it would be a step up from my Helos BTR Gen 2 4-20 but less cost than a used Cronus. It's almost as if the focus on it isn't quite fine enough so at 100 yards, you can't bring the picture into clarity. I'm a big fan of the Cronus and Helos I have so I was hoping this would fall somewhere between, but It just isn't what I was hoping on the glass clarity.

I was really hoping it would have great glass.

I just bought a Helos BTR g2 4-20 as well and LOVE it. Great glass. I put it on my 6 arc and couldn't be happier with it.

 

[WeR0206]

I was really hoping it would have great glass.

I just bought a Helos BTR g2 4-20 as well and LOVE it. Great glass. I put it on my 6 arc and couldn't be happier with it.

Hmmm I’ve been trying to decide on some glass for a 6 arc gas gun build and I was thinking of getting the ares btr gen3 but after reading this thread I may just go the route you did with the helos gen2

 

[Bluedog82]

Weather’s been crappy but I hope to get mine out this weekend.

 

[EscapeVelocity]

Hmmm I’ve been trying to decide on some glass for a 6 arc gas gun build and I was thinking of getting the ares btr gen3 but after reading this thread I may just go the route you did with the helos gen2

I'd still like more mag that the Ares btr g3 offers in the 4.5-27 but the glass really is good in that Helos 4-20. I could spot well out to 1k.

 

[WeR0206]

I'd still like more mag that the Ares btr g3 offers in the 4.5-27 but the glass really is good in that Helos 4-20. I could spot well out to 1k.

Thanks for the feedback. Id be really curious how the helos g2 4-20 glass stacks up compared to arken epl-4 6-24 which is the other optic im considering. Technically the arken epl-4 should have better Japanese glass

 

[db2000]

Thanks for the feedback. Id be really curious how the helos g2 4-20 glass stacks up compared to arken epl-4 6-24 which is the other optic im considering. Technically the arken epl-4 should have better Japanese glass

The issue is there’s some great Chinese glass and some mediocre Jap glass so you can’t define quality necessarily by country unfortunately.

 

[EscapeVelocity]

The issue is there’s some great Chinese glass and some mediocre Jap glass so you can’t define quality necessarily by country unfortunately.

Ain't that the truth. As much as I've been conditioned to avoid Chinese glass, there are some really clear optics for the price in the market. To each their own on whether or not to buy one.

 

[Bluedog82]

Shot mine for the first time this weekend and I was pretty impressed. Glass was good, no noticeable CA, and the floating center dot was great for grouping some reloads. Definitely looking forward to stretching its legs.

 

[steve123]

I'd still like more mag that the Ares btr g3 offers in the 4.5-27 but the glass really is good in that Helos 4-20. I could spot well out to 1k.

It's a bigger scope but I bet the ETR G2 4.5-30 would be a good one and on the other side is the Helos G2 6-24 and the IQ is decent in my 6-24. I have a Vector Optics Continental 5-30x56 to compare and the IQ is superior in the HG2 6-24 plus most everything else except for weight.

The HG2 4-20 is decent too and I have it on a rifle that I don't want a heavy scope on. This HG2 replaced a SWFA 3-15 and I like the HG2 much more!

This is where I've defaulted, the HG2 line as far as bang for the buck.
I've tried various other scopes of other companies the last few years that are similarly priced, some even more expensive, and only the Meopta Optika 6 has better IQ, yet still doesn't have turrets as nice as the HG2's.

But that Ares BTR G3 2.5-15 has pretty much changed my mind about scopes lately. It's just too good and a lot can be done on 15x. I don't have a many rifles and some of them I don't shoot often enough to justify better scopes on so I'm at a stand still right now.

Basically I'll stay with the HG2's for the immediate future as "good enough".

 

[WeR0206]

It's a bigger scope but I bet the ETR G2 4.5-30 would be a good one and on the other side is the Helos G2 6-24 and the IQ is decent in my 6-24. I have a Vector Optics Continental 5-30x56 to compare and the IQ is superior in the HG2 6-24 plus most everything else except for weight.

The HG2 4-20 is decent too and I have it on a rifle that I don't want a heavy scope on. This HG2 replaced a SWFA 3-15 and I like the HG2 much more!

This is where I've defaulted, the HG2 line as far as bang for the buck.
I've tried various other scopes of other companies the last few years that are similarly priced, some even more expensive, and only the Meopta Optika 6 has better IQ, yet still doesn't have turrets as nice as the HG2's.

But that Ares BTR G3 2.5-15 has pretty much changed my mind about scopes lately. It's just too good and a lot can be done on 15x. I don't have a many rifles and some of them I don't shoot often enough to justify better scopes on so I'm at a stand still right now.

Basically I'll stay with the HG2's for the immediate future as "good enough".

Thanks for all your feedback in this thread. I think I’ve decided on the HG2 4-20 for my 6 arc gasser…although it seems to be out of stock at most places. I think EuroOptic has some

 

[Fret]

I'm gonna have to let you guys judge for yourselves.

I've mentioned this before but the IQ in my G1 2.5-15 wasn't bad at all. Unit to unit variance between yours and mine???
The IQ in my G1 and G2 4.5-27 wasn't bad but the prescription didn't work for my eyes, like if I had the diopter set for a clean reticle the focus was a little strained, and it's hard to describe otherwise, but enough so that I sold them.

This G3 is not like them, the IQ to me is fine, and I'm okay with it. It's one of those scopes that I can't fault it based on my price to satisfaction index so it's worthy to keep.

I had a March HM 5-42x56 that was pretty bad optically above 38x according to my old eyes. It was essentially more like a 5-30 because above 30x it started to get to dim and slightly blurry, so I sold it. One of those scopes that I wanted to like, wanted to keep, but nope my intent was to use it at high mag which it failed at there.

Did you have both the March 5-40x56 and 5-42x56 HM?

 

[steve123]

Did you have both the March 5-40x56 and 5-42x56 HM?

Yes I did but briefly because I traded the 5-40 off shortly after I got the 5-42.

The short of it, "ha, pun intended", the 5-42 had better IQ under around 22x, and the 5-40 had better IQ above 37x. My 5-42 was a early one and got dimmer and blurrier by 37x or so and was quite bad at 42x = to my old eyes. Honestly I can't remember the exact magnifications but my numbers here are close enough.

Supposedly March massaged the 5-42 prescription later on so the later Gen is better. I tried hard to like mine but it wasn't cutting it on higher mag.

 

[steve123]

Not quite the same scope, but I just added a Gen 3 Ares in 4.5-27x from Cameraland and I'm really disappointed in the glass. I put it on my Tikka 22lr thinking it would be a step up from my Helos BTR Gen 2 4-20 but less cost than a used Cronus. It's almost as if the focus on it isn't quite fine enough so at 100 yards, you can't bring the picture into clarity. I'm a big fan of the Cronus and Helos I have so I was hoping this would fall somewhere between, but It just isn't what I was hoping on the glass clarity.

Darn! I wonder what the deal is??

 

[db2000]

It's a bigger scope but I bet the ETR G2 4.5-30 would be a good one and on the other side is the Helos G2 6-24 and the IQ is decent in my 6-24. I have a Vector Optics Continental 5-30x56 to compare and the IQ is superior in the HG2 6-24 plus most everything else except for weight.

The HG2 4-20 is decent too and I have it on a rifle that I don't want a heavy scope on. This HG2 replaced a SWFA 3-15 and I like the HG2 much more!

This is where I've defaulted, the HG2 line as far as bang for the buck.
I've tried various other scopes of other companies the last few years that are similarly priced, some even more expensive, and only the Meopta Optika 6 has better IQ, yet still doesn't have turrets as nice as the HG2's.

But that Ares BTR G3 2.5-15 has pretty much changed my mind about scopes lately. It's just too good and a lot can be done on 15x. I don't have a many rifles and some of them I don't shoot often enough to justify better scopes on so I'm at a stand still right now.

Basically I'll stay with the HG2's for the immediate future as "good enough".

HG2’s are impressive

 

[brazz04]

Darn! I wonder what the deal is??

Just makes me mad I didn't buy another used Cronus for sure. And of course you can't return a mounted scope so I'm stuck with it. I'll take it out a few more times and do a few more comparisons.