atl5029
Well-Known Member
I'm currently batting these two options back and forth for a scope to top my latest project (pictured below, 338 RCM). Both more or less have the same feature set I am looking for in a scope for this gun, and I am trying to weigh pros and cons of each based on where they are different. Problem is, I am not very familiar with Athlon optics. I've been a Vortex guy for a while, and I have a Viper PST Gen1 6-24x50 on my first ever long range rig, and a Razor HD LH 3-15x42 on another hunting rifle, as well as a few various Diamondbacks, and I have been very pleased with all scopes thus far. My friend recently got an Athlon Chronus BTR 4.5-29x56 and he raves about it, saying it is just as good of glass as anything he has looked through to include Vortex, Leupold, Nightforce, etc. I've taken a look myself and it seems at least as good as my Razor glass. So here is my dilemma...
Pros of the Razor LHT is that it comes in 5.6 oz lighter than the Athlon, and maybe has better glass (my main questions here). Pros of the Ares are 5x more magnification on the high end and price. The Athlon is about half the price of the Vortex, and if the glass is similar enough, the only trade I see is a bit more magnification for 5.6 oz of extra weight, neither of which I think would make or break a situation in the field, but usually I err on the light of lighter gear.
Can anyone make a direct comparison between these two scopes with regard to glass quality, or can you put the Ares line into a similar comparison with something I am more familiar with? (Vortex, Leupold). Thanks!
Edit: When I google the Athlon scope in question with the word vortex, it brings up quite a few comparisons between it and the Vortex Viper PST Gen2 5-25x50. Is that a fair comparison in glass quality or is the Athlon better than Viper PST?
Pros of the Razor LHT is that it comes in 5.6 oz lighter than the Athlon, and maybe has better glass (my main questions here). Pros of the Ares are 5x more magnification on the high end and price. The Athlon is about half the price of the Vortex, and if the glass is similar enough, the only trade I see is a bit more magnification for 5.6 oz of extra weight, neither of which I think would make or break a situation in the field, but usually I err on the light of lighter gear.
Can anyone make a direct comparison between these two scopes with regard to glass quality, or can you put the Ares line into a similar comparison with something I am more familiar with? (Vortex, Leupold). Thanks!
Edit: When I google the Athlon scope in question with the word vortex, it brings up quite a few comparisons between it and the Vortex Viper PST Gen2 5-25x50. Is that a fair comparison in glass quality or is the Athlon better than Viper PST?
Last edited: