Burris Athlon Sig Optics advice please

[anubismp]

I am in the market for a scope to start getting a bit more into long range shooting. Its going to be going on top a 338 LM. I'm in western WA so there aren't a ton of places to shoot long range on this side of the mountains, my local range goes out to 600 though. I can drive a few hours and go shoot to the guns potential though. I'm looking at the following optics but I'm open to others.

Burris XTR II 4-20 H59 reticle

Athlon Ares BTR 4.5-27

Sig Tango 4 6-24 DEV-L reticle

Bushnell HDMR H59 3.5-21

I like the H59 for its mil grid and quick ranging stadia. I have had good experience with an
Athlon Talos BTR 4-14 so I'm very interested in their new entry. The Sig has features I like and good reviews and lastly I like everything about the HDMR but it doesn't have illumination which is almost a deal breaker for me. Any feedback would be great.

 

[anubismp]

Oh almost forgot any other suggestions will need to be FFP and not bajilliion dollars please. Somewhere around this price range or a bit beyond.

 

[Clucknmoan]

Been messing with the new Ares for a couple weeks now. Clarity is better than expected in this price range. I'm actually pretty amazed at how clear they are. Zero stop is solid and I like the reticle. Ran it through a couple box tests and it tracks on the money. Biggest improvement in my book is the larger turret and much more solid clicks than the lower end units. Not as solid as the Cronus turrets though.

 

[anubismp]

Thanks, I settled on the Athlon as I got a very solid offer for it.

 

[Deleted member 48126]

Thanks, I settled on the Athlon as I got a very solid offer for it.

How is it? I can get an awesome deal on ARES. Trying to figure out if I should get it or just stick with the Argos BTR which is about $400 cheaper.

 

[Iron Worker]

Cry once and get the Athlon Cronus 4.5x29x56mm ,its glass quality is phenomenal

 

[freebird63]

I love my Ares, 4.5-27X50 in the moa reticle.

 

[anubismp]

I just got it in and mounted and I like it quite a bit. No extensive usage just a sight in but the glass is very nice and the clicks are distinct at least. I'd say it turns a bit too easy for my taste but its not the end of the world. I tossed it in its case on the way home from the range so I'll check and see if the turrets moved. The power ring moves nicely without needing excessive force. Seems very nice for the price. If I had to pick a gripe its that some of the mil scale disappears at high power (like around 23-27x). It would be nice to have it in there all the way. I might shoot an email to Athlon as I wonder if its supposed to do that?

 

[Danehunter]

OK, I own a Bushnell ERS 3.5- 21 x 50 W/ an H59 reticle. I hope your Athlon has the turret features of the ERS (or more powerful XRS) and not the HDMR B/C the ERS has both Zero Stop and Zero Lock.

** But, If'n it were me, these days I'd buy that SIG Tango 6 because it has a digital level indicator at each end of the horizontal reticle (and the reticle is very similar to the H59 Christmas tree). That digital level is SO important to accurate long range shooting and I hope that soon all higher end scopes offer it. Scope/rifle canting is likely responsible for more misses than anything else except poor wind doping.

Eric B.