First Focal Plane Scope from Athlon

As many of you that have been here for years know, I am a Scope snob,and have been for many decades. My first Optic purchace was a pair of Cub Scout Binos when I was in the Cub Scouts.
Now at 62 year of age, (ever notice that the years of age thing is only used for Old Farts)? I have many years of trying, testing, owning, and using both everyday and fine optics from around the World. Ranging from cheap Chinese to the finest Germany, Austria and Switzerland have to offer.
To say I have become jaded is an understatement! Too the point that in my eyes, the Most Popular Scope in Air Gunning,and yes, here on the Tag, is in my eyes, Pure, Unadulterated Junk. They were fine at their price point, but they somehow, the Manufacturer and AOA got the impression that they were producing a fine optic, and almost doubled their price overnight. With “absolutely” NO Justification in quality what so ever.

Same thing happened with the Nikko Stirling Field Target scope. It was a decent scope, that would range3 for field target. At 600 bucks, it was high for what it was, but doable if you are serious about the sport. AOA got hold of it, and raised the price to a grand, and many complained. A new versions came out which was in many eyes, inferior to the older version. BUT—The price didn’t drop. So how does it compare to today’s offerings, well, it doesn’t. The Greed, along with lack luster quality killed it faster than ogg’s Sling for target shooting.

So onto just why I am writing this tidbit on First Focal Plane Scopes.

Having spent a good bit of time in Germany and Austria, and learning just why the FFP scopes were so popular in Europe, (Along with larger tubes and objectives, than “the then USA’s offerings) I was hooked. When I told my hunting friends of my findings in Europe, they thought I was nuts. When I talked to Leupold, they too thought I was Nuts! Of course, this was back in the very late 70’s and early 80’s. They actually laughed at such things as 50 or 56MM Objectives, First Focal Plane, even solid clicks for windage, and elevation, and 30MM or higher dia. tube, and now claim they are using thiem for better light gathering. Bull! all the larger tube is accomplishing is higher strength all things being equal, and room for more robust internal parts and more elevation and windage for long range shooting.(Hell, to this day,they don’t know why they are doing what they are doing, just copying because it is popular in the high end scopes).

Back in the day,when I talked to Lup’y they felt at the time a friction fit was all that anyone could ever need. Which is all but useless on a high recoil, precision rifle. I begged them to try some of the German Tec. At least Click Windage and elevation dials. But they were like talking to a brick wall.

Hilariously, they claimed in advertisements in sporting magazines to have invent the Duplex Reticle, (They Didn’t), the first coated optics, Nope!. It was Zeiss. First waterproof scope, Uh, NO, Zeiss again. Etched Ret. (Another German/Austrian invention). They claimed to have been the first in many areas in optics. Yet, I cannot find a single thing they were actually the first in, other the first to mislead the shooting fraternity, of just exactly what they were producing and selling.(While they claimed to be the BEST SCOPE IN THE WORLD) And just about any American hunter would think it sacrilege to say anything negative at all. Hell, they didn’t have a clue that they were not fully American made. And most still don’t! Grrrrr!!! Lupy’s were and still are too many, sent from the God’s in some parts of the US. And it is Heresy to mention any shortcomings of their scopes.

It was pretty much the same for decades here in the US, with All the American Scopes, In fact, there is only ONE Fully made American Scope, and that is U.S. Optics. Not Lupy, Nite Force, Weaver, Nada, Zip, Zilch. NONE! There is one or two specialty companies that will build a Custom Scope, but they are still NOT Fully American Made Scopes.

Fast forward a few decades, and a few War’s to push them into the modern ages and they now have “MOST” of the boxes ticked. They have just about all the things that they swore up and down, were not needed in a Scope. They actually grew up as a company.

How they became America’s Scope Premier Scope Company, I have No Idea. Other than brilliant advertising in all the Gun and Hunting Mag’s. Always telling us that they were the best of the best SIR! And they were, unless one opened one’s eyes as to what was going on in the World Around Them.

It was with this full distrust in claims being made by Optic Companies thru years of having such claims pushed on the Firearms Shooting Fraternity, That I began my search for a FFP scope that lived up to the Companies Hype. , I was looking for a Scope that had Crisp, Clear Optics with good light gathering, while at the same time, having excellent resolution to be able to discern exactly what it was hiding in the shadows, hiding behind the tree line, in fading light. or on a night time pig hunt, where you are after dark game, in low light with nothing but Moonlight for finding the game.
And Lit Ret. for night pig hunting, or the occasional varmint causing problems on the property at night.

These are tall orders, to be sure. But are readily available in fine Scope Brands, that are well proven over the years. They are also Very expensive. Being Medically retired, from my prime years of working, I have a very meager income. My wife is disabled as well, so between the two of us, we really have to watch the dollars.

This closed the door on Such Brands as Hensolt, (The Military Optics Division of Zeiss). Schmidt Bender, The new offerings from Stiner, or U.S. Optics. There was only one company left ,that I might be able to swing. A Vortex PST, which if studious in purchasing can be had for well under a Grand. A Good Looking Scope, and does a good job in every respect. So I started saving my pennies.! Grrrrrr!, This was going to take a while. And I don’t know how many “whiles” I have left. LOLl But I would have what I was lusting after all these years

This is when I received a phone call from one of my retired Army buddies, who was an Army Scout Sniper for years. He told me that he got the opportunity to try out a new, LOWER Cost FFP recently, and was impressed. Even more so when he learned the going price.

This was the new Athllon Argos BTR 6×24-50mm objective, with a very nice Ret. which is lit! in a 30mm tube, in a body of heat treated 6061 with a T-6 Heat Treatment, AirCraft Grade Alu. With a very good looking deep non shiny Anodising.

Well, being me, I started the research. I was having a hard time believing the claims of people using the scope. But what the heck. All of the reviews I could find were very good indeed so I did what comes naturally. I pulled the trigger on the 6×24 Argos model.

It is dead in the middle of their product line, and it retails for around 444. usd. I hunted around until I found a deal that would allow me to own this beauty, and as I said, I pulled the Trigger!!!;-0

I found one on Amazon, and they took almost two week to get it to me. It was shipped in a box from Amazon, with NO packing, paper, bubble wrap, foam, NADA. The box was large enough to put at least 4 of the boxes the scope came in. Hell, it rattled around in there like a BB in a Box Car! This after waiting for them to ship from 174 miles away, with an in stock item, for TWO Frick’n weeks! Man I was Ticked. Not only was I anxious to receive this bit of optical heaven, but the weather was fantastic for all of the waiting time. With it’s arrival, of the cuff of bad weather starting in one to two days. Grrrrrrr+1.

Well, I finally got Her mounted. (Always liked the sound of that, LOL!!!), started the trial. First adjustment for POI, and play with it for a while. I was really interested in Clarity, both at the cross hairs, as well to see how far that clarity extended to the edge of the field of view.
Well, surprise of surprises, it was crystal clear. Center, edge, and everywhere in between! That was ;certainly a very nice surprise! Especially at anything under 1500 use or sol. I was starting to get stoked, but still was awaiting final judgements. There were a few things I wanted to further investigate here. 😉

Ok, How are the adjustment on target. Well, pretty darned good my TAG Brothers! Nice Clicks, (Could have been a bit firmer, but well defined, and I could feel them just fine, without looking at them).
They were crisp and precise. The following day, I shot the box, and WOW!!! DEAD ON? When did a 400 usd scope do that? I was starting to get really impressed with this Athlon Argos Offereng.
Next thing I noticed is the Power Adjustments are stiff, but very repeatable. They work as they should, and this is a huge part of using a FFP scope as it is so easy to range.

Using the Mil-dot System is something you can only do in one power setting in a Second Plane Scope. Where this very repeatable power adjustments comes in, is something I in NO WAY expected or was looking for in a Scope from anywhere in this price range. And it was exactly that. It Ranges!
No, I’m not talking about the Mil-Dot System, I mean it Ranges much like a Field Target Scope. I was very curious when I looked at the side Adjustment when shooting at my 76 yard target. It said 76 yards! Simple blind luck I thought. So I decided to try it on something else, that was pre lasered.
First I tried the 36 yard short range varmint target, Whoa! Dead on. When you turn the dial high low, it snaps into a Crisp Picture that is not mistakable. Tried the 51 yard target, Yep. Dead on again. Tried a 139 yard lasered tree and tried again. 220 yards? Got my favorite Squirrel three in the cross hair, adjusted the Side Focus, looked at the numbers, darned if it wasn’t dead on. ! 220 exactly. Just as lasered.
I in NO way expected this. Not in a Scope that was not designed for Air Gunners!
My final trial was to see if it could be focused down to ten yards YES, Yes it can Folks, and at lower power dialed in, quite a bit closer!

It’s resolving power is very, very good. Color trueness if very good. Bright, vibrant colors are well, true,and well, just sorta vibrant. If yo have never looked thru high quality optics, you may not know just exactly what that special something in the colors can be. Once you see it, you will have a hard time settling for less. Zeiss Binos is what first spoiled me in this area, and The Argos doesn’t disappoint in this area one little bit!

Yeah, I know I’m gushing like a schoolgirl, on her first crush, but Never in my wildest imagination did I expect anywhere near the performance of this scope in a price range such as this.

Why in heck didn’t I buy one of these a long time ago? Brrrr! That’s right, they didn’t exist a long time ago. WOO-HOO!!! We have a real winner Guys! I think I’m gonna go out and shoot some more. I only managed to go thru 200 rounds yesterday. Such a shame.

I talked to one of the Fellows at Athlon, as I was really curious as to what was going on at their company. He was very informative, and really knew optics. Turns out the Company President, was the man behind the Bushnell Elites. A fine piece of gear to be sure. Their goal is to improve what has come before, at a very affordable price. Allowing you and I to enjoy fine Optics, at a price we can live with.
The Custom .257 Dyotat100 and this New Athlon Argos are a perfect match. I just love watching the bullets fly down range and flash thru the Bulls Eye. Talk about a Shooters Dream, that can be actually afforded on a working man’s means. (Even a retired one).
What more can we possibly ask for?

Color me impressed!
KnifeMaker

Knife