Others Latest Consensus For Mid-Level Optic ?

[Pumacarl]

Before I just go out and get an Athlon MT HD G2 5x30, which will be the heaviest (30oz) and most expensive ($600ish) scope I will consider, is there some value scope out there that I should consider? I'm not doing anything important, or quick, or team related with this; just long range plinking mostly. My eyes are going South so I need a better scope if I want to have any chance of spotting hits at 300+ yards. Optical clarity and brightness are key, as I can always use the reticle and not click so much, but I can't shoot what I can't see, or do a followup shot. It seems everyone is talking NV or thermal lately so I thought to ask if a new favorite optical scope is making the rounds lately, thanks!

 

[duchunter007]

Before I just go out and get an Athlon MT HD G2 5x30, which will be the heaviest (30oz) and most expensive ($600ish) scope I will consider, is there some value scope out there that I should consider? I'm not doing anything important, or quick, or team related with this; just long range plinking mostly. My eyes are going South so I need a better scope if I want to have any chance of spotting hits at 300+ yards. Optical clarity and brightness are key, as I can always use the reticle and not click so much, but I can't shoot what I can't see, or do a followup shot. It seems everyone is talking NV or thermal lately so I thought to ask if a new favorite optical scope is making the rounds lately, thanks!

I have had really good luck with the Arken Scopes. I have 4) EPL4 6x24x50, and they weigh about 24oz. I have 2) EP5 5x25x 56, and they are heavy, and one EPL4 4x16x44. All are good scopes and track very well.

 

[Pumacarl]

I have had really good luck with the Arken Scopes. I have 4) EPL4 6x24x50, and they weigh about 24oz. I have 2) EP5 5x25x 56, and they are heavy, and one EPL4 4x16x44. All are good scopes and track very well.

Just checked out Arken. Yeah, they are heavy, but I might have to throw the weight requirement out. It really isn't that important if I'm always using a tripod anyway. Anybody use a 7x35 G2J and an Athlon MTG2 5x30 side by side? The Arken is selling for $600, so it is a real contender if I can get some comparitive feedback.

 

[Danman]

Just checked out Arken. Yeah, they are heavy, but I might have to throw the weight requirement out. It really isn't that important if I'm always using a tripod anyway. Anybody use a 7x35 G2J and an Athlon MTG2 5x30 side by side? The Arken is selling for $600, so it is a real contender if I can get some comparitive feedback.

I would also take a HARD look at the 6x24x50 Helix Gen 2. I sadly dont have one yet, but I will soon! Moa or Mil, FFP or SFP, turret build quality that hits waaay above the price, solid (yeah and hefty lol), lifetime warranty. And best of all better glass and very forgiving eye box.....my only complaint on my gen 1.
Any and all accessories you could want/need come with Element scopes.
My opinion of current 2 best mid range scopes (all arounders) would be Midas Tac and Helix Gen 2.
Your choice of a 5x30 may be better for 300Y though!

 

[Pumacarl]

Today I got to really check out a Discovery G2 HD 5X30 56mm, 34mm tube scope. It's actually very impressive, especially for the price. My problem with it, and I'm guessing my problem with all scopes with similar specs, is the super tight eyebox past about 20x. At 30x the image is still pretty clear but you have zero wiggle room, side to side or front to back. It's tight! Ugh!

Well, that didn't last long. From what I have gleened from reading between the lines of the few reviews that I could find, of scopes in this range, I doubt others will do much better. Realistically I think that I would have to get into the +$1,500 range of scopes to get what I'm after and I just don't want it that bad. Yet. I don't believe that the Athlon MTHDG2 5X30J will be $150 better than the previous Chinese version either, so I'm not going there right now either.

I think that if I'm just going to set the power of the scope to around 20 anyway, that I am just going to get a 6X24 50mm 30mm tube scope. This size range has a lot going for it; cost, size, weight, dof, eyebox. I just have to decide if I want to get a non-J version MTHDG2 without an IR, or just get an Arken EPL when they are back in stock at cameraland. I'd imagine the Athlon would be a little better optically but the Arken is less cash and it has an IR. I would consider the Element Helix G2 if I still wasn't upset with how they tack such a premium on everything, which I really noticed once they rebadged the Immersive line. Athlon's warranty is just as good, and I really love my Helos. I am a bit of an Athlon fanboy now I guess. It seems that there are a lot of Arken fanboys too, and for the money, it seems to me that they are actually the best deal at the moment for bang to the buck. I did try to find a good fix power for long range with a Christmas tree reticle and could not find one. It looks like only Sightron makes a 36x fixed and it's over a $K and only has target reticles. Leupold needs to bring back and update their 24x with better reticle choices, or the cloners need to get on it if they won't.

 

[Billm]

I have two Discovery Optics, I hate the eye box on them, as stated, there’s no wiggle room at all. But, I have nothing to compare them to, I never went above 3-9x with PBs. I have the Japanese glass 5-25 and the Chinese glass 5-30.

 

[dunz]

I don't believe that the Athlon MTHDG2 5X30J will be $150 better than the previous Chinese version either, so I'm not going there right now either.

I’ve been looking at that same scope. Have you been able to find the SKU: 213087J in stock anywhere? I’ve only seen it listed for pre-order so far. I’m specifically holding out for the 'J' version because of its listed 10-yard parallax (vs. the 20-yard on the standard 213087). Any leads would be appreciated.

 

[Pumacarl]

I’ve been looking at that same scope. Have you been able to find the SKU: 213087J in stock anywhere? I’ve only seen it listed for pre-order so far. I’m specifically holding out for the 'J' version because of its listed 10-yard parallax (vs. the 20-yard on the standard 213087). Any leads would be appreciated.

Here you go!

Athlon Optics Store | Camera Land NY

cameralandny.com

 

[Pumacarl]

@dunz I just put one in my cart so it does look like they have them in stock. Let me know what you think. I am going to hold off buying anything now. Maybe there will be deals later where they don't charge so much for the J. I just saw that I missed a deal on a rather expensive used package over at UA. It came with a Nexus scope too. Damn! I check that website three times a day and some how that came and went under my radar.

 

[dunz]

@dunz I just put one in my cart...

Yeah that looks like a pre-order on my screen

 

[Pumacarl]

Yeah that looks like a pre-order on my screen

View attachment 19263

You need to try it again, or call them. I just did everything but actually hit the buy button and it is showing in stock. I don't know what to tell you.

 

[Pumacarl]

OK @dunz, I figured out what happened. I put the scope straight into my cart and it doesn't show the accepting pre-orders screen if you do that. Kind of deceiveing for the website to do that. Anyway, I tried!

 

[Pumacarl]

On another note, it turns out that the Utah Airguns website was off a little bit too and did have a used gun that they had listed as out of stock. Gun shopping done!

Scope shopping done too! The gun came with a Nexus, which everyone seems to think is pretty good glass. I will let you all know. It's MOA, which I don't really like, but Strelok does all my math for me anyway.

 

[SpindleB]

I have 5 CVLife 5-25x56 FFP BearSwift scopes and 1 BearMight scope. Absolutely nothing can touch them in their price class and several classes above. BearSwift WAS, shipped, $155. Now with tariffs and tariff *fees* the Bearswift is $235

I have an old Leupold Mk4 and the CVLife are all better scopes. Hawke, Aeon, Discovery, vector been through them all. CVLife is a superior scope.

 

[BBGunn]

Before I just go out and get an Athlon MT HD G2 5x30, which will be the heaviest (30oz) and most expensive ($600ish) scope I will consider, is there some value scope out there that I should consider? I'm not doing anything important, or quick, or team related with this; just long range plinking mostly. My eyes are going South so I need a better scope if I want to have any chance of spotting hits at 300+ yards. Optical clarity and brightness are key, as I can always use the reticle and not click so much, but I can't shoot what I can't see, or do a followup shot. It seems everyone is talking NV or thermal lately so I thought to ask if a new favorite optical scope is making the rounds lately, thanks!

You allude to a point that all older folks should consider.

When I was young I had 20/15 vision. The Ophthalmologist called it, 'fighter pilot vision'. But now, in older life, I wear glasses and can't see near as well overall as I use to. In my youth I could use optics with less clear glass and it worked just fine because my vision was so good. But now, in my older years I am forced to spend more on my optics in order to get better/sharper glass to compensate for my failing vision.

As for a recommendation, I think the SWFA fixed power Gen2 scopes are a pretty good optic overall. Rugged, reliable and repeatable turrets, simple or more complex reticle options, better than average glass (not great glass) and a price that is below the value of the scope.

Good luck with which ever optic you decide on.