Airguns are different

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 BEWARE USO QC...

https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/us-optics-ts-20x.6942169/

https://www.snipershide.com/shooting/threads/us-optics-ts-12x.6963844/
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I saw that thread, while trying to run down info on this model but thanks for bringing it to my attention and keeping me on my toes when I look at the TX20. I don't feel committed to anything I ordered except the rifle but I am taking advantage of the opportunity to see as many as I reasonably can. I may learn something useful but reject all of them or maybe I don't need to look any further. I'll continue to explore these as my understanding of what I want out of it is honed.

I've read or saw somewhere (apart from Steve123's observation regarding his Cronus) that some scopes will indeed work well enough below their rated parallax minimums to make them usable at close backyard range. If that's so, it opens up other avenues. If I can still pull focus even at low mag, I can live with less reliable parallax correction. I assume this will be dependent on individual designs. I'm eager to see the CT5 in particular but I don't understand the reticle and wonder if that is its weak link.
 
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Just received the TX20X while the others are expected Tuesday. The scope was cold soaked when I brought it in and the controls were immovable. Stiff enough that I didn't want to force them. Now that's it's warmed up, things are moving much better but they felt frozen in place at first. Maybe being new may have had something to do with it?

The battery was installed already, a surprise to me. The reticle seems plenty bright under illumination to my inexperienced eyes but as it's a cold, icy and overcast day I'm sticking inside so I've only cursory observations to report. I'll get familiar with it while I wait for the others to get here. Apart from the initial stiffness, my first impressions are favorable. I've tried some optically compromised views through my winter dirty windows. Probably not fair to it but it looked good to me at first blush.

I have a lot to learn.
 
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I have received all three scopes and I'm returning all of them. The Crimson Trace was almost unusable. The turrets were loose feeling but the real problem is that the side focus and zoom controls were too stiff to be workable or comfortable. I couldn't get the illumination switch to turn at all without finger mangling stiffness. All the optical control rings were stiff and a bit gritty feeling, and all required differing levels of force to operate. OTOH, the optics are clear and bright and very nice at lower mags. They were not disappointing but the rest of the package has been.

The USO sample I received has significantly better mechanical feel and response than the Crimson Trace with smoother side focus and zoom controls and much better feeling and sounding turrets. The optics are maybe just a touch softer than the Crimson Trace (hard for me to tell actually...I could use more experience in judging that) but they also seemed a bit warmer, with more saturated color. Regardless the quality of optics, I have to reject the Crimson Trace based on the control feel and lack of smoothness and ease whereas I could live with the USO and be happy. It has the best mechanical feel and sound of the three I have had here so far, including the just arrived Athlon Ares..

First impression is that the Ares is optically like the Crimson Trace. It seems clear and bright and renders colors in a similar fashion. However, I've spent the least amount of time looking through it because it only got here this morning. Right off, I can see that the turrets and general feel are also more like the Trace than they are like the USO. The elevation and windage turrets (Ares) have a different feel and sound from each other with the windage being the better felling and less "tinny/loose" sounding of the two. Off hand, my impressions fall between the USO and the CT in that it is useable in respect to effort and feel but not optimal as there seem to be inconsistencies between the two. turrets The CT is unusable for me with the controls feeling bad enough to think I might have gotten a defective or damaged unit.

I am now considering a Delta Stryker thinking it may give me the optical and mechanical qualities I would like in one package. It or the Toric are at the limit of what I think is sensible for my rifle but given it's mostly going to be used as a target gun, the Stryker 5-50 has the features I want and hopefully will be a better amalgam for me as it focuses to ten yards.. The Toric has a longer warranty but won't go below 25 yards. 

All three scopes I've examined so far seem to have good optics taken on their own. The controls are more varying than the optics seem to be, or at least those differences are more immediately obvious to me. I'm up for a Stryker next.
 
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Lewilbar,

Just so you know there are two generations of Ares BTR. Might be that you got the 1st gen. Turrets are waaay better in the G2 model. Plus if you payed the old full price of around $800 or a little less for the G1 then you payed too much because these were closed out and sold out at most places for $400-$450, BUT some outfits still have the G1's so.... The G2's are currently fetching near MAP price. All the G2's have had nice turrets, with distinct clicks, and with indicator marks on the turret that lined up with line on the scope housing well. 

That Delta Stryker 5-50 would be a great scope, I'd like to have one. You'll see the subtle differences in most ways compared to the less expensive scopes. Keep in mind that because it's SFP the hash marks in the reticle will only be correct mil or moa at 40X. FFP scopes have mil or moa hashes correct on any magnification. Trade offs..... 
 
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Pretty much talking twins here...

For only $80 something bux more gets you a NO BS LIFETIME WARRANTY from a long time standing USA based company that's transferable unlike the Delta Stryker's non transferable 10 year warranty. Plus the Trijicon Ten Mile retails for $2700.00 so you actually get more equity here paying $1682.99. To me it's a no brainer. Other shooting and optics forums members prefer the Ten Mile Trijicon due to the side focus numbers going past 300 yards compared to the Delta Stryker.

https://gunzonedeals.com/product/tri-tenmile-riflescope-5-50x56-extreme-lr

I'll buy the Trijicon Ten Mile from you if you aren't happy with it just don't mount it however I won't offer to buy the Delta Stryker version from you though if you choose to go that brand instead. I'm good for it don't worry.

BTW Temperature shift is NOT a good thing...

https://www.gatewaytoairguns.org/GTA/index.php?topic=180858.0
 
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I agree with Odoyle that the cost difference would be worth the additional warranty, just don't expect it to be a better product.

The Tenmile and the Stryker are the same exact scope from the LOW factory in Japan. They have different warranties and reticles, (I much prefer the Stryker reticle) but are otherwise the same.

It's true that the Tenmile has markings farther out but I can't find any verification in their marketing to suggest it can parallax down to 10 yards which the Stryker does. I would assume it does but I would want to verify that first especially if field target is in your use case.
 
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I recently did a write up on the Stryker I bought and have been using for a while now, check it out. Because all scopes are made from a variety of materials, most are susceptible to temperature shift to some degree. Many FT shooters have ranges for both hot and cold temps. marked on their scopes for this reason. The warranty being only 10 years isn’t an issue to me either. I’ve never had a scope fail after the first year or two, but that’s just me. I absolutely. love this scope so far so I wanted to share. I haven’t heard from a single person yet who owns this scope and doesn’t like it a lot. Many great online reviews of the scope too. 

Have a good one.

Stoti
 
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Thank you all for your input.

I read/watched some reviews of Sightron's scopes as they pop up when researching the Delta, making a comparison inevitable. DOL compares the Stryker and Sightron directly in several videos as you likely know as do Optics Trade and Richard Utting. . The first review I watched was Cyclops' video (he's the most entertaining by far) which started me down the path to budgeting a bit more money on this.

Lewis: It's the Stryker's ability to go down to 5X (vs. 10X) that seems like it would be useful to me. I think the Sightrons V go to 10 yards but I'd need to check on that. But it's the magnification range that makes me favor the Delta.

Steve, regarding Athlon I got the ETR version, not BTR. Unlike the USO it came in a factory sealed box, also from Amazon. I used Amazon for easy, clinical and guiltless return. but have always planned to buy my stuff to keep from a retail specialist. The CT (Midway) also appears to have been repackaged before being sent to me but the packaging was not shopworn,. I don't know if that makes a difference respecting their conditions but it didn't fill me with confidence about either sample I received. That said, both were cosmetically without obvious problems despite possibly being prior returns (USO definitely was not new). BTW, the turrets of the USO have dead spots at the extreme end of travel as I have seen mentioned in another online review. The clicks become indistinct at one end of their range. I think I learned the meaning of "mushy" from that but to be fair, all of the travel in the most used part of the range revealed the turrets to be the best feeling and sounding of the lot within my limited ability to make such comparative observations . 

Odoyle...thanks for your continued input on this thread and elsewhere on the forum. I've been pouring over all the dope here in many threads and reviews. Your shared experience in these matter is appreciated. The hope is that one of these upper midrange units (Delta, Trijicon, Sightron, etc) is that one of them ends up being "for keeps" and offers a bit less compromise than the less 'luxurious' ones. I try to be a big boy and take responsibility for my decisions but I appreciate your offer regarding the Trijicon and will keep it in mind although I don't think I need more than your comments and experience to help guide me along. I'm inexperienced but like to think I'm a fast learner. Thanks for the help learning me.

Stoti: Thanks for your input as well. I'm going straight to your review after I write this. I haven't seen any reviews of the Delta that are less than positive but personal knowledge and ownership makes any review more convincing. I do like the Sightron's dual speed parallax controls but the zoom range of the Delta suits me better, I think. I look forward to reading your review now!

My rifle has arrived at Utah and should be shipping to me at any moment now. This is getting real! I can't wait to get all this new stuff in my hot grubby hands!



Edited to add: In fact, I stumbled across your thread (@Stoti) a few days ago but didn't connect your name to it until I followed the link. I reviewed your thread again just a few minutes ago. I found out pretty soon that you get to "the end of the internet" quite quickly when discussing better quality riflescopes for airgun mounting. It seems not everybody on the internet is as interested in $1600 riflescopes as they are in kitten videos and how to bake perfect sourdough bread. Airguns (and airgun-ers) are different! Your review reinforces the other info I've found so far.




 
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Stryker is on its way. Looks to me that the Trijicon is the same design with a different reticle. It will go to 10 yds. The warranty looks to be worth the money at the new street price. As a newb feeling my way through the jungle it didn't come to my attention possibly because they advertise it at $2700 and the first sites I stumbled on had prices above my limit. I also passed it over because I didn't se much airplay compared to the Stryker. Marketing thing? Not my department. I'm not sure how important the warranty is to my use case but for a few dollars more it's a nice feature to have. I'll see how I feel when the Stryker gets here but it's clear they're pretty much the same and it's probably easier to own the Triji here in Nashville compared to Warsaw. .So.....am I feelin' lucky today?
 
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Leupold and Burris both make a scope that is very well suited to rimfires and airguns. I believe the Leupold is called EFR,for extended focus range. I bought the Burris Timberline 4.5-14x32mm AO and it has a ballistic reticle with thin crosshairs. Things I like about it are the compact size, 1/8" clicks at 100 yards, ability to focus down to 7 yards, very accurate scale on the front AO ring, excellent coatings and very sharp image, and excellent value at around $330 last time I checked. I have had mine for 10 years with no issues. It previously did several years service on a CZ 527 in .204 Ruger for PD shooting. Don't let the 32mm objective fool you, it is at least as bright as cheaper 40mm scopes as Burris makes a big deal of using all available light. I have a Weaver 4-16x40mm Classic V AO and the coatings and sharpness do not equal the Burris Timberline. The Timberline has long eye relief if you ever choose to use it on a hard recoiling mountain rifle. From airguns to rimfires to lightweight short action mountain rifles it can do it all. Probably the best value in the entire Burris scope line.
 
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I bought the crimson trace 4-20 and the 5-25... and both are stunning scopes. They click beautifully. I have the Mr1 and the LR2 reticle. I think I prefer the MR 1 but both are great.

the Hawke Frontier is extremely good too but I like the Crimson on sale scopes better. 
benchrest aside... I don’t tjink many plinkers or hunters need more than 20x on an airgun.


 
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Read CURVE BALL post. The NO BS LIFETIME TRANSFERABLE WARRANTY for a $2700 Trijicon Ten Mile version ($1471.99) cheaper than the Delta Stryker. That's a lot more equity right there. Lifetime Warranty that's transferable too.

If you aren't happy with the Trijicon Ten Mile I'll buy it from you with paying make offer price 20% off but NOT FOR THE DELTA STRYKER. Just don't mount the Trijicon. There's NO Warranty for the next guy for the Delta Stryker.

https://www.airgunnation.com/topic/march-scope-sale/page/2/#post-945944
 
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Appreciate the input ya'll. A comment on the sample of the Crimson Trace I got. I've been told privately that I'm an idiot and while that may be true, in this case I have my reasons for judging it as I did. I'm pretty sure it was defective. Apart from the optical quality and the turrets both of which which seemed good to me, there were two problems . I've mentioned them but I'll repeat myself. The illumination control , although not an important feature for my intended use, was frozen in place. Literally not useable. Also, the ocular/diopter and zoom ring were gritty, something none of the other scopes exhibited. Had it not had been for those issues, my impressions would have been different. It's occurred to me to try a 3 series because on paper it does everything I need including 10 meter focus/parallax. 

I got the Stryker Thursday. It is the nicest scope so far as it should be. It is very bright and crisp, easily matches my Leopold spotting scope at 20X and I think beats it respecting chromatic aberration. Controls are firm but smooth as I've come to expect. The complaints I've read about regarding parallax ring vs range scale seem to have been addressed as mine scales to 1500 meters, Of course, it doesn't matter on an airgun. The controls and optics seem to both be about what is said of them, especially the optics. I can't judge accuracy until I get my rifle but the turrets feel fine although the clicks are more subtle. It does seem like a lot of magnification for an airgun but it holds together at higher power as far as I can tell and is contrasty and crisp to see fine detail at high mag . That's all I've got.

Functionally, I'm happy with the Delta but the 'make an offer' for the Trijicon tip is appreciated and worth a shot. I'll be back and let you.
 
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This has come to an end through unforeseen tragedy. I managed to drop the scope (don't ask, but I haven't killed the cat who was my little helper in the affair). The scope's ok and seems to be functioning just as well as it was before. There's no apparent mechanical or cosmetic damage apart from a tell tale ding on the turret's cap piece (the button that shows rotations of the elevation turret) and a more annoying (bigger) scar on the ring that you tun to get the turret cap off. These pieces appear to be field replaceable but have to come from Delta. It's a very fine scope and I'm sure I'll be happy with it but the accident has reduced my options to one...keep it. I'd say it's a pretty tough unit as the fall was heavy and undamped, landing on a solid oak floor. 

These things happen but why do they always seem to happen to me? One aspect that may be of interest to others will be to see how long it takes to get the replacement parts. I can use the scope as is but will be reminded of my clumsiness every time I look at it until the replacement bits get in.

The Impact is a tack driver to 25 yards....as far as I can stretch in my backyard. This mishap has been a little unsettling but only if viewed as a first world problem. Even with my annoyingly immediate incident. I've had the gun just two days and barely got started before I got the first mark on my gear. I can see that this hobby has the potential to be a real addiction but what a start!



Oh...this is what it looks like mounted up (from the good side:))



IMG_0655.1615330749.jpeg

 
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