The best All around Air rifle scope

WOW such a broad topic Can you narrow it down a bit ? what would be the average lighting you shoot in just after sunrise , mid day indoors ? how about targets ? soup can size or dime size dot ? See what i mean ?
Generally i recommend Any Athlon scope that fits your budget
 
If I was going to buy a scope today it would be an Athlon Helos BTR Gen 2 Mil 2-12x. You get nice glass, nice turrets, nice reticle, nice zoom range for most air rifle uses, illumination, decent weight, decent parallax wheel, decent price $400-$500.

But it looks like Athlon is starting to roll out the Gen 3 series and I might wait for an updated version of the Helos.
 
My 2cnts, I had started my air gunning w/ a 3x12 Athlon ( price was right). Next gun got another Athlon, but 4x12 of another series . I've moved to 4x16 & 6x24
all second side focus & 2nd focal plain, 1" & 30mm. I have now determined that I prefer 6x24 , side focus ,30mm tube first focal plane w/ an IR reticle of choice for my all around airgun scope. For night pesting I use ATN scopes , lower models that have more bells & whistles than I'll ever use, I just wanted night vision.
The power factor works for (me) small to medium pests at short to 70 ish ( max for me) yards. All guns are .22. Hawk & Athlon are in my budget @ under $400.
YMMV ,of course.
 
WOW such a broad topic Can you narrow it down a bit ? what would be the average lighting you shoot in just after sunrise , mid day indoors ? how about targets ? soup can size or dime size dot ? See what i mean ?
Generally i recommend Any Athlon scope that fits your budget
I would really help if you let us know what kind of rifle or pistol it will be mounted on. The normal range you plan to shoot it. Big difference between a scope for a break barrel and a PCP. What are you planning to target? Paper, critters, etc.?
 
WOW such a broad topic Can you narrow it down a bit ? what would be the average lighting you shoot in just after sunrise , mid day indoors ? how about targets ? soup can size or dime size dot ? See what i mean ?
Generally i recommend Any Athlon scope that fits your budget.
Maybe he figured “all around air rifle scope“ covered it but price range is a must and I have wondered myself about this brand you mentioned. i will look over models in that brand again and try one of them out. I was raised on open sites , literally denied permission to put a scope on anything until i was able to preform on a certain level with open sights. This irritated me to no end at my father but now im glad he did it that way. I only recently learned you could buy scopes with cross hairs etched on the actual glass in the scope and there are 2 types of focal planes and exactly what that means, lol. I just bought a range finder, what an amazing device, I discovered I don’t need it from around 150 yards and closer and I don’t really shoot much beyond that range, hahaha, its still a cool little device, I got a hawke brand that will read out to 800 yards, lol, that’s naval gun ranges to me, 🤣🤣. I know this isnt my thread but thanks for the brand recommendation. I have a 50 cal Megalodon, I’m going to get something with a longer barrel in 25 or 30 cal to shoot now I just have to chose something , it’s way worse for me on that part than even chosing an optic really there is just so much out there. you have narrowed down the optic brand for it though , I feel closer to the finish on it now! Thanks again!
 
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For an optic that is more on the budget side and has side focus, IR, and is FFP, I really like the DiscoveryOpt HD 2-12x24SFIR. Fits perfect on my FX Panthera Hunter Compact perfectly and is under $200. The parallax can go all the way down to 10 yards.
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If I was going to buy a scope today it would be an Athlon Helos BTR Gen 2 Mil 2-12x. You get nice glass, nice turrets, nice reticle, nice zoom range for most air rifle uses, illumination, decent weight, decent parallax wheel, decent price $400-$500.

But it looks like Athlon is starting to roll out the Gen 3 series and I might wait for an updated version of the Helos.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Bandito
Maybe he figured “all around air rifle scope“ covered it but price range is a must and I have wondered myself about this brand you mentioned. i will look over models in that brand again and try one of them out. I was raised on open sites , literally denied permission to put a scope on anything until i was able to preform on a certain level with open sights. This irritated me to no end at my father but now im glad he did it that way. I only recently learned you could buy scopes with cross hairs etched on the actual glass in the scope and there are 2 types of focal planes and exactly what that means, lol. I just bought a range finder, what an amazing device, I discovered I don’t need it from around 150 yards and closer and I don’t really shoot much beyond that range, hahaha, its still a cool little device, I got a hawke brand that will read out to 800 yards, lol, that’s naval gun ranges to me, 🤣🤣. I know this isnt my thread but thanks for the brand recommendation. I have a 50 cal Megalodon, I’m going to get something with a longer barrel in 25 or 30 cal to shoot now I just have to chose something , it’s way worse for me on that part than even chosing an optic really there is just so much out there. you have narrowed down the optic brand for it though , I feel closer to the finish on it now! Thanks again!
I have had the same $400 Athlon scope (4 years now ) on a 306 PB , several springers , Anschutz .22 PB . plus 3 PCP ;s Not one problem . I own 6 of them now .
 
This is only one guy's opinion. Element Helix 6-24x50.. It changes sometimes for me. I have decided this is the ultimate scope FOR WHAT I DO. It suits me. But I am still learning this scope. I need some longer than 25 to 47 yards practice time. Be Well Brothers, Bandito.
 
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We just love "What's the Best" questions here :unsure: 🤪 Ask a hundred people, you'll get a hundred different answers! The best is what works best FOR YOU & your setup. That could take trial & error or plain dumb luck til you find something. I'm more of a make-do & be grateful for what I can afford kind of guy. The best for me are any that allow me to accomplish the task at hand.