Well I've been poking around for a scope that will focus down less than 50yds. Came across the Athlon Neos. Been wondering heavily on ordering one as it would be a Christmas gift so therefore I would have to wait to actually get to use it. So the question is, has anyone gotten the 4-12x and wish they had gotten the 6-18 or vise versa?
What power scope? Athlon
- Thread starter brokeasajoke
- Start date
Depends on what you want to do with the gun. I like to pest/hunt at 6X so I prefer scopes which will go there and usually buy SFP so I can see the reticle at the lowest power. For pesting, plinking, or hunting I am happy with a scope topping out at 12-16X. I have a 2-7 on my Prod. But for targets, I like 6-24s (or higher). So I am kind of gravitating to SFP 6-24s. But I still like my PA 4-14 a lot, it just isn't my best target scope. I'd probably go with the 6-18 of the two you mentioned.
I looked at the Neos. It doesn't seem to be offered in a mil dot reticle. They are handy for hold over. You might also want to look at the Athlon Talos. It may be slightly more expensive but the 3-12 is still under $200 on Amazon. I got my 6-24 Talos a couple years ago for $200 on a sale at Christmas time. It is one of my favorites. But it's a little heavy. That is a disadvantage of higher powered scopes (price is also higher). My Talos is my only scope which will actually parallax down to 10 yards. It will go to about 8 yards. My Vector 8-32 is supposed to do 10 yards but won't. My Arken 6-24 will only go down to about 12 yards despite it's 10 yard rating. Talos is about the same in clarity as the Arken despite being $100 cheaper.
I looked at the Neos. It doesn't seem to be offered in a mil dot reticle. They are handy for hold over. You might also want to look at the Athlon Talos. It may be slightly more expensive but the 3-12 is still under $200 on Amazon. I got my 6-24 Talos a couple years ago for $200 on a sale at Christmas time. It is one of my favorites. But it's a little heavy. That is a disadvantage of higher powered scopes (price is also higher). My Talos is my only scope which will actually parallax down to 10 yards. It will go to about 8 yards. My Vector 8-32 is supposed to do 10 yards but won't. My Arken 6-24 will only go down to about 12 yards despite it's 10 yard rating. Talos is about the same in clarity as the Arken despite being $100 cheaper.
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I like ~16x for 50yds and a bit beyond. It helps me see little .177 holes in plain paper targets at that range
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Depending on what you are using it for, more is better than less. With a variable, you can always turn it down. Focus down to 10 yds. is a must, if you plan on doing some FT shooting. Prefer SFP.
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Great suggestions here for sure. I would include my opinion as being the lower Athlon range as a place to start Never know...
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I was thinking a Burris Fullfield as I have one and am pleased with it but it does not focus down below 50yds. That's where the Athlon caught my eye as it focuses down to 10yds. I'm leaning 6-18x with IR retical but scope looks pretty large in pics. Edit: it's not the price difference at all on this one. It's a matter of well I wish I would have gotten the other. Looks like vector optics has a pretty good following as well as Discovery but I'm betting it would be hard to beat Athlon customer service in the event something went wrong as I've heard nothing but good.
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If it's a Xmas gift for now I would keep researching and wait for the sales to start. If you are a veteran or first responder you can get some great discounts from Athlon and others.
YES 10 yard focus is just about mandatory for airguns.
YES 10 yard focus is just about mandatory for airguns.
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Yes I am a first responder. Volunteer fire dept chief. Edit I just checked GOVX and I can save about $10 through them.
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Call Doug at Cameralandny as he can give you a better price over the phone vs what they can put on the website.
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Where I got one of my athlons Talos from.
Also check Amazon for a day sale . The athlon Talos 3x12 mildot a week ago was 140$ on one .. ( the sold and shipped by Amazon offering)
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I'd skip the Neos and go for the Talos. I liked my Talos 4-16x40 SFP scope in Mildot because it had matching .1 mil clicks and capped turrets. Back when I bought it these were $159 MAP but I paid less than that. It worked great for years on my varmint rifle. Then when the Heras line came out I sold it to a friend and he's as happy as I was. For the money I paid it was a fantastic bargain.
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I was kinda hoping that they now have a side focus neos now that that would sdd a mildot as well , but no luck .
If I wanted or could use a duplex rectical I'd have no issue using the neos line. And same warranty as the rest.
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Well .. if you never need holdunder.
Then notice the dots are staggered .. notice it vs say the near same .22 rimfire bdc that's spaced equal.
(Neos .22)
If I was to go this bdc type I'd think the .22 bdc would serve best.
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Some will say "4-12 is more than enough for 50 yards", but I disagree.
I like to aim at a specific spot on my pests. Not just "the head" or "just the shoulder".
4-12 can't do that for me. Of course, I am different than most. I actually use my 4.5-27 on full zoom even at as close as 10 yards. I would do the same with my 8-34, but it only focuses down to 15 yards.
When I shoot out to ~93 yards, I only reduce zoom to about 24x because I need the field of vision to spot the chipmunks. Once spotted, if enough time is available, I still zoom in to the full monty, be it 27 or 34.
Yeah, I am the odd ball... but that's what I do. I like to be able to aim (if not always hit) a certain spot on my pests.
Aim small, miss small!
All my best!
Kerry
p.s.
I almost always shoot from a rest of some sort. The Akela "lives" on the BOG DG tripod and the Fortitude is usually rested on some makeshift rest. I do make some off-hand shots out to 20 yards, but that is not all that frequent.
I like to aim at a specific spot on my pests. Not just "the head" or "just the shoulder".
4-12 can't do that for me. Of course, I am different than most. I actually use my 4.5-27 on full zoom even at as close as 10 yards. I would do the same with my 8-34, but it only focuses down to 15 yards.
When I shoot out to ~93 yards, I only reduce zoom to about 24x because I need the field of vision to spot the chipmunks. Once spotted, if enough time is available, I still zoom in to the full monty, be it 27 or 34.
Yeah, I am the odd ball... but that's what I do. I like to be able to aim (if not always hit) a certain spot on my pests.
Aim small, miss small!
All my best!
Kerry
p.s.
I almost always shoot from a rest of some sort. The Akela "lives" on the BOG DG tripod and the Fortitude is usually rested on some makeshift rest. I do make some off-hand shots out to 20 yards, but that is not all that frequent.
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"Aim small, miss small" The Patriot is still a great movie. Haven't ordered yet though I better get on the stick as my new PCP is supposed to be here tomorrow.
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