Athlon has been a very admirable figure in the U.S firearm optics industry. It stands besides brands like Leupold and Burris due to its extensive line of high quality but very affordable rifle scopes.
Here we’ll review a very balanced and high performing long-range scope from Athlon Optics. The BTR 8-34x56. We’ll learn about the good and the bad with this scope and all other important aspects.
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Athlon Optics Argos BTR Gen II 8-34x56mm
Pros
Cons
Athlon Argos BTR 8-34X56mm Specs
The Argos BTR features some very amazing characteristics and is the first focal plane available at an exceptional price. The reticle has been meticulously designed to suit the extra long range and so are the turrets.
Eye Relief: 3.3 inch
Adjustment Options (Parallax, windage, elevation): W, E, and P (15 yds to infinity)
Type of Reticle: APLR2 FFP IR MOA
Magnification: 8 - 34 x
Focal Plane: FFP
Objective Lens: 56 mm
Field of View: 12.5 - 3 ft at 100 yds
Weight: 32 oz.
Pros
The first step to review this scope will be to look at its best features. The factors that make it a worthwhile purchase. Athlon Argos BTR is a winner in many areas as a long range riflescope. The value it delivers is exceptional and even makes some highly-priced scope look inferior at some points.
Feature Rich & Affordable
The Argos BTR is a feature-rich scope. It is an FFP scope with an illuminated MOA style reticle with hash marks. A turret with zero stop, impeccable clarity, and almost everything you can expect from a long range scope. All at a price tag less than $500. Sounds too good to be true! Well, that’s a reality with the BTR.
Long Range Scope
This scope features an 8-34x magnification. The magnifying power of this scope is immense, as just like some customer review for this scope said - ‘it makes 100 yards seem like spitting distance’. The 34x magnification extends your range of accuracy up to 2000 yards. This is an ultra long range scope suitable for hunting and precision shooting.
Glass & Tracking
This scope has one of the best and clear lenses available on a long range FFP scope available today. The quality of the glass is absolutely undebatable, especially when you are paying such an amazing price. The glass retains brightness and clarity at high magnification as well.
The big 56 mm objective lens gathers a good amount of light to keep the images bright and crisp even under very low lighting conditions. Another good feature is the turrets with zero stop and the impeccable tracking offered by this scope.
Illuminated Reticle
The BTR comes with an illuminated reticle. This superfine reticle with its floating center dot and thin red lines offers extreme precision even with small size targets over a long range. This is a glass etched reticle that supports the complex design and is also impervious to shocks.
Warranty
The BTR has been tested rigorously for durability. In fact, it has been tested to withstand a force of 1000 G’s over 1000 times to ensure its shock resistance. That makes the scope almost unbreakable. However, if you are still, in any manner concerned about the safety of your purchase. Athlon Optics also offers a limited lifetime warranty for this scope.
Cons
Now that we’re done with the pros. Let's look at the dark side of the BTR.
Short Eye Relief
I’m not sure how many times have you heard this as a con with long range scopes. But this is a slight deterrent with the BTR 8-34x scope.
The eye relief is 3.3 inches which by most standards is acceptable, but still not ideal. Having a short relief limits the positioning to some extent and may be problematic for people with thick spectacles. However, this is not that serious.
High Magnification
A few users (about 10%) mentioned in their feedback that the crisp-ness of the image starts to blur at magnifications above 24x. While it is true that the scope offers a relatively narrow eye pupil at high magnification levels, the clarity of the image is slightly compromised. But then, this is not a $2,000 long range riflescope that allows you to hit golf balls at a mile.
Weight
Being a 34x scope with a 56 mm scope, it tends to be heavy. This will demand more muscle power to carry and move with the rifle. But not really a problem for bench shooting.
Best Uses for the Athlon Argos BTR 8-34X56
The best use for Athlon Argos BTR 8-34x56 is bench rest shooting for long range targets. The next best use is long range precision shooting competitions. It is also a viable option for tactical applications and LEO use. However, that point stands debatable due to a plethora of individual opinions and preferences on tactical long range scopes. However, the illuminated reticle clearly depicts that it is a possible use for this scope.
The scope perfectly fits the bill for new long range shooters who are not ready yet to dedicate $2000 or more for a high-grade long range scope. But still want to enter this arena and want an affordable option.
The range, illuminated glass etched reticle, and good tracking make it suitable for hunting over medium or long range. Especially for medium or big sized game.
The minimum magnification is 8x which means you don’t have the option to shoot targets at a very close range.
Is the Athlon Argos BTR 8-34X56 Compatible With Any Rifle?
This scope will work best with .308 and above calibers. It will suit bolt action rifles, semi-autos, and other rifles specially designed for long range precision shooting. It works really well over a long-range with high-velocity rounds, and at medium distances with subsonic rounds.
Mounting this scope on a .223 AR-15 rifle wouldn’t seem very practical due to its size and weight values. But then, nothing is strictly limited with apt caliber rifles.
What Do I Need to Know About Mounting the Athlon Argos BTR 8-34X56?
The scope does not come with scope rings or a mount in the package. It only includes a lens cloth, an Allen wrench, a CR2032 battery, and an instruction manual. You have to choose your own mounting setup, which in a way is a great feature. Plus, you cannot expect Athlon Optics to include a $100 mount when they already offered you such an amazing scope at an unbelievable price. You should use high rings with this scope to offer proper clearance for the large 56 mm objective lens.
It is recommended you use strong hex scope rings with at least two screw points on each ring. Since the scope is heavy and requires a solid base. You may also want to buy a sunshade since the scope doesn’t come with one, and it is essential when shooting at long distances in daylight.
The eyebox is small with this scope, so proper cheek weld is essential with a rifle. Make sure you properly calculate the mounting position on the receiver.
This is an illuminated scope that uses a CR2032 battery. The battery compartment is mounted on the rear and the scope and the battery is easy to swap. Ensure proper plumb alignment for optimal performance.
What Makes the Athlon Argos BTR 8-34X56 Stand Out From the Competition?
The first and foremost factor that not only differentiates but segregates this scope from its competitors is the value of money. It is an FFP scope with a super fine illuminated reticle and high magnification. All for a price that is almost 3 to 4 times less than other high-end scopes with similar features.
Even after that, the scope is covered with a lifetime warranty by the company. So your purchase is absolutely secure.
Conclusion
The Athlon Argos BTR 8-34x56 is a first focal plane long range riflescope with an illuminated reticle. It is best suited for benchrest shooting and competitions. Plus some medium to long range hunting. The scope offers an exceptional value for money comparing its features and quality with other high-end scopes. A great choice for beginners and occasional shooters planning to hit steel over long distances.
People Also Ask
Quench the thirst for your curiosity about Athlon Optics scopes and this BTR scope in particular. Some people are overly skeptical at first because of the price and feature ratio. But this scope will greatly satisfy your expectations.
Where Are Athlon Scopes Made?
The top class of the Athlon scopes (including the BTR series) is currently manufactured in Japan. The rest of their scopes and optics are manufactured in China under strict quality standards.
Can You Use Athlon Argos BTR 8-34X56 in Low Light?
Absolutely yes. The Argos BTR 8-34x56 features a very large 56 mm objective lens that collects a good amount of light, delivering bright and crisp images in low light. Plus the illuminated reticle is also a helping factor for such shooting conditions.
