Best PRS optic for $1500ish

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Adamg_55

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I’m going to be shooting PRS this year and I’m hunting for optics. Right now I’m leaning heavily towards the vortex viper gen 2 5-25x FFP with the EBR reticle.

Is there anything better for the money in the $1500 range? Would I be better off with a Steiner for a couple hundred more?
 
The PST GenII is a pretty nice looking scope (I have fondled one). The glass is good, reticle nice and usable, and the clicks are serviceable. Another optic in a very similar price range would be the Athlon Ares BTR. The zoom range is slightly different but the features and cost set are pretty similar.

They are both made in China/Philippines level optics (that is where they are made I think). Nothing wrong with that though and scopes made there are better now than they used to be.

I would personally recommend moving up a bit higher. Try to track down a Bushnell DMRII, Athlon Cronus, Delta Stryker, etc. They will run you in the $2Kish range but I think they are worth the additional dollars. They will all have a higher build quality, 34MM tube, better clicks, better glass.

I am pretty sure all of these optics are made by LOW in Japan. The Delta Stryker, Athlon Cronus, Bushy XRS, Sig Tango Six are all pretty much the same scope.
 
I would also agree with Ryan.M.Anderson. After buying a Cronus I could not be more happy. However to stick with your budget the Athlon Ares comes in a $1375 (New) it has more internal elevation then the viper and better glass quality.

Tom at GoBigTactical Sells them, great guy to deal with.

Just my .02cents
 
Ryan.M.Anderson said:
The PST GenII is a pretty nice looking scope (I have fondled one). The glass is good, reticle nice and usable, and the clicks are serviceable. Another optic in a very similar price range would be the Athlon Ares BTR. The zoom range is slightly different but the features and cost set are pretty similar.

They are both made in China/Philippines level optics (that is where they are made I think). Nothing wrong with that though and scopes made there are better now than they used to be.

I would personally recommend moving up a bit higher. Try to track down a Bushnell DMRII, Athlon Cronus, Delta Stryker, etc. They will run you in the $2Kish range but I think they are worth the additional dollars. They will all have a higher build quality, 34MM tube, better clicks, better glass.

I am pretty sure all of these optics are made by LOW in Japan. The Delta Stryker, Athlon Cronus, Bushy XRS, Sig Tango Six are all pretty much the same scope.
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I will vouch for my Delta Stryker. B E A Utiful scope! But $2500ish after tax/shipping it wasn't an easy pill to swallow. Other than that I'd agree with what JDCSigP226 said.
 
If you can find one, the Bushnell LRHS (discontinued) or the LRTS (still available, you missed the 30% discount earlier in the year) are widely regarded as excellent scopes for the money. I have one of each (3-12 & 4.5-18) LRHS and they were great in the two PRS matches I have completed. That said, I have not compared them side by side with higher end optics. They both track true and keep me happy. Even if I upgrade down the road, I will most likely keep them for other guns, they are that good.
 
Adamg_55 said:
I’m going to be shooting PRS this year and I’m hunting for optics. Right now I’m leaning heavily towards the vortex viper gen 2 5-25x FFP with the EBR reticle.

Is there anything better for the money in the $1500 range? Would I be better off with a Steiner for a couple hundred more?
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The Athlon Ares BTR is a great scope and sits on both my rifles (rimfire and centerfire).

I also have the Cronus BTR and Delta Stryker HD... the glass in these scopes is top tier but the pricing is well above your listed budget. If you want glass that is 98% of a S&B for ALOT less money, save a little longer and be very very happy.

But I actually prefer the Ares BTR due to the thicker reticle.... this seems much easier to pick up fast when I am moving around (younger eyes likely will find the Cronus/Delta reticle just fine). Glass is still plenty good and will compete well with the Vortex products. Tracking has been solid and matches the reticle precisely. Been out beating on them with the rimfire out to 330yds... centerfire out to 1080yds.. dialing close and far.

Both scopes repeat and track very well... return to zero is spot on as well. I have access to whatever I want but feel the Ares BTR will suit my PRS needs very well.

Athlon will be releasing a new scope this summer.. the Ares ETR. This will be closer to the Cronus and Delta wrt to size and features including ED glass with pricing in between the Cronus/Delta and Ares BTR... a couple of hundred above your budget.

Prelim reports have been very positive for the Ares ETR and I look forward to seeing them.

Jerry

PS, the Cronus and Deltas sit on my ELR rigs... here the superb glass and finer reticle do very well when aiming at small targets to 1 mile and beyond.
 

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THanks for everyones input. I was tempted by the Athlon Ares but it’s too new. Vortex has been around for a couple years now and the viper pst is on its second generation.

I got a great deal on a gen 2 Vortex Viper PST 5-25x50 FFP EBR-2C MRAD from Frank at CRAFM. Can’t say enough good things about those guys!
 
Shawn_338 said:
To say that the athalon glass is 98% of a S&B glass is just ridiculous! The Athalon is good yes but not even in the same league as S&B.
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The Athlon glass is excellent for the price point but as well sell and have used both I would agree with Shawn_338 they are certainly not the same or even close. The Athlon offers great features and glass in a different price point than Schmidt & Bender. Right now you just have to find the glass that is within your budget, and the best you can afford. The main goal is to get out shooting! We have the Ares BTR in stock, which from the Athlon perspective would be a great product that fits your budget. Feel free to email or PM us at all if we can help you out, regardless of where you decide to buy!
 
Shawn_338 said:
To say that the athalon glass is 98% of a S&B glass is just ridiculous! The Athalon is good yes but not even in the same league as S&B.
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I base my opinion on viewing stuff way out there. My typical test is at 1035yds over a number of days including varying light, weather and cloud cover.

Grab some scopes and put them side by side. I was very surprised at how good the Cronus and Delta are...

Jerry
 

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Shawn_338 said:
You can base your opinion on whatever you want, but saying the athalon is 98% as good as S&B is miss leading.
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Well, my opinion is based on observation over a long period of time at extended distances, side by side with the scopes in question. Not sure why an informed opinion would be a 'bad' thing?

S&B continue to be my favorite glass under $6K... the Asian products are catching up real fast, and doing so at a price point that more can afford. Not sure why that would be a 'bad' thing?

Those that want a S&B will get an S&B regardless... for those looking for better on a limited budget have some solid options to choose from now... and it is only going to improve.

Jerry
 
Shawn_338 said:
Nobody said it was a bad thing, I said that saying an athalon is 98% as good as a S&B is ridicules and miss leading.
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Optically, get them side by side and see for yourself... I showed you the scopes I used. maybe the S&B I compared to was "off"... don't think so as the view was fantastic.

Tracking on these Asian scopes are solid.

Are they 'milspec' scopes? nope but then precious few scopes are.... more then durable enough for our uses.

There should be a Cronus scope at the AB PRS matches.. have a look. maybe it will change your mind????

Jerry
 
LittleBoyLefty said:
Has Athlon even been around for 'a long period of time'? ;)
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Athlon formed by ex- execs from major US scope brands..... Cronus sourced from LOW Japan.

So yeah, you could say the company has a bit of experience and manufacturing is well established.

Delta is a Polish company that has been growing rapidly the last while... Stryker HDs are sourced from LOW as well. In fact the Delta FFP and Cronus BTR are cousins sharing the same chassis with each specing their own glass, reticles and appearance.

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But this is a wee bit off track as neither the S&B, Cronus or Delta will fit into the OP's budget.

Maybe the Ares ETR might....

Jerry
 

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The NF SHV is made by LOW as well.

Also, reticle selection for PRS type shooting is super limited.

Edited: I wouldn't say that S&B and Athlon are the same in the glass department but glass is one of the lower concerns when it come to PRS optics. Also, glass is subjective depending on the viewer - eyes and such.

Click feel, repeatability, and tracking are all much more important than glass.

LOW made optics are normally pretty solid in all those regards.

Used DMRiis show up in the EE for a good price. Get one of those.
 
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