Athlon Cronus BTR review-ish

[VancouverS4]

OK to start

- I like to shoot
- I am trying to get decent with most platforms (Long range, QCB, shotgun, etc)
- I am new to this game and love to learn and share what I've learned

So my $0.02 about Athlon Optics:

I love it!! My first optic purchase was an Amazon special and until I bought the Athlon Cronus BTR my personal favourites were the 34mm tube'd Bushnells (I have two DMR ii's). I have come a long way having owned some Vortex, Zeiss, Burris and Sightron. With my less than perfect vision the 34mm tube helps me sit on target much longer without eye fatigue. All that said I was looking at adding a 3rd Bushnell DMR to my collection when this optic came up on sale.

I have it mounted on my Tikka T3 300wm in an MDT chassis with a Vortex Precision mount. The Tikka has always been a tack driver for me, the previous optic (Vortex) didn't quite live up to expectations.

I zeroed her in, mostly. The zero stop was keeping me from dialling in elevation for a 100m zero so I had to do another range trip to get final zero. I'm not going to post pictures of my groups because this review isn't about me attempting to show good groups but the quality of the optic.

I was blown away by clarity and light transmission. At all zoom levels it was crisp and clear.

I've attached some pictures to show how clear and how little light goes amiss. These were taken well into dusk with an iphone.

View attachment 220168View attachment 220169View attachment 220173View attachment 220174View attachment 220175

Note the light transmission at min and max zoom, also the crisp reticle with and without illumination on.

I would recommend 100%

 

[6MT]

....

 

[VancouverS4]

scope is level was a ##### to get any decent type of picture using an iPhone and only having two hands.


in terms of clicks, much better than the vortex in that there is little wiggle room between clicks, it's tactile. And the busnell dmr fell "mushy-er" . The zoom is a bit stiff but very smooth.


tracking:

I zeroed at 100y and didn't do a box test, however when I was about 7" high I knew I would have to adjust 2 mills or 8 clicks. I dialled 8 clicks and got on my zero.

 

[Lead hammer]

Thanks for sharing the photos. Love the color. It's on my short list. I think I want the mil version though. I have a feeling I need to drop down to the next level unfortunately as cost is a factor.

 

[Mystic Precision]

How did it track? How was the feel of the clicks? Was it tactile or mushy? Light transmission is one thing, yes. But if it doesn't track, you're SOL. How is the parallax? What distances did you test? What are the substension line values? What are the click values? Is the scope in MOA or mils? What's the scope's specs? (Magnification? Eye relief? Objective size? Weight? Etc., etc..) How much elevation and windage adjustment does it have?

(Is it me, or does that scope not look level from the look of that reticle?

It is a pretty scope. Nice color.

https://athlonoptics.com/product-category/rifle-scopes/cronus-btr/

I have 1.. my buddy has 2. I have been testing mine all summer and it tracks dead on. See my dealer forum for my box testing.



Beg of Oct, I ran this rifle combo out to 1650yds ( or thereabouts) and then out to 1820yds another day. After hitting, I would dial back down to zero then back up again and take one shot on the target. Tracking was repeatable with no windage shift (cant) and I put lead on target every shot.

wrt to clicks, it moves precisely but feel, that is subjective and some will say awesome, some will say not bad. Good resistance for my tastes

MOA version has 1/4 moa clicks. Mil version is 0.1mil. MOA reticle is 1moa hash spacing. Mil is 0.2mils spacing. I currently run mil scopes and all my Athlon scopes (running 4 currently - 8 tested so far) tracking and reticle match precisely.

If you shim the scope properly, the MOA version has a useable 200 MOA of adjustment (reticle and internal).. Mil version has 40 mils of useable adjustment

Image quality is excellent. Side focus works well. Eye relief and all that stuff is excellent... see Athlon specs.

Been very impressed with the 3 I currently get to play with.

Jerry

PS... just started playing with the Ares ETR and this is very similar in features and performance but for a whole lot less $$$



Same day out to 1820yds.

 

[Mystic Precision]

Thanks for sharing the photos. Love the color. It's on my short list. I think I want the mil version though. I have a feeling I need to drop down to the next level unfortunately as cost is a factor.

With the Ares ETR, you are giving up very little wrt to performance. It is a hint behind optically (still very very good) but tracking is equally solid

Jerry

 

[Fore300]

Remove the turrets, clean off all the lithium grease and remove the main o-ring (unless you take it in water) the turrets click is massivly improved and becoming an extremely positive feeling . I also agree it is a great scope and tracks perfect

 

[Go_Big_Tactical]

Thanks for the feedback VancouverS4! I think Fore300 has given you great direction on the turrets above.