Tag Archives: athlon optics

Chronograph Comparison: Athlon Rangecraft VS. Garmin Xero C1

May 10, 2025Ancillary gear, Product reviewathlon optics, athlon vs. garmin, chronograph, comparison, Garmin, Garmin vs. Athlon, rangecraft, rangecraft velocity pro, versus, xero, xero c1coldboremiracle

Preface

Technology is working its way into every facet of our lives. As the shooting sports and tactical market have continued to flourish, there are more and more technological gadgets involved. Today we are talking about chronographs, a device made to measure the velocity of a projectile moving in flight. Chronographs have changed a lot even since I started using them, and today we are taking a comparative look at two leading chronograph models that you definitely should consider; the Athlon Rangecraft VS. Garmin Xero C1 doppler radar chronographs.

Who Needs a Chronograph?

If you are reading this you are probably like me, looking to upgrade to something better than what you’re used to. Long-range and precision shooting require accurate data for ballistic solvers, and velocity is one of the top data points.

Athlon Optics, Rangecraft chronograph, Velocity pro radar chronograph, desert tech, SRS M2, Apex Rival

For years we setup sky-screens and carefully aligned devices to avoid shooting our gear. Then things changed with Magneto Speed bayonets, carefully attached to the firearms itself. This was a big step in simplifying the process of getting your data. But now we live in a world of bluetooth and Doppler radar. And todays subjects have crammed the technology into something you can carry in your pocket, and simply set them near your rifle to obtain velocities.

I love the idea of being able to easily and quickly setup one of these devices to get an accurate and current velocity for what my ammunition is doing right here and now. This incredibly valuable data once input to your ballistic equation can be the difference between a hit and a miss at any significant distance.

Comparing the Athlon Rangecraft and Garmin Xero Chronographs

Garmin Xero C1 versus Athlon Rangecraft Velocity Pro Chronograph
Feature	Garmin Xero	Athlon Rangecraft
Dimensions	3.03″ x 2.38″ x 1.36″	3.5” x 2.7” x 1.2”
Internal Battery	LIthium Ion	Lithium Ion
Water Rating	IPX7	IP67
Display Type	sunlight-visible, transflective, monochrome	Transreflective LCD Screen
Weight	3.72 oz without tripod 5.67 oz with tripod	4.7 oz without tripod 9 oz with tripod
Battery Life	6 hours	6 hours
Temp Operating range	14°F to 131°F / -10°C to 55°C	14°F to 122°F / -10°C to 55°C
Memory/Shot History	50 Sessions / 100 Shots per Session	50 Sessions / 100 Shots per Session
Charging/Interface	USB-C	USB-C
Connectivity	Bluetooth Enabled	Bluetooth Enabled
Mobile App Interface	ShotView™	Athlon Ballistics

In the Box

Lets start with the basics, these are two very similar products. Both come packaged in a handsome box filled with manuals and information on how to use it. The Athlon unit came with a zippered semi-rigid soft-case that holds the chronograph and tripod neatly.

The Xero also has some nice accessories, you just have to buy them. I found several nice options on Amazon like a silicone exterior for the Xero, and a nice soft case similar to the Athlon one.

Both units com with a compact tripod, and both of these units are very lightweight, there isn’t a lot to them. The Garmin tripod is polymer, and the Athlon tripod appears to be metal. To be honest I like the Athlon tripod better, its heavier weight is more likely to keep the tripod standing. Especially if its anywhere near a muzzle brake.

Both chronographs came with a USB-C charging cable, for easy charging with the rest of your stuff. I even charged mine in the car on the way to the range.

Controls

The Rangecraft chrono has five buttons for controlling the unit; A power/back button, a option/delete and an OK button used for selecting menu items. On the side of the unit there are two up and down selection buttons.

The Xero C1 has four buttons; A power/back button, an OK selection button, and an up and down selection buttons.

The controls on both units are so similar you can almost follow the same process for both when firing them up. Both units give you the option to input the bullet weight you are using, this data point can be used to calculate energy within the chronograph. Both units have a charging point that is covered by a rubber cap.

Using both of these chrono’s on the range together got confusing very quickly. Just because the buttons aren’t in the same place, and I found myself punching the wrong thing as I went back and forth between the two units.

garmin Xero C1 chronograph, athlon rangecraft velocity pro chronograph, chronograph, doppler radar, — testing some 6.5 Grendel loads, need more speed…

Both units allow you to select from various weapons types. There is a setting for rifle, pistol, archery, and air guns. There is also an “other” option, perhaps for AOW’s? 😂🤣😂

In either of the firearm modes, it allows you to select from multiple velocity ranges. The Rangecraft from 600-1800 or 1800 up to 5000 fps. The Garmin version is 600-1700 or 1700 up to 5000 fps. Once again you can see that both of these are extremely similar.

Phone Applications

Both of these chronographs have bluetooth interface that you can use to both analyze the data, as well as store and export. The Garmin app is the ShotView™ application, it has detailed data storage and organization for your shooting sessions.

The Athlon Ballistic app is the app to use with the Rangecraft Velocity Pro chronograph. It does much of the same, allowing you to analyze, store and export data. The added benefit is the data can be used right there in the app to add to your ballistic profiles for immediate firing solutions.

Chronograph Accessories

Besides the carrying case’s there are some other great accessories for these chronographs. Leophoto makes a nice ARCA mounted chronograph support that appears will work for both units. My favorite accessory is the Area 419 ARCA Lock Arm for the Garmin chronograph, and with minimal alteration I got my Rangecraft to fit it as well.

Kinetic Development Group also makes a great looking little Kinect Mount that attaches to your rifle by M-LOK. I haven’t used it before but based on looks and my experience with KDG products I expect it would be a fantastic option. It also appears it might fit both units.

On the Range with the Garmin Xero C1 and Athlon Rangecraft Chronograph

To compare these two units, I made a special range trip. I brought several firearms for a variety of different test results. Results from a 9mm pistol, a 6.5 Grendel, 8.6 Blackout, 5.56 carbine, and a 308 Winchester carbine. It was a fair spread of velocities and bullet types that would all test the capabilities of these chronographs.

my **Desert Tech SRS** fitted with the **Sig Sauer Tango 6** was used for velocity testing

Accuracy

Both of the chrono’s seemed to be within 10-25 FPS of each other on most everything I shot. And they were both within 10-15 FPS of velocities tested against a Magnetospeed chronograph as well. I don’t know what caused the disparity between the units, perhaps using the two together might have been causing the issue. I’m not sure how Doppler works but perhaps they were interfering with each other.

They were both reliable in picking up a signal on each shot. And they were also both good at not picking up bullets that weren’t mine. When someone close to me would shoot, neither of the units would register the shot.

Update: because folks kept asking, I retried a few different times to see how much difference there was between the velocity readings compared to a Magneto Speed chronograph. It does seem that the Garmin Xero C1 was closer to the Magneto Speed more often than the Athlon Rangecraft.

You can also select your preferred metric units. There are FPS, MPS, miles and kilometers to cover everyone. And if you prefer grams and joules over grains and foot pounds you can also select between those on the Rangecraft Velocity Pro. The Xero allows you to customize the layout for your data points for analysis.

Usability

Since these two are very comparable in function and size, it’s a little hard to judge some features. The Athlon has an additional button which gives it a very slight edge in controllability. Only because you don’t have to double up the pushing of buttons for certain purposes. The Athlon is heavier, but we’re talking ounces here so don’t worry about it too much.

The two different screen types definitely show in differing light. I thought the Garmin’s darker screen would be harder to see in hard sunlight, but it wasn’t bad at all. Both units have the ability to adjust the brightness of the screens, and select black on white or white on black. The Rangecraft also has dark setting, and a grey option. Though to be fair the differences were minimal.

The Xero also has a Pro Settings where you can turn the bullet weight entry prompt off and on. As well as the alignment diagram, I kind of wish the Athlon had the same feature. If nothing else just for less clicking buttons while setting up.

The convenience of having such quick access to velocity data is exceptional. And a definite game changer to have something this simple in your pocket for any and all shooting scenarios.

the **Steyr AUG A3 M2** fitted with a **Primary Arms PLxC 1-8** and the **Anechoic Anechox 35 suppressor**

Connection

Both units easily paired to my phone through their respective apps. And both prompt you with a QR code to download the app when you select connection. The connect feature can also be turned off, to isolate both units from connecting. The USB-C charging point was easy to access and keep both units powered up before use.

The battery life is great in my opinion. I rarely have velocity testing sessions that last more than an hour or so, but these units after several hours of use were still showing 75% battery life. And that’s not bad considering all the button pushing and changes I made during that time.

Pros and Cons

Cons

Today we’ll start out with demerits of each unit starting with the Athlon Rangecraft Velocity Pro; While it is slightly heavier, I actually prefer its heavy bipod to hold it down. I also found that there seemed to be a very slight delay in the button response. Often causing me to select unwanted menu choices and such, this is simply something you’d get used to with use I suspect.

Shooting a pistol standing next to the bench with either unit recorded velocities handily

The Garmin Xero C1 on the other hand is costlier, available on Optics Planet for $599. If you already are a Garmin kinda person, with GPS’s and watches and such that might be worth it to you. I also wish it came with some kind of case, for an additional two hundred clams you’d think they could throw in even the 15$ case I showed above from Amazon.

Pros

On the positive side for the Rangecraft, it is significantly more affordable than the Garmin. It can also be had on Optics Planet for $399. I mentioned the nice case it came with, as well as the more inclusive Athlon Ballistic app interface.

By comparison, the Garmin Xero has much wider aftermarket support. With a great deal more accessory options from big names you can trust. The Xero is lighter overall, and a touch smaller as well, which is great for on the go shooters. Additionally there is a bit more customization option with your data when using the Garmin.

the **Area 419** ARCA Lock Arm was designed perfectly for the Xero C1

Both units are exceptionally convenient, and might be the most pleasant thing to add to your shooting bag this year. Allowing you to get velocities without attaching anything to your barrel. While they are a little more expensive than what we are used to, the added convenience is well worth the money in my opinion.

My Conclusion

If you are the kind of shooter that needs quick access to velocities, then I can fully endorse purchasing either of these units. But I can absolutely make an argument for economy here. You may have been telling yourself throughout reading this review: “he keeps making these sound like the same thing”. And that is almost my exact impression as well.

While either of these units I believe will perform as well as any of us might need, there is very slight difference between them. The Garmin might have a couple data features over the Athlon, but in all honesty, I cannot see anything worth shelling out another two-hundred dollars for. I have nothing against either of them. But if I was to go back in time with six-hundred dollars in my pocket to spend on a chronograph, I’d come back with the Rangecraft and two-hundred dollars worth of primers or something. If that sounds like something you would also do, follow me for more money saving advice.

-CBM

Read about more great shooting gear here

Athlon Optics Helos BTR 2-12X42 Riflescope

March 29, 2025Optics, Product review2-12x42, athlon optics, helos, riflescope, scopecoldboremiracle

Preface

I’ve been lucky to be able to use quite a few high quality riflescopes in my day. In fact, I remember when the optics market was starved for lower-priced high-quality riflescopes. Today I bring you another product review that has satisfied that market, the Athlon Optics Helos BTR 2-12X42 riflescope.

I have used a few riflescopes from Athlon Optics, and they have all been positive experiences. So I was again optimistic to have a look at this new to me scope.

Athlon Optics, Helos BTS, 2-12x42, riflescope, Franchi Momentum

The Helos BTR 2-12X42

Athlon Optics Helos BTR Gen2 2-12X42 FFP IR MRAD Features
Power Magnification	2-12X
Objective Lens	42 MM
Tube Size	30 MM
Turrets	Locking MRAD
Reticle Focal Plane	First Focal Plane
Eye Relief	3.6 Inches
Field of View @ 100Yards	55.7 to 9.6 Feet
Turret Click Value	0.1 MRAD
Turret Adjustment per Turn	10 MRAD
Total Elevation Adjustment	32 MRAD
Total Windage Adjustment	25 MRAD
Parallax Adjustment	Side Focus/ 10 yards to Infinity
Weight	25.4 Ounces
Length	11.8 Inches
Reticle	Illuminated AHMR2 MRAD

Athlon Optics, Helos BTS, 2-12x42, riflescope

Helos BTR Features

The Athlon Optics Helos BTR 2-12X42 riflescope is built on a one-piece 30mm tube with a 42mm objective lens. Like pretty much every scope manufactured in modernity, the Helos features fully coated lenses and is filled with Argon to purge the internals.

In the middle of the scope you will find a robust erector system that incorporates the parallax/focus turret. On the top of the erector assembly you will find a 10 MIL locking turret, it locks using a pretty standard push-pull with a snapping sensation so you can be sure it is locked or not. The windage turret also locks, and shows you 5 MIL left and right on its markings.

The elevation turret includes a zero-stop ring that can be set once your rifle is zeroed. This helps avoid loosing track of what scope revolution your zero in on. It’s a robust zero-stop design too, which is much appreciated.

Athlon Optics, Helos BTS, 2-12x42, riflescope, zero stop

The Focus knob shows various parallax ranges from 10 yards to infinity, which turned out to be pretty accurate. Stacked on top of the focus turret, there is a secondary rheostat control housing the CE2032 lithium cell for the reticle illumination with various brightness settings.

Athlon Optics, Helos BTS, 2-12x42, riflescope, lithium cell battery

Unboxing the Helos

When the Helos arrived, I carefully opened the handsome box. I must say that Athlon does a great job at presenting their product. The box has a great many details, and included some great add on accessories. After pulling the scope itself from the foam, I took inventory of the other goods. The typical owners manual, battery, lens cloth, and tools for servicing the scope were there. But there was also a 42MM sunshade which is nice to have, as were the front and rear flip-caps to protect the lenses. Additionally, there was a polymer throw-lever or “cat-tail” as some call it that attaches to the magnification ring to enable faster zooming of the scope. It was time to get this scope mounted and ready for the range.

Athlon Optics, Helos BTS, 2-12x42, riflescope, throw lever — the throw-lever was a nice accessory, though I would have liked an aluminum one

Mounting Solution

I ended up using the Helos on two different rifles, in order to give it a proper workout. The first rifle was a custom 10/22 I put together, you can read about it HERE. The other rifle was a Franchi Momentum Elite Varmint rifle chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor. For mounting on the 10/22, I used a Primary Arms 30mm scope mount, and alternatively when mounted to the Franchi I used a set of Warne 30mm rings. The two different mounting solutions worked well, giving unfettered access to the Helos features.

custom 10/22, ruger 10/22, .22lr, Athlon Optics, helos, — the Helos made a great accessory for my 22, as did the YHM Phantom 22 suppressor

Shooting with the Helos BTR

My initial excursions with the Helos were using the 10/22. I used the turrets to quickly zero the rifle, followed by slipping the turrets to zero. This is done by removing the screw in the center of the turret, then you can pull it off, and reset the turret on the zero. After reinstalling the screws on both turrets, we were ready to shoot.

I have always been impressed with the optical quality of Athlon Optics, every one of their products that I have tried has been impressively sharp and clear when considering the price. The Helos BTR was no exception, and using the parallax adjustment to focus at targets as close as 10 yards is convenient for a .22lr rifle.

custom 10/22, ruger 10/22, .22lr, athlon optics, helos gen 2 BTR 2-12x42

Shooting the rifle out to distances like 150 and 200 yards gave opportunity to do elevation corrections using the turrets. The clicks are crisp and audible, making it easy to make small corrections without even coming off the scope.

The AHMR2 reticle was also convenient for measuring and correcting for drops. I suppose I could have done without the ring in the center, but when you use this scope at 2X you can see why its there. At 2X the reticle is so fine, and the target area so wide, that you really only need to bracket the target inside the ring. You can almost use the Helos like a red dot at that power setting, especially with the illumination powered up. I also really appreciated the illumination settings, with an “off” setting between each power setting.

Athlon Optics, Helos BTS, 2-12x42, riflescope, AHMR2 FFP IR MIL reticle, — the AHMR2 FFP IR MIL reticle seen at 12X

After a few range trips with the Custom 10/22, I decided to give the Helos BTR another task. I remounted the scope in a set of Warne rings on top of a Franchi Momentum Elite Varmint rifle chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor. This rifle was certainly up to longer shooting distances, and would give the scope more of a workout. It would also allow us to evaluate the scopes ability to show detail at further distances.

Franchi Momentum Elite Varmint, 6.5 Creedmoor, Athlon Optics Helos 2-12x42 — the Athlon Helos BTR made a great companion for this Franchi Momentum, read about the rifle here

One again I zeroed first the rifle, then the turrets were set back to zero. I also took the opportunity to set the zero-stop. The zero stop is a brass ring that you can adjust to stop the turret rotation from going any lower. Its easily done by loosening three Allen screws, and turning the ring to the bottom stop, then retightening the screws.

With that process complete, it was time to get shooting. I started by shooting a few groups with the rifle at a hundred yards. I often prefer higher magnification when doing accuracy testing, mainly just to see my aimpoint better. But the 12X of the Athlon Helos did just fine for my purposes.

Franchi Momentum Elite Varmint, 6.5 Creedmoor, Athlon Optics Helos 2.5-12

We then turned our attention downrange, picking out various targets in the hills and ridges beyond. We’d pick out little white rocks surrounded by dirt for easy impact spotting, and shoot until the rock disappeared. Using the Helos to spot misses at distances like seven and eight-hundred yards was certainly doable, and the fine center-dot of the reticle made a good aimpoint even at small targets at those distances.

As we moved from target to target it gave me pause to appreciate the throw lever that Athlon had included with the scope. I frequently run the zoom back on forth while shooting, and having a throw-lever like this was very handy. I also like the 180 degree rotation of the magnification ring, the only downside is when the throw-lever and bolt-handle get too close.

Pros and Cons

My cons for this scope are few and perhaps picky. For example, I really like the throw lever they included, but its also made of pretty soft polymer. This could be to make it less likely to snap off when bumped into something while hiking, which I totally understand. But I also feel like it might still be pretty easily broken or damaged. I also smashed my finger a couple times while running the bolt vigorously by running into the throw-lever.

On the plus side, this scope comes with some great features and accessories. The throw-lever, the sunshade, and even the cheesy flip-caps are nice to have. At least until you buy some better ones.

I absolutely love the 10 MRAD turrets, it used to be that scopes in this price range all had five or six MRAD turrets. But manufacturers have gotten the memo, and making turrets 10 MRAD per turn is much better, and greatly reduces the likelihood of loosing track of your setting. The locking feature of the turrets is also very nice, and well executed.

Another feather in the cap for this scope is the zero-stop, which is not only functional but also robust. I dislike mushy or imprecise zero-stops, and this one is neither. The reticle is great for measuring misses and holding corrections.

The Verdict

I keep on having good experiences with Athlon Optics products, and my complaints are few. The Athlon optics Helos BTR Gen2 2-12X42 would be a great little scope to leave on my 22, or mount to my hunting rifle. It gives clear presentation of the landscape and target, and come with great tools to help you engage with them. All this at a competitive price and with a solid warranty should it go wrong. For most of us, our shooting isn’t life or death, (unless its about dinner) and these scopes are more than adequate for those purposes. Offering a fantastic experience for a good price.

-CBM

Check out more rifle scope reviews HERE

Athlon Midas G2 UHD Pro 12×50 Binoculars

October 31, 2024Optics, Product review, Uncategorizedathlon, athlon optics, binoculars, binos, midas, midas g2 uhd procoldboremiracle

Introduction

Few ancillary hunting tools are as valuable as a good pair of binoculars. Whether you are a sport shooter looking for targets, or a dedicated hunter trying to pick out antlers in the trees, you will want a good pair of binos. I’ve used quite a few pairs of binoculars over the years, but today I am bringing you something new to me. The Athlon Midas G2 UHD Pro 12×50 binoculars are ideal for heavy glassing and downrange inspections. Today we’ll take a look at these binoculars, mainly from the perspective of a hunter as that seems to be my focus these days.

Athlon optics midas G2 uhd pro binoculars

The Athlon Midas G2 Pro Binoculars

There are several models of binocular in the Midas G2 line, there are 8×42, 10×42 models. As well as the 10×50 and 12×50 Pro model that we are looking at today. I tend to prefer 10×50 for general glassing, but I love a good 12×50 pair for what I call heavy glassing. Looking over a whole mountain perhaps before even leaving a vehicle, covering large swaths of country.

athlon optics midas g2 uhd pro binocular — note controls: left side is to balance optical focus, on the right there is reticle focus and leveling control

The Midas G2 is ideal for that, its bright 50mm objectives pack a very bright image for your observation. Like most binos the Midas uses a center focus knob, coupled with a separate focus for the left barrel. But wait, theres more! In addition, the Midas G2 also features a reticle in the right barrel for use while spotting. The right barrel has two adjustment rings at the rear; one to rotate the reticle inside to match your target, and the other is to focus the reticle.

Additionally, the Midas G2 comes with a typical soft case, neck-strap, and rubber lens covers for both front and back. The eye-cups can be rotated out or in to accommodate your preference.

Midas G2 UHD Pro Specifications

The Midas binoculars are a perfect size in my opinion, they are only slightly larger than my other pairs of binoculars, but fit in my binocular cases and harnesses. Extra power from the Midas is very welcome in a pair of binos only slightly larger than most.

Field Use of Athlon Midas G2 Binoculars

I used the Athlon Midas G2 Pro binos on several hunts this fall. First up was a trip into the thick alpine forests of the Uinta Mountains in Eastern Utah. Looking into the wide open canyons and deep dark woods would be a great way to test the Midas binoculars.

For a week we scoured the mountains, looking at elk, deer, and ever other animal we could get our eyes on. I am very used to using my Sig Sauer Kilo binoculars, they have been my go to for years now. But switching over to the Midas I was quite impressed with how much brighter they were. And having used the Midas 10x binos I don’t think it is just because of the magnification.

The reticle in the Midas Binos is particularly useful when sport shooting. While it can be used for other purposes during a hunt, I don’t think it I would use it much while hunting. Mounting the Midas binoculars on a good tripod however during practice, was very convenient for spotting. 12x is plenty for much of the spotting we do while shooting, and having the reticle in view is great for giving corrections. I also found that the reticle was simple enough to be unobtrusive while glassing. The ability to level the reticle in any position was a paramount feature.

We also used the Midas binoculars during the Mule deer hunt a few weeks later, a different climate and landscape. Once again I found the bright image of the Midas binos to be extremely helpful. We did quite a bit of glassing from great distances, looking from thousands of yards away instead of hundreds. I really appreciated the wide focus control of the Midas, it seems there is a long focal length allowing you to get very precise in your focus. I was downright surprised at how clear and clean an image I could get on deer from several miles away.

Pros and Cons

I’ll be candid here, I used to be very suspicious of inexpensive optics manufactured overseas. But based on my experience with Athlon Optics alone, I am much less so. I’ve had incredible performance from these optics (as I have with others), and with their priced just right motto I simply cannot afford to overlook these. Some folks might have an issue with the product source, preferring something built in America, or Europe. I can totally understand that perspective, but for those who can’t afford such products these are an excellent buy.

athlon optics binoculars midas, sandhill crane — my pictures do not do justice to the image quality

I really couldn’t find much else to dislike about the Midas binoculars. Perhaps some subjective things such as the rubber lens covers that some may love or hate. While I did find them a touch stiff to remove, I like that as they are less likely to come off unintentionally.

The optical clarity of the Midas G2 Pro binoculars was fantastic, the controls are easy and smooth, and adjusting them to fit individual eyes was great. Allowing all who used them the ability to customize them for their specific eyeballs. I was pretty impressed with what you get for the MSRP of $562.49.

Last Thoughts

I am extremely satisfied with these binoculars, more so than I expected I would be. There is only one way they could be better in my opinion, and that would be putting a laser rangefinder into them. But for those of you out there who don’t require such features, these binos are a slam-dunk. Whether you are looking for the best binos you can afford, or if you are looking for something a little less expensive to beat around on your ATV or tree-stand, I can confidently recommend the Athlon Midas G2 UHD Pro.

-CBM

Athlon Optics TALOS BTR GEN2 10×42 riflescope

September 14, 2024Optics, Product reviewathlon optics, athlon talos, taloscoldboremiracle

Preface

Once upon a time, it was a very common sight to see a fixed power scope on a rifle. Whether it was a 4x Weaver on a hunting rifle, or a 10x scope on a sniper rifle. Variable power scopes are more of a modern development, but has it replaced the need for those old fixed power scopes? I’ve never used a fixed scope much, not since my first air rifle as a child anyways. But today we are going to take a look at one, the Athlon Optics Talos BTR Gen 2 10×42 riflescope.

Fixed power riflescopes have simpler design and construction, and many argue they have superior durability and optical quality due to no moving parts inside. There is no doubt they are simpler, but do the advantages of a fixed power scope make it worth having over a variable?

athlon talos 10x42 — the freshly opened box, shown with everything included with purchase

The Athlon Optics Talos

The Talos line offers a variety of scopes, including a compact 1.5-5 model, several 3-12 scopes, 4-16’s and 6-24 models too. There is a model for most practical uses out there, as well as today’s 10X model.

Specifications

MAGNIFICATION: 10x

OBJ. LENS DIAMETER: 42 mm

TUBE DIAMETER: 30 mm

EYE RELIEF: 3.6″

FOV @ 100 YDS: 11.5 ft

PARALLAX ADJUSTMENT: 10 y

CLICK VALUE: .1 MIL

LENGTH: 13.3″

WEIGHT: 24.6 oz

Simple is one way to describe the Talos 10X, without a magnification ring on the ocular lens the only controls are on the erector housing. You’ve got a tall elevation turret on top, and a slightly smaller windage turret on one side. And of course the parallax/focus on the opposing side.

The whole thing is built on a 30mm tube, which is a great size for a straight ten riflescope. A 30mm tube gives plenty of room for internal mechanical movement, but its also small enough to keep weight down. Up front, the scope has a 42mm objective lens. Which is fairly compact for a tactical style riflescope, which also keeps the weight down as well as keep the scope closer to the rifle’s bore.

The Turrets themselves are 6 MIL turrets, which is not bad but I prefer larger turrets like 10 or 15 MIL. But to be fair to this scope, at this price point 6 MIL turrets are common and perfectly serviceable.

Athlon optics Talos — setting the zero-stop on the elevation turret

Inside the scope you will find the APRS2A reticle, a pretty simple design compared to many these days. And I am ok with that to be honest, as some of them can get way too busy. The reticle features a mostly open center with a tiny dot at the crosshair intersection. Reticle subtensions show both whole MIL and 2/10’s hash marks, with the even MIL’s being labeled. As I mentioned, its pretty simple, and yet has most everything you’ll need for most shots.

Athlon Talos 10x42 APRS2A reticle — the APRS2A reticle detail

Mounting the Athlon Talos 10×42

I chose to mount the scope to a Bergara HMR carbon chambered in 6.5CM. Not only would it be a good test of the scope, but would also serve as a good hunting rifle this season. I mounted the scope using a pair of Burris rings attached to a Nightforce 20 MOA scope base. Everything lined up great, so I put a bipod on the rifle and boresighted it on my kitchen table. All that was left was to pack up some ammo and range gear so we could go shoot.

athlon talos 10x42, bergara hmr — the Athlon Talos mounted to my **Bergara HMR Carbon**

Into the Rockies

I really enjoy the outdoors, and there is no better place to put my gear to the test than these beautiful Rocky Mountains that surround me. So I loaded my gear onto the ATV and headed up into the high country.

The first task was getting the Talos zeroed, which was easily done in a few minutes at 100 yads. Generally I use variable power scopes, and when zeroing them I tend to do so at close to max power. I did notice as I zeroed the scope that my eyes kept telling me to zoom it in more, which of course wasn’t possible.

athlon talos 10x42, bergara hmr carbon — most shooting was done using a **Banish suppressor**

After zeroing the scope, I slipped the turrets back to zero by loosening the Allen screws around the turret knobs. Later I would also set the zero-stop, an internal feature underneath the elevation turret. Zero-stops are a fantastic feature that make the turret stop rotating at a zero that you can adjust to your needs. This prevents you from loosing track of which rotation of the turret you are on. This is also one of the reasons I prefer 10-15 MIL turrets, as they are easier to keep track of.

Field Shooting

With the scope zeroed, it was time to have fun. Shooting a few groups with the rifle I wanted to see how well I could group with the straight 10x scope. While looking at the target I often wanted more power, and yet the edge to edge clarity of the image was immaculate. There is a simplicity to this design that has some allure.

Then I moved to the open country around me, I spent some time doing my typical long-range training routine. you can read more about that here if you’d like to try it yourself. I would pick out various targets across canyons and draws, small stones in open soil areas so I can see impacts. Adjusting the elevation for different distances using the Talos turret, I found the clicks are audible and tactile. Making small adjustments while looking through the scope was easy and accurate.

Since I didn’t have a magnification ring to adjust, I found myself paying a lot more attention to the parallax adjustment. Which kept my target view very clear and defined. I also noticed that the parallax was great for focusing on pretty close targets, making it a good choice for one of my squirrel guns.

Particularly when it came to the further shots, I kept reaching for the magnification ring to zoom in. I hadn’t realized how often I do so until the option wasn’t there. Another peculiar thing I noticed was that I frequently felt better about my shots when they broke, and I think this is the reason; When you zoom a scope in, you get more detail and better view of your target, but zooming in also magnifies your movements. By not having the extra magnification, my own movements and ability to steady the rifle were less obvious to me. I wish I could say that made me shoot better, but I think my overall score would have been about the same.

Pros and Cons

The Athlon Talos 10×42 is honestly the first straight power scope I’ve used in this application, so keep that in mind. But if we could somehow go back in time and offer this scope to the Coldboremiracle from 2002, I would have jumped at the chance. And with street prices well under $400 I would have bought several without even questioning. The turrets and reticle alone would have justified it to me.

This Athlon Talos is very comparable to the other Athlon optics I’ve used as far as quality and clarity, and that is a good thing. It comes with some great features and accessories like a sunshade too. In my experience the reticle and turrets track very well and the focus is great. Because I come from a time where scopes like this one would have cost two or three times more, I am blown away you can get such a scope for such a competitive price. It brings simplicity and quality most shooters could use.

With all that said, I still think I prefer my variables. For example, my Athlon Heras 6-24 does everything this does, and I can adjust the power however I wish. I could probably do most anything with the Talos I needed to do, but I would prefer a variable. While this is my personal experience, you might find the straight 10X to be just right. I know plenty of folks like straight 12X’s or even 16X’s, but for me its a little specialist.

Last Thoughts

You might be from a time before mine, where straight 10’s were all the rage, or you might be more of a variable scope fan. Lucky for both of us, there are plenty of great options these days. Athlon Optics has impressed me with their quality, price and performance.

There is certainly an argument you could make for simple construction and reliability. And I would certainly listen to the argument. But modern manufacturing seems to have closed the gap in such a way as to be of much less importance.

To be perfectly honest I had nearly forgotten straight power scopes existed, but this Talos is a refreshing modernized scope. And if you find yourself looking for a straight-power scope I can strongly recommend this one, especially if you are on a tight budget. This scope in particular is probably going to find its way onto one of my rimfire rifles, where it will do a great job harvesting varmints.