burris xtr 2 vs viper pst gen 2 vs athlon ares btr

[Blaw]

help me choose. not a glass snob looking for magnification of 20x+

biggest things for me are clicks in turrets, reliability of tracking. illuminated reticle due to how small it would be at lower mag esp on darker targets (in trees/fur)

yes I know I can do with lower mag (have that setup already)

must be mil setup

SWFA is not an option due to being in canada and dont want fixed mag

open to other options

 

[hereinaz]

If you can get Arken in Canada, that's what I have gone to for a budget scope.

 

[Blaw]

If you can get Arken in Canada, that's what I have gone to for a budget scope.

I've read there are durability issues?

 

[bigunit]

If you're looking for a good deal on an xtr pm me. Its moa though.

 

[nobody]

Between the 3, I would do the Burris sheerly because of the known durability issues with the PST's and the Athlon's. I had a BTR Gen 2 for a minute, and I wasn't that blown away. It was fine, but I was skeptical of their longevity. The burris might be better, but then again it might not be. I've seen very little reporting on them from a heavy/real life use standpoint. If I had to choose between the 3, I would go Burris. But none of them would crack into my top 5 personally.

How about a Trijicon Tenmile 4.5-30? Much better scope from a mechanical standpoint, plus it has the features you're asking for.

 

[Blaw]

Between the 3, I would do the Burris sheerly because of the known durability issues with the PST's and the Athlon's. I had a BTR Gen 2 for a minute, and I wasn't that blown away. It was fine, but I was skeptical of their longevity. The burris might be better, but then again it might not be. I've seen very little reporting on them from a heavy/real life use standpoint. If I had to choose between the 3, I would go Burris. But none of them would crack into my top 5 personally.

How about a Trijicon Tenmile 4.5-30? Much better scope from a mechanical standpoint, plus it has the features you're asking for.

thanks for the input
the trijicon is about 3.3k here
the others are all around the 1.2-1.5k here

 

[Blaw]

anyone use the new strike eagle?

 

[nobody]

anyone use the new strike eagle?

I had one. Seemed to track ok, but I didn't put many rounds underneath it before purging my rifles of anything that wasn't SWFA. Something about it seemed very cheap and didn't inspire confidence. I won't use another, and I'm an admitted Vortex fanboy with everything else I use (binos, spotter, rangefinder, tripod).

 

[hereinaz]

I've read there are durability issues?

I haven't had any yet, but other than the XTR II, all the budget brands seem to have some failure rate that is higher than more expensive scopes. I've watched reviews and posting on the Arken for a while from different sources and forums, and didn't get the impression that they were worse than any other for durability. And, they are built like tanks so if they fail it will be in the turret.

To be sure, they aren't on my priority rifle that goes with me on hunts. But, they are starting to get their workouts for sure.

 

[Blaw]

I haven't had any yet, but other than the XTR II, all the budget brands seem to have some failure rate that is higher than more expensive scopes. I've watched reviews and posting on the Arken for a while from different sources and forums, and didn't get the impression that they were worse than any other for durability. And, they are built like tanks so if they fail it will be in the turret.

To be sure, they aren't on my priority rifle that goes with me on hunts. But, they are starting to get their workouts for sure.

just looking at arken now, what model do you have? I am basically seeing the EP5 and SH4 the main diff is EP5 glass is from japan?

 

[hereinaz]

I have the SH4 and the EPL, which is the lighter model of EP5. I have the SH 4 on my .22 and small 6mm.

 

[Blaw]

I have the SH4 and the EPL, which is the lighter model of EP5. I have the SH 4 on my .22 and small 6mm.

Would you put one on a hunting rifle? How much faith do you have in these?

 

[Duh]

Would you put one on a hunting rifle? How much faith do you have in these?

I have the EPL on a hunting rifle right now. I don’t mind it. Had the old vortex gen 1 LHT razor on the gun before and the Arken has been more durable so far. I know that’s not saying a ton but I I’d trust the Arken over the vortex razor if I had to choose.

I also have a PST Gen 2 that I’m debating on putting on a 300 blackout bolt gun. Interested in the durability too.

 

[hereinaz]

Would you put one on a hunting rifle? How much faith do you have in these?

I like ‘em. I haven’t had enough time to say personally, but I would take it out on a hunt based on the track record I have seen. And, they are on my primary coyote gun and backup guns.

Vortex, Athlon, Burris, they all have failures.

But, manufacturers have a ton of experience and the quality has improved dramatically.