Home Nikon Long Range Scope Test – $2500 VS. $400

Long Range Scope Test – $2500 VS. $400

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Testing and comparing the Leupold Mark 5 vs. the Athlon Argos. Joel looks at five categories and determines which one is better. Can a $400 scope hang with a much higher priced optic? What is the lowest price scope that you would absolutely recommend?

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35 COMMENTS

  1. OK Now do it again with the Athelon
    Cronus BTR 4.5-29×56 APRS1 FFP IR MIL. or the Primary Arms PLx5 6-30x56mm FFP Rifle Scope – Illuminated ACSS-Apollo-6.5CR/.224V  I bet the difference is minimal. Granted these are 1200.-1700.00 but still a much fairer comparison and they don't even have the giant 35mm tube.  Just saying their are less expensive options that are equal nearly for way less dollars.  I personally am buying one of these 2.  I am Not a govt/police/military employee or rich so there is that.

  2. Wish this compared the Athlon Ares BTR to the Leupold. It was recently on sale for $400 from the original introductory price of $960. I bought 3. Theyre pretty damn clear out to a mile. With that in mind I wouldnt knock a $400 scope these days. Also has zero stop and decent turrets.

  3. I have a Primary Arms SL-6 1-6×24 ACSS Raptor reticle scope on my AR15, using 5.56 AE ammo hitting 500 yards. That’s a $399.00 scope. I have an SWFA SS 10x42M fixed power scope on my .308 hitting 800 yards with Tula Ammo. That’s another $399.00 scope. I shoot for fun and hunting. Wouldn’t even think of taking a shot longer than 400 yards though with that .308. And the tracking with that SWFA will shame a bunch of $2,000.00 scopes all day long. I get your point, but anyone can do well with the proper $400.00 scope. No tracking needed with the PA scope as it has ranging built in.

  4. if you are going to do a fair comparison then both scopes should have the same specs such as a 35mm tube. your so called test actually persuades me to go with the 400 dollar scope. Protector caps can be easily made for the turrets and as far as clarity in your vid you tried to convince us Leupold looked clearer like it was in HD myself I saw no suck thing in your video.

  5. I just paid $275 for Athlons 8-34×56 Argos with caps & rings & it's as good or better than Leopold & Vortex Viper.Clean the heavy grease out of caps & the clicks are crisp & loud

  6. If you can afford a $5000 rifle then you can afford a $2500 scope.
    If all you can afford is a <$500 rifle then all you can afford is <$400 scope.
    Except for my homebuilt AR10 which has a Nikon P-308 and my homebuilt AR15 5.56/.223 which has a Nikon P-223 scope, the rest of my homebuilt ARs have <$100 scopes and they work just fine.

  7. Ok hold on, you compare yes two completely different priced scopes, but a 50mm compared to 56mm so less light in one, then different size main tube, less light in one also, this isn't even a close comparison, if you wanted to compare them that way then it should be same size glass and main tube, stupid review based on stupid baseline, compare the similar spec'd scopes not two completely different ones ffs, yes the turrets stop is awesome, but damn it isn't 2100 worth, Kudos to the Athlon then, the rest of the problems are more wank than anything

  8. Even in a competition you don't really need a $2500 scope, it's good glass but not $2000 better glass. once you hit the $1500 mark the differences are not relevant enough to make or break you.

  9. Hi Joel, can you comment on (mainly) the clarity of a less expensive Leupold scope vs the Mk 5? With Leupold's reputation I would probably spend the $400 on a more basic Leupold scope over that Athlon anyway.

  10. These arrogant super snipers drive me crazy.
    If we could afford a $5000 rifle we could afford a comparable optic to go with it.
    The question is at an average skill level with an affordable modern rifle ($500-$1000, which can hold pretty tight shot pattern) combined with a equally affordable optic ($200-$400) allow that shooter to place shots effectively where the reticle crosses?
    I have a $150 Bushnell 3×9 scope on my Savage Axis 30.06 and can place shots on target out to 300 to 500 yards in reasonably tight groups. Seems to me the scope works.
    I don’t need to read the words on a man’s uniform or to recognize a high value target’s facial features out to 1000 yards. I just have to see the target. The sweet spot to quickly put down the animal I’m hunting.
    I’ll use my spotting scope to adjust when sighting in a rifle.
    Now pick apart my un-super sniper lingo:)

  11. From medium quality to the best is never very fair as far as price goes.
    I recently bought a medium priced spotting scope and gave it away.
    It is hard for most to justify the price of high end optics but it is better.

  12. Should have mentioned the eye box at max magnification. The Athlon budget minded scopes are crushing the market. Nobody had features like that at 400$ 3 years ago. I think the story is you don't have to pay for the Leupold or the Razor to compete anymore. Also try justifying the extra $$$ against an Ares ETR or Cronus BTR. I cant

  13. seriously this is a game of preference other than the issue of glass clarity. Do i honestly care about mushy clicks or absolute clarity in a competition? no i dont. In fact if it tracks it tracks…if i can see center, i can see center and hit it. in fact sniper central does tracking accuracy and error percentages on their tracking tests. Oddly enough some high end scopes had worse margins of error than a diamond back tactical which had a 1% tracking error. Excellent glass has its place and its place is where you could potentially be looking through the scope for hours waiting on a target to move into position. good glass prevents headaches in those situations and it makes sense. However i dont see a difference in scope deciding a competition unless there is a tracking error. This weekend im going to take my $1300 savage/bushnell combo and im going to push my luck against dudes with $5000 rifles and $2500 scopes. IF i even edge out one of those dudes at 1000 yards…your entire point is moot. In fact i find it fun to beat the shit out of people with cheap equipment. Call it a hobby.

  14. Only people who get shit for free uses that kind of scope specially if your law enforcement agencie it's paying for it or sure I say we the tax payers pay for it or sponsor pay for your hobby,
    We the hard working people who pays for our stuff won't buy expensive scopes but again neither you.

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