In December of 2019 I took delivery of an “Athlon optics” riflescope, it’s the 1-4×24 “TALOS BTR” (Bright Tactical reticle) model. I paid full retail price for the scope. I advised the company I would be writing a review of the product. This is a very low priced optic and growing in popularity. The Athlon representative was fully aware of the rigorous testing this scope would be subjected to, and informed the company. They had no illusions of my goals and the method of testing to be embarked upon.
Upon delivery of the scope I inspected it at length; the optic was relatively clear, crisp and acceptable. I did note some very minor and slight blurring around the smallest portion edge of the optic, nearly imperceptible, and not what I would consider an issue, well within acceptable standards in my opinion.
- I submerged it in water and placed it in the chilling section (42f-35f) of my refrigerator for 14 days. Once removed I dried off the optic and inspected it for leakage, or any kind of damage. It held up complete and maintained its water tight integrity.
- I placed the scope inside my freezer, dry, on a shelf without obstruction or shock. It was in the freezer for a period of 12 days without movement or tampering. At the end of the freezer testing the scope remained intact and clear. No damage was noted or discovered. The glass was as clear as originally delivered and intact at this point.
- I placed the scope in the desert in Arizona and buried it in sand for two weeks, during this time the temperatures were relatively mild and pleasant. It stayed above freezing and never was warmer than 68f. I retrieved it from the desert removing it from the sand. The scope was still clear, intact and just as I had left it when I buried it, clear and illuminating.
- The scope was dropped from a height of 6 feet on grass 50 times, this was repeated on gravel. The scope was wrapped in a towel to prevent damage to the body of the scope or the finish. The optic continued to remain intact, clear and the illumination continued to work as the manufacture intended.
- I mounted the scope on my Springfield “Saint Victor” 7.62 semi-auto rifle. The scope was sighted in and zeroed. The rifle and scope was drop tested 25 times on grass and a height of 5 feet. The rifle and scope were then checked for zero again to evaluate if the impact had affected the zero. The rifle and scope passed with no observed or appreciable shift in zero.
- The rifle and scope combo were taken to attend the “Gunsite” “battle rifle course”. This is a five day course, the student fires up to 1500 rounds of 7.62 / 308 in this period of time. The shooter fires from 0-800 yards on designated known distance targets.
- The scope and rifle combo the first and most of the second day of the course the scope functioned very well. At round 432 the scope ocular lens began to spin with the variable power adjustment.
- At round 467 the scope ocular lens was loose and moving during firing.
- At round 503 the scope appeared as if someone had taken a hand full of black paint and threw it on the inside of the objective lens, this partially occluding the reticle
- At round 551 the scope illumination failed completely.
- Now the appearance of the scope was like black over spray on the objective lens over the reticle. But I will say it continued to hold zero…in the for what it’s worth file.
- At round 580 the scope was replaced by another manufacture back up scope.
Factory specifications
| Magnification | 1-4 |
| Objective Lens Diameter | 24 mm |
| Reticle | AHSR 14 SFP IR MIL |
| Surface Finish | Matte |
| Lens Coating | Wide Band Fully Multicoated |
| Tube Material | Aircraft grade aluminum |
| Tube Diameter | 30 mm |
| Exit Pupil | 22.8-6.6 mm |
| Eye Relief | 4.5-3.5 inches |
| Field of View @100 yards | 110-26 feet |
| Click Value | 0.2 1/5th of a MIL |
| Adjustment range per rotation | 12 MIL |
| Total Elevation Adjustment | 40 MIL |
| Total Windage Adjustment | 40 MIL |
| Turret Style | Exposed |
| Parallax Adjustment | Fixed 100 Yards |
| Purging Material | Nitrogen |
| Length | 9.2 inches |
| Weight | 18 oz |
Conclusion: The guarantee on this product is excellent; the company will replace the scope if damaged. The optic is water proof, made from aircraft grade aluminum, the reticle is etched on the glass, the body is a heat treated one piece tube, it is nitrogen purged to prevent fogging and water leakage. There’s a ton of positive reviews on the scope online and many folks are singing it’s praises. This product is finished well; aesthetically it is very clean looking and works relatively well. I was surprised it held up as long as it did, considering the price point on the scope. Things I liked about the scope, the price, “second focal plane”, the reticle, and the moderate overall ruggedness. Even after sustained damage the erector stayed in place and the scope maintained zero. The illumination ranges from 1-11 in brightness. I recommend this be mounted on 5.56 or less and used at closer ranges up to 400 yards. This is a fantastic hobbyist scope, application in three gun local matches and competitions. I wouldn’t shoot this optic in higher-end competitions, guided hunts and the like, or any professional applications (not for military or police applications). It’s perfectly fine for shooting deer, coyotes or pigs in your local area, for fun, and or just plinking it’s perfect. I’d recommend it for training as a beginning scope and for becoming familiar with how to use Mills. This scope is suitable for 80% of shooters, serving them in good stead. Take care and be safe, if you can’t be safe be deadly!