User Panel
User Panel
User Panel
|
Posted: 9/12/2024 11:21:09 PM EDT
[Last Edit: Strela]
Familiar with PA, Swampfox, Burris, etc.
What about Riton, Atibal, etc as far as decent low-price optics? For use on plinker-type rifles. no door kicking or CQB. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 9/13/2024 12:08:44 AM EDT
[#1]
Most cheap optics are coming out of the same factory in china. I'd just go for Holosun if thats your goal.
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: 9/13/2024 12:15:40 AM EDT
[#2]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By NvrBrdWes: Most cheap optics are coming out of the same factory in china. I'd just go for Holosun if thats your goal. No, I'd just like information on the ones I mentioned. As far as I know Holosun doesn't make magnified optics. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 9/13/2024 2:39:34 AM EDT
[#3]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Strela: No, I'd just like information on the ones I mentioned. As far as I know Holosun doesn't make magnified optics. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 9/13/2024 5:21:50 AM EDT
[#4]
ARKEN OPTICS
No personal experience but a few guys at work are raving about their recent purchases. We'll see what the verdict is after deer season here. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 9/13/2024 7:27:30 AM EDT
[#5]
Athlon = china
But the one I bought from eurooptic has very nice glass for the money. |
|
|
|
USA
|
Posted: 9/13/2024 8:07:52 AM EDT
[#6]
You are really aren't buying a better optic in the generic Chinese optic range. They are produced in the factory, by the same people, from the same range of parts. You are buying quality control, warranty service balanced against a company's bottom line.
People buy their Chinesium from Vortex, PA, Swampfox, etc. because that balance is acceptable to them and their volume is such that they determine what value to place on the these other aspects. Want to buy from one of the others? You probably don't have much to gain, but it's only $300 gamble. |
|
|
|
Posted: 9/13/2024 8:12:28 AM EDT
[#7]
Bushnell from Natchez Sports.
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: 9/13/2024 10:02:48 AM EDT
[#8]
Arken and Athlon have been ok for me.
The Athlon Helos 2-12 specifically has punched above it's price point. |
|
|
|
MT, USA
|
Posted: 9/13/2024 10:12:00 AM EDT
[#9]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By TGWLDR: ARKEN OPTICS No personal experience but a few guys at work are raving about their recent purchases. We'll see what the verdict is after deer season here. |
|
|
MI, USA
|
Posted: 9/13/2024 10:15:44 AM EDT
[#10]
Arken, Athlon, PA, and Vortex are what I’d recommend for Chy-na stuff.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 9/13/2024 10:48:24 AM EDT
[#11]
I have a couple of Arken SH4 scopes and use them out to 1k yards pretty regular. Very satisfied with them.
|
|
|
|
MN, USA
|
Posted: 9/13/2024 11:22:46 AM EDT
[#12]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By cb4017: I have a couple of Arken SH4 scopes and use them out to 1k yards pretty regular. Very satisfied with them. Athlon is the best bang for the buck in glass, IMO. |
|
|
|
Posted: 9/13/2024 3:11:35 PM EDT
[#13]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Daggertt: you didn't say anything about magnified optics... Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Daggertt: Originally Posted By Strela: No, I'd just like information on the ones I mentioned. As far as I know Holosun doesn't make magnified optics. I also didn't specify RDS/Prism either. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 9/13/2024 6:57:19 PM EDT
[#14]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Strela: I also didn't specify RDS/Prism either.  you dismissed the first poster's holosun suggestion because you "just wanted information on the ones you mentioned" and " they don't make magnified optics". But the "ones you mentioned" were "Riton, Atibal, etc" ... it seems to me that Holosun fits nicely into "etc" since you didn't actually mention "magnified" optics in your original post of what you were looking for. Be specific or don't get snarky when people don't read your mind. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 9/13/2024 9:09:58 PM EDT
[Last Edit: GetToTheGone]
[#15]
I've had Riton, PA, Holosun, Sig, Swampfox and a few others. Ive really liked Riton and their customer service/veteran owned company is great. I wish they'd have gone to the next tier like PA and gotten new non-chinese crap designs but I hope they can grow to that level.
Burris makes good high end scopes but their red dots suck. For less than $200 I really only get Sigs or Swampfox now. Holosun has started to creep to 3,4,500. The Swampfox Kraken is great and the Liberty/Justice II I put above the Vortex stuff. If you mean magnified scopes I've had Athlon, Sig, Vortex and Swampfox. I recently got a Warhorse FFP and a Tomahawk from Swampfox. I like the Warhorse more than my Sig Tango MSR FFP. |
|
|
|
TN, USA
|
Posted: 9/13/2024 10:02:22 PM EDT
[#16]
I recently picked up a Viikos 1-5x LPVO (About $100) for a Lee Enfield scope mount.
The reason is because I liked the aesthetics of the old Enfield No 4 sniper, but wanted a more modern scope (ideally variable power with a BDC reticle). None of the known-brand LPVOs had a long enough eye relief for the profile I was after, they all sit way back over the thumb and it just didn't look right. This one has an intermediate eye relief and sits forward enough to give it that classic profile. Not for life safety and the whole thing is reversible so I can put the enfield back into original condition, so it's just a fun project. It survived at least one session at the range, and the only real world use it might ever see is a deer hunt; so far so good. |
|
|
IA, USA
|
Posted: 9/13/2024 10:03:29 PM EDT
[#17]
The arken sh4j and ep5 have Japanese ed glass so as far a china optics they are the top of the food chain.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 9/13/2024 11:35:34 PM EDT
[#18]
I’ve got a bit of trigger time behind a 1-8 Atibal. It was 5 years ago though. At the time it was on par with the same terrible glass PA and Vortex had back then. They may have upgraded the glass quality since then as PA and Vortex did so take that with a grain of salt.
What didn’t change is they still have the awful diamond reticle in a few of their products. I’d strongly advise avoiding it as it’s one of the worst reticles I’ve ever gotten behind. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 9/14/2024 10:50:33 AM EDT
[#19]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Daggertt: you dismissed the first poster's holosun suggestion because you "just wanted information on the ones you mentioned" and " they don't make magnified optics". But the "ones you mentioned" were "Riton, Atibal, etc" ... it seems to me that Holosun fits nicely into "etc" since you didn't actually mention "magnified" optics in your original post of what you were looking for. Be specific or don't get snarky when people don't read your mind. Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Daggertt: Originally Posted By Strela: I also didn't specify RDS/Prism either. you dismissed the first poster's holosun suggestion because you "just wanted information on the ones you mentioned" and " they don't make magnified optics". But the "ones you mentioned" were "Riton, Atibal, etc" ... it seems to me that Holosun fits nicely into "etc" since you didn't actually mention "magnified" optics in your original post of what you were looking for. Be specific or don't get snarky when people don't read your mind. Sorry, didn't mean to hurt your or anyone else's feelings. I will make sure I am more specific and less "snarky" in the future. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 9/14/2024 11:45:18 AM EDT
[#20]
Originally Posted By Strela: Familiar with PA, Swampfox, Burris, etc. What about Riton, Atibal, etc as far as decent low-price optics? For use on plinker-type rifles. no door kicking or CQB. The Atibal 1-4 Striiker is (was?) a Japanese sourced optic at an acceptable price point. If you're good with it's magnification range, so-so illumination, and an unconventional reticle (it's loaded in Strelok, though), it might be decent choice. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 9/14/2024 2:17:44 PM EDT
[#21]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Strela: Sorry, didn't mean to hurt your or anyone else's feelings. I will make sure I am more specific and less "snarky" in the future.
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: 9/14/2024 3:00:10 PM EDT
[Last Edit: CouchCommando22]
[#22]
Athlon Helos 2-12 is a solid budget optic for ringing steel.
|
|
|
|
IN, USA
|
Posted: 9/14/2024 5:48:51 PM EDT
[#23]
Look at Arken. I have an EP5, SH4, and an ep8. I started with one and was so impressed I ended up with 3. The EP8 surprised me with the image quality, and I wasn't expecting decent turrets under the caps when I ordered it.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 9/15/2024 12:37:59 PM EDT
[#24]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Daggertt: dude, instead of being a dick why don't you just focus on the responses people are giving you? So far you've only been responding emotionally in this thread and ignoring all the actual discussion you were asking for. Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Daggertt: Originally Posted By Strela: Sorry, didn't mean to hurt your or anyone else's feelings. I will make sure I am more specific and less "snarky" in the future. Reacting emotionally? That was your first response. I didn't hear any suggestions from you. Meanwhile, I have been reading all the suggestions and googling many of those suggested options. There have been some interesting choice. And I have changed the title of my thread to be more appropriate. I haven't "ignored" any worthwhile information, but I have responded to your apparent butthurt over my wording. To avoid making this more GD than it needs to be, this will be my last response to you. To those who have actually given me some solid information, must appreciated. The Arken and Athlon offerings were really off my radar. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 9/15/2024 12:59:02 PM EDT
[#25]
I've been looking at athlons too, prolly what I will get.
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: 9/15/2024 1:08:59 PM EDT
[#26]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Strela: Reacting emotionally? That was your first response. I didn't hear any suggestions from you. Meanwhile, I have been reading all the suggestions and googling many of those suggested options. There have been some interesting choice. And I have changed the title of my thread to be more appropriate. I haven't "ignored" any worthwhile information, but I have responded to your apparent butthurt over my wording. To avoid making this more GD than it needs to be, this will be my last response to you. To those who have actually given me some solid information, must appreciated. The Arken and Athlon offerings were really off my radar. |
|
|
|
OH, USA
|
Posted: 9/16/2024 9:11:31 AM EDT
[#27]
I have a couple Riton Red Dots, I know it's not the scope reference your looking for, but they've been solid performers for me, if their scopes are of the same quality/price point, I'd say they're GTG.
|
|
|
|
Posted: 9/16/2024 10:22:28 AM EDT
[#28]
Might want to add Tract to your considerations list. They have a 2.5-10x42 that's inexpensive enough to tempt me (couple that with the 15% MIL/LEO discount they offer, makes it more so).
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: 9/16/2024 11:46:52 AM EDT
[Last Edit: CouchCommando22]
[#29]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Phillbilly: I've been looking at athlons too, prolly what I will get. I have two and both are quality optics. The only gripe I have is the reticles are a little too bold and thick. Not a big issue, the the Mil versions usually have a finer dot than the thick MOA crosshairs. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 9/16/2024 7:40:42 PM EDT
[#30]
I know it may be difficult (impossible?) to make statements about "averages" when referring to budget scopes, but as far as LPVOs go at low power level, do the upper levels (4 vs 6 vs 8) have real, noticeable differences in overall image quality?
I ask because realistically these days I probably won't shoot at more than 300 yards. I know that "more is better" in America, but I'd hate to get a higher mag that I may not use at the expense of overall image clarity. I've noticed that many of the scopes recommended so far are pretty close to equal as far as eye relief and weight. I really don't care about a few ounces here or there. Up till now my favorite scope has been an ancient Leupold 1.5x4 green "Firedot." |
|
|
|
USA
|
Posted: 9/16/2024 10:40:19 PM EDT
[Last Edit: AJR576]
[#31]
I recently picked up a Bushnell 2-16x Forge from Natchez for $370 and I'm impressed...it's a lot of scope for the money...
https://www.natchezss.com/bushnell-forge-rifle-scope-2-16x50mm-34mm-sfp-g4i-ultra-illume-black?srsltid=AfmBOoqJUgQx_xzCNcmanSMr-G4zB-DLp1o9I7x2Xu3wxMVOPZ9WNTFn |
|
|
USA
|
Posted: 9/17/2024 3:32:54 PM EDT
[#32]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Strela: I know it may be difficult (impossible?) to make statements about "averages" when referring to budget scopes, but as far as LPVOs go at low power level, do the upper levels (4 vs 6 vs 8) have real, noticeable differences in overall image quality? I ask because realistically these days I probably won't shoot at more than 300 yards. I know that "more is better" in America, but I'd hate to get a higher mag that I may not use at the expense of overall image clarity. I've noticed that many of the scopes recommended so far are pretty close to equal as far as eye relief and weight. I really don't care about a few ounces here or there. Up till now my favorite scope has been an ancient Leupold 1.5x4 green "Firedot." You have to make some compromises to produce an LPVO, much less a modestly priced LPVO. You have to cut cost somewhere. The budget 1-8 and now 1-10 are typically either going to cut corners, cost more or both. The 1-4 and 1-6 are typically more balanced. |
|
|
|
Posted: 9/17/2024 4:23:57 PM EDT
[#33]
The Arken EP8 has Japanese glass.
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: 9/17/2024 5:55:05 PM EDT
[#34]
I've got a Bushnell that came with a rifle I bought, been a great scope, no issues.
Bought a Burris new for another rifle, really impressed with the quality and it was just over 200 bucks, I use that on my .308. Bought a Cabela's brand scope years ago here on the EE for like 30 bucks, was amazed at the quality of the glass, but later on read that their house brand was being made for them by Nikon, so that kinda explains it. Don't know if they still do or not, but if you can find a used older model for cheap they are worth it. Bought several scopes off the EE and been happy with them, I think people underestimate what a resource it can be, whenever i'm in the market for a particular product I always hit the EE first. |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 9/17/2024 7:45:24 PM EDT
[Last Edit: CouchCommando22]
[#35]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Dragynn: I've got a Bushnell that came with a rifle I bought, been a great scope, no issues. Bought a Burris new for another rifle, really impressed with the quality and it was just over 200 bucks, I use that on my .308. Bought a Cabela's brand scope years ago here on the EE for like 30 bucks, was amazed at the quality of the glass, but later on read that their house brand was being made for them by Nikon, so that kinda explains it. Don't know if they still do or not, but if you can find a used older model for cheap they are worth it. Bought several scopes off the EE and been happy with them, I think people underestimate what a resource it can be, whenever i'm in the market for a particular product I always hit the EE first. Bushnell can produce a good scope. They came out with a really nice 1-6 that was made in Japan and just amazing. Once of the best LPVOs on the market. I think it was the elite something |
|
|
|
|
Posted: 9/18/2024 2:05:26 PM EDT
[#36]
15 years ago I bought two Bushnell Elite series scopes. Both were fixed 10x. One had mil dot/ mil adjustments, and the other had mil dot/moa (1/4") adjustments. In retrospect I wish I could've source both with mil/mil adjustments.
|
|
|
|
|
Posted: 9/22/2024 11:03:17 AM EDT
[#37]
The previously mentioned Athlon Helos gen2 2-12x performed well at Heartland this week.
No rifle penalties.  Attached File |
|
|
|
USA
|
Posted: 9/25/2024 9:13:48 AM EDT
[#38]
I preordered the Atibal 1-8 fiber for $200.
Will report back when received. |
|
|
|
Posted: 9/25/2024 11:02:19 AM EDT
[#39]
Quote HistoryOriginally Posted By Capt_Destro: I preordered the Atibal 1-8 fiber for $200. Will report back when received. Cool. That's another one I have been looking at. |
|
|
|
Win a FREE Membership!
Sign up for the ARFCOM weekly newsletter and be entered to win a free ARFCOM membership. One new winner* is announced every week!
You will receive an email every Friday morning featuring the latest chatter from the hottest topics, breaking news surrounding legislation, as well as exclusive deals only available to ARFCOM email subscribers.
AR15.COM is the world's largest firearm community and is a gathering place for firearm enthusiasts of all types.
From hunters and military members, to competition shooters and general firearm enthusiasts, we welcome anyone who values and respects the way of the firearm.
Subscribe to our monthly Newsletter to receive firearm news, product discounts from your favorite Industry Partners, and more.
Copyright © 1996-2024 AR15.COM LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited.
AR15.Com reserves the right to overwrite or replace any affiliate, commercial, or monetizable links, posted by users, with our own.
