Riflescope
First Focal Plane
Illuminated Reticle
$1,437.49
4.5 - 30x
56 mm
34 mm
3.9"
24.5 - 3.75 ft
25 y
0.1 MIL
15.3"
36.5 oz
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Carroll –
The Ares BTR is a great scope for a great price. This is my second scope from Athlon. I purchased the Cronus when it came out and have been nothing but impressed with their product. The features and quality are fantastic. You will not be disappointed.
Joe ( Montana) –
ares etr review. glass is clear. nice reticle i really like the floating dot. nice turrets with audible adjustment clicks. tall target test at 100 proved scope tracked spot on from zero to 10 mils of adjustment repeated
12 times it returned right to my zero and then right back to 36 inch line or 10 mil every time. very impressed with ares etr.
Callan Phillott –
The Athlon Ares ETR (mil): I’ve only owned it for a week but so far it’s a really great scope.
Pros:
- There's hardly any 'play' between the turret clicks.
- The zero stop is easy to set.
- The illumination is really nice because the lowest level is really dark and doesn't saturate the reticle in a red glow at night.
- Absolutely no visible distortion around the edges of the FOV.
- The number of splines on the turrets perfectly matches the number of clicks, ensuring the hash marks always line up after resetting turret position (which can be done with a coin rather than a special wrench).
- The optical clarity remains really crisp and relatively bright at 30x zoom.
- Mine has a total 34.3mils of elevation adjustment (unlike the 32mils advertised).
- The APRS1 reticle design is the most functional I've ever used.
- The 30x FOV is closer to 3.9ft at 100 yards rather than the advertised 3.75ft.
Cons:
- The windage adjustment hash marks don't line up correctly (I'm hoping Athlon will send me a replacement turret)
- The magnification ring is a little bit tight and Athlon don't offer a screw in post or throw lever.
- No sunshade included (and the other Athlon 56mm sunshades aren’t compatible)
- The parallax numbers don't quite line up with the actual distance.
- Quite big and heavy (but worth it for all the features)
- The reticle on mine is ever so slightly canted in relation to the elevation turret (like most scopes) so while mounting it, definitely hang a plumb line to level it (don’t rely on a bubble level sitting on the turret if you plan on long range shooting with it).
I give it a five star rating because the only issues I found are common with most scopes and they’re only minor cosmetic things.
Waylon –
Ares ETR is a fantastic optic, tracks true and great clarity. Taken it out to 1500 yards so far. Love the locking windage and the new floating dot reticle, especially for long range precision shooting. Fit and finish is perfect and what I've come to expect from Athlon, well done!
Tim –
I own a Cronus btr and both ares btr and now etr. This has by far the better reticle of the 3. And is lighter than the Cronus. I have this scope on a prs style 6mm bra. And absolutely love it. The locking windage the positive clicks for elevation the zero stop. It’s a winner and the brown color is awesome. My only gripe is I ALWAYS leave my illumination on and always have a dead battery. Maybe Athlon will be the first to idiot proof scopes for people like me (I know I’m not alone) but the thing You won’t be disappointed.
Ben –
For similar money, this is a lot nicer optic both in terms of features and glass quality than the Viper PST II, IMO.
I think I prefer the center-dot of the mil model over the center-+ of the MOA model, but both have reasonably fine reticles not not be intrusive at max magnification.
Amazing scope with a ton of elevation and capability.
Jason –
This is my third Athlon scope so far. I have a cronus BTR as well as a helos BTR. They are all great in their element, however the ETR is probably the best quality for the money.
The glass is on par with the cronus, maybe slightly less clear, but close enough most people would not notice. Color is slightly warmer in the ETR. No hazing or blackening edges at full power, however glass is clearest around 25 power.
The floating dot reticle is amazing. Some have said it is too small, however at 1000yds its very easy to pinpoint shots, and does not cover the whole target.
The turrets are crisper and more defined then the cronus. I love that the windage knob locks as well. Zero stop was very easy to set.Tracking is excellent, at least out to 10 mil and back multiple times.
The fit and finish is excellent, although the cronus does feel a little more high end. It is a little bigger and longer than most scopes, especially with a sunshade on. however my scope rail is long enough this is not an issue.
I am replacing a vortex PST gen2 on a PRS rifle, and so far no complaints. Congrats Athlon, this is probably the best scope for the money you can buy.
R D Tague –
Have run the Ares ETR Mil on my PRS match rifle for past 7 months. Being a match gun, the turrets are always getting spun up and down a lot. I have had zero issues. Recently, 3 months ago, I put one on my wifes match gun, as well as my 22LR match gun. Great scopes.
Darrigade erick –
I have to date 5 Athlon, going from Argos in ffp to Midas to finish with an Ares ETR which I mounted on a Bergara BMP 6.5 creedmoor.
Previously I had it on my Bergara 308W MDT chassis, I admit that I was blown away by this optic when I shot for the first time at 1100 meters, my neighbor with his Schmidt bender did not see the gong number at 1100m as well as I did, there was very good weather, 32 degrees celsius and an important mirage. This rifle scope is really, clear, fabulous, with strelok a happiness, the clicks are frank and fair. A pleasure to play turrets. I remain faithful to Athlon to this day no disappointment, just a little infidelity on my AR with a strike eagle.
Lyman Fisk –
My 3rd Athlon scope and SO GOOD its my 2nd Ares ETR MIL with APRS1 reticle. I love them on a 6.5 PRC and a 224 Valkyrie. AND, my buddies with several Valdada Recon G2's have used mine and asked me what I paid for them and quickly converted over. You can't argue with being able to buy 2 scopes rather than 1 for the same money and the same quality. Try one, you will become a believer!
Joe –
I've been running the Ares ETR for a year and a half. Every week I throw my rifle (soft case) into the truck and then onto the bench at the range or on the ground prone. Shoot steel every 100 yds out to a mile. Holds, dials, doesn't matter. Spot on. A work horse. Zero is always there for me.
James M –
I’ve had this scope for around a month, I purchased it after an event showcasing Athlon optics. This past weekend I used it for the first time in my local club PRS match and was able to raise my score over my previous optic (Vortex Viper) by 10%. The glass is clear and I love the reticle. I would highly recommend!
John –
put the ETR ARES APRS1 on both my 308 and 6.5CM. Great scopes. Hit 1600 with 6.5CM the first time out to long range. 308 is easy out to 1000. The 308 scope reticle moved in the scope last week. Sent it back and in one day of receiving the scope a replacement is due at house in four days. Now that is customer service. You need look no further for your next scope.
Blair Hamilton –
I upgraded to this scope (3.4-30) from a less powerful (3-18) Athlon. I shoot it in 22LR PRS. The Ares ETR UHD is a great scope and value. I really want to give props to Athlon Customer Service. I called them with an issue (mine, not there’s) where the remedy was to acquire another similar, but like part. This was not a warranty issue, but they made it right to remedy MY issue… and refused my offer to pay for the replacement part. Athlon not only stands behind their products but all stand behind their customers!