A superb scope could make or break the accuracy of a rifle, Excessive-quality glass, and finances typically aren’t two phrases which might be often utilized in the identical sentence on the subject of selecting out a scope to your rifles. I’ve heard many instances earlier than that your scope ought to price no less than one and a half instances what you paid to your rifle, however truthfully, that isn’t possible for lots of people together with me. Effectively, Athlon Optics needs to verify scopes which might be rugged and have high-quality glass are inexpensive for shooters of all expertise ranges. This time I’m reviewing the ARES ETR UHD 3-18×50 APRS6 FFP IR MIL, a extra middle-of-the-road priced scope. It says it comes loaded with premium options for a considerably cheaper price tag than many different choices on the market. So let’s see the way it’s completed for the previous 8 months with me.
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First Look – Athlon Optics ARES ETR UHD 3-18×50 APRS6 FFP IR MIL
The packaging of the ARES ETR UHD is fairly easy however nonetheless strong. A tough compressed fiber field with loads of foam to maintain the optic secure within the heart. Equipment sensible this time it is a little more sparse this time, coming with the guide, spare screws & allen key, and a cleansing material. Simply messing with the turrets out of the field the detents felt good and distinct with every click on being simply felt. The parallax adjustment was good and clean, whereas the illumination adjustment subsequent to it had a strong detent to not shift. The entrance of the scope can be threaded for a sunshade, which whereas not supplied with the scope, is well purchased from Athlon for not an excessive amount of.
My host for the ARES ETR UHD 3-18x was a .308 Aero Precision Solus in a KRG Bravo Chassis. I used a set of supplied 34mm medium-height Athlon Armor Rings to mount it on. Because the identify implies the rings are very strong with loads of meat on them to assist shield your costly optics. I’d say although now after you may additionally use the low-height Armor Rings as effectively and never have to fret about clearance points with the ARES ETR UHD 3-18x on this explicit mannequin of Solus motion.
Specs – Athlon Optics ARES ETR UHD 3-18×50 APRS6 FFP IR MIL
The ARES ETR UHD 3-18×50 APRS6 FFP IR MIL from Athlon Optics is obtainable as a scope that caters to the wants of each hunters and PRS shooters. This scope comes geared up with Athlon’s UHD glass, which has been given the superior fully-multicoated remedy. This makes for unimaginable readability edge to edge, in addition to elevated gentle transmission charge for low gentle situations akin to early morning or late night hunts and shoots. Like all different non-thermal scopes the Athlon Ares ETR UHD comes with a Athlon Gold Medal Lifetime Guarantee. This implies peace of thoughts with a no cost, no receipt, and no registration wanted course of. If one thing goes flawed with the Ares Athlon has you coated.
- Magnification – 3-18X
- Goal Lens – 50mm
- Reticle – APRS6 FFP IR MIL, Etched Glass Reticle
- Tube Diameter – 34mm
- Turrets – Uncovered / Locking
- Eye Reduction – 3.74″
- FOV at 100 yds – 39.2-6.65 ft
- Parallax Adjustment – Facet Focus 10yds-∞
- UHD Glass– Further-low dispersion glass
- Lens Coating – Superior Absolutely Multi-Coated with XPL Protecting Coating
- Tube Materials – Plane Grade Aluminum
- Windage/Elevation Adjustment – 0.1 Mil Clock Worth
- Purging Materials – Argon
- General Size – 14.2in
- General Weight – 31.4 oz
- Full Spec Sheet
- MSRP – $1124.99
Again on the CMP – Athlon Optics ARES ETR UHD 3-18×50 APRS6 FFP IR MIL
Being in Georgia and never that removed from the CMP’s Talladega Marksmanship Park it’s the go-to spot for me to check out optics for me. A huge complicated in central Alabama constructed by the CMP to encourage and develop the taking pictures sports activities. The marksmanship park is a large complicated with a number of rifle ranges. Related to me at present had been the 100-yard vary and the unknown distance metal goal vary. The primary cease was to test the zero and monitoring of the ARES ETR UHD on the 100-yard vary. The CMP makes use of digital targets so it makes issues a breeze. So with some enter from my fellow author Paul B, a significantly better shot, we had every part squared away. After that, I carried out a fast field take a look at to test the monitoring of the scope, which as anticipated held true. So now the zeroing was completed, I shortly locked within the elevation utilizing the Zero-Cease Locking plate.
Now with the boring stuff taken care of it was time to go have some enjoyable on the unknown distance metal goal vary. The Unknown Distance vary has metal targets arrange throughout from 75 yards out to 640 yards. A pleasant mixture of gongs, plates, and recreation animal silhouettes. They even have kinetic Jumpin Jack targets in the midst of the vary, which we would have gotten our rifles a bit too sizzling with whereas strolling the goal round. We had been utilizing a variety finder to get a distance on the longer-range targets. Utilizing the APRS6 FFP IR MIL reticle for the holdovers was nice. The reticle had the proper quantity of data on it. Even with the farthest plate out within the far proper nook. Utilizing the vary finder after which telling Paul what number of MILs to carry obtained him a first-round hit on the plate together with a number of follow-up hits.
Analysis – Athlon Optics ARES ETR UHD 3-18×50 APRS6 FFP IR MIL
Having the ARES ETR UHD 3-18X for nearly a 12 months now I discovered myself very impressed with the construct high quality of the scope. Let’s begin with the readability of the glass, the UHD Glass actually does its job. Giving me a pleasant crisp picture when trying by way of it with no chromatic fringing round what I’m . The coating remedy for the lens Athlon makes use of is top of the range as effectively. Even in low-light conditions, I’ve had loads of gentle transmission come by way of the optic. The colour of what I’m stays true to life as effectively. Past the glass, the construct high quality of the ARES ETR UHD 3-18X is strong, with a heat-treated mono-piece tube fabricated from aircraft-grade aluminum. It’s taken my tough dealing with effectively, I attempt to not be tough on my stuff however I nonetheless handle to knock issues over. Or simply put it within the backseat of my truck to have it land scope down when I’ve to slam my brakes because of a rustic driver.
The turrets one the ARES ETR UHD 3-18X undoubtedly have a tactile detent on them with you feeling each click on if you modify them, however I really feel it must be toned down only a bit. Whereas they felt good to regulate after I first obtained the scope, when in use on the vary they felt a little bit too aggressive to the purpose of feeling a little bit sticky when making an attempt to make smaller changes. The APRS6 FFP IR MIL reticle is nice on this scope, it isn’t too busy like others could be. The 0.05 mil heart dot is good and effective, so it doesn’t occlude what you’re aiming at. All of the markings are good and effective so if you end up zoomed in at 18x they don’t distract you an excessive amount of. The reticle and this being a primary focal aircraft scope works nice, usually instances I exploit this at 12x magnification and the holdovers are lifeless on nonetheless. The illumination perform can be a pleasant bonus for low-light taking pictures situations akin to early mornings proper at taking pictures gentle.
Ultimate Ideas – Athlon Optics ARES ETR UHD 3-18×50 APRS6 FFP IR MIL
After utilizing the Athlon Optics ARES ETR UHD 3-18X for many of a 12 months now on my Aero Precision Solus. I’ve to say it’s a best choice for on the subject of any person not making an attempt to interrupt the financial institution searching for a rifle scope that may fortunately sit on a searching rifle in addition to a extra PRS-orientated rifle. The most important factor is the readability of the glass has been on par with numerous scopes I’ve regarded by way of which have price a major bit greater than the Athlon Optics ARES ETR UHD 3-18X. The UHD glass together with the theAPRS6 FFP IR MIL reticle have been nice collectively in ensuring I can simply see my goal. It’s by no means been too cluttered and distracting to shoot by way of. However whereas I actually do just like the scope, that doesn’t imply there aren’t any flaws.
The attention field is fairly tight on this scope, particularly previous 10x magnification. This isn’t a deal breaker however it’s annoying. One other factor is the turret clicks are a tiny bit too aggressive if you end up making an attempt to go one or two clicks you possibly can simply overshoot as you attempt to push previous the detent initially. Moreover that although I feel the ARES ETR UHD 3-18X is a troublesome option to beat for a 3-18x scope. With an MSRP of $1124.99, it sits effectively throughout the mid-range value level for a high quality scope. Whereas in the event you store round on-line you possibly can usually discover them on sale for an honest beat under MSRP. For the road value I can’t consider many different variable magnification optics which have the glass high quality of the ARES ETR UHD 3-18X.