A great scope could make or break the accuracy of a rifle, Excessive-quality glass, and finances typically aren’t two phrases which can be often utilized in the identical sentence with regards to selecting out a scope to your rifles. I’ve heard many occasions earlier than that your scope ought to value at the least one and a half occasions what you paid to your rifle, however actually, that isn’t possible for lots of people together with me. Properly, Athlon Optics needs to ensure scopes which can be rugged and have high-quality glass are reasonably priced 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 lower cost tag than many different choices on the market. So let’s see the way it’s performed 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 clever this time it is a little more sparse this time, coming with the handbook, spare screws & allen key, and a cleansing fabric. 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 also 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 title implies the rings are very strong with loads of meat on them to assist defend your costly optics. I’d say although now after you possibly can 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 outfitted with Athlon’s UHD glass, which has been given the superior fully-multicoated therapy. This makes for unbelievable readability edge to edge, in addition to elevated mild transmission fee for low mild circumstances resembling 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 fallacious 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 Totally Multi-Coated with XPL Protecting Coating
- Tube Materials – Plane Grade Aluminum
- Windage/Elevation Adjustment – 0.1 Mil Clock Worth
- Purging Materials – Argon
- Total Size – 14.2in
- Total 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 large advanced in central Alabama constructed by the CMP to encourage and develop the taking pictures sports activities. The marksmanship park is an enormous advanced with a number of rifle ranges. Related to me in the present day had been the 100-yard vary and the unknown distance metal goal vary. The primary cease was to verify 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 a lot better shot, we had all the pieces squared away. After that, I carried out a fast field take a look at to verify the monitoring of the scope, which as anticipated held true. So now the zeroing was performed, I rapidly 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 sport 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 spread 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 received 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 yr 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 wanting by way of it with no chromatic fringing round what I’m . The coating therapy for the lens Athlon makes use of is top of the range as effectively. Even in low-light conditions, I’ve had loads of mild 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 made from aircraft-grade aluminum. It’s taken my tough dealing with effectively, I strive 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 resulting from a rustic driver.
The turrets one the ARES ETR UHD 3-18X positively have a tactile detent on them with you feeling each click on if you alter them, however I really feel it must be toned down only a bit. Whereas they felt good to regulate once I first received the scope, when in use on the vary they felt somewhat too aggressive to the purpose of feeling somewhat 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 may be. The 0.05 mil heart dot is good and nice, so it doesn’t occlude what you might be aiming at. All of the markings are good and nice so when you’re zoomed in at 18x they don’t distract you an excessive amount of. The reticle and this being a primary focal airplane scope works nice, usually occasions I exploit this at 12x magnification and the holdovers are useless on nonetheless. The illumination operate can also be a pleasant bonus for low-light taking pictures circumstances resembling early mornings proper at taking pictures mild.
Closing 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 yr now on my Aero Precision Solus. I’ve to say it’s a best choice for with regards to someone not making an attempt to interrupt the financial institution on the lookout for a rifle scope that may fortunately sit on a searching rifle in addition to a extra PRS-orientated rifle. The largest factor is the readability of the glass has been on par with a whole lot of scopes I’ve regarded by way of which have value a big 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 when you’re making an attempt to go one or two clicks you’ll be able to simply overshoot as you attempt to push previous the detent initially. Moreover that although I believe 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 inside the mid-range value level for a high quality scope. Whereas in the event you store round on-line you’ll be able to usually discover them on sale for a good beat beneath 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.
