Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics Arken or Athlon

Just got myself a lefty Browning Hells Canyon in 6.5 prc. I am 95% a hunter with only occasional target shooting. I do hunt Montana regularly for deer and antelope. But even then, my longest shot there was 308 yards.

I have always had second focal plane scopes and while they had ballistic Plex reticles, I am within MPBR most times. I'm looking to branch out some. I understand mils vs moa etc. but don't think at this point I need or could utilize a complicated reticle. ( at least to me)

I see Stick and many others going back and forth on here about stuff I don't understand. ( Sometimes I don't really understand what Sticks trying to say, lol, [bleep] laughing, hint). ( take that in good nature please)

I know both Arken and Athlon are CCP crap to some but would either be a decent, cost effective way to try getting into a dialing scope? If available, would you recommend ffp or second focal plane? Other recommendations?

Let's say 500 yards starting out as max.
Can pm if you prefer.

If you want to test the waters, the Athlon 2-12 Helos gen 2 hasn't sucked. It's not alpha glass, but the illumination is great, the reticle is intuitive, and the caps lock, so you don't eff up your zero hunting. I have a few.

It's perfect on a single shot 30-30 in low light



Or on an AR



Edit: if you're a vet you can get them cheap through ExpertVoice 😉

As a follow up, it came with a pic rail. I usually run Talley's or old style rear adjustable Leupold bases and rings. I will have to look if it's a 20 moa or not. If I prefer the cleaner look of one piece base and rings, am I giving up much if I'm dialing to 500 yds? If it is 20 moa rail, is it hurting things in any way?

I have one of each. For a hunting rifle the reticle on the Athlon is superb. I would take it over the Arken every day of the week. The Arken is good, but thinner and more target/varmint IMO.

Also having each…. I agree with Nicky- Althon 2-12 would be for hunting, and the Althon for target/varmint.

I agree. I have one of each. both on AR's. I just ordered another Arken EPL-4 4-16x44mm for a AR-10. I prefer the thinner crosshairs for distance. The Althon 2-12 works well for close and mid range work.

His "95% hunting" and "500 yards max" comments make it the Athlon 2-12 all day every day to me.

I've got the Athlon 2-12 FFP on one of my setups. 500yd isn't an issue. It's about as far as this rifle setup can deliver sufficient bullet performance on game.

Just my opinion but team this up with an rangefinder bino and you've got perhaps the best minimalist kit. Everything you actually need.

I just oredered the arkin 6-24 epl, it’s going on one of my 30-06s for plinking

I just put together an aero m5 with a Wilson 18" hunter tactical 6.5 Creedmoor barrel. I was going through my stack of scopes fir one to put on it and decided to use an arken 4-16 epl. I'll see how it does but I'm looking to take it well past 500.

Bb