A Rifleman's Optics

The Athlon Optics Argos HMR 2-12x 42mm (top) is a high-quality and versatile riflescope that includes a blue-collar MSRP. It would make an ideal pairing with a favorite big-game or rimfire rifle. The riflescope (below) includes capped turrets. Removing the aluminum screw-on caps allows the Argos HMR to be used like an exposed-turret scope.

I first became aware of Athlon Optics through a small cadre of northern Idaho PRS shooters, who, while highly competitive, are also blue-collar guys with kids in college, mortgages and the usual financial obligations that come with the times we live in. They chose Athlon riflescopes due to a high degree of optical and mechanical quality offered at a working man’s price.

The scope includes finger-adjustable turrets under milled-aluminum screw-on caps. The turrets can be returned to 0 after sight-in and operate just like an exposed-turret optic.

The parallax knob sandwiched between the scope body and the outer illumination wheel allows focus between 20 yards and infinity, with 20, 30, 50, 100, 200 and 500 yards marked with numerals.

The new Athlon Argos HMR 2-12x 42mm AHMC SFP MOA riflescope certainly checks all these boxes. It is a compact (11.8 inches long) and solid (19.8 ounces) scope built on a 1-inch tube and suited to a wide variety of hunting applications. Some of its more basic features include a second focal plane (SFP) illuminated reticle, 10-yard-to-infinity side parallax adjustment, capped elevation and windage turrets. The advanced optics are fully multicoated to provide clean viewing and confident aiming at the edges of day when game moves best. The 2-12x magnification, combined with a 55.7- to 9.6-foot field of view at 100 yards, makes it a versatile hunting option without undue bulk or weight, whether shooting driven game, still-hunting thick cover, installed on a stand or stalking open prairies. The Argos HMR’s 3.6 inches of eye relief make it magnum compatible. Best of all, the Argos HMR retails for just $399.99.

The illumination system lights the floating center dot red and includes six intensity levels. White dots are found between each brightness setting to shut illumination off, but keep a particular setting handy.

The turrets can be uncapped to utilize the 1⁄4 MOA corrections just like an exposed-turret scope, while the caps protect against dust and moisture. Athlon says this scope is 100 percent waterproof, but I am not certain if that means with or without the protective caps in place. Turret movement was crisp, providing both audible and tactile feedback. Conducting a box test with a five-spot grid target and zeroed in on the center spot, I found that these turrets tracked accurately at 100 yards: 18 clicks up/down and left/right, centering groups in the corner spots.

Athlon’s fully multicoated lenses result in sharp imaging and true color fidelity from one end of the magnification spectrum to the other, while proving nice and bright in even gloomy early-morning and late-

afternoon lighting conditions. Athlon uses Argon gas to purge against fogging, an element the company says includes a lower thermal conductivity than common nitrogen tube

The Athlon Optics Argos HMR features advanced, fully multicoated lenses, with the 2-12x version including a 42mm objective lens. Spring-loaded flip-up covers protect both front and rear lenses.

fillers. Obviously, a $400 scope is not going to deliver the optical performance of a top-tier optic. Still, I can say in all honesty that clarity, particularly at lower magnifications, is all the average hunter could ask for. I observed only a slight degradation in optical quality at higher magnifications, and this was when viewed in poor light. Overall, it certainly outperforms many brands sold at this price point in terms of both optical and mechanical qualities and included features.

Mechanically, there is nothing to complain about here. The scope is ruggedly constructed, with metal parts found everywhere important to reliability and longevity. Athlon customer feedback reports it standing up well to heavy recoil. Ocular and objective lenses are protected by spring-loaded flip-up covers, which would be especially welcome during dusty or wet big-game pursuits.

The side parallax knob is sandwiched between the erector body and illumination dial, with firm function but no clicks between settings. It is neither too stiff nor too loose. Illumination levels between 1 and 6 are provided, with white dots found between each setting, and a positive click felt between each. While the test scope included this feature, non-illuminated options are also available. Like the parallax

The Athlon Optics Argos HMR features advanced, fully multicoated lenses, with the 2-12x version including a 42mm objective lens. Spring-loaded flip-up covers protect both front and rear lenses.

knob, the magnification ring provides just-right and smooth tension, with even-number magnification levels – 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12 – highlighted in bright white. The ocular lens holds a diopter/focus ring and white + 0 markings on the housing. All bearing surfaces are adequately knurled for a firm grip, which becomes most important when wet or while wearing gloves.

The Argos HMR is what I would term ideal for the average hunter’s big-game rifle, for those who might pursue pronghorn one month, elk the next, and woodland whitetail the month after that. It provides tight coverage, low-end magnification and a completely functional 12-power top end in a package equal to or smaller than many 3-9x 42mm hunting scopes I have owned. For me, in the Argos HMR, I discovered the perfect match for my Savage Model 25 Walking Varmint rifle chambered in 22 Hornet. The 2- to 4-power magnification will serve well during close-range predator-calling missions when running shots are common. Cranking it up to 12x allows making the best of the ancient varmint cartridge’s capabilities while sniping ground squirrels at 200 to 250 yards.

The magnification ring is knurled for a firm grip and runs smoothly. All even numbers are numerated and etched in white to be easy to see, even in low light.

The ocular box is generous, making it easy to get into the scope and on target fast. Optical performance was good, especially at the lower magnification levels.

My only real nitpick, at least as a varmint optic, comes from the reticle. It is a bracketed crosshair with a center floating dot. This is a design I usually applaud, but in this case the entire works, especially the floating dot, is just a smidge too coarse for my taste. If I had to guess, it is a 3 MOA dot, while I would like to see a finer 1-2 MOA center point and the greater precision that would provide. That said, in a big-game context (especially in low-light conditions and where legal, given the illumination system, there is nothing wrong with this reticle. I am simply a varmint-shooting junkie who prefers frog-hair-fine aiming points while targeting very small game surrounded by a lot of open space.

Whether you were to add this to a serious varmint or small-game rimfire rifle, or your favorite centerfire big-game rifle, there is a lot to like here. The quality-to-cost ratio looms large among its appeals. This is a true workhorse optic with all the optical quality the average shooter could want. The wide magnification range, side parallax, and the ability to uncap the turrets and use this scope for longer shots make it super versatile in a wide variety of scenarios and habitats. This is a scope I will be purchasing, as it has found a home on my favorite varminting 22 Hornet, and I cannot bring myself to take it off now. To view the entire Athlon lineup, visit AthlonOptics.com.