Page 4 - Athlon Optics 4.5-29x56 Cronus BTR Reviews

I installed this as a budget option on my precision rifle build in 308. Turrets are best I have used. Glass is crystal clear.

After having used the Razor Gen II 4.5-27x (which is basically the most popular scope for PRS shooters), I find the Cronus BTR Gen 2 4.5-29x to have the better edge in optical quality. The parallax adjustment is marked better than the Razor. It's also significantly ligher, but still by no means lightweight. It's exterior dimensions and eye relief is about dead even with the Razor.

Where the Razor shines is the turret adjustments, L-TEC locking system, and the revolution indicator. The Razor just wins outright in that category. I hear the Ares and other Chinese-glass Athlon scopes have thos features, but the Japanese-glass Cronus BTR Gen 2 for some reason does not. Locking turrets are not a big deal for what I use this scope, but it does factor in for PRS shooters and competitive shooters.

The parallax adjustment and turret adjustments on the Cronus are VERY tight. The Razor adjustments feel more fluid. There's a narrower FOV and less usable reticle on the Cronus at full magnification and even at 27x versus the Razor. With the Razor at 27x I can get about 7.5 MRAD's down whereas the Cronus is at 6 MRAD's down. That being said, if you're working at 15x-20x for competition shooting, you'll get more usable reticle with either scope.

With Vortex's price increase and the availability of the Gen II 4.5-27x and the new Gen III 6-36x, the biggest selling point for this Cronus is the price point and optical quality. Its just the biggest bang for the buck and you get Japanese glass from the same factory that makes the Vortex Razors. The advantage with the Razor Gen II is the superior turret features and that is further improved on the Gen III.

If I had to do it all over again, I'd just stick with the Cronus BTR Gen 2 and not get a Vortex Razor if price was a major factor.

Pros:
Glass quality
Illuminated reticule brightness
Price
Elected knob on zoom dial (easier to transition zoom)
Build quality
Zero stop is super easy to setup

Cons:
I'm a sucker for solid/ audible clicks on windage and elevation and my particular scope didn't have as good as I was hoping. It isn't the worst I've felt, but my PST gen2 has better click feel.

Excellent glass, solid tracking clicks, scope tracks great doing the box tracking test.

The glass is amazing! The main reason I bought this scope was for the reticle. I do a lot of competition long-range shooting and when I increase the magnification on other scopes the reticle will obliterate my target. This reticle is subtle enough to see at low magnification and still transparent at higher magnification so that I can always see my target.

Great optic. Feature for feature best in its class.

I thought that switching from a Trijicon Accupower 1-8 to the Athlon Cronus BTR 1-6 was going to be a more challenging transition then what it actually was. I will admit I still miss having the extra 2x on an optic, but with long-range engagements, it has been a pretty seamless transition. I still am not right where I left off, but a little more training, and I'll be right where I left off. I utilize 77gr Black Hills when I train and compete. My rifle has a 16" Criterion barrel with a rifle-length gas system; I'm used to using holdovers, so Strelok and the BDC line up reasonably well.

Where I have seen the most improvement has been when shooting targets 70 yards and in, my splits and transitions have gone up, I don't worry about engaging no-shoot targets, and the best part is I can comfortably and confidently leave the scope at 1x and know that I am going hit the target where I need to hit it. The Illuminated reticle is visible during the brightest of days. Everyone I have shown the scope to has complimented the clarity of the glass as well as the smoothness of the magnification adjustment knob. Dialing in for zero was easy with the turrets, they're noticeable and defined clicks, and I don't have to worry about adjusting too much or too little. All in all, I'm pleased with the scope, some more training on more challenging targets and not getting sucked into the office, as I have been will ensure better results, but I have been very happy with the scope.

Pairing the scope with the Cronus UHD rangefinding binocular is even better. The Cronus UHD Rangefinder is a legitimate tool that accomplishes several jobs at once. A couple of weeks ago, at a match, my squad and I were on a stage that had some legitimate mid-distance targets that should have warranted a spotting scope. The match director didn't have one set up out there, so I set the rangefinders down for everyone to use in getting their distances and for the rotation of RO's to utilize in calling out the hits. It made calling hits much easier and sped operations up for our squad. The rangefinders are accurate and reliable. I have two more major matches planned out for the remainder of the year and will give a progress report once my season is over.

Bought this scope because of the reviews. Great glass. Durable. Great price!

Glassing and searching for barbary sheep. Over long distance in the West Texas area. This was an amazing tool that I was able to use.

Truly great scope, it is sitting in a weatherby mark V .340 with NEAR mfg mounts. Crystal clear, tracks perfectly, the turrets feel great compared to my vortex viper.

Very clear glass and crisp reticle. I wasn't sure i would like the it at first but it works well. For the price you can get it on expert voice I think you would be hard pressed to find a better quality scope at this price.

Have an earlier model Cronus that been a workhorse and never had a problem with it. Purchased the Gen2 for a new rifle and it has held up well. Excellent optic performance with a nice reticle. Tracking is dead on. Build quality is exceptional. The Cronus is also an exceptional value that holds its own or is better in optical than scopes costing nearly twice as much. Overall, very satisfied with the performance of this scope.

I mounted the Cronus BTR Gen 2 on my Bergara in 6.5 Creedmoor and couldn't be happier with the result. The build of the scope is is very sturdy and tight and the clarity of the glass is awesome. I've only had it to the range a couple times, but am very impressed... sure helps the Bergara live up to its sub-MOA guarantee!

Have the gen one and now gen 2. Run them on my PRS rifle and my 300 wm hunting rifle. Hasn't let me down yet.

I have people come up all the time at the range and ask to look through the glass on my scopes. I'm currently running a gen 2 on my Vudoo 22LR, a gen 1 on my CZ 457 22LR, and another gen 1 on my daughter's Bergara B14R (we shoot a lot of 22 competitions). I had a couple of guys say that the glass was as good as the Nightforce they were shooting last week. I have been really pleased so far with all Athlon products I've ever laid my hands on.

Took the Athlons Cronus BTR UHD 4.5-29 out to see how well it tracks. Let's just say it did amazing. Took it out to 800 yards shooting different targets at the same time from 400 to 800 only using holdovers and this scope tracks like it should and my hold overs are exact every time. You can not ask for a better scope in this price range. This scope does just as good if not better then my old vortex razor hd Gen2. I have both this scope and the vortex and I love this one more that is for sure. If you are looking for a scope in this price range get this one you won't find a better scope. If you do find a better scope in this exact price range no plus or minus amounts then I retract my statement.

The one thing I would change about this scope is having some way to lock the turrets down. When adjusting the scope to set its zero stop when first zeroing the scope I spun the turret on accident trying to loosen the hex bolt on top. Now once you set zero stop on it and the scope never gets removed then you wouldn't have to worry about that feature.

Now for me my scope comes off two days before every PRS match. So that mean I loose zero every time checking torques on my scope so I personally would love this feature on a new generation scope of this Cronus format.

The glass is solid, cuts through mirage and fog. The turrets are accurate and tactile. The reticle is a little busy but mostly in obstructive. Parallax is easy to adjust and the dial is pretty close to actual yardage. Would definitely recommend this optic.

Amazing glass for an amazing price! Would buy again hands down

Great glass for the money. Wish the turrets were a little less crunchy feeling but that's my only complaint. Reticle is easy, glass is clear, and feels quality. Just wish they used whatever turrets they use on their Midas Tac series on this. I use it for my NRL22 rifle and it works great.

Glad I tried this before dropping 3times the money on a different scope! Performs beyond expectations!