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Rifle Scopes Narrowed it down to these 2. Can you make a case against the Cronos??

EotS

Sergeant of the Hide
Full Member
Minuteman
Nov 12, 2020
403
302
South
6.5 PRC
Use will be equally split between Paper, Steel, Hunting, and whatever else.
I am not a big bolt gun guy, so I don't entertain the prospect of owning half a dozen Precision rigs in various calibers, with high end glass on them all. Basically, this is my one precision rig. That in mind, I am not capable of making use of glass that's north of $2,500,or the gun that would call for that much glass.

Flipside is that since it's my one setup, I want something well above good.


So, here we are.

Leupold Mk 5HD,5-25. Roughly $2k with the reticle I want. Also, I am not ex-mil, and won't qualify for any discounts.
Athlon Cronos 5-29. Usually $1,500ish, can be had for $1,150 currently.

Right off the bat, I have a exceptional history with Leupold. Their service has been amazing, and they have taken care of me on 3 occasions, 2 of which, I was sent a brand new unit as a replacement, even when it really wasn't needed.

If the Cronos was $1,500, I'd likely just drop the extra $550 for the Leupold, but the Cronos at almost $1,000 less is damn, DAMN compelling.

My only concern with the Athlon is service. Will I get service from them in say 15yrs?
One of my leupolds was a mid 80s VX, and 35yrs later, they honored the warranty. Will Athlon do that? Will they even exist in 2055??
Far fetched, but it was reality for me with the Leupold.


Make a decision for me, and feel free to suggest alternatives.
I'd like a minimum of 20x in a 30/34mm tube. RTZ. Not super tied to any one reticle. $2k and under.
 
In 2055, I won't even care about the scent of my diapers!

Cronus is great and warranty works. If you care about the 900 bucks, get it!
 
I’ve been looking hard at the Tract Toric UHD 4-20x50. 30mm tube, locking RTZ turrets, Christmas Tree, Mil hash, or MOA hash reticles. German Schott Glass. Made in Japan. $1300.
 
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The cronus is a solid scope. I've dragged mine up and down slippery mountain slopes and had a few tumbles where I thought for sure I had broke something or affected the zero, but no issues. I like the zero stop, turrets are solid, tracking is perfect, dialing out to 1200 yards and back. Glass is really close 2nd to the Leopold. In low light conditions The Leopold really wins. I own several of the cronus and several of the Leopold mark 5. I like them both. I've had no problem shooting in legal low light conditions hunting with the cronus.
 
I don’t have first hand experience with the Cronus specifically, but my Athlon Ares has been phenomenal. I wouldn’t be afraid to run Athlon on anything.
 
To throw more gas on this fire, Leupold sucks balls, has for decades, I don't spend money on their wares. Sure, maybe a decent scope is in their lineup somewhere, but their constant striving to keep the "least dependable optic on the planet" moniker just gets old. I mean, what the hell, IOR Valdata deserves some recognition for their efforts in absolute failure too!
 
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Use the $800 you will save buying the Cronus to buy a lot of ammo...at least once it's available again. I love mine and had it out shooting to 800 yards yesterday. I think it's as good as my Tract UHD up to 25X and only lacks the locking turrets and zoom ring smoothness that the Tract has. It tracked perfectly and even the wife got long range hits :p
 
Get the cronus, I have three. :). The glass is good, turrets are good, I like their reticles better than the leo too. For hunting I'd get the floating cross, I have the dot on my .22. Works great for precision work.
 
6.5 PRC
Use will be equally split between Paper, Steel, Hunting, and whatever else.
I am not a big bolt gun guy, so I don't entertain the prospect of owning half a dozen Precision rigs in various calibers, with high end glass on them all. Basically, this is my one precision rig. That in mind, I am not capable of making use of glass that's north of $2,500,or the gun that would call for that much glass.

Flipside is that since it's my one setup, I want something well above good.


So, here we are.

Leupold Mk 5HD,5-25. Roughly $2k with the reticle I want. Also, I am not ex-mil, and won't qualify for any discounts.
Athlon Cronos 5-29. Usually $1,500ish, can be had for $1,150 currently.

Right off the bat, I have a exceptional history with Leupold. Their service has been amazing, and they have taken care of me on 3 occasions, 2 of which, I was sent a brand new unit as a replacement, even when it really wasn't needed.

If the Cronos was $1,500, I'd likely just drop the extra $550 for the Leupold, but the Cronos at almost $1,000 less is damn, DAMN compelling.

My only concern with the Athlon is service. Will I get service from them in say 15yrs?
One of my leupolds was a mid 80s VX, and 35yrs later, they honored the warranty. Will Athlon do that? Will they even exist in 2055??
Far fetched, but it was reality for me with the Leupold.


Make a decision for me, and feel free to suggest alternatives.
I'd like a minimum of 20x in a 30/34mm tube. RTZ. Not super tied to any one reticle. $2k and under.
Whatever you choose, you should learn to spell a scope’s name the way a manufacturer spells it. It’s Cronus, not Cronos, Chronus, Kronos, Chronos, Cronis, Coronavirus... FFS JUST READ IT AND COPY, WHY IS THIS SO HARD????
 
If you want to save even more money I am thinking about Bushnell dmr2 for $800. If money is of no concern just buy the one you want or you will always wonder what if. https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1020586712?pid=710660
... or an XRS II for another $300. DMR II's are great scopes for the money. I have a few on gas guns and the XRS II on a couple bolt guns. IMHO, you need to spend A LOT more money to get noticeably better optics.
 
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If hunting the nightforce 4-32x50 u should consider. Great fov and light weight. I had a cronus 210111 and did a side by side with nightforce c634.....I still have nightforce and sold cronus
 
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Only downside to the cronus is the weight, if you are gonna be carrying it than you may want to consider

ive had both and really liked my cronus
 
its also has bulkier turrets and overall shape.
I prefer the cronus but the Op mentioned it would be used for hunting so i weighed in. Not sure why you are being a douche lol.
bulkier turrets? really? that has to be one of the funniest things i've heard

as far as hunting goes. if he's listing these scopes i doubt 3oz is an issue. he's not asking 20oz 3-15 scopes

not trying to be a douche, but there are things the OP is asking and responses he's getting and 3oz and 'bulky' turrets are pretty low when looking at the options
 
bulkier turrets? really? that has to be one of the funniest things i've heard

as far as hunting goes. if he's listing these scopes i doubt 3oz is an issue. he's not asking 20oz 3-15 scopes

not trying to be a douche, but there are things the OP is asking and responses he's getting and 3oz and 'bulky' turrets are pretty low when looking at the options
Lol whatever you say douche
Clearly you haven’t had a scope get snagged on gear or had a long hunt where every once you have to carry matters. Lucky you.

You sound like a democrat. Attacking someone with input that you don’t agree with.

Again, way to add value to the convo.
 
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Lol whatever you say douche
Clearly you haven’t had a scope get snagged on gear or had a long hunt where every once you have to carry matters. Lucky you.

You sound like a democrat. Attacking someone with input that you don’t agree with.

Again, way to add value to the convo.

And it’s about 6oz or damn near a half of a pound if you wanna be a precise douche