Match winning scopes

[JayLee443]

I’m new to PRS Rimfire looking for my first scope. I’ve heard universally positive reviews on solid mid tier optics like Athlon Cronus BTR Gen II. However when looking at the scopes used by those winning at national matches, I don’t see that category of scopes represented. Which seems odd to me. Should we conclude that the scopes used by national winners are substantially better than mid tier optics like Trac Toric, Burris XLR Pro and possibly Zies S3? Or are sponsorships or other dynamics influencing the gear used by top placers?

Here are the scopes used by the top placers in PRS Rimfire in 2024.

https://precisionrifleblog.com/2024/06/10/best-long-range-scope-reticle-what-the-pros-use/

Here are the results from top 200 shooters in center fire PRS. https://precisionrifleblog.com/2025...g-range-precision-shooting-what-the-pros-use/

Would love opinions on if mid tier optics are usable by folks looking to be highly competitive specifically for PRS Rimfire.

 

[Shootin25]

Take this with a GOS…..

New to this as of March this year also…
Started with entry level glass <$700… moved to mid, and now have two comp level RF rifles with ZCO on one and a March PRS on the other.

I didn’t upgrade until I felt like I really knew what I wanted in optics… and to be honest, glass was not my primary focus, reticle and controls took priority… especially reticle.

I can say there is a difference from mid tier to top tier, but a seasoned competitor with mid tier glass will likely lap the field regardless.

I’d like to think the pro-level folks went thru the same progression. As their game elevates, so does the equipment.

If you have the ability, just go full send if you’re planning to play the game for a while.

 

[Emerson0311]

Top tier optics do not put a mid pack shooter on the podium. Top tier optics can move a top 10 shooter up a few places vs a $1500 one, but only because that shooter works hard at identifying and collecting on the benefits of very good gear. Thing is, your game has to be deep enough and good enough to fully utilize that great gear. Once you start calculating how much time and $$ the top shooters spend on matches and ammo, a $4K optic that can be resold is not the biggest cost. Thinking that spending $10K on gear will buy many podiums is unsound.

 

[Emerson0311]

Take this with a GOS…..

New to this as of March this year also…
Started with entry level glass <$700… moved to mid, and now have two comp level RF rifles with ZCO on one and a March PRS on the other.

I didn’t upgrade until I felt like I really knew what I wanted in optics… and to be honest, glass was not my primary focus, reticle and controls took priority… especially reticle.

I can say there is a difference from mid tier to top tier, but a seasoned competitor with mid tier glass will likely lap the field regardless.

I’d like to think the pro-level folks went thru the same progression. As their game elevates, so does the equipment.

If you have the ability, just go full send if you’re planning to play the game for a while.

On average a seasoned competitor shooting against a peer will suffer from using basic gear. When the ability mismatch is large, gear comparisons are not sound.

 

[Mongo68]

A wise man told me you can’t but impacts. Focus on fundamentals.

That said, I still suck.

 

[Shootin25]

On average a seasoned competitor shooting against a peer will suffer from using basic gear. When the ability mismatch is large, gear comparisons are not sound.

Concur.
My reference was meant to be similar to your previous comment, alpha gear alone does not buy podiums.

 

[Old Man with Gun]

You should also know that scope companies know that having their scopes in the winning circle gets the masses to buy their scopes.

I think most top competitors have options for sponsors or have picked up gear as prizes along the way. Personally, I think the riffle blog should be used to say all of these are competitive, but don't read into better / best.

Shooters are often willing to let you check out or even shoot their rig. Nothing wrong with finding what you like.

I'm not saying that it isn't nice to shoot a super high end scope, but I almost never see a difference in people's performance after they upgrade.

The best thing you can do is surround yourself with people who are better than you and ask for help with your technical skills. If you hit a wall because your gear is holding you back, you will know.

 

[obx22]

Coming from a mid-pack shooter (and you can take this for what it’s worth, I’m fully content where I am), the scope choice is as personal as your ballistic app and data card. We are not cookie cutter people, and we interface/adapt to different information in different ways. Find a scope whose adjustments match the reticle, and who’s reticle fits your mental preferences. It should be intuitive almost from the get-go. After a time you may start refining what you want out of it, and if you are lucky, someone will actually manufacture what your expanded needs entail.
The perfect scope doesn’t exist, only “what will do” for now.

 

[Criver600]

The polls you're referring too are PRS centerfire. Sponsors and top competitors are playing the field. Not sure I've ever seen one of those Leupolds at a rimfire match.
Cry once get a Nightforce NX8 4x32X, spend your money on a good barrel and ammunition

 

[Rob01]

I’m new to PRS Rimfire looking for my first scope. I’ve heard universally positive reviews on solid mid tier optics like Athlon Cronus BTR Gen II. However when looking at the scopes used by those winning at national matches, I don’t see that category of scopes represented. Which seems odd to me. Should we conclude that the scopes used by national winners are substantially better than mid tier optics like Trac Toric, Burris XLR Pro and possibly Zies S3? Or are sponsorships or other dynamics influencing the gear used by top placers?

Here are the scopes used by the top placers in PRS Rimfire in 2024.

https://precisionrifleblog.com/2024/06/10/best-long-range-scope-reticle-what-the-pros-use/

Here are the results from top 200 shooters in center fire PRS. https://precisionrifleblog.com/2025...g-range-precision-shooting-what-the-pros-use/

Would love opinions on if mid tier optics are usable by folks looking to be highly competitive specifically for PRS Rimfire.

Scope will be the least of your worries if just starting out. You can have the best scope on your lists and you will still suck. Buy a scope in your price range with a good reticle and plenty of elevation at around 100+ MOA or 30+ mils and go practice.

 

[beetroot]

As above, the Athlon Cronus G2 is probably the best bang for the buck and will last you for a very long time as it's an excellent scope.

 

[TubbyT223]

The polls you're referring too are PRS centerfire. Sponsors and top competitors are playing the field. Not sure I've ever seen one of those Leupolds at a rimfire match.
Cry once get a Nightforce NX8 4x32X, spend your money on a good barrel and ammunition

The cry once buy once wouldnt apply to an NX8. Im not saying that to poopoo on your comment. If we were talking about centerfire it would work but rimfire the NX8 would be one of the last scopes I would recommend. A 30mm tube with 26 mils of total travel, a tight eyebox, and a couple other features make it not a great rimfire.

The buy once cry once for rimfire would prob be a gen 3 razor, zco, or zeiss with zeiss having not so great customer service.

For a new shooter what I would recommend in rimfire would be something in the 5-25 to 30 range, mil reticle, 2/10 subtensions and illumination if possible.

There are decent options out there that aren’t terrible. The DNT and Discovery are actually decent. They are huge and have weird ish turrets but decent, bushnell match, athlon models on sale. I would watch the PX here and then wait for Black Friday. Do your research and be watching sites to pull the trigger.

If you just want to buy once cry once watch the PX for a gen 3 razor. For rimfire it’s hard to beat it. Usually around $2k and the day you get it send it in to vortex to have the elevation lock deleted and they will do a full check on the scope.

On the scopes you mentioned I have heard people who like the tract and I shoot with a lot of people who shoot a Burris. They like the Burris but I can’t get past the reticle and the parralax knobs feel cheap.

 

[Emerson0311]

The cry once buy once wouldnt apply to an NX8. Im not saying that to poopoo on your comment. If we were talking about centerfire it would work but rimfire the NX8 would be one of the last scopes I would recommend. A 30mm tube with 26 mils of total travel, a tight eyebox, and a couple other features make it not a great rimfire.

The buy once cry once for rimfire would prob be a gen 3 razor, zco, or zeiss with zeiss having not so great customer service.

For a new shooter what I would recommend in rimfire would be something in the 5-25 to 30 range, mil reticle, 2/10 subtensions and illumination if possible.

There are decent options out there that aren’t terrible. The DNT and Discovery are actually decent. They are huge and have weird ish turrets but decent, bushnell match, athlon models on sale. I would watch the PX here and then wait for Black Friday. Do your research and be watching sites to pull the trigger.

If you just want to buy once cry once watch the PX for a gen 3 razor. For rimfire it’s hard to beat it. Usually around $2k and the day you get it send it in to vortex to have the elevation lock deleted and they will do a full check on the scope.

On the scopes you mentioned I have heard people who like the tract and I shoot with a lot of people who shoot a Burris. They like the Burris but I can’t get past the reticle and the parralax knobs feel cheap.

Athlon Ares ETR 4.5-30 has been quite good to my crew of Rimfire shooters.

 

[TubbyT223]

Athlon Ares ETR 4.5-30 has been quite good to my crew of Rimfire shooters.

I like the Athlon products and their reticle. I wish I would have bought a Midas when they were $900ish. I run athlon binos and was impressed at the glass for the money.