Razor, Athlon Ares, Gold Ring?

[FUNCTIONAL]

Been spotting at matches a lot lately and bumbing someone else's setup as they become free and decided its time to invest in one.

Going to pick up one of the PIG tripods and likely some flavor of manfrotto ballhead. Im liking the hydrostatic ballhead.

Anyway im kind of narrowed down to these 3 unless someone provides a compelling argument for something else.

Vortex Razor HD gen1 16-48x65($895)
Athlon Ares 15-45x65 ($600)
Leupold Gold Ring 12-40x60 ($600)

Ive looked through a x85 razor HD with 30x mil ret and loved it but I can't use the magnification it offers due to some of the incredible mirrage we get in eastern NC. Figured the x65 would fit the bill for less?

Ive looked through the MK4 spotter and liked it as well but i don't know how a gold ring 12-40 stacks up against it or if its the same without a reticle.

No idea on the athlon... hard to find info on it compared to either of the other spotters. But stand alone reviews look good.

Primary usage will be spotting hits/miss/splash on steel/dirt out to 1100. Would like it capable of doing the same job for out to 1700yrds but don't want to double cost just for that. Trying to stay under $1k for a spotter... any higher and i might as well start eating ramen and go all out.

So anyone compare these next to eachother? Any advice individually?

 

[Rob01]

Used a Razor with the 30x LER eye piece this past weekend and two weeks prior at Frontline Defense and had no issues with mirage. Honestly if you drop a spotter much lower in power then you might as well grab a 15x binos.

 

[FUNCTIONAL]

Used a Razor with the 30x LER eye piece this past weekend and two weeks prior at Frontline Defense and had no issues with mirage. Honestly if you drop a spotter much lower in power then you might as well grab a 15x binos.

I was going to PM you first but honestly completely forgot. Im Vin...was taking with you and Tony about the 6creedmoor saturday.

I agree on using it below 30x picked these 3 since they at least get into the 40xs but I know once summer hits here anything over 50x is pretty useless with the mirage. Im anticipating bouncing between 25x-40ishx. Most times im on 30-35x to get all the targets in one view.

 

[Rob01]

Hey Vin. Yeah I agree on the power range and why I actually like the 30x LER eye piece on mine. Helps me be able to see well enough but not get beat up by mirage much. Variable works too but I agree with getting one too high power. Even with my 20-60x eye piece I rarely go above 40x or so.

 

[MarinePMI]

Hensoldt...

 

[FUNCTIONAL]

Done!....think you can send me a check to write them?

Id love to dump money into a swaro/henny but I just cant justify that cost for my use. If I was on this 5 days a week then sure but once every other weekend is a strain.

 

[USMC 308]

Never done a side by side comparison with the ones you mentioned, but I have the bigger Ares 20-60x85 and it is awesome. The Ares blew away the Bushnell Legend T in a side by side comparison....as in not even close. Had a pretty low mirage day 2 weeks ago and cranked it up, shooting 250 yards to 1000k....but will not be doing that much anymore in the Texas heat. I found the barely used, only taken out of the box Ares on SH for $400....great deal!!

 

[FUNCTIONAL]

Yea I was never impressed with the bushnell stuff. All of their glass (spotters and scopes) just seem milky to my eyes.

Was about to pick up a Ares from cameralandny but stumbled over a deal for a razor hd gen1 20-60x85 for under 900 shipped here in the PX. Couldn't pass it up and will have it in hand next week! Have a Pig0311g tripod on the way and will hopefully be throwing a manfrotto hydrostatic ballhead on there to round it off.