Athlon 3-9x40 Neos Rimfire Scope

The "rimfire" version of this scope has a BDC reticle. Subtensions in MOA

     Center to wide point on horizontal 5moa each side.

     Center to first dot below center     2.3moa

     Center to second dot below center 5.3moa

     Center to third dot below center     8.8moa

     Center to wide point on verticle     12.5moa

I suspect parallax is 100 yds same at the BDC 500 and the X reticle.

The Centerfire version BDC500 Subtensions in MOA are different, and the reticle is illuminated

     Center to first dot below center 1.5moa

     Center to second dot below center 3.5moa

     Center to third dot below center 6.25moa

     Center to fouthe dot below center 9.5moa

     Center to wide point on verticle 13.6moa

 

The scope has capped adjustments the adjustment knob is secured by one center screw on a gear type post and is easy to reset. I placed the rimifire model on a .308 Tikka CTR and the adjustments were way better than I expected for a inexpensive scope.  I do also have this same scope on a Ruger American 22mag and like it so having an extra one laying on the bench that  I had intended for a 10-22  I thought why not give this one a go on the .308 to see just how good it is.  What I like about this scope is the single screw to reset fairly decently marked capped  low target style knobs.  If you wanted to remove the cap and dial correction for elevation or windage, you could but because they are capped they are protected and for a lot of other than target applications that is desirable.  I'm still figuring out the names in Athalon's line because their scopes range from this really affordable one up to serious money.  But for the average shooter this scope is a great value and would work either for a rimfire or for a centerfire so long as you run a ballistics chart and spend some time on the range to understand what the dots represent.  Why subtensions in MOA are not a standardized set of units is beyond me but I understand that those dots below center represent something...... you just have to figure out what it is.  I also think most shooters don't realize that ballistic reticles are intended to be used at the highest magnification of the scope  and when you have a second focal plane scope and dial down from 9x to 3x what those dots represent is not the same thing they represented at 9x. Just like the field of view - side to side increased by dialing down now the difference between center and the dot represents more area.  Time on the range can let you figure it out.  Start with a 3-9 zeroed at (centerfire) 100 yds aim at the center of the target and shoot 200, 300, 400 etc go mark on the paper where the bullets impacted below center with a can of spray paint then go back to 200, 300, 400 and change the power to 3, 6  and look through the scope at those lower powers to see what those dots represent at those powers.  Make notes because if you need to dial down in lo light to 6x to brighten the image it's handy to know what those dots represent. 

Same thing for 22 or 22 mag. If you sight at 50 then shoot 75, 100, 125, 150 you can figure out what the dots represent for your specific rifle and ammo. You just put the center x on the bullseye and let the bullets fall below center then mark those groups with spray paint and go back and look through the scope at each specific power you want to note the results for.  Knowing what the dots represent at 3x, 6x and 9x is a big step up from the guy next to you who though his first dot down was 200 yds but then he dialed down to 3x so his shot went way over the back of the deer that was 200 yds away instead of nailing it like he would if he was still at 9x.