OutdoorHub Review: Athlon Optics Helos BTR GEN2 2-12×42 FFP IR
Eugene L. 08.31.23
Everything comes in waves in the firearms community. Back in the year of our lord 2012 the first wave of SPR and DMR builds were the new hotness. Now over a decade since, SPRs are back for vengeance. So just as I had an “SPR” back then, I built an “SPR” again. A great platform to use to review the Athlon Optics Helos BTR GEN2 2-12×42 FFP IR with the AHMR2 FFP IR MIL reticle. I dabbled with a few 2x-10x scopes back then with that first SPR build but found them lacking especially at my price point. But since 2012, manufacturers like Athlon Optics have really raised the bar, really pushing what you can expect for your dollar. So let’s see how this newer scope does after me using it for over 6 months at this point.
First Look – Athlon Optics Helos BTR GEN2 2-12×42 FFP IR
Looking at it straight out of the shipping box, you can see that the packaging is solid. Inside the box, you find plenty of open cell foam pieces to make sure everything stays in place during transit. Besides the scope, Athlon Optics has supplied plenty of accessories to go with it. This includes a threaded sun shade, a pair of flip-up scope covers, and a scope throw lever. Besides those, there is the owner’s manual, a cleaning cloth, a battery, and spare zero-stop screws along with an Allen key.
Using a 30mm AR Tactical Cantilever Mount from Athlon I mounted the Helos BTR GEN2 2-12×42 onto my 18″ “SPR at Home” build. Just an initial look through the scope in the backyard I could already see the glass was punching above its price point. The glass was very clear from edge to edge through the whole range of magnification. The threading on the scope and sunshade are well done and thread together smoothly. For being marketed as a more budget-conscious long-range optic, Athlon is really starting off strong.
Affordable, solid, and reliable are seldom associated with long range shooting and hunting. The Helos BTR GEN2 is the exception.
Specifications – Athlon Optics Helos BTR GEN2 2-12×42 AHMR2 FFP IR MIL
The Helos BTR GEN2 2-12×42 FFP IR has been designed by Athlon to be a scope that works well in short and long-range applications. On top of that, with the range-finding features it could easily find itself at home on top of a deer rifle as well. The Athlon Helos also comes with the Athlon Gold Medal Lifetime Warranty. For your peace of mind, if you need repairs of replacement Atlon has you covered. No charge to you, with no receipt needed, and no product registration, they have you covered.
- Magnification – 2 – 12x
- Objective Lens – 42mm
- Reticle – AHMR2 FFP IR MIL, Etched Glass Reticle
- Tube Diameter – 30mm
- Turrets – Lockable, with Precision Zero Stop
- Eye Relief – 3.6″
- FOV at 100 yds – 55.7-9.6ft
- Parallax Adjustment – 10yds
- Lens Coating – Advanced Fully Multi-Coated with XPL Protective Coating
- Tube Material – Aircraft Grade Aluminum
- Windage/Elevation Adjustment – 0.1 Mil Clock Value
- Purging Material – Argon
- Overall Length – 11.8in
- Overall Weight – 25.4 oz
- Full Spec Sheet
Heading to the Range – Athlon Optics Helos BTR GEN2 2-12×42 FFP IR
Now the Helos is mounted up on my quote-unquote SPR it is time to use it at the range. The rifle is a 5.56 gun with an 18″ Ballistic Advantage SPR profiled barrel. The rest of the parts are a mixmaster build of nicer parts I found on sale. For ammunition selection, I brought 55gr and 77gr match .223 rem ammo. For the first few trips with the scope, I went to an indoor range that had 100-yard lanes. It was quick work to zero the Helos BTR GEN2 2-12×42 with no need to mess with caps or tools. The turrets were quick and easy to use, with the clicks being audible and tactile. Once it was done I just pressed down the turrets to lock them in place.
The illumination function of the scope was great for these first trips. The very end of the 100-yard range has lighting that isn’t too bright, along with a black-and-white target in front of a black backstop makes it difficult to see a black reticle. So even a bit of illumination gave me the contrast I needed, especially with my not-so-great eyes. Then when up close just messing with closer targets the illumination lets the reticle act more like a reflex sight when maxed out up close. I do need to say the illumination isn’t red dot bright, but it is more than usable. The glass on the scope was very clear and clean to look through at this 100-yard range. Even at max magnification, the clarity was great from edge to edge of the optic. The eyebox tightened up of course but no significant haloing occurred. While the scope was fun to use at 100 yards after several range trips here it was time to really take it further out and take advantage of the reticle.
Stretching Its Legs – Athlon Optics Helos BTR GEN2 2-12×42 FFP IR
Finally, I got to stretch the scope and rifle legs by going over to the CMP’s Talladega Marksmanship Park. There I met up with my more punctual fellow writer Paul B. The Marksmanship Park is a massive complex in central Alabama dedicated to shooting sports. There are several different ranges including a 100-yard range, a 600-yard rifle range with targets at 200, 300, and 600 yards, and an unknown distance steel target range that ranges from 75 to 640 yards. There is a qualification system in place there for the rifle ranges with electronic targets at the park though. Not wanting to have their expensive targets accidentally damaged by errant bullets you need to first qualify at the 100-yard range before going to the 200 – 600-yard range. It was quick work at the 100-yard range with a quick checking of our zeros and then putting a group on target to get our qualification cards punched.
This is where the AHMR2 FFP IR MIL reticle got to shine with its holdover markings. The scope along with some 77gr match ammo made quick work of the 200 and 300-yard targets, needing at most a hold at the 1 mil line for the 300-yard target. Then it was onto the 600-yard target, where a hold at 4.5 mil was dead on at 600 yards, The wind was very light, and blowing at us slightly making it again easy with the not-so-crowded reticle. The glass still looked good at 600 yards looking at the target with no distortion and haze. Now we got all 3 of the target qualifications punched we moved on to the steel target range next door.
This steel range has targets set from 75 yards to 640 yards in a wide open field, these targets are at unknown ranges. Some of the targets are shaped like various game animals such as coyotes, deer, and moose. There I got to use the ranging function at the bottom of the reticle on the animal-shaped targets. The hash marks are roughly 18 inches in height at various distances. This worked out great for getting on target without a range finder for the most part, except for that damn moose. Because at the time I didn’t know it was a moose, the paint on the antlers was pretty much gone and left both of us thinking it was a deer. So trying to range a moose to deer dimensions didn’t work out well. But other than that it was a great time out there. The parallax adjustment was key to me that day with my messed-up eyes, especially at the longer ranges.
Final Notes – Athlon Optics Helos BTR GEN2 2-12×42 FFP IR
So after over 6 months of using the optic for my “SPR at home”, my final thoughts on the Helos BTR GEN2 2-12×42 FFP IR is a hard scope to beat for anyone working with a tighter budget but still wanting a quality optic. The wide magnification range along with quality glass and coatings makes it for me. The reticle is super functional without being overly complicated at both ends of the magnification range. The illumination while not super bright works well especially in low-light situations, such as daylight or sunset shooting. My only big gripe would be the low battery life of the illumination function, I killed a couple of batteries because of not shutting it off before packing the rifle away. If there was a shut-off feature that would be awesome, especially for slow and forgetful people like me. Overall the Athlon Optics Helos BTR GEN2 2-12×42 FFP IR is a definite yes for me. The MSRP is only $662.49 beating out most other optics in the same quality range by a good margin.
