100 Yards, Zero Magnification: Athlon Talos HMR 1x24 Muzzleloader Scope Test

Gavin recently did a video with the CVA Endura LRH, shooting it with a 50x scope! While fun, a 50x scope on a muzzleloader is a little ridiculous and certainly not hunting-legal in states with strict muzzleloader optic regulations. Though out of my traditional wheelhouse, I decided to set up Gavin’s CVA Endura in a configuration that makes it hunting-legal in states like Washington, Utah, North Dakota, and Colorado with Athlon’s Talos HMR 1×24 Center-X scope.

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About the Athlon Talos HMR 1×24 Center-X SFP MOA

In several states, hunting during muzzleloader season restricts you to using either iron sights or a non-magnifying (1x power) optic. Always check your local and state regulations, but this is where the Athlon Talos HMR 1×24 shines.

You might wonder why you would even want a 1x scope when you could just use iron sights. Let’s face it: as we get older, things are harder to see. Peep sights and iron sights can be difficult to line up and are certainly harder to dial in compared to a set of precision turrets.

The Athlon Talos HMR 1×24 gives you all the features of a traditional centerfire scope—a 30mm nitrogen-sealed tube, waterproof construction, windage and elevation turrets, and an adjustable diopter to perfectly focus the reticle for your eye—without breaking magnification laws. Furthermore, because it is a true 1x optic, there is virtually no “eyebox” shadow to fight. You just get behind the gun and shoot.

From Athlon Optics:

Meet the Talos 1×24—a true muzzleloader optic featuring the simple and effective Center-X reticle. This fixed 1x power scope offers fast target acquisition and a bright, wide field of view for close-range accuracy. Talos HMR optics include an exposed tactical-style elevation turret, capped windage turret, fully multi-coated lenses, and waterproof/fog-proof construction—delivering the clarity and reliability you need in the field.

Product Specifications:

- Magnification: 1x
- Obj. Lens Diameter: 24
- Tube Diameter: 30
- Eye Relief: 3.7
- FOV @ 100 Yards: 96.6 ft.
- Parallax Adjustment: 100 yards
- Click Value: 0.5 MOA
- Length: 9.8”
- Weight: 11 oz.

Range Prep and Loading

To prepare for the range, I needed an efficient way to transport my powder charges. A great trick is to use empty centerfire brass. I pre-measured my charges, dropped them into empty 30-06 cases, and plugged the case mouths with foam earplugs.

This keeps the powder perfectly contained and makes for incredibly easy loading out at the bench. For projectiles, I utilized heavy 285-grain bullets.’

Sighting In and Shooting 100-Yard Steel

Out at the range, I started by getting a 50-yard zero. My initial shots were about 6 to 8 inches high and slightly right. After dialing the turrets, I was comfortably zeroed at 50 yards and ready to stretch it out.

Rather than punching paper, I moved to 100 yards and set up a steel rock chuck hanging target. Firing at 100 yards with zero magnification is a unique challenge, but the crosshair of the Athlon allowed me to easily hold center mass. I placed a beautiful three-shot group right on the steel, eventually hitting it hard enough to knock the target entirely off its hanger. With the rock chuck down, I pivoted to my final challenge: a 4-inch steel disc hanging at 100 yards. The small disc blended into the background, and the crosshairs just barely covered the target. This was a true hunting simulation. I missed my first shot just slightly off the edge. I reached up, dialed two clicks to the right on the turrets, reloaded, and fired. The second shot connected with a massive impact.

Conclusion

I have not had that much fun shooting in a long time. I completely understand the attraction and heritage of muzzleloading. Having a 1x scope on top of the rifle was the perfect bridge for me. It provided the familiarity of a crosshair and dialable turrets, making it incredibly intuitive to hit small targets at 100 yards without violating magnification restrictions.