Vortex Viper PST vs Nightforce SHV?

saunders278

saunders278

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Hey everyone,

I’m trying to decide on a scope to put on a Tikka CTR (6.5 Creedmoor). I have a Vortex Razor spotting scope and like it a lot, but I’ve heard conflicting things about the Viper PST series.

So the question is: Vortex PST or Nightforce SHV? Or any other suggestions?

My budget is up to $1500-$1600, I need exposed turrets, MOA reticle, and a minimum of 15x magnification. First focal plane is preferred, but not entirely necessary (would appreciate thoughts on this, too).

This rifle will be almost entirely for long-range target shooting, but I wouldn’t mind the option of hunting with it as well.

Thanks.
 
I’ve owned the SHV 5-20 and the pst gen11 6-25

Both are awesome scopes.

The SHV would be more suited for hunting .
I found the PST Gen 11 reticle to cluttered for hunting.
 
Ill take the vortex over the nightforce in this case. Vortex has lifetime warranty. If you were looking at an NXS then its a whole new story, but your comparing nightforces cheap line to Vortex's expensive line. But realistically you can flip a coin on it.
 
I have owned the 4-16 and the 6-24 PST and I have owned the 5-20 shv. I am now changing over all my glass to Nightforce or better (equivalent?).

I now own a 4-14 FFP shv and the B.E.A.S.T. the SHV gets swapped between my hunting rifle and my 223 for shooting dirt rats. There is not much comparison between the two brands until you go with the best vortex has to offer.
I was doing some long range shooting and calling shots while a friend was shooting my rifle, he had a 6-24 PST and i could not call out hits past the 1000 yard distance but i broke out my hunting rifle with my 4-14 shv and had no problems clearly seeing past 1000.

If you are planning on using a warranty then get the vortex but if you want the better scope get the Nightforce.

P.S. Nightforce stands behind thier products, I had a friend that dropped his rifle and Nightforce nxs down a rock bank and the elevation turret was damaged and stuck. He sent it back and when it returned the note on the scope said "no problems found, no charge to customer". There was clearly a new turret and probably new internals too.
 
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I just went through this same senerio, looked at both the vortex and the nightforce and the nightforce seemed to be the better scope to me so I chose it over the vortex
 
I've owned both. Use both. The optical clarity of the Nightforce is far superior. Past 200yards you can still see your target clearly, the vortex as distance grows isn't nearly as crisp.
For ringing steel *shrug* use whatever you want. For shooting small groups or where clearly seeing your target matter, the SHV (between these 2 scopes) is the winner.
 
^^^thank you. that's helpful
Soooo....much like the OP, I am researching for a new scope. Correct me if I'm wrong....because I'm suffering from information overload....Nightforce makes the SHV model and some are available in FFP (F1 reticle) up to 14X. If you want more magnification than 14X AND FFP you would have to go with the ATACR model...for more than 2X the price of the SHV....?
 
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Have you thought about sightron? I just purchased an stac 4-20 with moa reticle. Only have about 30rds through it so far. No time, and friggin cold. Glass seems very clear. Seems well built just a thought.
 
Nightforce. while taking a couple of long range classes with Rob Furlong this summer 3 Vortex scopes #### the bed and became inoperable. No other brands went down over the 7 days of classes. By memory approx 15-20% of shooters were using Vortex, most shooters were using Leopold, followed by Schmidt Bender , Nightforce and a single Bushnell.

Replacement warranty doesn't help on a hunt or a course.
 
TonyMo said:
^^^thank you. that's helpful
Soooo....much like the OP, I am researching for a new scope. Correct me if I'm wrong....because I'm suffering from information overload....Nightforce makes the SHV model and some are available in FFP (F1 reticle) up to 14X. If you want more magnification than 14X AND FFP you would have to go with the ATACR model...for more than 2X the price of the SHV....?
Click to expand...

From bottom up it goes.
SHV
NXS
ATACR
BEAST
All are offered in FFP but you are correct that the SHV is only 14 power. After owning some quality glass I focus less on power and more on clairity. Think 1X per 100 yards to hit a target accurately (not necessarily printing itty bitty groups) My BEAST is 25X and is clearer and easier to shoot further than the 32X NXS.

Then other thing I notice is that my eyes are much less strained when shooting my SHV all day compared to my PST. The better glass won't make you a better shooter but Nightforce is strictly better than vortex PST.

I have another friend that shoots a vortex razor gen 2 and it is easily compatible if not better than the NXS and hands down better than the SHV but slightly worse than the BEAST (mostly in options but even glass was slightly better on the BEAST to me.)
I have not used an ATACR.
 
If you don’t mind a little less power, the Bushnell LRHS 3-12 FFP Ian excellent scope.
Crystal clear glass
Excellent knobs
Excellent reticle.
And as said,a really clear optic at 12, is better than a mediocre one at 25 .
 
Thanks guys,

The consensus is pretty overwhelmingly in favour of the Nightforce SHV.

Just so I'm clear, the SHV is the lower end of the Nightforce line and the PST is the mid-range of the Vortex line, right? And that being the case, I'm still better off with the SHV?

The price of the two are about the same at the magnification I'm looking for (14x), and it seems the only thing I'm giving up with the SHV is the FFP feature. You guys figure FFP isn't a huge deal at 14x?
 
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