Vortex Viper

titch--

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Im looking at picking up a new viper 6-20x44 or 50 in the next couple weeks and was wondering from the guys that have played with this scope what they thought about it. This scope will be going on a Stevens 200 in 223.

Im looking at playing with the turrets abunch and was wondering how reliable they tracked?
Are these scopes nice and clear at max power?
Do I need the 50mm objective? Is there much of a difference in brightness/light from the 44?

thx
 
I have a Vortex Viper 6-20x44 on my Savage Model 12 .223. Im very impressed. I find it better than the Leupold vx2 a friend has on his .223.My turrets track reliably, never had any issues returning to zero. I find at 15-20 it gets a little hazy, but not too bad. I really love the clear bright glass.

My .02$
 
I have a Viper 6.5X20X50 mildot. It is pretty good but agree over 14 it gets a little hazy but acceptable. I usually shoot it around 14X. It has a bullet proof warranty which is nice.

I got a really good deal on it at a show in Edmonton 3 years ago IIRC.

I would buy the 50 as it is a little brighter which I think is important.

I have it on a Savage .223 FCP, but would rather have a IOR however that would cost a bucket more cash.
 
I have the Viper PST 4-16x50mm, great scope, and again, at max magnification it gets a bit hazy. I did notice that when there is snow on the ground that the haze disappears and is perfectly clear. I think it has to do with the amount of light that can enter the objective...

Overall, I think it is unit.

SL
 
The Viper PST line is very solid (the regular Vipers too, since the only difference is illumination, reticles and turret styles). Have a 2.5-10x44. Very happy with it. I've used the 6-24 and 4-16 as well, and they are excellent.
 
Thanks guys for the reply's.

I do have a Crossover II on my 17 and noticed 16-18ish power that it got alittle blurry, I thought moving into this bracket (price wise) would get me clearer optics at max power.

At what price point do you start to get clear glass at?
 
Thanks guys for the reply's.

I do have a Crossover II on my 17 and noticed 16-18ish power that it got alittle blurry, I thought moving into this bracket (price wise) would get me clearer optics at max power.

At what price point do you start to get clear glass at?

It's not so much price as it is where its made. Vipers are made in the Philippines, which is not terrible but still budget as far as scopes go. If the above mentioned scopes are blurry or hazy at mid to high-power thats absolutely horrible for the price they cost. You can get Japan made Bushnell for considerably less that will be better quality and not have those problems.
IMHO the best to worst places that make scopes....
German/USA would be a tie
Japan very close to the top
Philippines considerable step down from Japanese but basic scopes with minimal features will be ok....Burris is mostly made there.
Korea.....meh, absolute minimum acceptable quality.
China.....garbage, no matter who puts their name on it.
 
Burris and Vortex made in the Philippines are good scopes, have both a Burris and a Vortex that will never sell. The Vortex you're looking at will shoot as far and track as precise as you will need for your .223 should you be after varmints. The 44 is plenty bright but you may up to 50 if 5 minutes at last light is important.
 
More helpful info thanks guys

I was also looking at the Elite tacticals too. Theres even a 4.5-30 in the EE right now that I would really like to check out, but they are a few hundred more and I dont think I can swing that right now.

I dont know if this matters or not but this scope with be going on a 243 maybe next year as my new yote rifle. And as a yote rifle I do do alot of shooting around first light so... maybe a 50 mm objective might be in the works. I wish these scopes would go on sale. I dont think I ever seen Vortex on sale anywhere. The best prices are like 475 for the 44mm and 519 for the 50mm. Is that what you guys are finding too?
 
More helpful info thanks guys

I was also looking at the Elite tacticals too. Theres even a 4.5-30 in the EE right now that I would really like to check out, but they are a few hundred more and I dont think I can swing that right now.

I dont know if this matters or not but this scope with be going on a 243 maybe next year as my new yote rifle. And as a yote rifle I do do alot of shooting around first light so... maybe a 50 mm objective might be in the works. I wish these scopes would go on sale. I dont think I ever seen Vortex on sale anywhere. The best prices are like 475 for the 44mm and 519 for the 50mm. Is that what you guys are finding too?

Look at Higginson powders for Bushnell pricing....this one is $471 and will be much better (japanese) quality then the Vortex http://www.bushnell.com/all-products/rifle-scopes/elite-tactical/lrs-5-15x-40mm-mil-dot
 
Thanks for the link Hitzy, but I was lookin for abit more power than 15.

I was checking out that one last week for about the same price locally. If you could find the 6-24 for that price I would buy it right now. :) The new order of Vipers come in next week so you have till then to change my mind. :p

After sending in my old bushy banner and receiving and brand new one a month last with no questions asked, I do recommend them for their warranty.
 
What do you need higher power for? People shoot out to 1000 yrds with 10x scopes fairly regularily. 15x is overkill for the 200 yds you mentioned. As others with the Vortex mentioned, 14x is when they start to cloud so anything above that is useless anyway.
Good glass at lower power > poor glass at higher power.
 
I like alittle more power, its just easier for me. No harm in that, right?

Didnt say anything about 200yrds. You might of got that confused with the 200 in Stevens 200.
 
Well I guess they came in earlier then expected.

I compared this scope out beside the tactical 5-15x40 and thought the vortex was brighter and clearer at max power. It wasnt outside but......

Now that this is a 30mm tube I guess I have to get rid of my DNZ 1" mount and get a 30 instead before I can try it out.

VortexViper_zps78896d8b.jpg


Ill have to take her out for a spin before I can really say anything out it. :)
 
It's not so much price as it is where its made. Vipers are made in the Philippines, which is not terrible but still budget as far as scopes go. If the above mentioned scopes are blurry or hazy at mid to high-power thats absolutely horrible for the price they cost. You can get Japan made Bushnell for considerably less that will be better quality and not have those problems.
IMHO the best to worst places that make scopes....
German/USA would be a tie
Japan very close to the top
Philippines considerable step down from Japanese but basic scopes with minimal features will be ok....Burris is mostly made there.
Korea.....meh, absolute minimum acceptable quality.
China.....garbage, no matter who puts their name on it.
What nearly every one fails to realize is that all the top I mean top optics glass comes from Japan, obviously there are different grades and different ways to grind/ polish the glass usually done by the scope manufacturer.
 
What do you need higher power for? People shoot out to 1000 yrds with 10x scopes fairly regularily. 15x is overkill for the 200 yds you mentioned. As others with the Vortex mentioned, 14x is when they start to cloud so anything above that is useless anyway.
Good glass at lower power > poor glass at higher power.

Marketing my widget is bigger than yours so it's better..
 
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