I have the Vortex viper 6-20x44 with zero stop, and BDC reticle (Mil-Dot), and really like it! I was looking at Zeiss Conquest series before i bought it at the recommendation of another member, and am glad i bought it! I believe the Vortex is a very well made scope with excellent glass, and often overlooked!
Best scope for $1000
- Thread starter scott_r
- Start date
Mystic Precision
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Summerland, BC
If optics and tracking are important in a high mag scope, visit a Fclass match.
Odds are the only brand you will find in the $1000 price range are Sightrons.
You will find a number of NF, and a growing number of March. A rare sprinkling of S&B too.
That's pretty much it.
YMMV.
Jerry
Odds are the only brand you will find in the $1000 price range are Sightrons.
You will find a number of NF, and a growing number of March. A rare sprinkling of S&B too.
That's pretty much it.
YMMV.
Jerry
I'm surprised the Doug fella from up north..C-fmi? and his fellow shooters that did the
shoot up on the invite haven't chimed in here with the variety of optics and the long
ranges they were shooting.
There should be some outstanding info here on hi end glass.
Helllllooooo.............?
shoot up on the invite haven't chimed in here with the variety of optics and the long
ranges they were shooting.
There should be some outstanding info here on hi end glass.
Helllllooooo.............?
Or they are too thin on the lowest magnification and fine at higher magnification. This is probably the biggest complaint of FFP. My dad doesn't like my scopes for just that reason and thats the main reason I insist on FFP.
My two favorites are USO and Premier Reticles, althought I have yet to use a S&B. I know these are way out of the $1000 range but I just thought I'd mention it.
Jordan Smith
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Calgary, AB
That can be very true. The PST reticles have a thin crosshair that is 0.05MOA thick, so even on max magnification you can still see plenty of target.
Jordan Smith
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Calgary, AB
Compared the Viper PST to the Zeiss Conquest today and Im quite impressed with the quality of the Vortex Viper PST. I'm almost tempted to buy it vs the Conquest but seems like it has more options then I will need (not that that is a bad thing)??
I love the fact it has zero stops on the turret. I had a Bushnell Elite 3200 10x back a number of years ago and really like shooting with turrets.
I guess my big question is if I'm not overly concerned about using the hash marks for holdovers is it necessary to get a PST with FFP or would a SFP be just as good? With the SFP scope is there a certain power you use the hash marks to range with?
Cheers!!
I love the fact it has zero stops on the turret. I had a Bushnell Elite 3200 10x back a number of years ago and really like shooting with turrets.
I guess my big question is if I'm not overly concerned about using the hash marks for holdovers is it necessary to get a PST with FFP or would a SFP be just as good? With the SFP scope is there a certain power you use the hash marks to range with?
Cheers!!
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
If all you're using it for is coyote hunting, I'd steer clear of any turrets, other than perhaps the Swarovski BT. You'll find you won't use them, at least that was my experience. I've had a Viper HS 4-16x50 and must say I wasn't overly impressed. I just got a run of the mill Viper 3-9x40 and that one seems a lot clearer, not sure why,on par with the VX3, at least I can't tell a difference.
My advice would be to spend the extra on better glass rather than fancy ranging reticles and turrets.
On a SFP scope, you need to have it on a certain power,yes. That's a big failure in my books. There's a few things you have to keep in mind when using these scopes for hunting. Will I have time to range the animal, adjust my turrets,etc. Will the animal have moved in the time it takes me to do that ?(if a coyote that's pretty much a given)
Just trying to give you some options. I've had Nightforce, S&B,Leupold, Vortex and other turret scopes with busy reticles and have gone back to a simple duplex on all scopes. The only one left is the Swarovski Z5 with ballistic turret which I can adjust(color coded) for the load and distance. For hunting, it's cat's a$$ if you must have turrets. For targets, there are better options.
My advice would be to spend the extra on better glass rather than fancy ranging reticles and turrets.
On a SFP scope, you need to have it on a certain power,yes. That's a big failure in my books. There's a few things you have to keep in mind when using these scopes for hunting. Will I have time to range the animal, adjust my turrets,etc. Will the animal have moved in the time it takes me to do that ?(if a coyote that's pretty much a given)
Just trying to give you some options. I've had Nightforce, S&B,Leupold, Vortex and other turret scopes with busy reticles and have gone back to a simple duplex on all scopes. The only one left is the Swarovski Z5 with ballistic turret which I can adjust(color coded) for the load and distance. For hunting, it's cat's a$$ if you must have turrets. For targets, there are better options.
For the majority of my coyote hunts they come running in and i shoot them at 200 yards or less. There are times though when those buggers hang up at around 500 yards and just sit there. I think a turret would be a decent option, especially one that has a zero stop to always get you back quickly if its bumped or used.
I've got a really good shooting .243 I worked on to be able start taking the longer shots. I'm piss poor at holding over with out some type of aide.
Kinda driving me nuts figuring out what to get as there are so many opinions
on scopes from reticles to focal planes to turrets ect.....
I still can get a Ziess Conquest 4.5-14x44 Z800 for well over a hundred less the a Vortex Viper PST 4-16x50 FFP MOA. Decisions!!!
Cheers!!
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
I'd choose the Conquest over the Vortex, especially if it's less money. If you can scrounge up a few hundred more, get a Swarovski Z5 3.5-18x44 with the ballistic turret. I guarantee you won't be disappointed. I have a Z5 5-25x52 on my 257 Wby Accumark and have 12" steel gongs set at 4,5 and 600 yards and can whack them no problem with the BT system everytime. That's about the only long range shooting I do at targets and 600 is by far the farthest I'd feel comfortable shooting at coyotes under ideal conditions anyhow.
Check them out here:
http://www.swarovskioptik.us/en_us/products/ballistic-turret
Jordan Smith
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Calgary, AB
I've owned and played with Conquests, regular Vipers, Viper PST's, various high-end Leupolds, etc, and if you're putting together a heavier, long-range oriented .243, then I'd get the PST. If you want to put together a sporter-weight carry rifle that you use for mobile calling, and that you plan on hiking with a fair bit, then I wouldn't get either of those scopes. I'd just grab a Leupold FX3 6x42 with M1 elevation turret, and call it a day.
My longest coyote kill was at 942 yards with a 3-9x40 Burris FFII Tactical. I was just smacking an 8" rock a couple of days ago at 800 yards with a 6x42 and M1 elevation turret. Similar scopes work great on close-mid range rigs that can get it done at LR in a pinch. I really love the PST on a rig that is a dedicated LR rifle, but that can get it done at short range in a pinch.
The best part about the FFP and reticle options that the PST comes with is not the ability to hold over your target for elevation, but the ability to hold off for wind consistently, at all magnifications, and the ability to get a quick range on your target if the RF fails or the battery dies, or it just plain won't give a reading for some reason. The reticle is clearly marked in either MOA or mRad, which is nice.
The PST glass is better than the HS or regular Viper glass, for sure, so don't judge it based on what regular Viper glass looks like.
I would also add that the PST is a long-range oriented scope, and the 4-16x50 can do the job at close and long range, but is more at home at LR. So if you're not concerned about the LR stuff, then it's probably not the best choice. If you are thinking about long-range shooting, then it's a better scope than the Conquest.
bearkilr
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Nowhere, ......just past the middle
According to Vortex guys on the net it's the same glass/coatings on all Viper's....... and all assembled in the Phillipines,unfortunately.
Jordan Smith
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Calgary, AB
It's possible, but it doesn't look the same. I've used multiple Vipers in various models, and a couple of PST's in a couple of different models, and the PST looks distinctly better. Even within the PST line some models have better optics than others. This has been documented by others, too. Do a google search and you'll see what I mean. Ilya Koshkin noticed that the 3.5-10(?) is the optical turd of the lineup, while the 6-24 seems to be the crown jewel of the PST's.
I've got 2 .243's...one has the PST 6x24x50 FFP-it's a nice scope. The other will be the HS 4x16x50 SFP with capped turrets. I spoke with Vortex-glass is optically the same, however the reticle for coyotes at LR is a factor, that's why I moved to an HS as I didn't like the standard Viper BDC...too thick. I also have a Burris FFII-you know, it's a great scope as well, not as clear as a VX-3 but the reticle is dynamite.
Carmel If you get a chance to look through a Swarovski Z6 2xto 15x= 56mm
you will never say a Sightron all the way, again.
The Swarovski is more that three time a better scope than the Sightrons allthough your right at twice the price.++
I had the opportunity to look through a leica and it was very sharp with great contrast. I would rate it equal or better than the zeiss diavari, and way better than the Conquest. At the price it is a bargain. I think they are trying to get into the market, and pricing aggressively.
Well I pulled the pin and ended up buying a Zeiss Conquest 6.5-20x50 Rapid Z Varmint stainless for my new Remington Vssf II .204 This isnt a coyote gun but a dedicated varmint/paper shooter. The .243 will have to wait.
Just wanted to tell everyone the price difference by me buying from Clay at Prophet River then me ordering from Wholesale Sports.
I paid $1050 shipped/tax in. Here is what it would cost at wholesale sports
$1299.95 stainless 6.5-20x50 Varmint Z
$129.99 tax
$18.00 shipping
Grand total= $1447.94
Prophet River Rocks
Just wanted to tell everyone the price difference by me buying from Clay at Prophet River then me ordering from Wholesale Sports.
I paid $1050 shipped/tax in. Here is what it would cost at wholesale sports
$1299.95 stainless 6.5-20x50 Varmint Z
$129.99 tax
$18.00 shipping
Grand total= $1447.94
Prophet River Rocks
