Honest opinions on the Vortex Viper PST Gen 2 5-25x50
- Thread starter MarshallX
- Start date
I never buy one because of how MANY stories i have heard from a whole bunch of people who used the warranty on them. People in person and on forums appear to like the scopes but also apparently often end up using the warranty. So I avoid vortex stuff. If they were made in Japan at low optics where Nightforce and other brands r made then I do think they would be a more reliable scope
A couple of years of target, varmint shooting and hunting and I haven't had an issue yet with my PST gen 2 5-25. Tracking has been good. Things get stiff at -25 but still functioned.
I have 4 of the crossfire red dots, no issues.
I had the Sparc 2 red dot and the rubber buttons were finicky in the cold so it was replaced with the crossfire, then I bought more crossfires.
I also have a couple of Venom red dots with a few thousand rounds on handgun slides, also no issues.
I have 4 of the crossfire red dots, no issues.
I had the Sparc 2 red dot and the rubber buttons were finicky in the cold so it was replaced with the crossfire, then I bought more crossfires.
I also have a couple of Venom red dots with a few thousand rounds on handgun slides, also no issues.
The first problem is the zoom range. 10x zoom range on an FFP scope reduces the reticle to nearly invisible on the low setting, to too fat on the highest.
It is simply impossible for the reticle to be the correct size throughout such a wide zoom range.
2.5-25 seems cool at first glance but in reality it does not play well.
Somewhere in there, you will find what you can see as usable on either side, the rest is just PITA.
(Sorry guys... misread Gen 2 5-25 as 2.5-25x) I didn't think Vortex had 2.5-25...
It is simply impossible for the reticle to be the correct size throughout such a wide zoom range.
2.5-25 seems cool at first glance but in reality it does not play well.
Somewhere in there, you will find what you can see as usable on either side, the rest is just PITA.
(Sorry guys... misread Gen 2 5-25 as 2.5-25x) I didn't think Vortex had 2.5-25...
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It’s only a 5X zoom. 5-25. It’s a PST Gen 2.
Having said that I like mine. Although I believe mine’s a Gen 1. Yes I’ve had a couple problems with Vortex over the years and I’ve wound up using their warranty. Both times on a Crossfire - their cheapest line. Which they still have a no fault warranty on, unlike many companies that only want to give a lifetime warranty on their top end stuff.
thebuckhunter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Eastern Ontario
Solid scopes, period. IF you have to deal with a warranty issue, you will NOT find a better company to deal with. Turnaround is very reasonable.
-Jason
-Jason
I have a buddy that owns one and loves it. Personally, I won't own a Vortex as there is nothing I like about them. A fellow I know that works at a gun store told me about the many Vortex returns and complaints he gets at the optics counter. There are much better scopes in the same price range.
Please elaborate as the PST gen 2 is a solid scope with great features for the money.
This is all sounding like they're much like invicta wrist watches, fancy looks, sounds great, pretending to be higher end than they actually are. I can appreciate the lifetime warranty, but if I've got to be sending it on for warranty claims often, its worth investing in another brand. I was originally looking towards bushnell and NF but seeing the youtube videos makes the vortex line sound appealing.
it's just something that the haters keep throwing out there. I wouldn't put money on any of them actually having an answer for you.
a bunch of my scopes are in the same $1500 ballpark as the gen 2 PST, and not one stands out as being "better" for the money. I've even bought the "PST-killer" Athlon Midas Tac 5-25 with the hopes that it would match the hype, and there was no 'death blow'. the glass and turrets are as close to exactly the same as the PST as I can distinguish. the Athlon is brighter, but the Vortex has vastly less blue fringing (CA) at higher mag. looking at the text on my targets at 200m I can see no difference in resolution, everything I can read through the Midas Tac is just as sharp with the PST. the 34mm tube on the Athlon has alot more elevation adjustment, which could be very useful to some, but the illumination on the PST makes it much more versatile. they both track well, both zero stops are easy to use, both have been issue free.
the gen 2 PST is a solid scope for the money. mine tracks really well, always returns to zero and has never given me an issue. the zoom ring is stiff AF, which is annoying, but a $30 throw lever takes care of that. I'm not the biggest fan of the fast focus eyepiece, but once it's set I've never had to touch it. my gen 2 PST is on a fast twist 223, so the 30mm tube isn't a limitation. if you're looking to go further than 1000y in a centerfire, or want to try ELR in a rimfire, jump up to a 34mm scope. I have much more expensive scopes that have better glass, but the gen 2 PST has given me no complaints.
if you're looking for anoticeable step up in glass, with more elevation adjustment, my opinion is that you need to get into ED glass and 34mm. the Athlon Ares ETR is a few hundred $$ more, and people love them. there is a new scope that just came out that might actually be a "PST killer" - the Delta Javelin. nobody here seems to own one yet, but Hirsch has them for under $1400 and they have ED glass and are 34mm. the feature set looks pretty fantastic for the price. may be worth looking at, and Peter @ Hirsch is top shelf.
Agreed, I would also recommend the Delta. The Stryker HD is more money, buts it's also more scope. I have owned and still own a good number of scopes from a good number of manufacturers and in this price range it's hard to knock the PST 2.
There are ranges in glass quality and ranges of features and quality of said features. The features are user preference depending on application, glass can be objective to a degree. If you are looking for a high magnification FFP "tactical" scope it's hard to beat the PST 2. I don't love any of their lower offerings but you get pretty good value for the money vs the others when you consider the features. Scopes have come a very long way in the past few years.
The Bushnell Elite Tactical are worth a look, Athlon, Delta, Arken (very limited supply), NF (although I think you need to spend more here to get your money's worth),
There are ranges in glass quality and ranges of features and quality of said features. The features are user preference depending on application, glass can be objective to a degree. If you are looking for a high magnification FFP "tactical" scope it's hard to beat the PST 2. I don't love any of their lower offerings but you get pretty good value for the money vs the others when you consider the features. Scopes have come a very long way in the past few years.
The Bushnell Elite Tactical are worth a look, Athlon, Delta, Arken (very limited supply), NF (although I think you need to spend more here to get your money's worth),
I must be the luckiest person alive. I own three Vortex razors, owned two PST gen 11 5-25s, a razor 85 mm spotter and a pair of 10x50 razor Binos and three Viper scopes as well as a Diamondback tactical. Funny I haven’t had one problem with any of them. My spotter is used by my whole squad at every match for the last three years plus my personal use. No problem. My scopes have been cranked up,down,left and right I don’t know how many times not to mention banging off barricades and props. They still track as suppose too. The PSTs were sold to friends that shoot prs and they’re still using them with no problems. I do love how many run the line down because they heard or a buddy told them blah blah blah. Most haven’t ever used or owned one but know all about them. Yeah
For the price my vipers were all reliable. My only beef was the lack of a real zero stop and the mushy clicks on the previous gen. My razors (gen 2) worked well but were silly heavy. Would stay away from budget optics like the crossfire and similar but that's true across product lines. Still like my razor gen one spotter.
Just went to the range today with a brand new athlons ares btr 4.5-27x50 mounted on a 22lr and also had my vortex viper pst gen 2 5x25 mounted on a 223.the athlon is not nearly as stiff as the pst.they both track well,the pst has been problem free for 3 years.while shooting 300 yards with the 22lr I found myself using the pst to see the holes.the pst is much clearer for me.i like the athlon all around but just not as clear as the pst.the only thing don't like about pst is stiff focus as well as it is stiff to turn from 5 to 25 but I always have it on max anyway. Also the paralax was more exact on the viper and better eye box.
shooter177
CGN Regular
- Location
- Durham region
I hope everyone keeps hating on them, and I’ll keep buying them!! I have two pst gen2 one 3-15 and one 5-25 love both of them! And they don’t give up
Much compared to my razor gen 2 at 1/3 the price!!
Much compared to my razor gen 2 at 1/3 the price!!
I agree with the positive comments on the PST Gen 2 5-25. I have one on my CZ 455 and it has been solid. I have an Athlon Midas Tac on my Anschutz for reaching out further distances, but I would consider them to be roughly equal. I also have a Razor Gen 1 20-60 spotting scope and that has been great. It is spotting 17HMR holes at 100 clearly and 22LR holes at 300 just fine.
I do not think you can go wrong with the PST Gen 2.
I do not think you can go wrong with the PST Gen 2.
I have a PST Gen2 5-25 as well as a Delta Javelin 4.5-30. The Javelin has better build quality (more definitive turret clicks, smoother zoom dial), simpler zero stop, and the image through the glass is clearer. I’ve found the eyebox to be more forgiving as well.
Both scopes track the same and hold/return to zero well.
The Javelin comes with a sunshade, aluminum scope caps and a throw lever.
The only thing that the Vortex wins on is warranty and maybe customer support. The Javelin is only a 10 year limited warranty and warranty service seems to only be through Europe. No idea if Delta Optics has good customer support or not, but their distributor in Canada is Hirsch Precision who are solid to deal with.
In my opinion, the Javelin is better value overall.
Both scopes track the same and hold/return to zero well.
The Javelin comes with a sunshade, aluminum scope caps and a throw lever.
The only thing that the Vortex wins on is warranty and maybe customer support. The Javelin is only a 10 year limited warranty and warranty service seems to only be through Europe. No idea if Delta Optics has good customer support or not, but their distributor in Canada is Hirsch Precision who are solid to deal with.
In my opinion, the Javelin is better value overall.
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