No more Vortex for me
- Thread starter emerson
- Start date
- Location
- Steel Town and The Peg
I have a Sparc AR and it has been faultless on a 9mm sub-gun. Would I expect it to perform on heavy recoiling rifle like 375? Not really.
freddyfour
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Brant County, Ontario
Agreed, you should think twice about putting a lower grade scope on a hard hitting rifle. I have run 3 vortex vipers and on PST and they are way ahead of diamondback
edit, I should also say I don't shoot anything bigger then 270WSM
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gasguzzler
CGN Regular
- Location
- Southeast Manitoba
I'd stick with my bushnells over vortex any day. 13 years on some of my guns never had issues
It actually does somewhat matter where the scope is manufactured. In order to make a scope at a lower price point, you go to China/Korea.. You aren't getting something manufactured by LOW in Japan that will retail for $300
You have had good luck with your PST's, mine was defective out of the box.. it happens. I'm not bashing Vortex, I just wouldn't put a Diamondback on that much gun.
Are the parent company, Vortex in this case, accepting loose QC from these manufacturers? or are they building to exact specs as dictated by the parent?
I have 2 Diamondbacks on a 30/30 and 35 Rem. No problems yet. I do find the crosshairs a little thin though. For those who are commenting about you get what you pay for I tend to agree to a point. I have a bunch of $400 Monarch 3's on several mid bore magnum calibres, as well as a 416 Rigby, 404 Jeffery, & 450 Rigby with no problems. The only problem I had with a Leupold was that the magnification ring was very tight. I knew this when I bought the scope as it was heavily discounted. I sent it to Korth and got it back about 2 weeks later. Now it works great.
Vortex seems to be taking the "lifetime auto parts" pricing scheme with their scopes and warranties. Which is even worse then the "extended warranty" scam on electronics lol.
You can buy this scope brand "A" here for $### OR you can buy a Vortex for 3 times that price....same glass, made at the same plant as brand "A", basically the same thing. If we can get everyone to basically pre-pay for 3 scopes then we are going to make a #### ton of money! They can't ALL fail right?
You can buy this scope brand "A" here for $### OR you can buy a Vortex for 3 times that price....same glass, made at the same plant as brand "A", basically the same thing. If we can get everyone to basically pre-pay for 3 scopes then we are going to make a #### ton of money! They can't ALL fail right?
You are speaking with breathless hyperbole. Not sound logic. The mag range and the eye relief of this Diamondback isn't available in the other options I have found, unless you go $3-$800 higher. I've used $350 Bushnells, they are not as clear or good in low light as this Diamondback.
You mean like a VX1 2-7X33 with better glass and 4" eye relief isn't comparible at $300-$325?
Even the VX2 2-7X33 is only around $400.
You can't tell me you can see a difference between a 7x and an 8x ...
But if you really think you can, then Nikon offers a Monarch in 2-8x32 with 4" eye relief for $350...which is probably the closest comparison since both are made in the Philippines. The US made Leupold's are probably slightly better though.
I'm sure I can find a Japanese Sightron with similar specs for the under $400 mark too.
you can find a lot of brand new scopes for less than $400 that will hold on a 375 ....
- Location
- In the shadows of the Rockies
I have a couple of Leupold 2.5x scopes that have held up fine on my heavy kickers over the years.
You changed your tune. The Vortex is suppose to cost 3X more. I looked, show me the the Sightron that meets the same spec for $400. The VX2 is 6.7X and a 1/3" less eye relief and msrp $455 US with a ballistic reticle. That 1/3" eye relief has mattered to me before keeping my face unblemished. Glass quality? I'm comparing with a VX2 and VX3 I have mounted on other rifles. The VX3 1.5-5 I have is good, just not enough mag and doesn't have any ballistic reticle. (Got it mounted on a used rifle). Not at the same price point either. The Sightron 1-7 Stac looks great. My brother has one and loves it. I think msrp is $1100US though. I'm trying to compare factual apples to apples here. I get you don't like Vortex, I'm not big fan today either, but I did my research too. If the repaired or replaced Diamondback stays functional on my 375 that works. Otherwise I have to take a big loss selling it as a "plinking" scope because I wouldn't tell anyone to mount it on a fast 30 cal rifle either. Ill test to see if the failure was a 1 off.
Companies like Vortex, Bushnell and Nikon have such large product catalogues at every price point that they end up sourcing from many different factories/countries and have a harder time controlling QC at the bottom end. I don't buy cheap anything and that includes entry level scopes from the above three manufacturers as you just don't know what you're going to get. At least with Leupold, everything comes out of the same factory. Vortex, Bushnell and Nikon have excellent products, just not at the bottom end or at the very least it's a crap shoot.
Patrick
Patrick
You misunderstood, Vortex costs 3 times what they are worth, not what comparable scopes cost.
Anyway, I never drank the Vortex cool-aide for 2 reasons, they are grossly overpriced, and they sell "features" over optical quality/durability. Example you claim the "features" on your $400 scope would cost $300-$800 more from other manufacturers, yet it crapped out in under 100 rounds. I'm pretty confident any of those $400 scopes I mentioned would still be going strong.
There is a thread a week on here about "My vortex broke, but their warranty is great!" That should be a warning sign right there.
If you need 4.5" of eye relief maybe you need work on your technique. I'm currently running an older 3-9x40 Elite ($225 nos from Tradex) which has a sad 3" on a 9.3x62 light weight Mauser, 285gr @ 2500fps. Never been kissed by the scope with that setup, and yes it's a bit behind the 375, but still has around 35ft/lbs of recoil and isn't exactly fun to shoot...
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New Camper
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Lurking in the woods near SFRC.
I have currently in my possession, five Vortex products (not counting bases, rings etc.). In the past, I've had one other which was a Diamondback. I won't comment on the lesser Crossfire line as I've been disappointed in the Diamondback. A couple years back I spent some time with the Vortex rep buying a spotting scope and tripod: The Razors and Vipers clarity were not substantially different to justify the difference of $1000 although I was disappointed to find "Made in the PRC" when my spotting scope arrived... That would have influenced my choice. However, Diamondback glass was substantially inferior to the Vipers. The only riflescope I had fail was also a Diamondback... and it was on a 22lr: Maybe it was too much to ask the elevation turret to accomodate silhouette shooting out to 200yards? Anyway, the warranty is indeed excellent (they sent me a more expensive replacement in lieu of the discontinued model mine was) but lesson learned: I have no more Vortex optics that are bellow the Viper line and I have no problems.
The lesser lines exist of course to accommodate those with limited means or who are cheapskates. While the former don't deserve the trouble, they certainly have to bear in mind limitations they might encounter. The place on my 22lr, where that Diamondback once sat, is now filled with a second hand Bushnell 4200 that is clearer, endures 22lr 200y silhouette shooting and cost less. Instead of low range lines, second hand units of better quality would be my path if constantly strapped for cash... they can be tested for faults, and tube scratches are only price reducing cosmetic damage... Patience and perseverance to wait for something to come along, are two virtues that must first be cultivated.
The lesser lines exist of course to accommodate those with limited means or who are cheapskates. While the former don't deserve the trouble, they certainly have to bear in mind limitations they might encounter. The place on my 22lr, where that Diamondback once sat, is now filled with a second hand Bushnell 4200 that is clearer, endures 22lr 200y silhouette shooting and cost less. Instead of low range lines, second hand units of better quality would be my path if constantly strapped for cash... they can be tested for faults, and tube scratches are only price reducing cosmetic damage... Patience and perseverance to wait for something to come along, are two virtues that must first be cultivated.
- Location
- Republic of Alberta
Well since we know that leupold and vortex suck according to CGN what does CGN suggest for a good brand? lol
No argument from me. Thing is 80% of us can't afford them. Families get prioritized.
