Ok I need the skinny on Vortex rifle scopes. PLEASE

B

Bigdonkey

Regular
Rating - 100%
9   0   0
Location
BC
So I have been shooting with Nikon glass for a while now and I'm thinking I'd like to change things up a bit for my next project. I was looking at the vortex line at the local box store just to see what they had to offer for feel as well as fit and finish. Gotta say they have very clear optics and the turets feel very positive. The price point I have in mind is arround the $700 mark. I'd like to be able to add to that but this months budget disappeared so I'm starting there.
Who has one (any model) and what do you think. Are they worth the money.
I do like Nikon and haven't had any issues with mine so far.
Not gonna use it for hunting just competition shooting mostly off hand.
 
I have a bunch of Vortex scopes, and have had everything from Crossfire to Viper HS. Obviously the Vipers are much better than the cheaper series, and money well spent. The 4-16x50 on my .257 has been perfect. its super clear, it adjusts perfectly, and I really like the BDC reticle.
 
+1 for my vortex. I have the Viper PST 4-16 and it is a really nice scope. Mind you, it is my first 'expensive' scope so I don't have any real high end optics to compare it to. Anyone I have shown it to has been really impressed. In my opinion, the Viper PST is overkill for the amount I use it, but it's definitely a great scope.
 
Well that’s good to hear. I was looking at the HS LR or maybe just the HS. The price point fits my budget and I won’t buy crap anymore. I think there are a lot of good quality scopes in different price ranges but to know what they are without forking over the buck to find out is the challenge. Unfortunately I don’t have the budget that others might when it comes to scopes so I have to be realistic when I chose my glass option.
Now to just figure out if FFP or SFP is better for my application. I will be using it for high power silhouette and the targets are always at the same distance so mill mill or moa moa doesn’t matter that much to me. More importantly it the reticle shape and size. Most of the time I shoot on or around 14 power so for that matter I’m not sure if FFP is even an issue.
any suggestions or preferences.
 
You should consider the PST line. Illuminated reticle may be better if you're shooting dark silhouettes, and it costs only slightly more than the HS. If you're not changing distances a lot SFP is what you're looking for.

Bigdonkey said:
Well that’s good to hear. I was looking at the HS LR or maybe just the HS. The price point fits my budget and I won’t buy crap anymore. I think there are a lot of good quality scopes in different price ranges but to know what they are without forking over the buck to find out is the challenge. Unfortunately I don’t have the budget that others might when it comes to scopes so I have to be realistic when I chose my glass option.
Now to just figure out if FFP or SFP is better for my application. I will be using it for high power silhouette and the targets are always at the same distance so mill mill or moa moa doesn’t matter that much to me. More importantly it the reticle shape and size. Most of the time I shoot on or around 14 power so for that matter I’m not sure if FFP is even an issue.
any suggestions or preferences.
Click to expand...
 
OICU812 said:
They have great service/warranty and are good for budget conscience entry level minded people. Nothing wrong with them
Click to expand...

Entry level minded people?

The PST is a damn sight better than entry level. I've got several of them and would not feel embarrassed putting them up against the finest in most situations. No, they're not ultra suave and may not have bragging status of the day like so many other flavour of the days, but they compete more than well at their price points and the finest out there are only marginally better. Like many toys, it's return on the dollar, which diminishes very rapidly the more you spend.

No judgement of anyone here, and good on ya if you have money to burn, but there are a lot of guys out there with truly top of the line equipment who couldn't hit the side of a barn from 10ft but who will attest (argue) about the uncompromising gear they own. Bucks to spend does not necessarily make the shot true.

Have a good day at the range.:)
 
If you are playing the silhouette game then you need to avoid any sort of busy retical.
The go-to reticle is a fine cross-hair with 1/2MOA dot, anything else gets distracting and hard to hold steady.
I've tried to shoot SB MS with a mil-dot and it was disaster. In that price-range I'd be looking at the Sightron 6-24 SIL scope because its built for knocking down steel.

-Grant
 
Me and my best friend own Vortex Viper scopes. ABSOLUTELY love them! I will be buying Vortex scopes from now on.

I used to ride the Leupold wagon, but cant justify the cost/value ratio when comparing to a Vortex. You will be the only one that can tell yourself how good the glass on a scope is.

I think the vortex scopes compare to scopes twice the price. People on here might argue against that until they are blue in the face, but go somewhere to compare Vortex scopes with something more expensive. I promise you, you will be most pleased. I regret spending money on a Leupold that I eventually ended up selling after discovering Vortex.

What completely sold me was their warranty. Lifetime warranty. However, it was only after that I pleasantly discovered lifetime meant unconditional, as long as the scope exists, with or without a receipt, original owner or not, Vortex's fault or yours due to accidental damage..... it WILL be fixed/replaced.

I have never had to cash in on it, But I don't have to be as careful with these scopes. I feel comfortable with anything that happens to it and have heard the replacement process is surprisingly quick.

That warranty is absolutely the best I have ever heard. I don't work for Vortex, so I'm not marketing their product... but I wish I was! Their scopes excite me. lol.

The ONLY negative things I have to say is, for whatever reason, the glass is hard to clean with optic cleaner. You need a REALLY clean cloth or it leaves streaks. Also the 1/4 MOA seems a tad optimistic, But the rifles which we mounted them to don't have 1/4 MOA accuracy. It seems to be more like 1/2 MOA adjustments, from what I can tell anyway. - (I need to learn how to use a scope before posting misinformation.... lol. I self taught myself this when I went shooting today. These scopes are indeed 1/4MOA, like advertised.) -

But don't take my word for that. It could be a combination of us being poor shots or poor shooting rifles. I will also mention both rifles are copper fouled quite a bit. We haven't found anything that has been able to remove the copper which has accumulated in our barrels as of yet. I am hoping accuracy will improve when it is removed.

They are both mounted on .300 Win Mag Remington 700 SPS DM's which have had around 400+ rounds fired from each of the rifles. They get knocked around every weekend in a truck bouncing around off road at quite a decent amount of speed and have held zero since the first zeroing.

I think the scopes are 16x44 Viper HS with the BDC reticle (Which was worth the extra $10) They came with scope shades which cuts glare that we get when we shoot. They also have finger turnable MOA adjustments and a parallax error adjustment knob.

My next Vortex will have an Illuminated reticle. :) the 16x scope is nice, but I want a 24x scope.

Anyway, I recommend going somewhere so you can look down the lens of one of these scopes. Judge for yourself. Everybody's eyesight is different. Even if you don't plan on buying a scope from somewhere, just go to play with what you will end up buying from some place that sells for less money online or near your town.

I buy from online quite often so I go to places that sell what I want and play with the overpriced toys and buy what I ended up determining is the best, from hands on experience, online or someplace where I find the same thing for less money.
 
Last edited:
Thanks for all the input guys. I think I've made my decision and it was based on a few things like price availability and opptions.
My choice was to stay with the Nikon line of products based on all of these requirements. The scope I chose is the Monarch 5-20x44 with nikoplex reticle. I know these scopes and their quality. And though I have now doubts that vortex has an excellent product, availability for the HSLR was a major factor in my decision. Also was the clarity of the glass. I couldn't tell any difference between the two. Just me. Both manufacturers offer a very complete ballistics calculator and customizable turets. The warranty with the vortex products is toted as being one of the best in the industry and although I've never had to use Nikons warranty I've heard from others that it was one of the easiest processes they've had to deal with. price was also an issue. The vortex was a little more money for the same power and haveing consistancy with products and components goes a long way when your competing and need to reach into your bag of tricks for a part is a big part of the equation. The final factor with my decision was the 1/2 MOA clicks. I'm a very precise shooter and shoot 1/2 MOA at 200m with my rimfire and need the same level of adjustment for my high power rigs. That might seem a bit crazy to some but this dog don't hunt so my adrenaline rush comes from a 1" group at 500m and the quest to achieve this, although 1/2 MOA clicks may achieve this it's realy about the mental aspect of it and what your comfortable with.
Also with the great prices and cutomer service I've had dealing with P&D plus the fact that they have them available solidified my decision.
Thanks again for all the input provided and once again this is why I enjoy this forum.
 
Vortex is basically the new Bushnell Elite.

A good scope but there are compromises. Also the price point puts it at an accept the compromises and save a few dollars or spend a bit more and get exactly what you want level. I don't consider them a bargain.

It's a decent product with the PST and Razor. But their price is right up there as well. Have to say I personally think they are over rated for their price point. I'm always looking for the excellent scope bargain but this isn't it.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom