I had the pleasure of testing out a brand new 6.5 x 20 by 44 Vortex Viper Rifle Scope, with the Dead Hold-BDC Reticle this weekend. List price on this scope is $589.00 on sale for $ 509.00 from (And don't laugh) Natures Corner Store in Edmonton.
Knowing that they sell all of the Vortex line of spotting scopes and Binos and they had a couple of the rifle scopes in stock, I asked them to bring in this scope so I could give it a try. (They have 1 more left)
My first impression was quite good, the fit and finish is quite nice and the controls easy to use and well placed. The turrets are covered and the adjustments are very crisp and easy to see and feel. All adjustment knobs are designed so that you can see where they are from the back of the scope including the side paralax adjustment and the power adjustment.The adjustments work much like Bushnell's new 6500 line, as in, once you get it zeroed you simply lift up on the adjustment knob and zero it. This scope also has the advantage of indicator lines on both the elevation and windage adjustments, a feature lacking on the 6500 series.
Optics are fairly clear for a scope in this price range, it is not a $ 1,200 Leupold but it is at least as clear as the 4200 or 6500 series bushnell.
I found the BDC Dead Hold Reticle interesting but I found it to be heavier and thicker than I would like. This reticle pattern is very much like the Burris "Balisticplex" pattern and seems to work quite well. It is also very well explained in the included manual that comes with the scope.
Ranges tested were 100m, 200m and 300m mounted on my heavy barrel .223 Savage. I used this rifle in the "Sniper Match" at Spruce Grove on the 6th of July as a test for this scope and I was suitable impressed, not by my shooting but by the scope itself.
The manuals for both the scope and the use of the recticle are very well written and comprehensive. I would recomend reading both of these manuals before using any rifle scope. These people have had some good advice and put it on paper for the purchaser to read and use.
My overall impression, this Scope is a good buy for the money and has some features found on some far more expensive optics with the added benifit of having a nice "Look" to it as well. If you want to take a look on the web, check out http://ww w.vortexoptics.com/riflescopes/view/vortex-viper-6.5-20x44-pa-riflescope-dead-hold-bdc-reticle
(Remove the space from the www) or go to "Natures Corner Store" in Edmonton on 91th and 51st Ave.
Scott
Knowing that they sell all of the Vortex line of spotting scopes and Binos and they had a couple of the rifle scopes in stock, I asked them to bring in this scope so I could give it a try. (They have 1 more left)
My first impression was quite good, the fit and finish is quite nice and the controls easy to use and well placed. The turrets are covered and the adjustments are very crisp and easy to see and feel. All adjustment knobs are designed so that you can see where they are from the back of the scope including the side paralax adjustment and the power adjustment.The adjustments work much like Bushnell's new 6500 line, as in, once you get it zeroed you simply lift up on the adjustment knob and zero it. This scope also has the advantage of indicator lines on both the elevation and windage adjustments, a feature lacking on the 6500 series.
Optics are fairly clear for a scope in this price range, it is not a $ 1,200 Leupold but it is at least as clear as the 4200 or 6500 series bushnell.
I found the BDC Dead Hold Reticle interesting but I found it to be heavier and thicker than I would like. This reticle pattern is very much like the Burris "Balisticplex" pattern and seems to work quite well. It is also very well explained in the included manual that comes with the scope.
Ranges tested were 100m, 200m and 300m mounted on my heavy barrel .223 Savage. I used this rifle in the "Sniper Match" at Spruce Grove on the 6th of July as a test for this scope and I was suitable impressed, not by my shooting but by the scope itself.
The manuals for both the scope and the use of the recticle are very well written and comprehensive. I would recomend reading both of these manuals before using any rifle scope. These people have had some good advice and put it on paper for the purchaser to read and use.
My overall impression, this Scope is a good buy for the money and has some features found on some far more expensive optics with the added benifit of having a nice "Look" to it as well. If you want to take a look on the web, check out http://ww w.vortexoptics.com/riflescopes/view/vortex-viper-6.5-20x44-pa-riflescope-dead-hold-bdc-reticle
(Remove the space from the www) or go to "Natures Corner Store" in Edmonton on 91th and 51st Ave.
Scott
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