Vortex Viper 3-9x40? any good?

B

bsmitty27

Member
Rating - 100%
20   0   0
Location
East of the big smoke, Alberta
Just looking for picking up another scope, I see that Cabelas has the Viper 3-9 x 40 at what looks like a decent deal. I have never used a Vortex product before. I like my Leupold's and have a couple of Bushnell Products. Thanks in advance.
Brad
 
One sits on my 270. No complaints here. Saw that deal at Cabelas, was tempted to get one for my 7mm mag, but I already have a Bushnell elite 3-9x50 on the EE that nobody is buying so I might as well just use that on the 7mag... Really want something with more magnification though, a 4-12x or 4.5-14x would be pretty damn nice in this line of scopes...
 
I have the Viper 4-12x40 (basically the same scope). My only regret is that I didn't buy a few of them when Vortex was clearing them out.
 
Not a fan of much in the Vortex lineup below the Viper model. The sale puts them closer to the crossfire and diamondback lines and should be a far better scope...
 
Suther said:
One sits on my 270. No complaints here. Saw that deal at Cabelas, was tempted to get one for my 7mm mag, but I already have a Bushnell elite 3-9x50 on the EE that nobody is buying so I might as well just use that on the 7mag... Really want something with more magnification though, a 4-12x or 4.5-14x would be pretty damn nice in this line of scopes...
Click to expand...

I have one sitting on a 270 as well. No complaints from me either.
 
I got one on the EE a while back. It's been on a few different rifles. Most of the rifles are gone but I still have the Viper if that says anything. It now sits on my CZ455 and it's perfect for my needs. I don't have a lot of experience with high end optics other than the Athlon Argos (higher end not high end lol) that sits on my Rem 700 and I dont feel like the Vortex glass is lacking compared to that when I switch between rifles. I'd actually like to get another for my mini 14. I mostly shoot 50-100m with it.
 
I will let you know in a couple of weeks, just picked one up for my Tikka 30-06, I mostly have leupolds on my rifles, had bad experience with my one and never again Redfield.
 
A really good alternative is the Sig Whiskey 3 line up. I have been singularly impressed by everything about this optic, especially since they can be had for around $250. Blows anything Vortex out of the water and punches way above Leupold in that price range. The only downside over Leupold is weight. Though if weight is a big concern, i'd look at the Burris Fullfield as light weight option as well.
 
Last edited:
Great scope. Bought my first Vortex Viper 6.5-20x44 in 2007 for just under $300.00. The comparable Leupold was $1200.00. Bought the Vortex Viper 2-7 in 2008. I now own 6 Vortex scopes that I hunt and compete with. I used to be a Leupold guy but quality is the same and the Vortex warranty is awesome.

The original Viper 6.5-20 won lots of shoots for me and one day I stuck it on a .22 to do ammo testing. I could not focus it at 50 yards with the side parallax. It would focus at 60 but not 50. I dropped into the Vortex office in Guelph and asked if they could adjust the parallax for me. They pulled the rings off that I had put on in 2007 and found that there was a small crease in the tube from ME over tightening the rings. That crease was putting pressure on the inner parralax tube and that is why it would not focus at 50 yards. I had torqued them down to 25 inch lbs and they should only have been set at 15 to 18 inch/lbs.

They would not let me leave with my old scope and handed me a new $800.00 Vortex Viper for free. I was not expecting this but was very impressed with the service and the staff at Vortex's head office. I now compete with the Vortex Razor and quality wise would run it head to head with any Leupold and yet I still think Leupold scopes are great scopes. They just were relying on there name for awhile and finally got the hint the they needed to catch up with the competition. Anyway, you won't be sorry buying the Viper. (15-18 inch/lbs torque setting for the rings screws though!!!!)
 
I’ve had 3 Vipers. None of them tracked correctly and two of them wouldn’t hold zero.

Like Nikon they use their warranty as a QC system. Sure the warranty is great but eventually you will get tired of sending them back.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom