Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Optics skinny on vortex scopes

looking for a scope to go on a new savage 6.5x284. Read alot of good things about the vortex brand. But couldnt find much about low light performance. Been shooting ziess conquests. Looking at a Vortex Viper PST 4-16x50 FFP. How does this compare to a 3.5-10x50 conquest rapid z-800? Looking for a long range ( 5-600 yds) hunting scope.

Or should I just stick with what works and get a Zeiss Conquest HD5 5-25x50 with rapid z?


thanks.

Dave

I just got the Viper HST 4-16x44 and am mounting it right now on a 700 in 300WM. So far it looks very good. The glass is exceptionally clear. Will have to wait a bit to see how well it performs.

Have been wondering the same thing. Been looking at both the Diamondback and Viper HS series.

I have been using four Vortex scopes for the last year or so. The Diamondback series is tough so far and has been very exact in tracking.

A Crossfire II 3-9x40 with the illuminated reticle has been my son's favorite on an AR. It has seen some rounds run through it!

A Viper 3-9x40 has been on several rifles and so far has been perfect in every way.

The real sleeper to me though has been the Viper PST 1-4x24 with the TMCQ illuminated reticle. It has been used on an AR for quite a bit, but has been on a 375AI for two Kodiak bear hunts and killed twice. On the first it was a bad scene following a huge bear into tight cover. I really like the reticle more every time I use it.

Just put a 4-16x44 HS-LR on my 6.5x55 Tikka...have only sighted it in...haven't played with the turrets yet...the exposed elevation turret is the same (or very similar) to the PST tower..only the clicks are 1/2" opposed to 1/4" The windage turret is capped with 1/4" clicks...elevation is 75" of travel...reticle is the Deadhold BDC..also upgraded another scope on my 20 Practical...my third PST..although this one is only the 4-16x50 SFP...the PST series are great optics...very repeatable clicks...30mm tubes...lots of travel...although I do use the PST's on p/dog rigs...light gathering is not a issue...picked up these last two Vortex scopes on Doug's 10% off while he was away sale..The HS-T would also be a great choice...but were not available later this summer..Give Vortex a call..they are more than helpful...along with their VIP warranty..I like 'em...did my own side x side comparison with my 6500 Elite 4-30x50 Tact vs PST 6-24x50..my eyes said the PST was clearer and more repeatable than the 6500..less $$$ too...

The pst 6-24 has much better glass than the HS or the 4-16 pst. I'm running 3 of the midway special 5-15 mil/mil HS scopes and I love the features but I wish the glass was better and the eyebox more forgiving. My weaver grand slams have noticeably better glass.

I'd love for someone to make a 30mil tubed mil/mil in the 4-16 range that had good glass, forgiving eyebox, repeatable clicks with pleanty of adjustment range, that weighs less than 18 ounces and costs less than $800. That's not too much to ask is it? The HS series with better glass would be close.

Bb

Keep in mind that while I have been using the 1-6x Razer and it is working great for a bit over 3k rounds, my buddy and I have had 3 Vortex Razers go down.


An interesting thread below-

http://forum.snipershide.com/sniper...hy-vortex-will-continue-sell-scopes.html


A thread about how awesome Vortex is, however out of 26 posts (so far) 6 of those have had problems with their optics. There is an interesting phenomenon with Vortex: they have quite possibly the highest reported failure/problem rate of any mid/high level scope, and yet all people do is rave about their customer service.....

yeah, Formidilous. Thats what makes me weary of them. Seems a reoccurring theme among the vortex scopes.

I highly suggest you looking at these-

http://swfa.com/SWFA-SS-3-15x42-Tactical-Rifle-Scope-P62238.aspx


http://swfa.com/SWFA-SS-3-9x42-Tactical-30mm-Riflescope-P50716.aspx

Sounds familiar. Like bragging about how fast your dealer repairs a transmission that keeps blowing on a new truck.

I did have an internal lens near the eyepiece of a Diamondback scope loosen up and rattle on me. This was a used scope that I purchased from an online dealer. Naturally it was fixed by Vortex quickly. I like the scope but if it happens again the scope will be repaired and then sold.

I also had a 2-7 Viper that worked perfectly that I just couldn't seem to like no matter how hard I tried. Just didn't care for the sight picture and field of view. Beautiful glass though. Hopefully the fella that bought it from me appreciates it more than I did.

Dan

looks like I'll stick with Zeiss then.

My suggestion would be to dial for range and forget the Rapid Z.....

The suggested SWFA scopes are probably good. I favor the Weaver Tacticals/Super Slams of the same basic spec.

Only Vortex I have field experience with was utterly useless for spotlighting coyotes. Even the Tasco Varmint scope wasn't _useless_. I believe that Vortex was a Crossfire, but idk for sure. That's a super-small experience, but it makes it tough to want to buy a Vortex, regardless of how good they are as a company (I've talked to them about some things, and they ARE great).

The Crossfire II 3-9x40 with the V-Brite reticle seems to work quite well for that purpose... My son replaced a Leupold 3.5-10 for it and did not look back...

While the Weaver Tactical is functional, they share nothing in common with the SWFA SS scopes.

Formidilous - dial for range - as in custom turrets?
dave

2-7x32 right? I had the same scope. I just couldn't get comfortable with the sight picture either. It seemed tunnel vision'ish and I swear the 2x was negative magnification. The FOV was actually less than the cheap Bushnell 3x9 I have on my 22. On down the road it went.

X2. Great reticle, great turrets.
Fit in Talley lows.