Thinking about picking one of these up for my .22 hornet contender carbine. Been out for a while, folks still liking them?

I can offer a qualified endorsement. I am well pleased with mine, but...

* I haven't tested it thoroughly at the range. I found zero, and it's stayed there through not all that many rounds fired.

* I haven't dragged it afield for days on end to test its ruggedness.

* I've never been wild about its honkin' big ocular.

* They lowered the price right after I bought mine! Still, I think it was a good value for the $199 I gave.

FWIW, I like it better than the later-model 2-7 Vipers I've purchased, but not as well as the very 1st 2-7 Viper I bought. Surely there are some folks out there who've owned all kinds of 2-7 scopes, who can offer a more thorough comparison.

Perhaps you can PM Koshkin - I believe he's spent quite a bit of time playing with this particular scope.

FC

Thanks FC, might be a moot point now. Bought one cheap on ebay yesterday, guess I'll get to see for myself very soon.

Scope came today. Initial impression is very positive. Phenomenal glass for less then $200. Styling is very European, as is view with the usual heavy black outline and crisp reticle. Side by Side with a Leupold VX-2 3-9x33, and the glass on the vortex gets the nod. Eyebox on the Leupold is better, eye relief on both seems good across the range. Will hopefully get to put rounds through it tomorrow.

I got mine when they started discounting them for my Kimber 22 Hunter. Works very well very good optics for the bucks.

This proves the point that people's eyes are different. I'd say most people see better out of a VX-2 than a Diamondback. I'm glad you are happy with the scope.

vx2 is definitely better then a standard diamondback, I think the HP version is a touch better but they are very close.

This is always my #1 point when talking optics.
Minor differences in coatings, eye box and glass react different to different peoples eyes.

The examples are endless.
If your gonna spend money on glass, look through it yourself. Compare side by side, and choose what looks best to YOU, not what some internet expert tells you is best.
Cheap scopes that hold zero are functional. Quality optics are a pleasure to use.
As much as I enjoy quality optics, remember.
It's not about the optics, it's all about the hunt.