Viper PST 2.5-10x44

Anton Chigurh

Anton Chigurh

Member
Anybody running this scope? I have a PST 1-4 that I like, but I also looked thru and HST 4-16 that I didn't care for at higher magnification.

I'm thinking about what scope to put on a 20" 6.5 Grendel upper in a couple months.
 
It seems that the consensus is that vortex has average glass with above average features and warranty. The vortexes I've looked through seem to be above the old Leupold vxII's and below the new VX3's. I've honestly never wrung out a viper pst though.
I owned a viper 2-7 for awhile. I thought it had above average glass for what I paid for it. It definitely beat my Bushnell 3200's.
 
I like the magnification range and want a mil based reticle, but I also like my mark AR 3X9 and it's $150 cheaper. I could just get one more of those.
 
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I have been reading up on this scope, thinking I may be better off with a leupold for now, as I plan to use it hunting primarily. I could pick up a SS scope later to switch out for target work if I ever get around to it.
 
Originally Posted By: Anton ChigurhI have been reading up on this scope, thinking I may be better off with a leupold for now, as I plan to use it hunting primarily. I could pick up a SS scope later to switch out for target work if I ever get around to it.

Good decision.
 
Originally Posted By: FurhunterOriginally Posted By: Anton ChigurhI have been reading up on this scope, thinking I may be better off with a leupold for now, as I plan to use it hunting primarily. I could pick up a SS scope later to switch out for target work if I ever get around to it.

Good decision.

Yep.......
 
Well, I came all the way back around and ordered the Viper. It came in today. After spending a few minutes looking thru it, I can say I think the glass seems very good. The reticle is clear and easy to see w/o illum in daylight, the illum looked bright after dark. I think it'll be a good scope to have on my Grendel.
 
Just saw the post. I had the exact scope & was VERY disapointed in glass (maybe I got a bad one though). I still have a 4-16 PST. Glass is much better but like above, not great at high power.
 
i have one. the illuminated reticle shuts off when you shoot. have to remove the battery cap fiddle with the battery to get it to turn on. i also do not think the glass is very good.
 
I thi k everything i own is getting some variant of leupold on it....even the crossbow. So many bad reviews of other brands...hit or miss....never see any complaints about leupold stuff. Made my mind up lol.
 
I had one of the early 2.5-10X44 PST's and thought the glass in it was good. One PST 1-4 that I love, two 4-16 PST's that are not the best near maximum magnification, and a new 2.5-10X32 FFP PST that I like a lot.

Unfortunately Leupolds aren't infallible either.
 
I havethe 2.5-10x44 now and the glass looks fine to me. Illumination is very bright as well. Have only sighted it in so far but I think I'm going to like it. I also have the 1-4 pst and have had it for about 18 mos. I really like it as well.

I have heard enough bad about the 4-16 that I wouldn't buy one without looking through it thoroughly first. I ordered the 4-16 HST from midway back about a year ago and sent it back because of fuzziness at high magnifications. Bought a Zeiss conquest instead.
 
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Originally Posted By: Crashdog
Unfortunately Leupolds aren't infallible either.


I had a VX-II 4-12x, and sold it on a rifle. No more VX-IIs
for me. Not good glass at all. For the same money I replaced
it with a Vortex Viper HS 4-16x44 Dead Hold reticule. The
Viper is clearer, has a side parallax adjust, at least
as long of eye relief, and is a 4-16x versus a 4-12x. Both
have lifetime warranties so that was a wash. IMHO for the
money, Leupold lower end(VX-2&VX-3) scopes are over rated,
and over priced. I have two Vortex Vipers, and a third will
be purchased soon. I am giving Vortex every opportunity
to let me down...So far the brand has been lived up to or
exceeded my expectations at the Viper HS price point.

Squeeze
 
I've recently spent quite a bit of time behind a Vortex Viper PST 4-16x44 FFP scope, mil/mil turrets/reticle. Long story short, the glass was really good until about 12x. After that the resolution just took a dump. Color rendition became cold and the image was very flat. I also could not get that sharp focus no matter how finite I tried to adjust the focus. The scope was still very usable and the features were very nice. Using the reticle for adjustments to make hits at 500 yards was a snap; used a ballistics app to get a rough estimate for vertical adjustment, then watched the bullet strike about 1mil left of the target measured with the reticle. Dialed one mil windage and wallah, pinging my 12" plate at 500 no problem.
I'm kind of torn on this scope. The features just about make up for the lackluster glass at higher magnification; but it's a hard trade to stomach. I've really been looking hard at the pst 2.5-10x32 for an AR. The glass is supposed to be night and day difference. If that's true, I believe it would be a no doubter.
 
Originally Posted By: coyotekillerNEI've recently spent quite a bit of time behind a Vortex Viper PST 4-16x44 FFP scope, mil/mil turrets/reticle. Long story short, the glass was really good until about 12x. After that the resolution just took a dump. Color rendition became cold and the image was very flat. I also could not get that sharp focus no matter how finite I tried to adjust the focus. The scope was still very usable and the features were very nice. Using the reticle for adjustments to make hits at 500 yards was a snap; used a ballistics app to get a rough estimate for vertical adjustment, then watched the bullet strike about 1mil left of the target measured with the reticle. Dialed one mil windage and wallah, pinging my 12" plate at 500 no problem.
I'm kind of torn on this scope. The features just about make up for the lackluster glass at higher magnification; but it's a hard trade to stomach.

This is the EXACT experience I have had with my 4-16 PST (which is noticably better glass than the 2.5-10 I had). I absolutly concur with the review & it was very well put. I REALLY wish the glass was better on this scope.
 
Originally Posted By: coleridgeOriginally Posted By: coyotekillerNEI've recently spent quite a bit of time behind a Vortex Viper PST 4-16x44 FFP scope, mil/mil turrets/reticle. Long story short, the glass was really good until about 12x. After that the resolution just took a dump. Color rendition became cold and the image was very flat. I also could not get that sharp focus no matter how finite I tried to adjust the focus. The scope was still very usable and the features were very nice. Using the reticle for adjustments to make hits at 500 yards was a snap; used a ballistics app to get a rough estimate for vertical adjustment, then watched the bullet strike about 1mil left of the target measured with the reticle. Dialed one mil windage and wallah, pinging my 12" plate at 500 no problem.
I'm kind of torn on this scope. The features just about make up for the lackluster glass at higher magnification; but it's a hard trade to stomach.

This is the EXACT experience I have had with my 4-16 PST (which is noticably better glass than the 2.5-10 I had). I absolutly concur with the review & it was very well put. I REALLY wish the glass was better on this scope.




I've had experience with 5 vortex scopes. With the exception of the Razor HD they all suffered the same poor glass issues. The 6-24 HS and PST's are just slightly better than their lower powered 4-16 HS and PST options. The 6-24 got fuzzy after 16X and would not clear up. I too found the 4-16 to loose clarity after 12x.

I wished they were better too but I couldn't get past the glass issues even with the cool bells and whistles. They went down the road, I'll give up some options for better glass. For a brief while I had the Razor HD on my rifle. It was pretty good but I didn't like the fist sized turrets and bulky size of it. It had a chincy washer bushing type of zero stop which I found disappointing for a scope costing 2 grand. I found a much better scope for the same money so I moved on from that one too.
 
I have a a 2.5-10 PST. Mine is very clear and bright. On par with my older MOnarchs and my Burris Sig. and better than VXII. I have the MOA reticle. Love it!!! I have looked thru a 4-16 PST and I have to agree with some of the others. Above about 12x I didn't like the glass. It would of been usable but not impressed.
 


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