Need opinions on vortex optics.

I have the viper 4-16x44 and really love it. Had it
For a year now and have only sighted it in once, holds well. When I am going to hunt in closer range areas I take it off and throw on my vortex strike fire red dot. I absolutely love it as well. I also have the diamond back 10x42 binocs. I am a vortex fan. And like said above the costumer service is awesome, I dropped my binocs and they went crosseyed, I called them and in a week I had a new pair.!
 
Bought a diamondback used off the forum. Ended up being a tad blurry. Haven't tried cs yet but will come spring. Have to say it it was something I was counting on I'd probably go a different route. Great Customer Service is a plus in my book but if the product is lacking its a hard sell. But that is my only experience and anything wrong is my fault on not addressing it.
 
I have had a PST FFP 6x24x50 for a while now. I also own a Meopta R1, leupold VXR, and a Zeiss conquest that I have compared the Vortex with. The Vortex that I have is very clear during the day and illumination can be turned down low enough that it does not overpower the target on moonlit nights. The only down side I have found is that it does not transfer (or whatever the technical term is)light on a full moon night like the other scopes I have. I hunt pigs at night and that one feature is important to me. For example when I compared the scopes on the last full moon at 60 yards, all set to 6 power, I could see the individual blades of grass in my back yard with all but the Vortex. All I could make out with the vortex was that there was grass just not the individual blades. Keep in mind that this is just my experience and that I may have a faulty scope. One's perception of clarity will differ person to person. If you do not plan on using the scope as I do then you will not be disappointed with your purchase. Good Luck!
 
I put my new PST FFP 4-16 on my 6x47L today and went to the range. My only complaint so far is clarity. I couldn't get it to focus on 16x at any distance. Which isn't an uncommon problem with most scopes when set on max power and the eye box gets tight but this one seemed a bit worse than others I own or have used in the past. Side by side on the bench my VX-6 6-18 is much brighter and clearer than the Vortex. Over all I think its going to be a fun scope to shoot so long as its not cranked up to max power.
 
Originally Posted By: yotesmoker51I'm wanting to buy vortex scope for my AR rock river varmint A4. I'm wanting MOA reticle with MOA turrets. Using this for coyote hunting and paper punching. Won't be shooting last 400 yards. Any suggestions?

Just was in the same situation myself, wanted a good varmint scope that I could shoot out to 600yds for target days too. I spent $200 OTD on a Vortex Crossfire II in 4-12x40 AO, and couldn't be happier. It has far exceeded everything I had thought about entry priced scopes.

The dead hold reticle is a MOA based BDC reticle that is very simple and very effective, Ive used it too 500 yards with good success. The turrets are also MOA marked and resettable. It has holdovers at (IIRC) 1.5, 4.5, 7.5 & 10 MOA. Also has 2,4,6 MOA windage marks.

The glass is what sold me on this scope, I was set on buying a Nikon 4-12 but after seeing what I got for $200 in a Vortex it was a pretty easy choice honestly. I looked at Burris, Nikon, Leupold, Bushnell and Redfield over the course of about 3-4 weeks. Compared them both indoors and out and not once did I feel like the others were on the same level with the Vortex, it was that impressive.

In fact, and I don't mean to ruffle any feathers but for equal money ($190) the Vortex walks all over the Luepy offerings. I think the big L does its best work with the higher end stuff, like the VX3 and up.

Hope that helps and good luck!
 
Originally Posted By: BigGrizzJust an observation, but every time I stumble into a Vortex thread there is usually some mention of "Great customer service". It's not necessarily a bad thing that they have great customer service, they should. But my point is, if it get used so much that you are always hearing or reading about it, what's that tell you about their product?

I personally don't own Vortex, I have looked at their stuff when shopping binos and can't say I saw anything wrong or of lackluster quality, but i just had a thought.

Hmmm,..........

well I can say that although I haven't had any issues I did call them once with a question and a human answered the phone, was very polite and knew a lot about shooting and general firearm optic info which was very helpful. the way it should be, not some automated "dial 1 for returns and wait 20 minutes" BS,

my .02
 
I have a 4-16x44 30mm Viper HS. The scope looks great and tracks very nicely. So far, every shot at game has resulted in a dead animal and used it a few weeks on a an antelope hunt.

Sighted in at 200 yards with 100 grain sp btsp and it was dead on using the next hatch down and dropped an antelope at 350.

My issue is that I find this scope to be poor at in low light conditions, and even in good light the fine crosshairs almost seem to fade away in the view and the drop recticles are hard to see.

At low light it seems to be blurry or almost whited out. Has anyone else have the same observations?

I was trying to scope some deer right at dark yesterday and could not see them nearly as good as I could with my Nikon Monarch binoculars.
 
I've ditched my 4-16 PST after just a couple days shooting. I can't take having to turn it down to around 12x to get a clear picture. I traded it in for a 6-24 PST and after setting it in the rings and playing with it for 20 minutes... It hit the road too wothout even being tightened down. The 6-24 was better no doubt but still had issues of clarity at higher magnifacations. I've got other scopes that are in the same or close to same price range that are much better than the HS and PST line of scopes in the glass dept so it was hard for me to accept less performance for the same money so down the road they went.

My shooting buddy experienced the same thing this week with the 4-16 HS and he traded for the 6-24 PST I took back. He found it still a bit fuzzy at max power but acceptable for his needs and much better than the glass in the 4-16 HS he traded back or the 4-16 PST that I had. He was also not interest in spending a bunch more money like I did to upgrade to a higher end scope. I stayed with Vortex brand but upgraded to the Razor HD to replace the PST's I had tried prior. Once you've been ruined by good glass it's hard to step back away from it. It's a curse though as even the small imperfections of other scopes tend to stand out, like clarity issues at high powers.

I've done some in depth reading on several forums on the vortex scopes and overall they get pretty good reviews. However, digging deeper it seems as if we havnt been the only ones that have experienced problems with the 4-16 PST and HS model scopes. One conversation in particular even eluded to the fact that Vortex was aware of the clarity issues on the 4-16 models. In one instance they even upgraded a customer to the 6-24 (for a small fee) as they knew it provided better clarity than the 4-16, which I can attest to also.

I hope you all don't find this as hacking the brand but more of an honest review from someone whos owned and used a bunch of different scopes in a varity of price points. They are the latest and greatest right now, the hottest selling scope on the market. I think they offer lots of options at attractive prices but they are not without their issues. I would be wary of the "clear as a Swarovski or Nightforce" reviews especially on the 4-16 models.
 
I use the 1-4 on my AR and the Razor 5-20 on my 260. I am impressed with both of the sights and have had zero issues with them.
The new 2.5-10 PST for my upcoming Grendel will most likely be my next purchase.
 
I did some shooting with a friend on Saturday that had the 2.5-10 PST FFP mil scope. It had nice clarity at 10x along with pretty good brightness considering the small objective. It was a perfect match on his BDL '06
 
So, they put good class on their low end scopes and good good glass on the high end, and then put crap on the $500 Viper? What the heck?
 
Originally Posted By: YellowhammerSo, they put good class on their low end scopes and good good glass on the high end, and then put crap on the $500 Viper? What the heck?

Or a $900 PST?

I don't know if I would call it crap, I reserve that title for Barska and other Chicon made crap... It might be more of an internal hing on the 4-16's I don't know. It's seems good until zoomed to a certain point and then it goes to he'll.

since we keep hearing about the great CS... Call them up and talk to them about your issue and report back here with what they say.
 
Just received a Diamondback 4-12X40, as a disclaimer I haven't had a chance to mount it yet. At first glance experimenting with it at various power levels and lighting, I don't find it to be outstanding versus the Nikon, Weaver, Redfield and Burris scopes at this price point, in fact it seems similar to the other optics made in the Philippines. Time will tell as I get it mounted on a .270 and have a chance to actually use it. Their warranty does seem to be pretty difficult to beat.
 
i have a diamondback in 4-12x40 and find the eye relief lacking and the clarity to be average. I haven't had any problems with mine, but a buddy of mine has had to send his back to fix a seized windage dial. I wouldn't buy another one!
 
Originally Posted By: erikc838I am giving them a look for my Cooper 21. So many choices out there.

I am glad I decided to go with Zeiss. The glass (and well everything) is absolutely outstanding.
 
With the price of the PST I would want to be able to use and rely on all its features. .
I don't know how the Vortex will work in the cold. That and light gathering, crisp reticle, crisp image, and can't be broke construction even in extreme cold are features I need if I'm going to plunk down that kind of money.

At least Night Force tests their scopes at 80° below. Not that I'm planning on shooting at colder than 50 below. But I do shoot down to there.
Most scopes at that temp have to stay where they are set at that temp. Power rings usually won't turn. Parralax won't adjust ect.
I've read all I can find on Vortex scopes and I can't find any info on temperature testing.

An extra 500$ purchase price is preferable to loosing that on a hunt being ruined by a scope crapping out.
 
I have a crossfire II and it says vortex optics usa but had a made in china sticker on the scope tube. I have had it for 6 months and it has been great. Is all their scopes made in China?
 
I think I have 5 or 6 of the Vortex Viper 6.5-20x44 variations. Absolutely love these scopes. And the reset-able turrets are great after a day of shooting PDs at 300 - 400 yards in the wind then putting it back to zero at the end of the day.
 
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