Edumakate me on Vortex glass

Gray

Gray

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I recently opened up the rabbit hole on a 700 sps in 308. It's already been upgraded in few areas and I'm working on building a barrel, but I don't have an optic at all. Just learned a friend can get a deal on Vortex...

Looking for first hand opinions what I should get. For a budget let's try to stay around 1k retail.
 
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I'd avoid the Crossfire line as it's made in China. The Viper and Viper PST line is made in the Philippines if I recall correctly. Razor line is made in Japan but above your $1k budget.

A FFP Gen 2 Viper PST should be right near $1k with dealer pricing and NC sales tax. I'm an advocate of having more magnification on a scope than you "think" you need, therefore:

http://www.vortexoptics.com/product...p-riflescope-with-ebr-2c-mrad-reticle/reticle

http://www.vortexoptics.com/product...fp-riflescope-with-ebr-2c-moa-reticle/reticle

If you are just getting into LR and can make the transition from MOA to MIL I'd reccommend going MIL.
 
Up your budget buy Razor gen 2 and enjoy an amazing scope.... 1k will get you a used gen 1 razor. I am not a fam of the pst line but many folks love them.
 
I'm looking at vortex stated retail at 1k or a few bills over. Somehow I've stumbled on half off.
 
I'm not a $1k scope guy so can't recommend specific models, but will say that anything Diamondback and up is surprisingly nice for the price. And with their no BS lifetime warranty, I can't justify buying anything else if I'm spending over like $150.
 
I'd like to tap 700 yrds and get to 1000 one day. I'm popping 300 with a 556 AR easily with a 1-4 Millet.

The bug hit bad last time at our range. I want more which prompted the payment for the rifle my bil had waiting for me in his safe.
 
Jerzsubbie said:
I'm not a $1k scope guy so can't recommend specific models, but will say that anything Diamondback and up is surprisingly nice for the price. And with their no BS lifetime warranty, I can't justify buying anything else if I'm spending over like $150.
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Don't get me wrong I'd be saving for it but I should take advantage of the opportunity to build a rifle I will hand down to my son one day.

BIL is going to build a barrel and do all the tuning for cost of parts.

I got the rifle as is for what a cheap AR costs so I'm in the right place at the right time.

Dedicated can will cost as much as the whole damn rifle.
 
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Gray said:
Don't get me wrong I'd be saving for it but I should take advantage of the opportunity to build a rifle I will hand down to my son one day.

BIL is going to build a barrel and do all the tuning for cost of parts.

I got the rifle as is for what a cheap AR costs so I'm in the right place at the right time.

Dedicated can will cost as much as the whole damn rifle.
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I hear ya. I have a Viper 6.5-20x on my Savage 5R .308, which I scored for $440 a couple years ago when Savage had those super cheap over-runs floating around. While I like the Viper, if I shot this rifle more, I'd upgrade to a Viper HST or PST.
 
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Bunsen said:
I'd avoid the Crossfire line as it's made in China. The Viper and Viper PST line is made in the Philippines if I recall correctly. Razor line is made in Japan but above your $1k budget.

A FFP Gen 2 Viper PST should be right near $1k with dealer pricing and NC sales tax. I'm an advocate of having more magnification on a scope than you "think" you need, therefore:

http://www.vortexoptics.com/product...p-riflescope-with-ebr-2c-mrad-reticle/reticle

http://www.vortexoptics.com/product...fp-riflescope-with-ebr-2c-moa-reticle/reticle

If you are just getting into LR and can make the transition from MOA to MIL I'd reccommend going MIL.
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I would rather have more magnification than I need always.
 
Gray said:
I like that reticle! And that is about what my adjusted budget is.

Have you used that scope before? Looking for CFF feedback and not some tactical keyboard junkys Amazon reviews.
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I have a PST with the mildot reticle.

There are ups and downs to having reticles with a lot in them. Primary Arms is making a bunch with real nice HUDs.

As far as the Christmas Tree reticle, I have not used one, but if you are going to use hold over vs dial. It is a consideration.

Another scope I’d recommend is the SWFA HD line.
 
MadMardigan said:
I have a PST with the mildot reticle.

There are ups and downs to having reticles with a lot in them. Primary Arms is making a bunch with real nice HUDs.

As far as the Christmas Tree reticle, I have not used one, but if you are going to use hold over vs dial. It is a consideration.

Another scope I’d recommend is the SWFA HD line.
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I've got to stick with either trijicon or vortex (maybe one more) to get the most bang for my buck.
 
If you're looking at 1k yards - I would start my options at the Viper PST, especially with the Gen 2's they just put out.

Check out this video, they go over a few scenarios (hunting/tactical, punching holes in paper, etc)

 
I'm going to piss some of U off with this statement but the pst is junk for what u are getting. Nightforce is the best bang for the buck and unmatched clarity I have a pst, shv, and nxs and nightforce hands down is top dog.
 
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nature boy said:
I'm going to piss some of U off with this statement but the pst is junk for what u are getting. Nightforce is the best bang for the buck and unmatched clarity I have a pst, shv, and nxs and nightforce hands down is top dog.
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He also had a budget and is just getting into it. Going all out on a scope he might not get the right options on isn’t smart

@Gray someone on the forum is selling a 2.5-10x32 PST. Awesome scope! I have the HSLR (non illuminated) version and I wish I could buy it

You might need more magnification though.

The 4-16 HST is a great scope and so is the 6-24x HST; both will bring you in under budget (respectively low and high $600 range based on magnification).

Also, if your friend has the military/LEO discount, you can pretty much get the same price on Optics Planet. I qualify for it and using Optics Planet was less hassle and same price
 
11B CIB said:
Just get the NF, specs/magnification/etc etc etc be damned huh
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I'm in a toss up between a Vortex PST or the NF SHV F1. The PST mag range fits better, I like the reticle better, and having the warranty and CS they have is great. I have heard the NF is better glass, but not a knock on the glass of Vortex.

OP, I would look at Optics Planet (I have never ordered from but I would not hesitate to order from them, may order from them on my scope) or SWFA (I have ordered from here with no problems). You may be able to find some slightly used scopes and stretch your budget some as well.
 
Don't forget the Burris XTR II 5-25 x 50 is between the PST and the Nightforce SHV in price.
 
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nature boy said:
I'm going to piss some of U off with this statement but the pst is junk for what u are getting. Nightforce is the best bang for the buck and unmatched clarity I have a pst, shv, and nxs and nightforce hands down is top dog.
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Junk? Lol I've seen more NF break than vortex. And vortex is used 10 to 1 compared to NF.
 
Sightron makes some pretty good scopes too. The SIII line is great and can be found used for a pretty good bargin. Try and find something used to save a little bit of cash. Like some here, there are many other brands I would pick from before I spent a bunch on a NF.
 
I run a Vortex Viper PST 6-24x50 with the EBR-1 reticle and MOA turrets. Got it for ~$450 in the Cabela's Bargain Cave in Phoenix and it has been the best budget money I've ever spent on an optic. I've shot it side-by-side with a Nightforce NXS, and while the NF has better glass, you're not going to get your money's worth of the difference as a new shooter.

Buy the Vortex now and save for the NF when your skills are on par to fully utilize it. Congrats on your new range rig!
 
I'm no crack shot but somehow seem to keep up or set par with what I have. I'm ringing 300 plus with a home spun AR. Never had a bolt gun and would prefer to blow extra extra money on something other than glass... like ammo.

Currently have about half off on Trijicon, Vortex and Leopold. @JimP42 is paying attention.

I'm looking for input in this thread on Vortex glass. I don't own any and have enjoyed my time behind them. At half price it seems like there are some viable options. I also like warranties because I can ruin an anvil with a rubber hammer.
 
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Just mounted a Viper PST GEN II 5x25x50 FFP MRAD scope on my savage 308 for long range plinking. This is my first scope that legit cost more then the otherwise complete rifle itself. Prior to this I've been running a first gen Nikon Buckmaster 4x14x40 on this rifle as it was the best I had for distance. Obviously the PST is a huge improvement. Shot for the first time this weekend and the top end zoom is too much at 100, hard to keep the scope steady. At 420 / 550, it sure is nice having 25x. Adjusted BallisticAE for an additional .5" scope height and I was definitely within 'minute of man'. Vertical was good but the wind was a bit up and I wasn't really accounting for that. Pushed me about 8in off at 550. All in all, I'm very happy with it thus far. I've shot rifles with higher end Vortex and NF scopes but not enough to make a fair comparison. I will say that I believe its more about the Indian than the arrow. I still outshot most of those "higher end" guys with that Nikon. My general thought process is to spend enough to get decent quality (piece of mind on trackability, zero stop, etc etc) but not too far past the point of diminishing returns. THEN spend the difference on lots and lots of reloading supplies. Pretty sure a man with a $250 scope that shoots 1000 rds a year will outshoot Joe Bob with a $1000 scope that shoots 250 rds per year.
 
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Back on topic. I had a first gen Viper PST 4x14 MRAD. It was a great scope for the money. I used it on a .22 trainer and shot it out to 200 yards. Glas isn't crystal or extremely bright but then again it's not a Khales or Schmidt. For the price you're talking about fetting it at, it's a no brainer. Go for it.
 
JimP42 said:
$500 budget if you read carefully I think. $1000 Vortex he can get at half price.
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Not quite

The Vortex Deal is 40% of MSRP, not retail.

That’s why I said getting a deal at OP or elsewhere is usually about the same price without a middle man


@Rockchucker I agree about too much zoom at 100 yards. I have a 4-20x I use for load development and longer range shooting; I have to bump it back to 14 or 16x at 100 or else I have the problems you mentioned
 
I have purchase four Vortex scopes the last few years. For me it’s about diminishing returns on dollars vs glass quality. I would suggest the Viper HST 6-24x50 with the reticle it has. Your going to need all that magnification out to 700 yards. Long range guys dial turrets. No need for all that in the reticle. It has a zero stop, and lots of features a Viper PST has except first focal point which is nice. If you know the range and move the turrets it’s not gonna matter. Half the MSRP.

You’ve already messed up anyway. You didn’t buy a CZ. Just kidding.
 
I would skip anything from Vortex under the Razor lineup personally.

If on a budget, the PST gen2 is pretty good, especially the lower magnification long range scope by reputation.

But I like anything that they make in the Razor lineup. The warranty is legit. If you go with the lower end scopes, you'll likely end up using it.
 
Vortex is good, but not great. If you're actually going to spend around 1k.... Sightron SIII, Nightforce SHV, Nightforce Benchrest or Burris XTRII.

For $500 - Vortex is just fine. I have a Vortex Diamondback ?? 4x16 and it's a good scope for what I paid for it.
 
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I'd stay away from Burris. I've seen them and leupold break the most. Vortex pst gen 2 or swfa is your best bet for budget. I have 2 of the gen 1's pst and have put them through hell and back and have taken all the abuse. Vortex pst gen 2 is on a lot of the guns I see in club matches lately. I shoot Bushnell dmr2 and xrs now and the wife shoots a razor gen 2. I like the Bushnell line up. If you get on snipershide and look at the optic forum you can find a really good deal on a scope in the sub 1000 range.
 
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