Need opinions on Vortex scope
- Thread starter RonS
- Start date
Hammer47
I suffer fools poorly.
Have a Viper ffp and I believe your choice of a HS t hunting scope is right on. I might qualify that statement by adding that if you could be satisfied with a fixed power scope a 10X SWFA SS is the best bang for the buck on this planet. Never saw the time when a fixed 10 was not qualified for the job from 50 to 1000 yds. and $300 is a dynamite price. Lots of reviews available, take a gander before you spend too much. Regards... Gary
For what it's worth I do a lot of load development for people and all these people are buyin these vortex scopes and to be totally honest if you ain't gonna get the approx. $1000 pst Or better DONT buy a vortex. Any more one of my buddies brings a new rifle with a vortex I take it off and do my work. Very recent my buddy brought me a 243 with a brand new hst on it. After a hundred rounds of fricken frustration I figured out the scope was junk. Maybe just my experience. Good luck.
Ledd Slinger
Silver $$ Contributor
I had a 6-24x50 Viper PST that I ordered online. Wasn't very impressed, especially for $800. Glass was sub par on 24X. Never seemed to focus all the way no matter what I did with the rear ocular focus or the side parallax. One of my old 4-16x50 Nikon Monarch scopes (much cheaper price point) easily outclassed the Viper PST on all like power levels from 4-16x in low light. Clicks on the PST were solid as can be, but the scope tube body is made with very thin aluminum walls. Had it on a factory action rifle and the rings didn't sit in perfect alignment, but they weren't too bad. Yet it was enough to bind up the adjustments when you reached the upper and lower 25% of the elevation range. Lapped the rings and bedded the scope in them to fix the problem, but the body of a scope should be tougher than that. Needless to say, I didn't own that scope for very long.
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Gary, I actually have a 10X Super Sniper, my hang up with it is that it has a mil-dot reticle, I never took the time to really learn how to use it. But with my aging eyes, I need a little more power to the target more clearly.
I actually got a chance to examine one at BassPro to other day. It did seem a little on the hazey side but I thought that was me...so I keep my hand off my wallet.
I actually got a chance to examine one at BassPro to other day. It did seem a little on the hazey side but I thought that was me...so I keep my hand off my wallet.
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we got one and at first it was okay but then if you looked at target to long it was fuzzy. I thought it was me but my buddys had same thing happen so I sent it in any they replaced it but new scope was really bad. I called them and they sent a new one and it was junk!! I sold it as fast as I could and got a sightron 6x24 111 and man what a scope. it is great and I now own 3 of them.
I've had my 6-24x50 Viper HS-T on a 260 bolt action for almost two years now. The turrets work great, I even like the zero stop feature. Using the shims seemed a little hokey but it works.
As far as the glass goes, I have not looked at a FClass target recently so I can't tell you if you can see the rings.
One of the ranges I go has steel targets setup at 1000 yards. The smallest is a 4 inch circle. I am able to see that with no problem. Last month a couple guys with NightForce scopes were shooting at golf balls that were on the 1000 yard berm. I could not see the golf balls with the HS-T.
My thoughts on the HS-T is that for the money, its a good scope (especially after the mil discount). It does leave me wanting a little more clarity at 1000 yards. At 600 and under it's good to go.
As far as Vortex quality goes, I have a few of their scopes. I recently sent back a diamondback HP due to the side focus not working.
The Viper HS-T is basically a PST with fewer features. It uses a wire reticle vs the glass etched, has no illumination, and is offered in 2nd fp only. Everything else including the glass is exactly the same. If you are in the market for the PST but dont need ffp or the illuminated reticle, why pay a couple hundred more?
As far as the glass goes, I have not looked at a FClass target recently so I can't tell you if you can see the rings.
One of the ranges I go has steel targets setup at 1000 yards. The smallest is a 4 inch circle. I am able to see that with no problem. Last month a couple guys with NightForce scopes were shooting at golf balls that were on the 1000 yard berm. I could not see the golf balls with the HS-T.
My thoughts on the HS-T is that for the money, its a good scope (especially after the mil discount). It does leave me wanting a little more clarity at 1000 yards. At 600 and under it's good to go.
As far as Vortex quality goes, I have a few of their scopes. I recently sent back a diamondback HP due to the side focus not working.
The Viper HS-T is basically a PST with fewer features. It uses a wire reticle vs the glass etched, has no illumination, and is offered in 2nd fp only. Everything else including the glass is exactly the same. If you are in the market for the PST but dont need ffp or the illuminated reticle, why pay a couple hundred more?
mattri
Silver $$ Contributor
I have 2 PSTs, one 6-24, the other 2.5-10, both in mil/mil and I really couldn't be happier with them.
The 6-24 is on a 6mmBR and the 2.5-10 is on a 7mmwsm hunting rifle. For the applications the features are just right.
The glass is clear and bright, tracking is flawless after untold numbers of rounds through both.
Both have been mounted/unmounted a number of times, bumped, dropped, rattled around in trucks/Razors etc.
A buddy has a Nightforce, it's a great scope and he really likes it, I honestly don't think the glass is any better, maybe I got a really good Vortex and he got a really bad NF but after shooting mine he put the same PST on his next build.
In my experience Vortex are great scopes. Not "for the money" or any other quantifier, just really clear, rugged scopes with great features.
The 6-24 is on a 6mmBR and the 2.5-10 is on a 7mmwsm hunting rifle. For the applications the features are just right.
The glass is clear and bright, tracking is flawless after untold numbers of rounds through both.
Both have been mounted/unmounted a number of times, bumped, dropped, rattled around in trucks/Razors etc.
A buddy has a Nightforce, it's a great scope and he really likes it, I honestly don't think the glass is any better, maybe I got a really good Vortex and he got a really bad NF but after shooting mine he put the same PST on his next build.
In my experience Vortex are great scopes. Not "for the money" or any other quantifier, just really clear, rugged scopes with great features.
$ 750 will get you one of these...
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod..._ET4305_Elite_Tactical_4_5_30x50_Mil_Dot.html
Pros...
Good Glass, 4.5-30x, Best warranty (no questions asked), tough, reliable tracking, sunshade included, around 90moa total elevation, long eye relief.
Cons...
Moa clicks with mildot reticle, only around 90moa total elevation, Second Focal Plane, Glass starts getting a little hazy above 20x, weighs 1.5 lbs.
https://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/prod..._ET4305_Elite_Tactical_4_5_30x50_Mil_Dot.html
Pros...
Good Glass, 4.5-30x, Best warranty (no questions asked), tough, reliable tracking, sunshade included, around 90moa total elevation, long eye relief.
Cons...
Moa clicks with mildot reticle, only around 90moa total elevation, Second Focal Plane, Glass starts getting a little hazy above 20x, weighs 1.5 lbs.
I got a hs-t I'm getting ready to sell
Virtually brand new been on a 308 for a couple hundred rounds selling the rifle and no longer need
Nothing wrong with it can sell it with tps rings as well
Virtually brand new been on a 308 for a couple hundred rounds selling the rifle and no longer need
Nothing wrong with it can sell it with tps rings as well
My buddy was just telling that his neighbor guides sheep hunts in Mexico. Last season they had 9 hunters; 7 of them showed up with Vortex scopes on a $30,000 hunt!. He said that 6 of the 7 scopes failed during the course of their hunt!
I set up a lot of rifles. In the past 2 years I have had 4 Vortex scopes in my shop on nice shooting rifles. ALL 4 of them failed, one failed twice. They cannot seem to handle the recoil of anything more than a 243. Two were 6.5-20 Vipers, one was a PST which I had to send back twice. Huge POS. I would love to have a new Razor HD AMG but they are $2500 and weigh a ton.
If you are shooting a magnum, I would strongly caution against using a Vortex scope.
I set up a lot of rifles. In the past 2 years I have had 4 Vortex scopes in my shop on nice shooting rifles. ALL 4 of them failed, one failed twice. They cannot seem to handle the recoil of anything more than a 243. Two were 6.5-20 Vipers, one was a PST which I had to send back twice. Huge POS. I would love to have a new Razor HD AMG but they are $2500 and weigh a ton.
If you are shooting a magnum, I would strongly caution against using a Vortex scope.
Pros......if you like whatever brand that rows your boat for whatever eason, buy it....it is YOUR money.
Cons....anything mechanical can fail. Scopes are all mechanical/optical devices and the mechanical can bite you in the butt at any time with any brand...let's argue something worthwhile like Chevy vs. ford vs. Mopar if you need practice. THAT argument has been going on with no winner for about 75 years now....scopes, rifle brands, cars, dog breeds, whatever....all the same thing!!
Cons....anything mechanical can fail. Scopes are all mechanical/optical devices and the mechanical can bite you in the butt at any time with any brand...let's argue something worthwhile like Chevy vs. ford vs. Mopar if you need practice. THAT argument has been going on with no winner for about 75 years now....scopes, rifle brands, cars, dog breeds, whatever....all the same thing!!
muleystalker
Silver $$ Contributor
Ron, they make the 10x SS with a MOA reticle now. The 3-15 SS Is a very nice scope and they have way better glass than all the vortex except the Razors, and they offer them in MOA know, and also SFP.
Some scopes hardly ever fail. Others fail at surprising rates. If I am on an expensive hunt I want a scope that will not fail. Also I shoot 1000 yard BR and if you lose 1 shot in any of the 10 matches your year is done. I would be willing to bet if you go to a 50 cal. Match you will see any Vortex scopes. I know now I don't see very many in 1000 yard BR. There has to be a reason for that. Matt
If you are talking Vortex Razor Gen I ($2500), the glass is comparable to many of the high end optics. In the $1000 you have Vortex offering a lot of bells and whistles such as ffp, lighted reticle, zero stop etc at the expense of good glass. In the $1000 range you can't beat a Sightron or even a Leupod for nice clear glass with repeatable tracking..just depends what you are looking for. Ray
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