Vortex Golden Eagle

[spudgun]

Question for anyone that owns a Golden Eagle 15-60X.

I bought 2 of these scopes for long range shooting 1,000 Yds.

I love the reticle, very fine.

My gripe is this. Anything above 40X the scope dims and blurs, god help if there is any mirage. Adjusting the parallax does not help focus.

The higher power is useless unless it is temps are around 30 degrees.

Is this typical of this scope.

I thought that maybe the shade tube was causing this issue (reducing the light coming in) but it is the same either on or off.

 

[Precisionhunter417]

Typicall of most scopes under $1800. Things start to change above that mark and your higher power (+40x) is more usable in a wider range of conditions.

 

[Precisionhunter417]

I have the same issue but have been back and forth between the NF BR and Vortex Golden eagle. Looking at the Trijicon next for a dedicated 1k scope with more flexibly to use higher power.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

I really have not come to terms with mine- yet. I will persevere. I find the eye box very unforgiving and the reticle difficult to see when the day is a bit dim. Targets in shadow? - not great. I do have "better" - read more expensive scopes and 3 Sightrons. I far prefer the Sightron 10-50 to the GE.

I purchased a used March HM for much the same price as the new GE, a much better bargain.

 

[rwj]

Question for anyone that owns a Golden Eagle 15-60X.

I bought 2 of these scopes for long range shooting 1,000 Yds.

I love the reticle, very fine.

My gripe is this. Anything above 40X the scope dims and blurs, god help if there is any mirage. Adjusting the parallax does not help focus.

The higher power is useless unless it is temps are around 30 degrees.

Is this typical of this scope.

I thought that maybe the shade tube was causing this issue (reducing the light coming in) but it is the same either on or off.

I can report dimming above 40X magnification on my GE, but not any focus issues. I would consult Vortex’s Customer Service, there may well be something wrong internally.

 

[Straightshooter1]

I can report dimming above 40X magnification on my GE, but not any focus issues. I would consult Vortex’s Customer Service, there may well be something wrong internally.

^^^^^ same as this with mine.

 

[dstoenner]

The reason that it dims is the exit pupil of the scope ( aperature divided by power) has reached your pupil size of your eye. I just run mine at 40x so that in prone i get an exit pupil above my eye and it is easier to get behind. On the bench it is a lot easier to get behind. This darkening is really physics. My NF NXS 12-42 darkens also but not as much because its aperture is 56 mm vs 52 foe the GE

David

 

[boltfluter]

Most scopes get quite dim past 40x. The GE doesn't have great glass to begin with. Send it in as you never know.
Paul

 

[swd]

I have one along with NF Comps and a Kahles 1050. To be honest I don’t know what the hype is about the GE, the glass pretty much sucks. Other than they’re cheap, they’re cheap. I do like the reticle..

 

[Relic]

I too have a GE and yes at higher magnification it dims but it is still clear all the way to 60x. My NF is definitely better glass.

 

[Buttstock-TX]

I have two of them. The glass could definitely be better. I pretty much keep them at 40X. I like the reticle, and they track well. I've found they work best on overcast days. On brighter days, the objective lense occluder definitely helps with seeing through mirage. Vortex support is second to none.

The retail prices for them are simply too high these days when you compare it to the NF competition. Vortex will need to improve the glass to sell more...

 

[Ranger188]

Yes, it does get dimmer above 40x more than most.
Didn't notice it getting blurry though.
Love the ECR-1 reticle.
As others have said, at $1200 or so, it's a good scope and that's how it
was priced a few years back. Now it's priced too high for what you get.
Either move up to the NF comp. or try the Athlon Ares 15-60
Ok scope in the $1100 range if you are not wanting to spend more.
But you'll be much happier in the long run with the NF comp.

 

[dthomas]

Yes they do get dim above 40x. I run mine on 40 most of the time. It might just be the mirage that you are seeing making it blurry. If you can look through another one at the same time that would help to know if you have a problem or not.

 

[rwj]

The retail prices for them are simply too high these days when you compare it to the NF competition. Vortex will need to improve the glass to sell more...

Agreed! The GE was a great value when first offered. But as its price has steadily risen to be near the NF Comp, the value proposition has greatly diminished. I still use my GE, but my last purchase was a NF Comp.

 

[JFrank]

There are several in use at Deep Creek, a couple years ago they were given away for prizes to the top guys.
World records have been set by guys using GE scopes.



Jim