Vortex Scopes

[cdparker]

You sure see a lot of advertising for these scopes. I got one of their rimfire scopes for a 10/22 that I got for one of my grandsons. It was made in China! What I am asking is do any of you have any real world experience with the higher end Vortex Scopes? How accurate are the adjustments? What do you think of the optics? Has anyone had any experience with their FFP scope? How well does the reticle work? In all what do you think of the brand and it's products. I've got no axe to grind--I'm just curious.
Craig

 

[Samlisi1]

Here is one review. I think it gives a honest assessment.

http://www.snipercentral.com/viperpst.phtml

I have had several of them. I have never had a problem with any of them. The warranty is pretty hard to beat.

 

[wapiti25]

I went to a long range shooting school and they were using the Vortex cheaper line of spotting scope's, they would not focus to a sharp image. Two out of four of them, I'm not impressed. We were shooting NightForce rifle scopes and they were better for spotting. I had brought my Ziess spotting scope and used it.

 

[LHSmith]

They have only been on the market for a few short years, however I notice a high number of this brand being offered up for sale in the classifieds after having been used for a short time period. I also worry if new manufacturers will be around long enough to honor warranty claims.

 

[Magnumwill]

I used one of their 5-20 FFP razors for about a year. I loved the scope, very clear, tracked great and it had an excellent reticle (EBR-2B). The only reason I sold it was I needed moeny at the time. They are a great company to work with. Their warranty is top notch, excellent customer service and they support the industry. Their higher end glass is hard to beat for the price. I have had no experience with their spotters but have looked through their Razor and Viper HD line of Bino's and they are clear, sharp and focus well. From my dealings with them I am not hesitant to purchase more of their optics and will in the future.

If you look at any scope in the lower price points I would venture to guess the majority are coming out of China.

 

[cdparker]

Thank all of you. I have been considering a FFP scope for using on a long range tactical/hunting application. I do have a few NF scopes and use them for F-class and target shooting. Come-ups are in minutes and adjustments are based on wind doping skills and shots on target. Here is where reliable clicks are critical. I once had a couple of Leupold VX111s in 6.5-20X After the third time I got them back from the factory to fix the adjustments, I sold them. I do have a Mark 1 ultra 16X that I have had for years. It still works great and sits on a prone gun. As it is though, a FFP scope is more logical for applications other that of shooting at a black spot on a white background. That is why I am asking for the information that you folks have provided.
Craig

 

[lal357]

I've been shooting a crossfire 8*32*50 on my 223 and love it tracks great and never gives me a problem . I'm thinking about putting one on my wifes build.
Mine has 2 yrs on it now

 

[brian427cobra]

The Razor line is really good glass, I have shot out to 1mile with a Razor EBR2 reticle scope, my new EBR3 Razor will be here Tuesday, and I really want a Razor spotter, at a recent precision rifle match barrowed a Ziess Spotter 60($6000) scope, after spending most of the day looking thru it I switched to a Razor spotter, my money will be spent on the Razor.

 

[cdparker]

OK--so now y'all have me a wee confused. I went on the Vortex site and I do not see any reference to an ERB 2 or 3 reticule. What are they? I have a Barrett 98B in .338 Lapua that will be the platform for this scope. Right now I am leaning toward the Razor PST 6-24X. I have spent my whole life thinking in MOA as opposed to MILRads when using small arms. My thought is to stick with the MOA. I really like my Bushnell Fusion range finder binos so I don't really see me doing ranging with the subtense of the reticule. It's just that I have not messed with a scope that was in the FFP and "why not?" Besides, as you guys have said--It's not that expensive. I just didn't want to buy something that would disappoint me in regards to quality.
Thanks for the help--Craig

 

[GSRswapandslow]

OK--so now y'all have me a wee confused. I went on the Vortex site and I do not see any reference to an ERB 2 or 3 reticule. What are they? I have a Barrett 98B in .338 Lapua that will be the platform for this scope. Right now I am leaning toward the Razor PST 6-24X. I have spent my whole life thinking in MOA as opposed to MILRads when using small arms. My thought is to stick with the MOA. I really like my Bushnell Fusion range finder binos so I don't really see me doing ranging with the subtense of the reticule. It's just that I have not messed with a scope that was in the FFP and "why not?" Besides, as you guys have said--It's not that expensive. I just didn't want to buy something that would disappoint me in regards to quality.
Thanks for the help--Craig

the Razor and PST are different models

 

[brian427cobra]

A mil dot reticle can be used for ranging targets, and with lots of practice very precise measurements can be made, if that's all you think a reticle is for your world is very dark, I can and have shots targets from 1000 yards to 50 to 550 and back to 1000 in less than 30 seconds, I simply used the reticle for holds, I never adjust my windage knob, I simply hold in reticle, once you understand how to use a reticle and apply the ballistics from the ammo/caliber your shooting the hitting/killing targets will be an eye opener. MRAD or MOA do the same thing, they are units of measurements that really have nothing to do with inches, feet, or meters, they are converted all the time to whatever you think you know, but really only have a value of what you assign one to them, I don't do that anymore, an MOA is an MOA, and a Mil is a Mil. Every single scope manufacture on the planet sells MRAD based reticle scopes, most offer .1mrad adjustable knobs, no two scope makers offer the same MOA reticle and then you must figure out if the 1/8 or 1/4 or 1/2 or 1 MOA adjustments are Shooter MOA, True MOA or IPHY. For stationary target shooting I prefer MOA, and a SFP scope, for everything else where targets can be from 10 feet to well over 1000 yards MRADs and FFP have no equal.

 

[cdparker]

Brian--Thanks. Your explanation is very informative and persuasive. I will give it a try--as you say--it'll be an eye opener and a great learning experience. A year ago last March my buddy and I shot the Canadian-American F-class matches at Sacramento. There were a bunch of NorCal shooters there using their MRAD scopes. I guess that is what made me curious.
OK folks--Next question--to go on my Barrett .338 Lapua--Which Vortex would you choose?
Craig

 

[EricF517]

I had a PST 6-24 mil/mil on my Savage FCP. I loved the scope, for the price, the tracking, and it was my first FFP. I don't want to get away from the FFP but for my F/TR build there is nothing in the magnification range other than the March or S&B. It worked perfectly for me for a year. The wife's PST is still going strong. The glass on the razor is better than the PST, but for the money you can't beat it. We looked through the Razor and were comparing it to the NF, and Premier. We both agreed we liked the Razor the most.

 

[NateHaler]

OK folks--Next question--to go on my Barrett .338 Lapua--Which Vortex would you choose?
Craig

The most expensive one, in keeping with that rifle and the range to which you can make shots with it.

 

[wwbrown]

I built up a couple of 338's for a testing program one was machine fired and the other was a prone shoulder fired built on an XLR stock. The prone gun had a Razor HD FFP and everyone who shot the gun was very impressed, I only shot 200 rounds before handing it off to the testing program and the Razor never moved off of zero.

I have recommended the PST models to quite a few people and they are all happy with them.

wade

 

[kwtolman]

I have two Razor HD FFP scopes: one on a 6.5x47 and another on a .308 Win. I have about a 1000 rounds thru both rifles with these scopes shooting out to 1000 meters. They hold their zeros and track perfectly. I also use the Razor HD spotting scope and wouldn't trade it for anything out there. Early on I sent one of the Razors to Vortex to have them change out the EBR-2 reticle for the EBR-3. Their service was very prompt and the price very reasonable. I am a very satisfied Vortex customer.

 

[olsingleshot]

Just my opinion on scopes. It you want a scope with the quality of a high end scope for $200. good luck. Not all of us can afford a Nightforce etc. The Votrex brand is good and the warranty great. The less expensive scope are indeed made in China so thus the cheaper price. The next level up is made in the Phillipines in some of the same plant as a lot of our well thought of scope names. The Vortex top of the line is made in Japan where the quality is very good. Bascially it is like my old Dad said, "you get what you paid for ".

 

[kelbro]

I bought a Vortex Viper HD 15-45 x 60 spotter. Nice glass. Not cheap (~$650) Works fine out to 1K yds. I didn't care for the previous non-HD model. The HD glass is a 100% improvement.

I don't mind spending decent money on rifle scopes or binos. My spotting scope use is very limited and I would rather spend the extra money elsewhere.