I have never hunted with a Vortex traded for some but sold them, a buddy of mine has a 2.5-10x44 Viper sitting on a 7mm Mag he has owned it for several years and drug it over several states with no complaints. I have looked thru it when he brings it over to my range to sight in, I was looking thru it late one evening across our bean fields and was impressed with the glass. I am setting up a 7-08 Tikka up for my youngest granddaughter and noticed Midway had them on sale for $299.00 and free shipping. I have been shooting Leupold for over 50 years and not to say there the best but I have always been satisfied. I am thinking about trying one of the Vipers, I am sure some on here has shot that model.
Vortex Opinions
- Thread starter rickyk280
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swampbadger
Well-Known Member
I have one no complaints from me! A lotta bang for the buck! I've had it for 3 seasons and it's still working excellent.
I have that same scope purchased in 2018 from midway. Put it on a rifle that was intended at that time primarily for Woods hunting. I had a hard time getting the crosshairs square with the receiver. It looks to me as though the crosshairs were not square with the turrets on the scope! I sent it back to vortex and it was returned in a week or possibly a little more no charge and the problem is fixed. I've had no problems with the scope.
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You will receive widely varying opinions on this site.
Basically, if you plan on shooting long or medium ranges, many say they do not track well when dialing up/down/left/right and/or returning to zero.
I gave my BIL a new Bergara 6.5PRC with 4-16×44 Viper that I worked up a load for and zeroed for Christmas. When I gave it to him, I demonstrated the elevation travel and zero stop. He shot it later and said it was still dead on.
If you are a hunter who doesnt shoot long range or utilizes the BDC reticle when shooting at distance, it will be fine.
I'm up to 8 or 9 Vipers and a Razor.
The Vipers are mostly 4-16x50 HSLR scopes. In the 5 or 6 years I've owned some of them, I utilized the warranty 1 time. It was my fault. The rifle fell on concrete and the zoom ring got loose. They sent another scope no questions asked.
I have them on SML's that generate twice the recoil of a 30-06 andmost likely a 300wm. None have failed. All have held zero and the limited amount of dialing I have done showed no problems. Typically I use the BDC.
Basically, if you plan on shooting long or medium ranges, many say they do not track well when dialing up/down/left/right and/or returning to zero.
I gave my BIL a new Bergara 6.5PRC with 4-16×44 Viper that I worked up a load for and zeroed for Christmas. When I gave it to him, I demonstrated the elevation travel and zero stop. He shot it later and said it was still dead on.
If you are a hunter who doesnt shoot long range or utilizes the BDC reticle when shooting at distance, it will be fine.
I'm up to 8 or 9 Vipers and a Razor.
The Vipers are mostly 4-16x50 HSLR scopes. In the 5 or 6 years I've owned some of them, I utilized the warranty 1 time. It was my fault. The rifle fell on concrete and the zoom ring got loose. They sent another scope no questions asked.
I have them on SML's that generate twice the recoil of a 30-06 andmost likely a 300wm. None have failed. All have held zero and the limited amount of dialing I have done showed no problems. Typically I use the BDC.
I am old school. I get my scope set at where I want it and then I do not fiddle with any turrets or adjustments! That said I have a vortex 4 to 16 by 44 on a 280 Ackley improved and I used the bullet drop compensating lines. That thing Rings a 12-in steel at 600 yd almost every time. That's like the bottom line on the BDC reticle. Don't let me give you the wrong impression. I've never fired at game that far. I'm just saying the lines on the scope seem to actually work.
Rick, recently set up model 70 in 243 wssm for great grandson. Went w/4-12x Leupold vs Vortex Diamondback HP, already had each, as Leupold is 5-6 ozs. lighter. No regrets! As you, never put a Vortex on anything I kept. Good luck
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They're not what I'd recommend, Nikon was always my preference- now I've started using Leupold and Burris.
ImThere
Well-Known Member
I've had good luck with my vortex on my 22. Now my buddy has went through 3 of the same scopes with an identical 22. We literally have twin guns. He is disappointed and im ecstatic. lol. I could not tell you why. He is actually a gun snob and takes way better care of his guns. His are a collection mine are tools. lol. He is on his 3 one and it maybe a good one he is starting his second year with it.
Which Vortex did you own. I really liked the Nikon Monarchs.
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The diamondback and the viper, I had bad luck with 1 of each.
Sent them back for a refund.
I know a lot of guys love them, but my experience was not good.
Sent them back for a refund.
I know a lot of guys love them, but my experience was not good.
Teacher
Well-Known Member
One of my friends came out a couple of weeks ago to sight his rifle in. He had a Vortex scope-I don't remember the specifics-but after a box of shells with no success, he put the rifle away and borrowed one of mine with a Leupold.
He went a few days later and bought a used Leupold 4x12 and mounted it to the same gun. Three shots later and he was dialed in. I tried to get him to put the Vortex on a block and try shooting through the lenses to destroy it. He wouldn't do it. To me the scope was useless and didn't need to be someone else's problem.
I was in Las Vegas the first week of December and went to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Christmas Convention. I met the Leupold folks there working a booth and talked to them for quite a while. They were good ole boys to say the least. One asked me if I had ever had any issues with a Leupold and I said never, except I took the turret caps off one and lost the caps after sighting it in. He looked under the case and handed me a pack of turret caps. He said no charge when handing them to me. Talk about going the extra mile! Thanks Leupold.
He went a few days later and bought a used Leupold 4x12 and mounted it to the same gun. Three shots later and he was dialed in. I tried to get him to put the Vortex on a block and try shooting through the lenses to destroy it. He wouldn't do it. To me the scope was useless and didn't need to be someone else's problem.
I was in Las Vegas the first week of December and went to the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Christmas Convention. I met the Leupold folks there working a booth and talked to them for quite a while. They were good ole boys to say the least. One asked me if I had ever had any issues with a Leupold and I said never, except I took the turret caps off one and lost the caps after sighting it in. He looked under the case and handed me a pack of turret caps. He said no charge when handing them to me. Talk about going the extra mile! Thanks Leupold.
Thanks, for the feedback Teacher.
As I said before I been shooting Leupold for over 50 years and very satisfied, I bought a new VX3i 4.5-14x50 30mm several years back dropped it on my old 280 Ackley after the 3rd 5 shot group I knew we had a serious tracking problem, sent it back to Leupold got it back put back on rifle it's still on there problem solved. It can happen to any of them.
As far as your friends Vortex he could have sent it back in and they would have repaired it or sent him a new one. Midway said I had 30 days if I am not satisfied, they would refund my money. I think I am going to break tradition and try one. I have a rifle that's a known shooter to drop it on and test it.
Vortex is trash IMO. At one time they were really good but the quality vs price is no longer there unless you get into the Razor line. Pretty much all china made and the glass is "ok" at best vs some others in the same price point
Yes the warrenty is great but it's no better then most all quality scope manufacturers. They live off marketing really and name alone just like leupold does these days.
For the price there are a lot of great options out there that will have better glass and features IMO
Yes the warrenty is great but it's no better then most all quality scope manufacturers. They live off marketing really and name alone just like leupold does these days.
For the price there are a lot of great options out there that will have better glass and features IMO
Depends on your budget really. Burris has some great options with the same warrenty as an example same with Tract. Can find very good deals on rokslide for Steiner, swaro Z3, Zeiss, meopta all of which I'd own before vortex.
Again their razor line is really nice but really expensive. Viper line is ok but I'd prefer some of the others for close to the same price. Anything below the viper line is not even an option imo
I know I'm crapping on vortex and I'm sure some here have some they love so if you like what your paying for and are happy with it great. I just feel there is much better options personally
If your talking about something under $300 or so then that limits it some as most all in that category are china made but even the leupold freedom line is own before a vortex lower end and I also feel leupold isnt what it once was
I have a Viper PST that I'm about to send in for warranty. It's the only one I have had. The eye box will suddenly go to nearly nothing and get dark. Nit sure what's going on with it.
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Owned 2 crossfires, a diamondback and viper. Wasn't a big fan of any of them, eye relief, eye box, glass quality, edge clarity, color clarity to name a few I wasn't impressed with
I'm not a fan of Vortex or Leupold. I just feel like you can do better for the money at each level of scope they make. Honestly, for a lower powered scope, below is a link to probably the best value out there right now.
https://cameralandny.com/shop/sight...fb2c-013a-7d2e-00163ecd2826?variation=3250937
https://cameralandny.com/shop/sight...fb2c-013a-7d2e-00163ecd2826?variation=3250937
Own 3 different Vortex scopes….. never a problem . I really think 50% of scope problems are the mounts and not being meticulous when mounting them…. Torque wrench , proper adhesives , proper eye relief..
Vortex and Leupold are two brands I'll never own another of.
What do you own?
Mostly Nightforce (NXS on hunting rifles, ATACR on range rifles), Tangent Theta or Zeiss V4's.
People tend to skimp on mounts often. And I would agree, they do lead to failures. But once you look thru several high end scopes you'll quickly realize how much better they are. The diamondback scope is terrible. Eye relief is terrible as well as the clarity. The diamondback hp is a much better version. I would never consider the crossfire. I've looked thru a few and they're on par with a Simmons. The viper line has good glass and clarity. The razor hd lht was a dang fine scope. I really liked the crosshairs. Glass was good. Eye relief was good. The biggest issue is the amount of failures out there. Sure the warranty is good, but so is any other reputable manufactures warranty. A warranty does you no good when you're in the middle of hunting season with a broke scope. For what a razor costs, there's much better options out there. Trijicon, maven, nightforce can all be had for $1200ish. You can get a trijicon under $500 if you shop around. SWFA seems to be making scopes again, but I doubt they stay in stock
I have a 6.5 X 20 X 44 Vortex Viper on my AR-10, and I have a Leupold 6.5-20x40 VX-III LR on a 700 VLS 308, and VX-2, 3-9X40 on a Winchester Model 70 Super Grade in .243.
I would like to replace the Vortex because it is more work to get a clear sight picture than with the Leupold. In fairness, the Leupold 6.5 X 20 cost twice what the Viper cost. I can't comment on accuracy because I'm sure that limitation is me, not the firearms or scopes. I can't fire a group you can cover with an eraser, and I don't shoot out of a sled or other mount. I am generally sitting at a bench shooting off a bag, or standing freehand. I don't hunt anymore, but if I did I would not take the Vortex hunting, its just too slow. Now..that could be me, but I don't have that problem with the Leupold.
That's where I am as well. Was a huge leupold fan for a long time but man it's a shame to see what they have become.
Heck I get a big discount on leupold through work and even then I don't mess with them anymore
Long story short, they started pushing more to shareholder $ and bottom line vs continuing to innovate and put the best product and materials in their lines. Decided to just live off the name alone which works great for sales. The sheer amount of guys that go and shoot 3 rounds a year and expect to "sight it in" each fall outweighs the guys that shoot a ton and depend on their optic to hold zero and take abuse. Cater to the common fella and sales stay high and cost can be cut. Use the warrenty to make people feel safe and trusting of the brand and you make shareholders happy.
Tons of threads out there of guys having major issues with most of their line holding zeros just with the gun riding in the back of their car
Then you have company's that are smaller and less "name brand" that really kept pushing the invocation and features of scopes but because their name is not leupold, vortex, or Nikon to some degree most hunters won't or don't risk moving to something unknown to them.
The sheer amount of "I've always had leupold and it's been fine so that's just what I'll always use" is a great example. Leupold of 15 years ago isn't the same product they produce today.
Having said that they still make a nice scope and if you have issues just send it back. But for me when it comes to technology like scopes I try not to be brand loyal, I'd rather get the best product I can with within the price point I can afford and in most cases leupold and vortex you end up paying more for the name then the quality and features you are getting.
