Vortex Opinions

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REN said:
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.
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Thanks REN

I will assure you we are more than 3 round a year guys, I have a 300-yard range behind my shop and 500 yards on the other part of the farm, plus a friend that is finishing up a 1000-yard range yes, we enjoy shooting a lot. Would you say Leupolds Glass is worse now than 15 years ago or their other components or both ? I am old but never too old to learn. There is a friend here now with a new Christmas scope made by Gunwerks I believe it's a Revic this will be my first to look thru. A very good day to be shooting in my area.
 
rickyk280 said:
Thanks REN

I will assure you we are more than 3 round a year guys, I have a 300-yard range behind my shop and 500 yards on the other part of the farm, plus a friend that is finishing up a 1000-yard range yes, we enjoy shooting a lot. Would you say Leupolds Glass is worse now than 15 years ago or their other components or both ? I am old but never too old to learn. There is a friend here now with a new Christmas scope made by Gunwerks I believe it's a Revic this will be my first to look thru. A very good day to be shooting in my area.
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Worse, no. Glass technology and process has advanced a lot in 15 years so just by nature it's better today same with components.

A better way to put it is 20 years ago a vx3 was a very very quality scope for the price point. Today however that's not the case and quality wise you are now paying vx3 prices for the equivalent of a vx1 back then.

Price point wise for another example is the current vx3 hd vs something like a Zeiss v4 or a tract toric isn't even comparable imo but price wise they are. The vx5 hd is even higher price vs the same price point you are sacrificing a lot just to say you have a leupold.
 
rickyk280 said:
Thanks REN

I will assure you we are more than 3 round a year guys, I have a 300-yard range behind my shop and 500 yards on the other part of the farm, plus a friend that is finishing up a 1000-yard range yes, we enjoy shooting a lot. Would you say Leupolds Glass is worse now than 15 years ago or their other components or both ? I am old but never too old to learn. There is a friend here now with a new Christmas scope made by Gunwerks I believe it's a Revic this will be my first to look thru. A very good day to be shooting in my area.
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Leupold has great glass and the eye box on the vx5 is amazing. Possibly the best I've ever looked thru. I've owned 3. Most people will never know a shift in zero. If you shoot as you say you'd see it. If people have to turn turrets year after year, they have a scope problem. Most people just wanna argue about it tho.
 
Jcalder said:
Leupold has great glass and the eye box on the vx5 is amazing. Possibly the best I've ever looked thru. I've owned 3. Most people will never know a shift in zero. If you shoot as you say you'd see it. If people have to turn turrets year after year, they have a scope problem. Most people just wanna argue about it tho.
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Agin not dumping on leupold (better then vortex to me). They still make a good scope for sure especially once you get to the vx5 and 6 models.

And I should have said earlier is that everyone's eyes and what they see is different. Some LOVE Zeiss scopes and some people don't because of how their eyes adjust to it. No different then binos

seeing a shift or noticing one isn't really the point as much as NOT knowing and trying to shoot at an animal which is what 90% here will do. The odds it happens is low but it seems to be happening a lot lately (especially in the vx3HD model)

Granted few people get online to praise scopes or brands so the unhappy people (which are in the minority) are the loudest.

IF it's my hard earned money and maybe the only scope I'm gonna buy for the next 10 years, all I'm saying is I would 1000% shop around and compare them for what I'm getting for the money vs just saying "well brand X has been around a long while I'll just go with them". If leupold ends up being that one you really love then fantastic.
 
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REN said:
Agin not dumping in leupold (better then vortex to me). They still make a good scope for sure especially once you get to the vx5 and 6 models.

And I should have said earlier in that everyone's eyes and what they see is different. Some LOVE Zeiss scopes and some people don't because of how their eyes adjust to it. No different then binos

seeing a shift or noticing one isn't really the point as much as NOT knowing and trying to shoot at an animal which is what 90% here will do. The odds it happens is low but it seems to be happing a lot lately (especially in the vx3HD model)

Granted few people get online to praise scopes or brands so the unhappy people (which are in the minority) are the loudest.

IF it's my hard earned money and maybe the only scope I'm gonna buy for the next 10 years, all I'm saying is I would 1000% shop around and compare them for what I'm getting for the money vs just saying "well brand X has been around a long while I'll just go with them". If leupold ends up being that one you really love then fantastic.
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I've not looked thru a ziess or Swarovski, and I hear the glass is great, but the scopes are fragile. Durability is 1st for me next to clarity. The trij credo checks both for myself.

Everyone has a preference. Buy what suits you. They all can fail, but at what rate is the question.
 
One thing rarely mentioned or discussed is Reticle options. If you are a standard Plex guy then it doesnt matter a much as most hunting scopes offer that.

However there are some scopes that I just cant buy solely due to reticle options, but what one man likes others may hate so its very subjective. Like I absolutely LOVE the Burris E3 reticle but man most of the Trij and even Zeiss I just dont like them at all which kind eliminates them for me. Riton is another one that is a great scope but man I hate their reticle options.

in addition to reticle if the company actually has a ballistics calculator with their reticles that also is a big bonus. Takes all the math and guessing out, just plug in your info in the app and it will show you exactly what each mark yardage represents.
 
REN said:
One thing rarely mentioned or discussed is Reticle options. If you are a standard Plex guy then it doesnt matter a much as most hunting scopes offer that.

However there are some scopes that I just cant buy solely due to reticle options, but what one man likes others may hate so its very subjective. Like I absolutely LOVE the Burris E3 reticle but man most of the Trij and even Zeiss I just dont like them at all which kind eliminates them for me. Riton is another one that is a great scope but man I hate their reticle options.

in addition to reticle if the company actually has a ballistics calculator with their reticles that also is a big bonus. Takes all the math and guessing out, just plug in your info in the app and it will show you exactly what each mark yardage represents.
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Have you looked at the new maven 1.2
 
Jcalder said:
Have you looked at the new maven 1.2
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I have not personally. So far I dont know anyone close to me that has one to check it out. Maven makes good stuff though, I have looked online at them and the SHR-W reticle might be one I have to see first hand.
 
rickyk280 said:
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.
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My advice would be to compare $300 scopes to $300 scopes. You can't compare a $300 scope to a $1500 scope.
I've tried several over the years Zeiss, Leupold, Meopta, GPO, etc I've never found $1000 optics in a $500 scope NEVER!!! Some on here love the Meopta's and compare them the Zeiss conquest, in my opinion it's not even close. I'll take the Zeiss any day over the other.
Since they no longer make the conquest I find myself being a Leupold guy these days. I really like the vx5hd.
I'm sure a vortex of comparable price is of comparable quality.
Couple years ago I caught a German Precision Optics (GPO) on a good sale at Cameraland about half price. It's a great scope for what I gave for it but if I had gave full price I would be really disappointed.
 
Thanks Roost 1.
I was not comparing a $300 dollar scope to $1500 scope. With a shooting range here at my shop I have probably looked thru as many scopes as anyone. I was asking about the 2.5-10x44 Vortex. I have looked thru there Razor, Viper, Diamondback, my main concern when asking was how well it held up for others that owned one and used it. I wasn't expecting Nightforce quality out of $300.00 scope!!
 
rickyk280 said:
Thanks Roost 1.
I was not comparing a $300 dollar scope to $1500 scope. With a shooting range here at my shop I have probably looked thru as many scopes as anyone. I was asking about the 2.5-10x44 Vortex. I have looked thru there Razor, Viper, Diamondback, my main concern when asking was how well it held up for others that owned one and used it. I wasn't expecting Nightforce quality out of $300.00 scope!!
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Yes sir I understand but others were mentioning $4000 scopes and I was saying that's way off base of your question.
I have no personal experience but I know guys that have the vortex diamondback hd with no complaints for a $200 scope.
Good luck with your search.
 
My opinion on Vortex scopes. I have 3 or 4, a couple of 6x24 Diamondback Tacticals, and a Venom 5x25x56, and a few others. Won a few .22 Rimfire matches with the Venom atop my CZ 457, shooting against NF 55x scopes on Vudoo rifles . They perform fine IMO, and I haven't had any issues in the years I've owned them, not saying I won't, but haven't yet. Having the warranty they provide is comforting tho.

ETA - I have the Diamondback Tac 24x on my Ruger Precision Rifle 6.5 Creedmoor and it performs well out to 1000 yards also.
 
Roost 1 said:
Yes sir I understand but others were mentioning $4000 scopes and I was saying that's way off base of your question.
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No....he (The OP) mentioned a gunwerks Revic. I put the link and ask if that was what he was talking about because the only one I could find was $4K.
 
I own several of the Viper HS line and have been pleased with all of them for the money. They became my go-to when Nikon quit selling riflescopes.

For $300 you're at the price point of a Leupold VX-Freedom and I think the Vortex has it beat. Bump up to $500 and you're at the Leupold VX-3 line which are great scopes but you're looking at $200 more than the Vortex.
 
knightrider said:
Yes, they probably should have! Shouldnt be a surprise , i mean its the government 😂
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Exactly. The government is going to spend $11K each on a sight from a company that can't hold the top position in the under a grand market. 🤣
I wonder how much of this they are manufacturing in this country.
 
DaveTN said:
Exactly. The government is going to spend $11K each on a sight from a company that can't hold the top position in the under a grand market. 🤣
I wonder how much of this they are manufacturing in this country.
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I'm pretty Sure these are being made in the US as part of the contract requirements.
 
I mean we are talking HUNTING scopes. That's not really an apples to apples comparison. Heck I think Sig has some of the best electronic glass out there but their actual rifle scopes suck :)
 
Never been impressed with their scopes. Especially at higher magnification.

Compared to my Zeiss, Leupold and the last Nikon Monarch or even P5 they are not in the same class.

I like their binos for the money although the Vipers may be s as little overpriced. . I'll never buy another scope.

Their customer service is the best in the business. That's a fact
 

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