Vortex Advice and Opinions

[kglacken]

Looking for all the vortex guys out there. Im in the market this off season for 3 Main things...... I love my Vortex Diamondback binos for the price and Vortex has earned my business with the way they took care of me as a customer last fall. Im pretty set on giving them my money if they have what I'm kinda looking for. Here is what I need....

1. New Scope for my Remington Model 700 7mm. I have an old Redfield 10X that came with it when I got it and I can't stand it. Your eye has to be just the right distance from the glass, the clarity isn't great in lower light and it has cost me a shot opportunity, so its time for a change! I want something 12-16x. Im not looking to spend 1000 on a rifle scope, but I want something with good glass, and a little more zoom. Is there a giant difference between the Diamondback and the Viper lines? What do you have, and what do you like? pros and cons?

2. New Spotting scope. Im looking for something that is somewhat smaller and lighter. I don't use a spotter a ton, but I had too many times last season where I wish I would of had one to tell if a buck was worth the stalk or not. And I also have some hunts planned for this year, where my eyes could do some walking before I did, if you know what I mean. It doesn't necessarily have to be a "backpacking" scope, but i don't want something big and bulky. Which one do you recommend?

3. New Range finder. Just curious what people thought of their 1000 yard range finder. Anyone have it? Work well?

Thanks in advance everyone!

[Mxracer532]

I have experience with the Crossfire, Viper and just did purchase a Viper PST 6-24x50. My Sendero (also 7mag) is at the Smiths getting a CSR brake and a trigger job so I haven't got it mounted up yet but initial observation is it can't be beat for the price. A friend just put a Viper HST-LR on a Tikka 22-250 in 4-16x50 and it is also a very nice scope.
My brother has a Viper spotter and the Ranger 1000 and loves them both. (Myself I prefer my Leica rangefinder)

[HntnFsh]

Might look at the Sig Kilo range finder that's being talked about in the other thread.

[Karl Blanchard]

Viper HD 48x spotter would be a mid range option that's not too bulky.

Viper HS LR or a PST would be better options than the Diamondback line.

Like anything Vortex, warranty is second to none, but expect to use it.  They have 3 pieces of my glass in their repair shop as I type this.   

[yorketransport]

Like anything Vortex, warranty is second to none, but expect to use it.  They have 3 pieces of my glass in their repair shop as I type this.   

Slow learner.......

[mountainman]

Like anything Vortex, warranty is second to none, but expect to use it.  They have 3 pieces of my glass in their repair shop as I type this.   

Slow learner.......

:
Personally love my Vortex glass. Stay above the Viper level and you will be good to go!

[Karl Blanchard]

Like anything Vortex, warranty is second to none, but expect to use it.  They have 3 pieces of my glass in their repair shop as I type this.   

Slow learner.......

:
Personally love my Vortex glass. Stay above the Viper level and you will be good to go!

  well my spotter is a Razor HD

[Karl Blanchard]

Like anything Vortex, warranty is second to none, but expect to use it.  They have 3 pieces of my glass in their repair shop as I type this.   

Slow learner.......

  Hey now!!!  I prefer the term special

[Sakko300wsm]

I have a viper on my Tikka 7mm-08 and had a Ranger 1000 - both are great and zero problems. Just sold the ranger and ordered up a new Sig Kilo , but not because the ranger had any issues- it performed absolutely perfect, I just wanted to check out the sig so hopefully I made the right choice. I also have a pair of 10x50 diamond back binos that I think is good glass for the price

[Wingin it]

I have a Viper HS LR that has been great so far. I also have a set of Razor HD 12X50 binoculars that are great. I even bought my wife a set of crossfire ii in 8x42 for around the house and bird watching.  She does a little hunting too. No complaints with any of the Vortex stuff here, at least not yet.

[Buzz2401]

I would have to think that with all the returns to Vortex for warranty issues they will eventually figiure out how to make a reliable one.  I think they spend all their money on glass then throw in some bargain hardware to keep at price point while having great glass.  Sell a bunch of product and then just fix the ones that break.  Its a good business model until people decide they are tired of missed opportunities and quit buying their products.

[jackelope]

Half of their " warranty" repairs are not related to anything that should be considered a manufacturers defect. I.e. Throw them off a cliff, let a bear chew on them. The downsides to the manufacture's side of a "no fault" warranty.
I've got  a vortex spotting scope, 3 scopes. All on the lower price range. I put a cheap scope on a heavy recoiling rifle and broke it. Not their fault, but they replaced it for free. I put it on a .22 when I got it back, replaced for free. I've had no issues with anything else. 

[Stein]

I bet 75% of the warranty returns are not due to defects in the products.

[mountainman]

I bet 75% of the warranty returns are not due to defects in the products.

[CAMPMEAT]

I'd like to see ALL the return warranty excuses sent into Vortex. My PST is very, very clear, plus, I do not abuse my stuff just to be able to send it back to give a poor review or be a pain.

[JDHasty]

I would very strongly encourage you to also consider the 12-40  GR. Leupold spotter.  I have one and a Razor 85 and the Leupold is pack able, to a degree, whereas many others are lots heavier. 

As for Vortex warantee service, it is as good as Leupoold and Swaro and that is saying a lot.  I have had a kid disassemble a Viper Binocular and it was back in six days from the day I sent it.  I have no problem with Vortex quality and I am hard on optics.  But I only have experience with Viper and above, the 8x42 Diamondback that lives in the truck I have only had a couple months.

[cboom]

Viper HD 48x spotter would be a mid range option that's not too bulky.

Viper HS LR or a PST would be better options than the Diamondback line.

Like anything Vortex, warranty is second to none, but expect to use it.  They have 3 pieces of my glass in their repair shop as I type this.   

If I remember right you lost a chance at a buck due to a Vortex scope didn't you? That could have been a once in a lifetime buck and there is no warranty in the world that would have made up for that. I would never trust a Vortex on a hunting rifle for that reason. Yes they have a great warranty, it is well known how good it is because so many people have had to use it!

[mountainman]

Not sure where so many have sent back for issues? When in the business, Vortex sold 10-1 over others combined. Like Leupold, but for every Vortex that was sent in for warranty, there were 2-3 Leupold that went back. Just my experience..

[deerhunter_98520]

Every company that has a warranty like this (leupold,swaro,vortex,etc) you will always see/hear about the broken defective ones getting set back...how many thousands are  being used that your not hearing about...not many people will go on and give feedback about how great the product is and it stick out like a negative review will...I have had a 85mm razor HD scope for 2 seasons now and has worked flawlessly. No complaints here 

[Buzz2401]

Not sure where so many have sent back for issues? When in the business, Vortex sold 10-1 over others combined. Like Leupold, but for every Vortex that was sent in for warranty, there were 2-3 Leupold that went back. Just my experience..

It is possible that Leupold has more warranty returns but that would be accounted to the fact that they have been in business for 80 years compared to 10 for Vortex.  Find it hard to believe that Vortex sells 10-1 figuiring I am the only one I know that has even ever purchased one.  All of my friends and hunting partners use either Leupold, Nikon or Zeiss.  They have good glass for the money though so it doesn't suprise me that they sell.

[Karl Blanchard]

Viper HD 48x spotter would be a mid range option that's not too bulky.

Viper HS LR or a PST would be better options than the Diamondback line.

Like anything Vortex, warranty is second to none, but expect to use it.  They have 3 pieces of my glass in their repair shop as I type this.   

If I remember right you lost a chance at a buck due to a Vortex scope didn't you? That could have been a once in a lifetime buck and there is no warranty in the world that would have made up for that. I would never trust a Vortex on a hunting rifle for that reason. Yes they have a great warranty, it is well known how good it is because so many people have had to use it!

Yep!  All three of my pieces and their warranty issues were absolutely 100% due to manufacturer failure.  My stuff doesn't go out on a few sunny saturdays.  They get 4 solid months of hard use, in lots of taxing environments.  They failed the test.  I have lots of Nikon and vx1's and the only scope I have ever had fail me was the most expensive one I own, the Viper HS.  I think normal use it would be fine though.  Man that was a great buck too

[jasnt]

I would recommend
1. Viper either HD or PST
2. Sig kilo
3.viper or better

[deerhunter_98520]

I missed a shot at a dandy blacktail...shot 6 times at it before I gave up....after that I went to check my zero and I was 12" low at 100 yds  sent my leupold back and the crosshairs came lose....I put that scope on my kids gun  he hasn't missed yet with it 

[Reidus]

Viper HD 48x spotter would be a mid range option that's not too bulky.

Viper HS LR or a PST would be better options than the Diamondback line.

Like anything Vortex, warranty is second to none, but expect to use it.  They have 3 pieces of my glass in their repair shop as I type this.   

If I remember right you lost a chance at a buck due to a Vortex scope didn't you? That could have been a once in a lifetime buck and there is no warranty in the world that would have made up for that. I would never trust a Vortex on a hunting rifle for that reason. Yes they have a great warranty, it is well known how good it is because so many people have had to use it!

Yep!  All three of my pieces and their warranty issues were absolutely 100% due to manufacturer failure.  My stuff doesn't go out on a few sunny saturdays.  They get 4 solid months of hard use, in lots of taxing environments.  They failed the test.  I have lots of Nikon and vx1's and the only scope I have ever had fail me was the most expensive one I own, the Viper HS.  I think normal use it would be fine though.  Man that was a great buck too

I remember seeing how your crosshairs twisted on the viper but, what were the other 2 optics and how did they fail?

[Karl Blanchard]

My Viper bino's had the focus wheel bind up, an eye cup that came off, and the diopter ring won't stay locked down.

I purchased some VORTEX lens cleaner and lens cloth to use on my 85mm Razor HD last year.  First time using it, it smeared the lens coating on my eye piece.  Luckily I recognized the issue before i tried it on the objective lens, when I couldn't wipe off the new "smudges" .   It was basically worthless after that for most uses.  It was good for establishing frame size of a buck, but that was about it for anything past 6 or 7 hundred yards.

[CAMPMEAT]

I hav the SIG KILO 2000, the furthest range off my porch was 2492 yards. I like it.