Vortex Advice and Opinions

[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.