Anyone have a Vortex Viper HS 4x16?

[Harborhunter]

I am looking into a new scope for my .300 win and am curious about the Vortex Viper HS LR 4-16x44. I have been researching for a little while and I have read some reviews and most seem pretty positive.  I am curious if anyone on here has this scope and could let me know what you think of it.  Just trying to get a few more opinions.  Thanks! 

[TikkaT3-270Shortmag]

Vortex is high quality for the $$ I have Viper binos and love them

[chuck270]

I just put one on my CZ 527 - .233 but have not had time to take it to the range.  I was impressed enough to at least give it a try and I am relatively sure it will meet my expectations.  If it preforms on par with or near my Leopolds then for the money it will be one hell of a scope.

[chuck270]

Follow-up.  Side by side with my Leupold VXIII 4.5 x 14 x 40 the Vortex fell short in the optical clearity at long distance and low light gathering at dusk.  Still a good scope just not as good as the Leupold in the glass quality. 

[Biggerhammer]

Follow-up.  Side by side with my Leupold VXIII 4.5 x 14 x 40 the Vortex fell short in the optical clearity at long distance and low light gathering at dusk.  Still a good scope just not as good as the Leupold in the glass quality.

Vortex doesn't even come close to Leupold quality. I know, tried The Vortex route(Unfortunatly) Shipping scopes back and forth with them for service became tiering in a hurry. Not that Leupolds quality control has been on any upward curve in the past 10 years. But their MK 4 series is still holding true to it's origin.

[TikkaT3-270Shortmag]

Haha funny cause I just switched from leupolds to vortex. I think vortex & Nikon have passed up leupold

[chuck270]

Haha funny cause I just switched from leupolds to vortex. I think vortex & Nikon have passed up leupold

If it allows you to hit what you are aiming at then its all good   I was just sharing my personal observations with what I am using.  I will be keeping the Vortex on the rifle because it is plenty good enough for what I am sking it to do.

[widebear]

Don't want to get into p%#$^ match but I have been the Leupold route with the 41/2x14 VXIII, the 6.5x20 VXIII and who knows how many of the old VXII 3x9's. But that was 8 to 10 years ago. Hated the eye relief change with the 6.5x20. The last couple years I have been playing with the Viper PA 6.5x 20 and like them. Had the turrets matched to the Ballistics. They work. Coming back to 0 is so important and it seems to do this over and over. Once my buddies saw what these scopes were doing plus having the clarity and 0 complaints I have ordered 11 of them for my buddies. Not all have had time to try them but the ones that did love them. Now for the best part. The first 4 I ordered $259.99 no tax free shipping, The next 9 $279.99.

[Goose Noose]

Where did you find the viper PA for that price?

[widebear]

Cameraland in NY. They had a special deal going. After Vortex discontinued making them(PA) Doug at Camerland had Vortex make up a special order I think they said 200 and then 3 or 400 more The first 200 were the 259 and the second bunch was 279. The only choice of reticle was the wide duplex but that's what I wanted.

[FALFire]

I have to agree with a couple of the other posters here re: the Vortex.  A friend of mine has that very same scope you are considering and the optical celerity at ranges beyond 300 yards is not impressive, I used it on one of my rifles out to 600 yards for about 3 months. I would say it is about as good or slightly better than the Leupold rifleman scope I have at 300 yards. I was seriously considering a Viper series scope but now I think I'll put the money towards something else. SWFA has always been good to deal with for me and they have their SS series of scopes that do pretty darn well. I have the SS 10X Mil-Dot and it's a very clear and repeatable optic for a reasonable price. I would say it is as good as my Mark 4 scope. 

[snowshoes22]

I'm shooting a 4-16X50 Viper PST.  The quality seems to be very good.  The tracking is excellent it always returns to zero.  When you dial it up it always hits the same place.  I only have 120 rounds through it so far but it hasn't had any problems yet.  The glass is very clear.  Its on a 6.5 creedmoor.  I wish i would have got the 6-24X though for the longer shots.  if the wife wouldn't kill me i would buy the 6-24 and put the 4-16 on my 270. 

[Deep Forks]

Haha funny cause I just switched from leupolds to vortex. I think vortex & Nikon have passed up leupold

 

[LEN]

We have been(My son and I) testing Leo's Vortex and get this the Weaver grand slam in 6.5 x 20. Leo's in 1" and 30mm, we think the Weaver comes out on top the leo's next and the Vortex last. We have set them up in good light and evening light looking side by side at the same spot with targets that one can see resolution lines. There was all the time in the world to focus and compare so it wasn't a quick look in a store where even cheap scopes look good. Side by side is the test is the only way to go. It's really the chits when the $400 scope looks better than the $900.

LEN

[Atroxus]

I don't have a Viper, but I do have a Vortex Diamondback 4-16, and have been very happy with it.

[jayrod9528]

I have a vortex viper 6.5x20 30mm tube 50 objective. I payed around $450 and for that money and that quality I don't think you could beat it. I would say it is  equal to a $600-$800 Leupold.   

[Harborhunter]

Good deal.  I ended up getting a Leupold VX III 4.5-14x40 CDS.  Been great, same old Leupold quality that I have known for years.  I was really considering the vortex, but have never been let down with Leupold, so I ended up going that route.  It was nice to read everyone's opinion.  Thanks!

[BOWHUNTER45]

I have a 4x12 vortex on my sons 25-06 and we like it ... clear - tough and no issues yet !

[GUHunter]

I realize that the OP has already made a decision but I actually stumbled onto this via a google search so it may help others. Something we have to keep in mind when reading through this thread is that not all posters are talking about scopes in the same class as one another. Leupold and Vortex are both full line manufacturers and make some lower end lines as well as some moderate and high price/performance options. It's easy to get off track and make vague comparisons between "Leupolds" and "Vortex" without much regard to specific optics. The original question was centered around a ~$500 scope so talks of Leupold Riflemans or even a standard Vortex are fairly irrelevant. On the other extreme, one could say something to the effect that vortex is far better than Leupold based on the "Ravor HD" offering from Vortex. While most will agree that Leupold can't compete with that product specifically, it also does not mean Vortex is superior to Leupold.

To the original question, I will say that I have no direct experience with that specific product. I am very close to buying one and have done research off and on for many months. Everything suggests that it is fantastic and for the price is tough to beat. I am debating going with the standard or the LR version. Vortex has an industry leading warranty (as does Leupold) and is bringing many great products to market.