Vortex Scopes

nateysmith · May 1, 2013

Hi everyone. I am in the market to get a better scope on my rifle. The price point I am trying to stay under is $300. I have been looking at the Vortex Diamondback in 4x12x40 with or without Adjustable Objective, or the Vortex viper in 3x9x40. Any thoughts on these scopes? Would one be better over the other? Are there other scopes I can get that would be better for my money? Thanks!

HM82 · May 23, 2013

I have a viper in 6.5-20x and love it. The 3-9x40 is on sale at cabelas right now for $299. You also cant go wrong with the Leupold 3-9x40 vx-2...also $299

frogman43 · May 25, 2013

If you're looking for a Vortex scope, check out Cameraland in NY. They are a sponsr here and Doug always has good deals, and great customer service!

"Lead, follow, or get the hell out of the way!"

JMUPT · May 30, 2013

I love my vortex scopes, but in that price range you may want to look at the weaver grandslam from natchezss.com they are running right around the $300 mark and I think the glass may be a little better than what you will get from vortex in that price range.

jarheadhunter · May 30, 2013

LAST EDITED ON May-30-13 AT 03:34PM (MST)[p]I have the 4-12x40 Diamondback on my AR and it is a great scope. For $180 I would have a hard time finding a better scope.

I did just get a new Minox Z5 3-15x42 from Camerland for $299 and it is a great scope too and usually runs $500. Might want to look into that.

nateysmith · Jun 13, 2013

LAST EDITED ON Jun-13-13 AT 07:05AM (MST)[p]Thanks for all the info guys! I am thinking I will go with the Vortex Diamondback series. Now I just need to decide 4x12x40 or 3.5x10x50. Anyone have thoughts on which would be better and why? I have heard the 4x12 is better for long range, but the 3.5x10 is better for low light, is this true?

mtmuley · Jun 13, 2013

Vortex over Leupold? No way. mtmuley

nateysmith · Jun 14, 2013

So you would take a Leupold VX-3 Scope 3.5-10x50mm Matte 1in Boone and Crockett over that if I could get for $350 or less?

twsnow18 · Jun 14, 2013

I own the diamondback in 4-12x without the AO. Everyone said for hunting purposes you don't need it until you hit 400 yards and further, so I went with that advice.

I strongly regret trying to save $50 and wish I would have gotten it WITH the AO. For the $, it's a great scope. Rock solid, love it other than the issue I stated.

I also own a Viper HS 4-16x44. Have only hunted with it a couple times, but I like what I've seen so far.

nateysmith · Jun 17, 2013

>I own the diamondback in 4-12x
>without the AO. Everyone said
>for hunting purposes you don't
>need it until you hit
>400 yards and further, so
>I went with that advice.
>
>
>I strongly regret trying to save
>$50 and wish I would
>have gotten it WITH the
>AO. For the $, it's
>a great scope. Rock solid,
>love it other than the
>issue I stated.
>
>I also own a Viper HS
>4-16x44. Have only hunted with
>it a couple times, but
>I like what I've seen
>so far.

Thank you so much for the information. I will go with your advice. What does the AO do and what would make it so much better? Sorry, optics noob here.

twsnow18 · Jun 17, 2013

I'm fairly new to the optics game as well, but I have learned a lot in that past 4 years.

Anything over 9 power, I'd highly recommend getting it with AO. It adjusts for parallax. The edge to edge clarity is pretty poor on my Diamondback once I turn it past 9 (I leave it on 12x) on targets at 300+ yards. Here is a 2 min video that kind of sums it up.

mtmuley · Jun 18, 2013

I see a lot of younger, new hunters rifles wearing vortex. mtmuley

twsnow18 · Jun 18, 2013

There aren't many quality options that fit into college budgets... I like some of Nikon's stuff, although haven't owned any yet.

nateysmith · Jun 19, 2013

>I'm fairly new to the optics
>game as well, but I
>have learned a lot in
>that past 4 years.
>
>Anything over 9 power, I'd highly
>recommend getting it with AO.
>It adjusts for parallax. The
>edge to edge clarity is
>pretty poor on my Diamondback
>once I turn it past
>9 (I leave it on
>12x) on targets at 300+
>yards. Here is a 2
>min video that kind of
>sums it up.
>
>

Awesome video. They did a good job explaining it. I have noticed it when I am 9 power as well with my current scope. I will definitely be looking at getting the AO.