Scope decision ??

[JB62]

Looking at either Leupold Vx 3 or Vortex Viper. Will go on a Sig 716. Mostly will be used for range but occasional Whitetail trip. Both have good reviews and costs are in line. I am torn. What says you guys ?

 

[briwayjones]

I don't have any experience with Vortex but I love my Leupold scope and it has never let me down. It is stable and does not knock out of alignment easily. Very clear optics. Good in low light conditions.

 

[armed ferret]

i have a pst 6-24 and a vx-3 3.5-10 if you wanna look thru 'em and do a quick test drive.


vx-3 with M1 elevation (and knowing your drops, or having a cheat card with you) is pretty tough to beat for anything you may take afield.

 

[JB62]

Armed ferret thanks for the offer. I do have a leupold on my Savage 220 that I really like. Just something about the vortex is intriguing me. Think I am going to go with the Leupold though.

 

[sailskidrive]

I have a Vortex Viper PST 1-4x on my SIG716; it works well but it makes the already heavy carbine a real boat anchor. The 716 is a 500 yard and under gun; if I was going to do it all over again I would probably buy the Vortex Razor 1-6x. Ferret's Leupold VX3 3.5-10x is a good recommendation or maybe the Vortex 2.5-10x, but I wouldn't go over 10x.

 

[JB62]

It is not a light carbine. At the range switching back to the my light weight ar feels like a twig. Certainly tames recoil to very light.

 

[Overboost44]

It is not on your list but if I may suggest an alternative... take a look at the Leupold Mark AR 3-9 with a Mil/Mil BDC reticle. It is under your price point, but I have hunted with mine and I felt it was good at dusk dawn and in between. If I could change anything about it, it would probably be even better at 44mm. YMMV

 

[xtreme43s10]

Having several of both and hunting with them it's hard to go wrong with either. I really like my 2.5-10 pst.

 

[ObsceneJesster]

i have a pst 6-24 and a vx-3 3.5-10 if you wanna look thru 'em and do a quick test drive.


vx-3 with M1 elevation (and knowing your drops, or having a cheat card with you) is pretty tough to beat for anything you may take afield.

Since you've looked through both, let me ask you a quick question.

That "Jack of All Trades Master of None" build I'm working on right now needs a scope and I'm having a hard time deciding.

I definitely want a 1x4 but I can decide if I was the VXR Patrol or the Viper PST. I've read that the Viper is closer to a true 1x but the VXR has day light visible illumination. I also like the illumination knob on the Viper better than the push button on the VXR but I think I like the SPR reticle on the VXR better than the Viper's reticle.

Both are the same price which is making this decision very hard.

 

[armed ferret]

the illum sucks batteries dry in NO time on the viper. i put a brand new battery in on mine, it was in the "off" position, and 2 weeks later no illumination at all. battery was completely dead.

i have no idea why it's happening, but as illumination really isn't a deal-breaker for me, i haven't really worried about it.

 

[sailskidrive]

I agree with Ferret, the PST gulps batteries if you accidentally leave it on. I feel the glass is a little better on the PST when compared to the Patrol, it is also indexed.

 

[ObsceneJesster]

I'm thinking about just dropping an extra $300 and getting the SWFA SS.

Anyone have any experience with it?

 

[armed ferret]

frozencesium has a 16x on his 5r. it's pretty damn nice given the price of admission.

 

[ObsceneJesster]

Here's the way I'm looking at it and here is my dilemma.

If I spend $800 on the 1x4 SS then I misewell spend the extra $200 for the 1x6 SS which brings the total to $1,000 even.

Now, if I spend the $1,000 then I misewell spend the extra $129 on the package deal they are running. You get the 1x6 SS along with a Geissele S3G and a 60 round Surefire Mag.

Regarding the Surefire Mag, I was told that they will send me six 10 round Pmags instead or send the magazine to another address out of state for an extra shipping fee.

 

[sailskidrive]

I have the SS 1-6x, the glass is incredible. The FFP reticle is good for 1x or 6x, in between is really busy.

 

[JB62]

I ended up ordering the vx-3. 3.5-10, I will post my findings when get it and mounted. Really like my other leupold and has great glass so played into my decision.

 

[INMY01TA]

I just got the PST 1-4 and like it alot. Don't have any other to compare it to tho.

 

[armed ferret]

I have the SS 1-6x, the glass is incredible. The FFP reticle is good for 1x or 6x, in between is really busy.

well, the 1-6 isn't comparable to the $300-range fixed scopes. SWFA clearly states the glass is totally different (hence the 2-3x price point vs. the 10/16/20x originals).

 

[ObsceneJesster]

I have the SS 1-6x, the glass is incredible. The FFP reticle is good for 1x or 6x, in between is really busy.

I wish someone would make a scope that was either 1x or 6x with nothing in between. I have a feeling that most people either max it out or run it with no magnification. I know that's what I'll probably end up doing.

 

[armed ferret]

leupold makes a 6x36 and a 6x42.

they aren't all tacticool, but they work fantastically.