Best Vortex Scopes

Review & Comparison, Last Update September 17, 2024
Vortex scopes draw the line between hunters and shooters that are fine with the worst conditions and the ones that are not. The best Vortex scopes match accuracy and precision with toughness and durability without compromising comfort and convenience. ...Read more ...Read less
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BEST 2024
PROS
CONS
OUR VERDICT
Magnification
Objective Lens Diameter
Eye Relief
Field of View
Adjustment
Accessories
Weight
Warranty
 
PROS

The illuminated reticle is great with low-light conditions as well as against dark backgrounds. You can lock the windage turret and prevent accidental adjustments. The RevStop Zero System ensures easy-to-get, rock-solid return to zero.

CONS

The scope is pretty heavy. 

OUR VERDICT

The Vortex Optics Strike Eagle will let you dominate the long-range game. This is not the cheapest scope, not even close. But, between the toughest construction, unparalleled edge-to-edge sharpness, high resolution, and reduced chromatic aberration, this model will earn its keep without fail.

detailed parameters
Magnification

5-25x

Objective Lens Diameter

56 mm (2.204") 

Eye Relief

3.7"

Field of View

24.0 - 5.2 ft@100 yards

Adjustment

Max elevation: 110 MOA

Max windage: 78 MOA

Accessories

Sunshade, Lens cloth, Turret tool, Hex wrench, Throw lever, Rubber-style lens covers

Weight

30.4 oz

Warranty

Limited lifetime

PROS

The Precision-Force™ spring system will be able to provide maximum repeatability. The MAG-View fiber optic makes the reference point more visible than before. The hard-coat anodized finish covers the scope with the low-glare matte surface that can camouflage the shooter's position.

CONS

The windage turret is a bit odd. 

OUR VERDICT

The Vortex Optics Viper HS-T will let you hunt from tree stands, shoot from mountain tops, work with bolt guns, and make ARs accurate at extended ranges. What's more, the RevStop Zero System will be able to make sure the reticle returns to zero without fail.

detailed parameters
Magnification

4-16x

Objective Lens Diameter

44 mm (1.732")

Eye Relief

4"

Field of View

27.4 - 7.4 ft@100 yards 

Adjustment

Max elevation: 21 MOA

Max windage: 21 MOA

Accessories

Sunshade, Lens cloth, Protective lens caps, CRS shims

Weight

20.8 oz

Warranty

Limited lifetime

PROS

The capped reset turrets enable quick re-indexing. Maximizing alignment, the single-piece tube improves accuracy and ensures consistent visual performance. The ArmorTek® construction makes sure that the lenses do not get scratched and are sealed from dust, dirt, and debris. 

CONS

The model gets a little cloudy above 12x magnification. 

OUR VERDICT

The Vortex Optics Viper delivers flagship features at the price that even less financially blessed enthusiasts should find tolerable. Originally working with the US Marine Corps, this model estimates range, windage, and bullet holdover with excellent accuracy.

detailed parameters
Magnification

6.5-20x

Objective Lens Diameter

50 mm (1.969")

Eye Relief

3.1"

Field of View

17.4 - 6.2 ft@100 yards

Adjustment

Max elevation: 65 MOA

Max windage: 65 MOA

Accessories

Lens cloth, Protective lens caps

Weight

14.4 oz

Warranty

Limited lifetime

PROS

The scope offers a long eye relief and an even more forgiving eye box than before, drawing an accurate sight picture and letting you acquire the target without delay. Featuring multiple anti-reflective layers, the coating also increases the lenses' light transmission.

CONS

The colors and shadows look weird. 

OUR VERDICT

The Vortex Optics Crossfire II is where high performance meets the economical price window. Despite coming at a fraction of the cost, this model handles recoil, impact, moisture, dust, dirt, and debris as well as high-end Vortex scopes. At mid-range distances, it is also just as accurate.

detailed parameters
Magnification

2-7x

Objective Lens Diameter

32 mm (1.260")

Eye Relief

3.9"

Field of View

42 - 12.6 ft@100 yards

Adjustment

Max elevation: 60 MOA

Max windage: 60 MOA

Accessories

Lens cloth, Protective lens caps

Weight

14.3 oz

Warranty

Limited lifetime

PROS

The model minimizes recoil and absorbs impact, keeping the rifle steady between shots. The locking diopter eyepiece will enable adjusting and locking one eyepiece setting so that you can shoot at the same level without making constant adjustments every time you use the scope. 

CONS

The scope's not great with low-light conditions. 

OUR VERDICT

Stretching the field of view 24.7 - 8.4 feet at 100 yards, this riflescope is a perfect fit for tactical rifles. Unless you're working with limited ambient lighting, the model will ensure accurate colors with bright images. Plus, o-ring sealed and nitrogen-purged, the lenses will not fog up. 

detailed parameters
Magnification

4-12x

Objective Lens Diameter

44 mm (1.732")

Eye Relief

4"

Field of View

24.7 - 8.4 ft@100 yards

Adjustment

Max elevation: 60 MOA

Max windage: 60 MOA

Accessories

Lens cloth, Protective lens caps

Weight

15.8 oz

Warranty

Limited lifetime

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Vortex Optics Strike Eagle 5-25x56

Step up Your Long-Range Game

When push comes to shove, the Vortex Optics Strike Eagle always rises to the occasion. The starting point is the model's superb edge-to-edge sharpness. Then you can try tweaking the first focal plane (FFP) illuminated reticle, enabling fast reads at 5-25x magnification rates even when you're working with low-light conditions and against dark backgrounds. To add more, the anti-reflective coating improves light transmission, boosting the scope's clarity.

Aside from ensuring outstanding edge-to-edge sharpness, the company's XD (extra-low dispersion) optical system offers an impressive resolution and reduced chromatic aberration. When you're discussing Vortex Optics scopes, you're always discussing the signature RevStop Zero System as well. Adjust the turret and the system will give you nothing but an easy-to-get, rock-solid return to zero. Plus, you can always lock the turret, preventing accidental adjustments.

Considering that we're reviewing the company's flagship model here, the one-piece, nitrogen-purged, o-ring sealed, aircraft-grade aluminum that the scope's made from comes as no surprise. Needless to say, the scope easily shrugs off recoil, withstands considerable impact, prevents fogging, moisture, dust, debris, you name the threat, this device can handle them.

To give you the gist without discussing that we've already seen countless times from Vortex Optics before, the Vortex Optics Strike Eagle is a long-distance impact machine that will have you wondering how you were shooting without it before.

Review of Vortex Optics Strike Eagle 5-25x56 First Focal Plane Riflescopes

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price $699.00
Stock In stock
ASIN B086WRH3XR

 

Vortex Optics Viper HS-T

Second Focal Plane Reticle

From tree stands to mountain tops, from bolt guns to ARs, the Vortex Optics Viper HS-T covers countless shooting applications. The model hangs with the company's hunting and shooting tactical configuration line, hence the HS-T.

Accurate holds at extended ranges is where this scope excels, primarily owing to the multi-coated, extra-low dispersion lenses that increase its resolution as well as color fidelity. While XR coatings are busy making sure the scope gathers more light, the ArmorTek® construction protects the lenses against scratches, dust, and dirt. Covering the device is the hard-coat anodization, giving you the low-glare matte surface that camouflages the shooter's position.

Of course, as important as these details are, what defines this scope is its second plane reticle and the exposed target-style turrets that enable precise and repeatable finger-adjustable clicks. The RevStop Zero System also makes an appearance, ensuring that the reticle always returns to zero when you're done with elevation corrections.

Some might find the exposed target-style turret a little odd initially but, considering the accuracy with which the turret and its reticle subtensions can estimate range, holdover, and wind drift at the highest magnification, the take it will take you to get used to the turret will prove time well spent.

Review of Vortex Optics Viper HS-T Second Focal Plane Riflescopes

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price $760.69
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B00DHG3C72

 

Vortex Optics Viper 6.5-20x50

Shrugging off Recoil, Moisture, and Darkness

Vortex Optics Viper employs the company's staple 30-mm main tube with the hard anodized finish that makes this device one rugged and tough hunting riflescope. Originally designed for the US Marine Corps, the reticle that this model is using is excellent at estimating range, windage, and bullet holdover, enabling accurate and precise long-distance shooting. Of course, being the company's mid-range scope, this model is less hostile towards the pocketbook than its flagship relatives, even though the scope borrows more features from these relatives than you'd expect considering the price.

These features include the Precision-Glide™ erector system, making sure that the components inside the zoom lens mechanism are gliding with the smoothest, cleanest touch within the scope's 6.5 - 20x magnification range. They also include the Precision-Force™ spring system, giving you repeatable easy adjustments. The one hiccup here that the more Vortex scopes usually avoid is that this model gets a little cloudy above 12x magnification.

Besides that, the company's extra-low dispersion glass is present and so is the proprietary coating. The construction is as tough as always, the single-piece tube is excellent at improving accuracy and ensuring optimal visual performance, and the capped reset turrets match the Vortex Optics' high-end scopes, offering quick re-indexing.

Review of Vortex Optics Viper 6.5-20x50 Plane Riflescopes

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price $0.00
Stock May be out of stock
ASIN B002DODONG

 

Vortex Optics Crossfire II

Long Eye Relief and Forgiving Eye Box

Vortex Optics Crossfire II is not as serious as the preceding Vortex scopes but the price reflects that as well, with this model costing three-to-five times less than the company's flagship scopes.

Nevertheless, offering long eye relief working with an ultra-forgiving eye box, the scope gives you an accurate sight picture within seconds, so you can acquire the target right away. Meanwhile, the fast focus eyepiece will enable quick and effortless reticle focusing. Ensuring brightness and clarity, the model's even alright with low-light conditions, which is pretty impressive at this low-end price bracket. The colors and shadows will look weird sometimes but this was to be expected. The humble 4 - 7x magnification range also comes as no surprise.

What is somewhat surprising is the same Dead-Hold BDC (MOA) profile that uses the more expensive models' customized hashmark design, eliminating guesswork on holdover and windage corrections. What's not surprising but welcome nonetheless is the coating that features multiple anti-reflective layers, increasing the scope's light transmission. Last but not least, despite hanging with the budget bunch, the Vortex Optics Crossfire II is as shockproof, waterproof, and fogproof as the company's most expensive scopes, so you don't have to worry that the model won't last.

Review of Vortex Optics Crossfire II 1-inch Tube Riflescopes

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price $149.00
Stock In stock
ASIN B00794LK18

 

Vortex Optics Copperhead 4-12x44

Locking Diopter Eyepiece

The Vortex Optics Copperhead is the crowd-pleasing favorite that comes at an affordable price without making unforgivable compromises.

The tough construction that Vortex scopes are always offering and the bright images are nothing but icing on an already appealing cake here. We can also say the same about the matte black anodized single-piece aircraft-grade aluminum tube, featuring o-ring sealing and nitrogen-purged to prevent the lenses from fogging up and protect them from the elements. The company's scopes are always great at absorbing impact and minimizing recoil. What they're not always bringing to the table is the locking diopter eyepiece that's used here, letting you set and lock the 'piece setting once and forget it.

Of course, with Vortex Optics' flagship models coming at ~$800 and this one a little above $200, certain sacrifices were inevitable. To name one, the scope is not great with low-light conditions. To add more, its max elevation and windage cap at 60 MOA and the magnification range at 12x, which is not bad but also not comparable to premium models. Still, there are not too many hunters and shooters that will not be satisfied with Vortex Optics Copperhead's overall performance.

Review of Vortex Optics Copperhead 4-12x44 Second Focal Plane Riflescope

Additional Info

User Manual     Manufacturer

Last updated price $145.00
Stock In stock
ASIN B01HBV8RHI

 

What Are Vortex Scopes?

Vortex Optics is among the biggest names in the optical equipment space. While they make excellent binoculars and spotting scopes, most people associate the company with hunting and shooting scopes. The reasons include the scopes' tough-as-nails construction that makes them waterproof (using o-ring seals), fogproof (using the nitrogen gas purging approach), as well as impact- and recoil-resistant (owing to the ArmorTek® construction). These scopes draw an accurate and bright image even when there's little ambient lighting. They use forgiving eye boxes, so you can usually estimate the range, wind drift, and bullet holdover with satisfactory accuracy.

Some experts like Vortex rifle scopes because they're terrific at reducing chromatic aberration, while some appreciate the Precision-Force™ spring system (ensuring maximum repeatability) a bit more. The turrets are always great as well, with capped reset turrets providing quick re-indexing and exposed target-style turrets giving you easy-to-get, rock-solid return to zero.

So, assuming you don't mind splurging a little, Vortex Optics is the best scope route you can take.

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Publish Date: 2020-09-24 09:44:59