Hello everyone, I have decided I am going to purchase a new optic for my Knights sr-15 that is similar to say the Vortex Viper PST. I mostly target shoot for fun and self defense purposes, I don’t participate in 3 gun competitions yet but am considering it in the future. My question is, what scopes do you all recommend that are mid to high end and in the powers I listed in the title? I am also wondering what the additional features and advantages that something like the Vortex Razer HD has over a Viper PST. Thanks for your time.
Price ceiling?
Do a search for each on the forum and read, read, read…
This.
I like the MK6, though.
I went through the same ordeal and ended up buying two MK6.
Wait until after SHOT. Interesting things coming.
Yeah, this is the plan I’ve got. Bought a bobro 20moa 34mm dual lever mount that going to sit until after the SHOT smoke clears and all the options are visible.
Exactly. So many options.
So what came out of shot?
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The Leupold D-EVO and LCO.
I haven’t heard of your price range, but I own a Vortex Viper PST 1-4, and it has accurate and positive adjustments, clear glass, and has proved to be durable against the normal bumps and bangs. I wouldn’t say it’s on the same level as a US Optics or the VCOG, but if you are limited in price to $500 or so, you may want to take a look at the PST. Vortex also announced the Strikeforce 1-6, but I haven’t seen it yet.
And the VX-6 Multi-Gun, with CM-R2 reticle.
Leupolds’ recent VX6 multigun with CMR2 has the potential to be very good provided they didn’t use the cheap illumination technology ( I have no doubt they used the cheap tech ). Without the tractor beam daylight brightness it will lag behind. A civilian who doesn’t shoot tactical matches can’t really ask for more than the HDII. The hashes on the TMCQ are practically useless and the PST illumination is only daylight noticeable against dark backgrounds, better than black on black though.
Krampus
Even after shot, the Razor HDII 1-6 is hard to beat. Take your pic on reticle, however the JM-1 will be the one for 3G. They can be had for 1199. 00 ish now.
Even though it is a touch on the heavy side, I favor the Razor 1-6 with the JM-1 reticle.
The reticle is extremely intuitive. A lot of the more precise mil type reticles are largely lost on the 1-6x variables in my opinion. For a short to medium range low powered variable I think that a good BDC is faster than trying to count down and remember what hash mark corresponds to what distance.
The turrets are very good and could easily be left uncovered if you need the ability to quickly dial for wind, but still low profile with the caps on. Mine tracks properly which is a breath of fresh air coming from an ACOG that was like chasing a moving target when it came to zeroing.
My typical 3-gun load is a 50 gr vmax moving roughly 3125 out of an 18in barrel and it matches the reticle almost perfectly. I know this isn’t a preferred bullet weight for more serious users but in experimenting with strelok+ it does seem that the JM-1 reticle is very usable up to 69gr bullets.
This is the nicest optic I have ever owned but I have had the opportunity to look through various offerings from Leupold, Swaro, Kahles. I don’t own any of the comparable variables from those three so don’t take this as gospel but in my limited experience the Vortex is competitive with all three in terms of glass quality. It is weird to think of a $1200 optic as a ‘value’ brand but compared to the Swaro and Kahles it is a significant savings. For me the better reticle and $ saved outweighed the weight penalty.
I would be curious to hear of any mil users who might have had a chance to try the Vortex, if they think that the additional weight might come with the added benefit of some ‘overbuilt’ durability compared to the lighter weight offerings. I use mine for 3-gun and I don’t baby it but I’m not in a position to beat the hell out of a $1200 scope just to see how tough it is.
Vortex does have a best in the industry transferrable lifetime warranty.
Illumination is no bullshit daylight bright in any circumstances. I don’t think I would ever use the top two or three settings.
Was super happy with the Vortex at a recent Alias class. 18" WOA SPR tube with BH 77gr OTM ammo. The ballistic reticle worked well enough with a 200 yard zero. It made everything fast and easy. I’m sold on the concept for a mid range rifle. I didn’t expect it to work as well as it did, in fact. 
Did you smack your acog with something hard when zeroing?
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Yes. I tried using the heel of my palm, screwdriver handle, etc. it always took forever for the damn thing to settle down. I was questioning my shooting, the rifle, my ammo…etc. it was otherwise a great optic but I just never could trust it. Maybe I had a lemon.
This is a timely thread. I’ve been seriously considering going back to a low power variable scope. This would go on my 11.5" BCM upper. I know some people laugh at the idea of a scope on an SBR but the FACT is that the gun shoots better than I can see out to a few hundred yards and the magnification would be nice.
For a while I had a Trijicon TR24 1-4 on a 16" upper and I really, really liked it as far as clarity and durability were concerned (not that it ever took much abuse), but i just never could warm up to the triangle-sitting-on-a-post reticle. I did, however, especially like that this scope didn’t take batteries.
However, I’m pretty much lost on where to start with regard to different types of turrets, different types of reticles, and which focal plane is best for this application. I’d be willing to spend up to about $1000 max on the scope, which would go in a Bobro mount. This isn’t going to happen right away, but I might as well start fielding suggestions and recommendations now so I know where to start researching.
On a sbr Id go with a NF 1-4 FC2, or a Leupold VXR patrol, or standard. Both are small and light weight. I have the NF 1-4, and I’ve had the VXR patrol, and standard. For the price the VXR is a very nice little scope. The 1.25 for me was a non issue.