Vortex Viper 6.5-20x44PA Good Scope or not?

[ShootnMathews]

I've been looking for a good long range scope to shoot to 1000 yards for hunting. I have seen this scope for a decent price and would like to hear some thoughts on it. Good scope for long range or bad scope?? Please help. Don't want to waste my money if its junk. Would rather keep banking it back for a quality scope.

Scope up for debate : Vortex Viper 6.5-20x44PA

 

[1bamashooter]

Its probably the best scope for the price range its in, some think they are better than leupolds that are twice the price.

 

[ShootnMathews]

Camera land has them for $279. Hard to beat price if they are decent scopes

 

[BEEMAN]

Just put one on a 22/284. Seems like a pretty good scope. Only used it during load development but it tracks good. Only thing I don't like is how hard the magnification knob turns. For $279 you can't go wrong with this scope. It does however feel much cheaper than my PST. If you plan on doing a lot of dialing I would look into something with more positive clicks on the turret.

 

[Broz]

Its probably the best scope for the price range its in, some think they are better than leupolds that are twice the price.

I agree with this and will take one over a Leupold. I have used many of this exact scope with great results. My AR 223 has had one on it for a few years now. It is the most mis-treated rifle I own. It rides in the truck, gets dirty, and even once fell off the top of a grain drill hitting a steel bar right on top the elevation turret. So it now has some character wounds as well. Even with that abuse it still holds zero and tracks fine.

Expect to find the 22 to 24X to be a little more hazy than the lower settings, but just crank it down a little if that is an issue for your intended target.

Now, is it comparable to a NXS, heck no, not even close. But will it work for you to bang some steel at 1000? Yes it will and all for under $300 bucks. That has surely got to be one of the best bangs for the buck, and you will be plenty happy when you remember what you paid for it.

Jeff

PS, mount it up straight and true so your bases and rings do not screw with the tube alignment. This is important and some low end bases are not the great deal they appear to be.

 

[ShootnMathews]

Thanks. I've already got a MurphyPrecision 20 MOA base and Leupold PRS steel rings and a 12x42 SWFA SS on it right now. Just not enough magnification for load development at 300 yards. This is all mounted on a Savage LRH 6.5x284. Hope this scope will help me hold a more precise point of aim to help me load work

 

[dogdinger]

want to get rid of the SS 12x 42???

 

[ShootnMathews]

want to get rid of the SS 12x 42???

Nah, love my SWFA SS. The reticle is great. One of my favorite scopes. Just not powerful enough for what I want to do right now. It's the mil mil version. It's just great. If it was variable power of something- 20 or 25 I'd never buy anything else. Just can't spring the $1300 for one right now

 

[ShootnMathews]

Ill just give a little update here. I did buy this scope, a Vortex Viper 6.5-20x44PA. $279 @ Cameralandny. I do have a couple gripes with, which ill go over,but in general I am very pleased with it.

First gripe and my Main one. The parallax knob is not exactly right. And my friends is the same. If you then it to the yardage you're shooting the field of view is clear but it is not parallax free. 500 yards and in when you adjust it to be parallax free it is some fuzzy but still close enough to shoot. Past 500 it compiles some and is fuzzier when set parallax free. But seeing as how most of my hunting shots are 600 and less I manage. Banging steel further than 500 I set it so it is ALMOST parallax free but field of view is clearer. This works but obviously groups will not be as tight as they possibly could be.

Gripe two. The 30 mm tube either is somewhat lightweight or the erector mechinism fits very snug. When I first got the scope I mounted it by hand as I usually do all my scopes. Just a straighter driver and tighten screws by feel. When I did this the scope did not track well. It was very jumpy when dialing. I called Vortex and the first thing he asked was if I used a torque wrench. He said if over tightened it will bind the mech. So I ordered a wheeler eng. set and lapped the rings perfectly and mounted with the torque wrench to perfect spec. Now the scope turrets work perfectly. Imagine that. Oh, another mini gripe I guess is the pick up to zero turrets. Yes it's fast to zero but I would rather have a screw on turret so I could install zero stop shims.

So in conclusion I would definitely by this scope again and probably will if I see them at this price again. I love the wide plex reticle. It blocks very little of your field of view. The scope is very solid and precise now that its mounted properly. I can shoot a one hole group dead nuts at 100. Turn and dial it to 500 and shoot a sub 1.5" group dead nuts on the bullseye. I've dialed a little further and put first round hits on clay pidgeons out to about 650. Very pleased with the scope at this point.

Ps excuse the mis-spellings and out of place words. iPhone autocorrect is a pain

 

[ShootnMathews]

I will add also that below around 18 power the scope is very clear. Some slight haze starts to show on 20 x but it is still fairly clear. Plenty clear enough for hunting or banging steel at 1000 yards