IN your opinon what is the Best LR scope for under 1300

[Greg Duerr]

I've been having a dialog with a new shooter that feels that Vortex is a much better LR Rifle Scope than Night Force for the $$ He does not like Leupold much either .................He is looking at a Vortex for around $900 and feels that the Vortex HS LR 6-24 x50 blows Night Force away.....................I have no Idea

But would like to hear back from those who have been shooting LR for a lot of years..............and could give us some experienced feed back.

 

[stanley52]

So I do not have MANY years of experience, but I do have practical experience with several vortex vipers and a razor along with a NF NXS. For the money, you really cannot beat a vortex viper pst; it's clear/bright/crisp, reliable/repeatable, reasonably durable. I currently use a vortex razor 5-20. It is built like a tank, every bit as tough as any NXS and has the high performance lens coatings and HD glass that make it as bright as you'll ever need. There is a YouTube video that basically sets off several explosions near it and drops it from a I think 10 feet into the ground, mounts it again, and there is almost no difference in POI shift. The largest reason I chose this scope over a NF ATACR is because a nearly new razor has a low resale compared to an NXS or ATACR for some unknown reason. You can get them with rings and barely used for $1500 if you look and wait. The NXS I had was not quite as bright as the razor, but a little better than the viper pst, but not by much. It did feel like a tank and NF NXS already has the rep of being indestructible. When you can get a barely used razor though for near the same price as an NXS though, I do not believe their is any question. Razor hands down. If he wants to spend $600-800 then the viper is no bad choice by any means. It is still an excellent choice for the money. Vortex has a no bs, even if the rings YOU put on it bends the tube, will fix/replace your scope even if you're not the first owner. Trust me, seen it done.

 

[Marble]

I'm currently shopping too. Looking at the Vortex PST 4-16x50 FFP. Looking at their matched rings and I forget whose bases I was looking at. It was a 20 MOA rail.

 

[Hondo64d]

For the money you are talking about, the Bushnell LRHS, hands down.

John

 

[Boman]

Burris XTR 2

 

[NWmissouriman]

I had two PS-Ts, a 4-16 and a 6-24 both in FFP. Traded them and now have a NXS and an ATACR. The PS-Ts were good scopes, but the 6-24 got fuzzy past 20x or so. The NF's do not have that problem. Also, the illumination was finicky on the PS-Ts. On both of them I had to have Vortex send me shimmed caps to apply more pressure to the battery to get them to stay on (not a huge deal). The PS-T is a good scope with a lot of features, but the NF is a step above. I'm not sure why your friend thinks that the Vortex HS blows NF away, but to each their own. I'd expect he might be in the minority there though. For under $1,300 I'd get the PST, good rings, and a Flatline Ops level.

 

[Outlaw6.0]

In the optics world you get what you pay for, hands down. In all due respect, Greg's friend has his facts skewed. Vortex is nowhere near NightForce, in any category other than cost.

I have the the 4-16x PST, accurate & reliable turrets & crap glass & I do mean crap. Did I get a lemon? Probably & i'm sure Vortex would make it right; but if that scope comes off my rifle a Vortex will not be going back on it.

I like the glass of the Vortex Razor, I like the feel & function of the Razor however, the eyebox of the Razor left a lot to be desired; for me at least.

I did pick up an HSLR for a shooting buddy of mine, I honestly thought it had better glass than my PST even though I'm told it is the same glass.... that left me scratching my head.

So as to the original question: Best (I really dislike that word) LR scope for under $1300.

1- Used NXS
2- NightForce SHV (even thought i'm not too fond of the capped turrets).
3- Everything else



t

 

[Tikkamike]

In the optics world you get what you pay for, hands down. In all due respect, Greg's friend has his facts skewed. Vortex is nowhere near NightForce, in any category other than cost.

I have the the 4-16x PST, accurate & reliable turrets & crap glass & I do mean crap. Did I get a lemon? Probably & i'm sure Vortex would make it right; but if that scope comes off my rifle a Vortex will not be going back on it.

I like the glass of the Vortex Razor, I like the feel & function of the Razor however, the eyebox of the Razor left a lot to be desired; for me at least.

I did pick up an HSLR for a shooting buddy of mine, I honestly thought it had better glass than my PST even though I'm told it is the same glass.... that left me scratching my head.

So as to the original question: Best (I really dislike that word) LR scope for under $1300.

1- Used NXS
2- NightForce SHV (even thought i'm not too fond of the capped turrets).
3- Everything else



t

Tyler nailed it. but I will post my piece even though its the same thing pretty much. I have had every model vortex scope except the crossfire and the razor I own none of them now other than my razor spotting scope which I do like a lot. My biggest issue with them was the eyebox. I absolutely think the vortex has a place in LRS&H they make a heck of a scope for the money although its not for me. They have nice features and the PST was very repeatable.. does it blow NF out of the water? NO not even close. I would pick up a used NXS for that money or if he has to have new maybe a SHV. I put Leupold above vortex. The vx-6 I have has very repeatable clicks. I have also had great luck with my VX-3's In the end it comes down to what you like and what works for you. if it becomes a ******* match the only way to settle it is on paper. Paper doesnt lie.

 

[Bravo 4]

So as to the original question: Best (I really dislike that word) LR scope for under $1300.

1- Used NXS
2- ???
3- Everything else

+1
This is the route I took. Sold my FFP Leupold MK4 and turned that money into a used NXS. I was thinking about going with the new FFP 34mm Bushnell Elite Tactical w/Horus (considering I get a huge discount) but I am tired of scopes failing on me and wanted something tried and true.

 

[NWmissouriman]

Good call on the SHV, Outlaw. I keep forgetting about that. You're also probably right about picking up a used NXS, maybe not for $1,300 if you want zero stop, but I bet you could get close to that price. The classifieds here are a good place to look.

 

[Greg Duerr]

I've relayed your information to him but he wont even consider a NF...........Told me again that A NF in no way even comes close to a Vortex cant imagine why any knowledgeable person would by a NF.

 

[Hondo64d]

That is hilarious!

John

 

[406precision]

We run a tone of vortex optics and have every model from the hst-razor gen 2 and we have run a alot of nightforce and other optics as well, and if you want my opinion your friend is not comparing apples to apples.

Is a vortex hst, xlr, or pst a nightforce nxs... hell no but your comparing a 750.00 to 1000.00 dollar scope to a 1800.00 dollar scope period.

You need to compare the nxs with zero stop to the razor gen 1 and then you have an apples to apples comparison. You can find both scopes used for around his price maybe a couple hundred over. Between these two scopes it is pretty much personal preference to which you use as they have many of the same functions....the vortex however is a ffp scope and the nxs is of course not so then it comes down to which you prefer and what your reticle of choice is. I prefer the ffp , but the npr 1 is one of my favorites as well.

Now if your comparing the vortex hst , pst, and xlr models to the nightforce shv I think that the vortex scopes come out on top simply based on the amount of options that they offer and the functions your getting for your money ie..zero stop uncovered turrets and reticle options as well as ffp reticles if that tickles your fancy. Comparing glass is tough because your comparing a 56 objective on the nightforce and a 44-50 on the vortex..the only real way to tell is to get them out and run them side by side.

Where your friend is right in my experience and let me reiterate this is our experience I am not talking for everyone or saying nightforce sucks (as I like their scopes a lot)
Is in the customer service and warranty end of things. Vortex simply has the best customer service and warranty in the business.

Now I hear a lot of smack about the need for a good warranty and can tell you from first hand experience that the only vortex optic we have had to send back was damaged on our end and it was handled promptly and with quick turn around no questions asked...We were not treated that way from nightforce ( scope failed to track properly no fault of ours) in our customer service dealings and that is why I say that this is my opinion based on our experience.

All of this being said there are a ton of great used optics on the market and to each his own...one thing I look at when buying used is what are my options if the optic fails or is damaged after I buy it???? With vortex that is a non issue.

Jordan@406

 

[Outlaw6.0]

I've relayed your information to him but he wont even consider a NF...........Told me again that A NF in no way even comes close to a Vortex cant imagine why any knowledgeable person would by a NF.

All I can say is....






t