New Vortex Viper PST 4-16x50 Just Arrived but...

[mdslammer]

Hi Guys,

I just took delivery of a Vortex Viper PST 4-16x50mm / EBR-1 MOA.
I've been outside checking it out. Glass looks to be clear and bright.

Good magnification. I bought this for my CZ 550 Safari .375 H&H. I'm used to
a tactical scope and this can be used for both tactical and hunting.

My only concern is the reticle. It's very sharp but it's also very thin. I'm somewhat
concerned that against a darker background, object etc. the crosshairs maybe somewhat
hard to pick out.

It does have an illuminated reticle and some of the settings are supposed to be able to be used in daylight.
However, I just tired the highest setting for outdoors and it really isn't happening.

Am I just nit picking? Does anyone have any experience or own one? If so,
are their any problems picking up your target with the fine reticle on this glass?

I can't really mount the scope and try it out without forfeiting the option of returning it.
Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

MDslammer

 

[bigngreen]

FFP or SFP? My dad has no issues whacking mule deer in dark timber at first light with his SFP. The FFP is a no go for hunting IMO!

 

[mdslammer]

FFP or SFP? My dad has no issues whacking mule deer in dark timber at first light with his SFP. The FFP is a no go for hunting IMO!

Sorry, I bought the SFP. What about seeing your target/game in the daylight?
Does the reticle get lost against a the darker areas?

 

[Boman]

I've had one and I had the same problem. I could hardly see the reticle against an elk hide. I sold it. I know a lot of folks like the scope and I loved everything but the reticle.

 

[bigngreen]

You should have no issues once you get it adjusted correctly, we've killed piles of elk and deer in dark timber in early light and it's no problem at all with the reticle.

 

[Boman]

Adjusted how? Do you mean focused? Or do you mean turning on the illumination? I know how to focus a scope.

 

[emn83]

When the reticle washed out I turned on the illumination....seemed to do the trick....c.cant guarantee it will always work

 

[mdslammer]

When the reticle washed out I turned on the illumination....seemed to do the trick....c.cant guarantee it will always work

I tried all 10 settings. Didn't work well enough...at least for me. Made no
difference at all.

I returned it and wound up getting the NF NXS 3.5-15x50mm / 0 stop / 1/4"
MOA / NP-R1 Illuminated Reticle. I should of gone this route to begin with.

I have 3 NF scopes already. I was trying to get by on something less but
it just didn't work for me.

Thanks for the info though.

 

[bigngreen]

You realize the NP-R1 is a thinner reticle than the Vortex right, for me the Vortex we have are as thick as I can handle, if I could I'd have the thinner NP-R1 on everything I own gun)

 

[mdslammer]

You realize the NP-R1 is a thinner reticle than the Vortex right, for me the Vortex we have are as thick as I can handle, if I could I'd have the thinner NP-R1 on everything I own gun)

I have to disagree. The reticle on the Vortex Viper model I was sent was ridiculously thin. It disappeared when I placed the reticle on a dark background. No way I could pick out the cross hairs.

I have 3 NF scopes all with the NP-R1 reticle. They are definitely thicker than the Vortex Viper. I've never had any issues shooting on dark backgrounds with any of my NP-R1 reticles.

 

[barnesuser28]

The EBR 1 MOA reticle in the 4-16x50 is .1 MOA according to vortex, in the 6-24x50 it is .06 MOA, the NP-R1 is .07-.072 IIRC.

 

[DocB]

Hi Guys,

My only concern is the reticle. It's very sharp but it's also very thin. I'm somewhat
concerned that against a darker background, object etc. the crosshairs maybe somewhat hard to pick out.

It does have an illuminated reticle and some of the settings are supposed to be able to be used in daylight. However, I just tired the highest setting for outdoors and it really isn't happening.

Any help/suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks.

MDslammer

Hey MDslammer,

I'm not trying to be a smart *** but I'm gonna ask you the same thing I ask my soldiers when they come to me with this same problem. 9 times out of 10, issue fixed...

Did you try replacing the illuminated reticle battery with a new one?

Sometimes, depending on the storage conditions and temperature, a CR battery can come out of the package with a diminished charge.

Might be something you can try. I hope this is the case. Simple fix.

Good Luck,

DocB

 

[SidecarFlip]

...Some like it thick, some like it thin some like it in the pot, nine days old....

On illumination, the illumination isn't supposed to be blatantly visible even on the 10 setting, however, if you put the reticle against a dark background, it will show right up, like a deer in the woods, or an elk in the trees.....

Had to show that to a shooting companion when he looked through mine and said... What illuminaqtion? I said, it's there on a dark background and proceeded to have him look into some trees.....

I seldom turn mine on anyway. The cross hairs compare favoribly to the Leupy fine duplex IMO.

I never had an illuminated scope until I bought a PST. Been hunting for years without.

Not too crazy about the dial or the on-off-on clicks or the battery life but the optic is fine.

Also, keep in mind that modern reticles are etched in the glass whereas old school reticles were actually physical threads laid on the glass and sealed in so the thicker the thread the easier to lay in.

Up here in Michigan, deer hunting, all those has marks and numbers are basically meaningless because you don't shoot that far. A long shot might be 250 yards, but then being old school, we all practice Kentucky windage anyway....

One of the group took an elk last year out west with his 7-08 using 'Kentucky Windage'. Hard habit to break I guess.

 

[mdslammer]

Hey MDslammer,

I'm not trying to be a smart *** but I'm gonna ask you the same thing I ask my soldiers when they come to me with this same problem. 9 times out of 10, issue fixed...

Did you try replacing the illuminated reticle battery with a new one?

Sometimes, depending on the storage conditions and temperature, a CR battery can come out of the package with a diminished charge.

Might be something you can try. I hope this is the case. Simple fix.

Good Luck,

DocB

Hey DocB,

No offense taken. It's a fair question and the answer if no, I did not.
However, in a darkened area (indoors), the reticle was very bright on the highest number that being 10. Outside, it was effective at all.

I've already returned the scope but thanks for trying to help out.