New Scope

[Alexwalker_10]

Looking to get a new scope for a browning 300 win mag I just got. I have been looking at the Vortex Viper 30-mm 6.5-20x44mm BDC. Seems like it has great reviews just wondering if anyone has used it and what there thoughts are. If there are other scope suggestions I'd love to hear them as well.

[Dick284]

Originally Posted by Alexwalker_10

Looking to get a new scope for a browning 300 win mag I just got. I have been looking at the Vortex Viper 30-mm 6.5-20x44mm BDC. Seems like it has great reviews just wondering if anyone has used it and what there thoughts are. If there are other scope suggestions I'd love to hear them as well.

What are you using the rifle for?

I’d also stay clear of Vortex scopes, as they have a very high failure rate(the best warranty is the one you never use).

Think Sightron, Zeiss, Swaro, or Leupold.

[Smoky buck]

I have experienced a brand new Vortex that wouldn’t hold zero firsthand. It will be the last one I purchase. Yes it was covered under warranty but I would rather use products I can trust that I don’t need the warranty

Staying in the moderate price range I would look at leupold.

[Alexwalker_10]

Originally Posted by Dick284

What are you using the rifle for?

I’d also stay clear of Vortex scopes, as they have a very high failure rate(the best warranty is the one you never use).

Think Sightron, Zeiss, Swaro, or Leupold.

Will be used for Deer, hopefully Moose/Elk eventually as well.

[elkhunter11]

I would back down to something with 3x to 4x minimum magnification, 6.5x can be a hindrance for a very close shot. My own favorites are the Swarovski Z3 and Z5, and the Zeiss V4, and I too would avoid Vortex.

[Smokinyotes]

I would never put a 6.5-20 x scope in a hunting rifle. 2.5-10, 3-12 is ideal.

[Smoky buck]

Originally Posted by elkhunter11

I would back down to something with 3x to 4x minimum magnification, 6.5x can be a hindrance for a very close shot. My own favorites are the Swarovski Z3 and Z5, and the Zeiss V4, and I too would avoid Vortex.

Agree with this ^^

A 3x9 is probably the most common scope used. If an opportunity up close or a screen of bush 3-4 power is all you want.

I don’t take long shots by any means but when shooting out to 200yards I will use 4-5 power but even that isn’t a must

[Dick284]

Originally Posted by Alexwalker_10

Will be used for Deer, hopefully Moose/Elk eventually as well.

6.5-20x is way too much scope for a dedicated ungulate rifle.

Try looking at these:

http://www.outdoorsmenforum.ca/showthread.php?t=430215

https://store.prophetriver.com/zeiss...2931-9920-080/

https://store.prophetriver.com/swaro...-4a-ret-59013/

https://www.cabelas.ca/product/14832...3hd-riflescope

https://www.cabelas.ca/product/14831...0mm-riflescope

[spurly]

I would buy Leupold. Warranty if ever needed is in Okotoks. Very quick turn around.

[catnthehat]

Put a fixed 6 or 3-9 Leupold on it and go kill stuff!
Cat

[fps plus]

Leupold
2-7
3-9
3.5-10
4.5-12

[hansol]

Get something that will actually hold zero.

Trijicon Accupoint 3x9.
Maven RS1.
Nightforce (if you're feeling spendy.)

[Bushrat]

Originally Posted by Alexwalker_10

Looking to get a new scope for a browning 300 win mag I just got. I have been looking at the Vortex Viper 30-mm 6.5-20x44mm BDC. Seems like it has great reviews just wondering if anyone has used it and what there thoughts are. If there are other scope suggestions I'd love to hear them as well.

I have the exact scope, if you like your scope to provide clear, sharp images don't buy it. If you've never had good glass it might seem fine if you've nothing to compare it to. You get what you pay for. If you don't want to mortgage the house take a look at the bushnell elite 4500 4x16x50 (less money), compare it side by side with the Vortex. You're unlikely to get a high end scope from any manufacturer in that price range but look around at a variety of brands, they tend to vary quite a bit in clarity at that price point.

[Robins36]

Seems to be quite a few people with issues with Vortex. I bought a diamondback for my tikka and it ruined this past season after it lost zero on my elevation. Sent it out for warranty and will be selling it as soon as it comes back to me. Won’t buy another Vortex scope again unless I’m putting it on a pellet gun… should be able to take the recoil from that!

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by Robins36

Seems to be quite a few people with issues with Vortex. I bought a diamondback for my tikka and it ruined this past season after it lost zero on my elevation. Sent it out for warranty and will be selling it as soon as it comes back to me. Won’t buy another Vortex scope again unless I’m putting it on a pellet gun… should be able to take the recoil from that!

A springer type pellet rifle can be harder on scopes than
a large magnum rifle, because it recoils in both
directions. Many rifle scopes are only made to handle recoil in one direction.

[Dubz337]

All the boomers will say "Vortex sucks, go Leupold" even though Leupold are also known to have a wandering zero. Buy a quality scope from any brand and it will be just fine. Viper is one of the higher range of models from Vortex, its a good scope. Get whatever magnification works for you. Open country a 6.5 min is fine, if you're hunting more wooded areas a 4-12 or 2-10 would be good.

[elkhunter11]

Originally Posted by Dubz337

All the boomers will say "Vortex sucks, go Leupold" even though Leupold are also known to have a wandering zero. Buy a quality scope from any brand and it will be just fine. Viper is one of the higher range of models from Vortex, its a good scope. Get whatever magnification works for you. Open country a 6.5 min is fine, if you're hunting more wooded areas a 4-12 or 2-10 would be good.

Both Vortex and Leupold sell many of their scopes because of their warranty, but having a great warranty isn't such a good thing, if it gets used too often, as has been the case with Vortex.
As for magnification, I choose a range that works in both open country, and in the timber, like 3-10, 3-15, or 3.5-18.

[pikergolf]

Originally Posted by Dubz337

All the boomers will say "Vortex sucks, go Leupold" even though Leupold are also known to have a wandering zero. Buy a quality scope from any brand and it will be just fine. Viper is one of the higher range of models from Vortex, its a good scope. Get whatever magnification works for you. Open country a 6.5 min is fine, if you're hunting more wooded areas a 4-12 or 2-10 would be good.

Funny thing about boomers, experience. Ignore at your own peril. Way to many Vortex products go back for warranty for anyone to want. You are right though, in that many companies make a good product.

[GrandSlam]

Never been impressed with Vortex. I have owned and used mostly Diamondback and Diamondback HP. The glass clarity was not very good. Unless you spend a lot more money and go to the higher end products that might be different.

[catnthehat]

Originally Posted by Dubz337

All the boomers will say "Vortex sucks, go Leupold" even though Leupold are also known to have a wandering zero. Buy a quality scope from any brand and it will be just fine. Viper is one of the higher range of models from Vortex, its a good scope. Get whatever magnification works for you. Open country a 6.5 min is fine, if you're hunting more wooded areas a 4-12 or 2-10 would be good.

People I know and myself must be lucky, in over 50 years I have never needed to send in.a Leupold scope for warranty a can't recall any hunting and competitive friends who have either. Read about lots who have , though .
On the flip side I have seen a fair number of Vortex warranty issues, mostly on the lower end models .
Cat

[Smokinyotes]

I had a vortex viper 4-12 on my 257. Sold it because first thing in the morning when you turn the magnification up the glass would get hazy. Won’t be buying anything vortex. Bought a new Leupold scope last year and the turrets are crap. I won’t be buying anymore Leupolds either. From now on it will either be NF or Zeiss V4

[bat119]

I had a couple dozen Leupolds over 50 years never had a problem I did send one 1973 model in for a refurbishment because the finish was faded they sent me a new one I have six in my safe never bothered to buy anything else

[elkhunter11]

I have had two Leupold scopes that had issues, but my biggest issue with them is the change in eye relief as the magnification is changed. I have never owned Vortex, but friends have had issues ,and I have helped people at the range to troubleshoot defective Vortex scopes. There are too many quality scopes to use scopes that I don't trust, or don't like.

[Smoky buck]

Originally Posted by Dubz337

All the boomers will say "Vortex sucks, go Leupold" even though Leupold are also known to have a wandering zero. Buy a quality scope from any brand and it will be just fine. Viper is one of the higher range of models from Vortex, its a good scope. Get whatever magnification works for you. Open country a 6.5 min is fine, if you're hunting more wooded areas a 4-12 or 2-10 would be good.

Born in 81 I am not an old enough to be a boomer and I will tell you from first hand experience vortex sucks and that would be a viper that would not hold zero. I actually own a diamond back that that has no issues but the clarity in lower light is meh

I also have a set of viper binoculars that need to go for warranty because the eye reliefs are screwed as well

Yup vortex sucks 2 out of 3 products failed. This doesn’t include others I know with issues.

They are better than tasco lol

[6.5 shooter]

I own a lot of rifles scopes. I have owned ONE vortex, It was mounted on a gopher rifle went out into the gopher patch Tried to shot a gopher or five on a dugout berm, could barely make them out in the grass and dirt. went home sold the scope NEVER again. A 6X fixed Leupold, Sightron, heck even an old school Tasco is a far better investment IMHO.

[brewster29]

Originally Posted by Dubz337

All the boomers will say "Vortex sucks, go Leupold" even though Leupold are also known to have a wandering zero. Buy a quality scope from any brand and it will be just fine. Viper is one of the higher range of models from Vortex, its a good scope. Get whatever magnification works for you. Open country a 6.5 min is fine, if you're hunting more wooded areas a 4-12 or 2-10 would be good.

Wow. I must be an anomaly. I have been using Leupold scopes since the late 1980’s (dating myself here) on some rather nasty recoiling rifles (7.3 lb scoped 340 Wby is one) and have had or currently own about 15. Zero issues.
Zero.

I have little Vortex experience. I briefly owned a set of Viper HD binoculars which seemed to me to never come into sharp focus. I’m constantly reading on this and other forums about Vortex scopes falling.

They say a wise man learns from his mistakes, but a smart man learns from the mistakes of others.

[CanuckShooter]

Originally Posted by brewster29

Wow. I must be an anomaly. I have been using Leupold scopes since the late 1980’s (dating myself here) on some rather nasty recoiling rifles (7.3 lb scoped 340 Wby is one) and have had or currently own about 15. Zero issues.
Zero.

I have little Vortex experience. I briefly owned a set of Viper HD binoculars which seemed to me to never come into sharp focus. I’m constantly reading on this and other forums about Vortex scopes falling.

They say a wise man learns from his mistakes, but a smart man learns from the mistakes of others.

Absolutely, my first scope was a Tasco, when it failed I talked with the boomers of the day and took their advice. Leupold or Zeiss is what they said....50 years or so since then and never had a failure. I pawned off the Vortex bino's too and now use Zeiss.

[Scott h]

Originally Posted by Dubz337

All the boomers will say "Vortex sucks, go Leupold" even though Leupold are also known to have a wandering zero. Buy a quality scope from any brand and it will be just fine. Viper is one of the higher range of models from Vortex, its a good scope. Get whatever magnification works for you. Open country a 6.5 min is fine, if you're hunting more wooded areas a 4-12 or 2-10 would be good.

So far I've never had to use a warranty on any Leupold I've ever owned. I currently still have 4 on various rifles; 4x, 7.5x, 8x, 2-10x and they just work. Every time. That's the thing about getting older, you've already made many of lifes mistakes and come to realize paying more for a quality product is a lot cheaper in the long run.

[Dean2]

I have Leupold, Swaro, Zeiss, Bushnell, Weaver, Burris, Redfield, and Unertel scopes. I had 4 Vortex, I own none now. Also sold all my Nikons when they welched on their lifetime warranty. I am an equal opportunity employer but I refuse to use unreliable crap and that is the definition of Vortex.

I have a wx3hd 2x7 Leupold with the zl locking turret and the free turret still unused if you are looking for a good all around scope. At 650 they are about the same price as the Vortex ypu are looking at.

[Groundhogger]

Safe to say most anything built in Japan in the last couple of decades should serve you well. Busnhell Elites, Sightron, etc. Should be able to pick-up a used Bushnell Elite 3200 3-9 for around $300 or less.

Nicest scope I ever used was a SWARO, I've had Leupolds I liked and ones I didn't. The one I spent the most on I DIDN'T like, it was a VX-3 in the mag range the OP mentioned, but a 1" tube and a 40mm objective if memory serves. I do Like Leupolds though, and just picked-up another older one, fixed 6X AO Compact this time.