Hey guys, midway has been running a sale of this scope for a few days now. http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=456482 I recently sold my 10x42m super sniper, I wanted to upgrade to a variable power scope. I sold the super sniper and bought a vortex viper 6.5-20x44 mil dot scope, 4 days later my scope arrives. I mount it, bore sight it and start playing around with it. It seemed to be a little clearer than the super sniper, even at 20x. The turrets were audible and very tactile, side focus worked great and the magnification ring was very nice. I was content with my new scope....then I got on here and saw a thread about a Bsa scope that was FFP, MILRAD reticule and mil turrets. I was pissed, so I ordered it. Well the bsa arrived today so I thought Id compare them.
The Vortex Viper 6.5-20x44 $400
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=928807
This is a very solid scope for 400 bucks. Glass is very clear, a tad better than my 10x42m super sniper. The magnification ring faces you which is nice. Side focus knob works great and the turrets are very tactile and audible. The only thing I dont like about it is that it is SFP and the turrets are small and under turret caps. I dont like the turret caps I would prefer taller more "tactical" turrets. The eye relief was fine, when you changed magnifications you do have to reposition your eye a little closer to the scope though. These pics are not the greatest but that house is about 100 yards away.
The BSA Tactical Mil Mil FFP 400-on sale at midway for 250!
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=456482
I was apprehensive about buying this scope, bsa isnt exactly USO or Nightforce, but it does have a "limited lifetime warranty".
The overall construction of the scope was surprisingly good! It is VERY similar to a falcon menace and it is rumored that they acquired the scope bodies from the same manufacturer in china. I would say the fit and finish of the bsa was on par with the viper. I was also surprised to find that the bsa came with a sunshade, the vortex did not. The side focus isnt too hard to move, maybe a tad more stiff than the viper but not noticeably so. The turrets are much larger, the are in mils which I think is cool.
They are as audible as the vipers turrets but not as tactile, just a tad mushy, but only in one direction. My super sniper was like this, you just have to take you time when indexing the turret, watch and listen while you count the clicks. This is the only category where I feel that the viper wins outright. But the bsa's turrets are not bad enough to make me not want to use it. The magnification ring on the bsa does not face you like the vortex does but I guess that doesnt matter since its ffp, had no problems changing magnification. The reticle is MILRAD, it is very fine, on par with the vortex's mildot. I was surprised by the glass in the bsa, looks comparable to the viper! When changing magnification on the bsa you dont notice it in the scope as badly as you do the viper, you dont have to move your head closer to the scope on the bsa. I think the eye relief it better on the bsa, I really noticed it trying to take pictures through the viper. Having said all of this I want to state that I have not shot with either of the scopes yet, I am assuming that the bsa will hold zero and track, I trust the vortex a little better.
All in all I think the viper is probably a marginally better scope as far as glass, turrets, overall quality is concerned. The difference in theses scopes, I feel is pretty nominal. The bsa has less magnification but more features. For the money I think I am going to stick with the bsa unless it wont hold zero, or tracks poorly. I am very surprised in the quality of the bsa tactical and would recommend it to someone who wants an affordable FFP scope. The viper is a great scope, not taking anything away from the vortex, it just lacks features compared to the bsa. I maybe wrong, if the bsa wont hold zero or track well the vortex is obviously better. But as of right now I gotta go with the bsa.
I will get some pictures up in a bit once photobucket gets it together.
The Vortex Viper 6.5-20x44 $400
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=928807
This is a very solid scope for 400 bucks. Glass is very clear, a tad better than my 10x42m super sniper. The magnification ring faces you which is nice. Side focus knob works great and the turrets are very tactile and audible. The only thing I dont like about it is that it is SFP and the turrets are small and under turret caps. I dont like the turret caps I would prefer taller more "tactical" turrets. The eye relief was fine, when you changed magnifications you do have to reposition your eye a little closer to the scope though. These pics are not the greatest but that house is about 100 yards away.
The BSA Tactical Mil Mil FFP 400-on sale at midway for 250!
http://www.midwayusa.com/viewproduct/?productnumber=456482
I was apprehensive about buying this scope, bsa isnt exactly USO or Nightforce, but it does have a "limited lifetime warranty".
The overall construction of the scope was surprisingly good! It is VERY similar to a falcon menace and it is rumored that they acquired the scope bodies from the same manufacturer in china. I would say the fit and finish of the bsa was on par with the viper. I was also surprised to find that the bsa came with a sunshade, the vortex did not. The side focus isnt too hard to move, maybe a tad more stiff than the viper but not noticeably so. The turrets are much larger, the are in mils which I think is cool.
All in all I think the viper is probably a marginally better scope as far as glass, turrets, overall quality is concerned. The difference in theses scopes, I feel is pretty nominal. The bsa has less magnification but more features. For the money I think I am going to stick with the bsa unless it wont hold zero, or tracks poorly. I am very surprised in the quality of the bsa tactical and would recommend it to someone who wants an affordable FFP scope. The viper is a great scope, not taking anything away from the vortex, it just lacks features compared to the bsa. I maybe wrong, if the bsa wont hold zero or track well the vortex is obviously better. But as of right now I gotta go with the bsa.
I will get some pictures up in a bit once photobucket gets it together.
