Rifle Scopes New Member! Help me spend my $$!

[AJ0311xx]

Hey guys,
New to the forum. I am currently trying to decide between two scopes. The Vortex Razor Gen II or the Leupold Mark 5 HD. It is going to go on a Tikka Tac A1 in .260 rem that I just picked up last week. The purpose of this rifle is going to be long range courses and competition. Obviously the Leupold beats the Vortex in weight but for my purposes that isnt a major concern. I should also preface this by saying I have watched I dont know how many reviews and read a number of posts on each scope. I have handled each one but looking through them in a store is very different then running them hard. Price is not really a huge factor as I get a good discount on each from my work but I believe the vortex comes out slightly less expensive. So I was wondering if anyone has owned or is using one or the other and what your thoughts are. Any input or advice is greatly appreciated.
Thanks, AJ

 

[Lunchbox27]

Gen II is proven. You can find tons of threads and reviews. Mk5 is still new, yet reviews thus far seem pretty solid. Imo, flip a coin.

 

[gr8fuldoug]

IMO, the Leupold is a finer product

 

[Poorboyr]

IMO, the Leupold is a finer product

Go leupold. Better all around product.

 

[scocoabeach]

You mentioned you handled each one. Do you like any of the reticle offerings on the Mark 5? While I own neither, I like the reticle on the Vortex better. You might consider adding the Vortex AMG to your list.

 

[DownhillFromHere]

I've owned / currently own six Vortex scopes and currently have a 4.5-27x56 Gen-2 Razor on order.

Only had trouble with one - a 1-6x Strike Eagle bought well-used at my favorite LGS. Mounted it, took it to range... and discovered optical distortion that was not apparent in the close confines of the store.

I called the store; they said to bring it in and they'd take a look at it, but at some point Vortex would be involved anyway, so I called Vortex next. I told the support guy the story and emphasized I bought the scope used at [LGS].

Doesn't matter it was used, said he. He verified my story with LGS, and new Strike Eagle arrived for me at LGS the next day.

Vortex earned a dedicated customer that day. This is not to disparage anyone else's product in any way; I've shot rifles mounted with other vendors' scopes I really like. But so far, Vortex's right-now fix for my issue has earned my loyalty.

As others have suggested in this thread and many others - choose the scope with the reticle you like best and don't look back. For me, Vortex reticles are my favorite, although my head is turned by the Athlon "floating dot" on some of their models.

 

[Hairy Biker]

Given the price range indicated, why not consider Nightforce?

 

[ken4570tc in WY]

Do another web search for 'refurbished' in front of each make/model your considering. One or two may stand out, if there are too many links, drop them from the list.

 

[AJ0311xx]

I really appreciate all the feedback. I was originally looking at the nightforce atacr but they are still quite a bit more $$ even with the discount and only offer 2nd focal plane under the discount price. I really like the mark 5's but im just not the biggest fan of the reticle (tmr) and as you change the reticle options the price goes up substantially. I like the razor scope and reticle but ive seen conflicting reviews on it and that makes me hesitant. Sorry guys I probably sound really indecisive, gonna try and do some more research this week and then make a final decision.
Thanks again,
AJ

 

[Jimgal62]

The S&B PMII 5x25, Razor II or Nightforce all FFP scopes.

 

[Ironcreek]

Just picked up a Vortex Razor HD 4.5-27x56 as a replacement to a Steiner 5-25x56. Thought I like the Steiner however the Vortex is cleaner, brighter and I like the reticle much better. Take your time and actually look at each one before you buy - it'll be cheaper that way. More money for ammo

 

[Mr. Z]

You will ALWAYS find somebody to complain about anything you ask or inquire about. This is the interwebs. I personally have a couple 4.5-27 gen 2s with the ebr-2c reticle and love them. Weight is the only downside and on an 18lb rifle it’s 6 of one half a dozen of the other.

 

[stello1001]

The S&B PMII 5x25, Razor II or Nightforce all FFP scopes.

I think he meant the specific Nightforce models available THROUGH HIS DISCOUNT happen to be sfp. Meaning the ffp scopes are not offered with the discount, not that they don't exist!

 

[DownhillFromHere]

I like the razor scope and reticle but ive seen conflicting reviews on it

Twenty-plus years ago, I paid almost five figures for what was then and remains one of the best tournament shotguns in the world. The barrel bores rusted like iron nails every time they got the least bit damp. The barrels were replaced.

The guy who sold it to me has been selling high-end shotguns - it's not at all unusual to see $50,000 shotguns on his site - for about four decades. He told me that he's had issues like that with every make he sells. The metal stock looks normal as it's machined and finished. But it isn't right, and that isn't known until the gun gets out in the wild.

The manufacturer of my shotgun builds about 400 of them a year. Heaven knows how many Razors, Vipers, etc. Vortex sells. The simple law of averages says some scopes won't be perfect. But there are a cubic krap-ton of them out there, and nobody beats Vortex for taking care of problems.

On the other hand, one of my instructors was a military guy (let it go at that). He talked about his unit trying out scopes from one of the I-wish-I-could-afford-one-of-those vendors. He said the scopes were amazing - until you dinged one on a hard surface, at which time it broke. The ones that didn't break they sent back.

This article is getting long in the tooth, but it showed which top shooters were using what scopes two years ago. A question was raised about how many scopes Vortex gives to sponsored highly-ranked shooters; the jist was that those top-rung shooters work too hard and spend too much $$ to use anything but what they see as the best tools they can get - free %#$!^ is still %#$!^.

http://precisionrifleblog.com/2017/03/03/long-range-scopes-pros-use/

If you like the Vortex scope's reticle, buy one.

 

[Long Range 338]

If you like the Vortex scope's reticle, buy one.

^This. If the weight doesn’t bother you the Gen 2 is a great scope. Not to mention illumination is a standard feature while Leupold wants to charge several hundred dollars more for the feature.

 

[patriot07]

I've not tried out the Leupold, but the Vortex Razor G2 is a very nice scope.

 

[AJ0311xx]

Again I really appreciate all the feedback. I have decided to go with the vortex razor. I do have one other question for you guys is the gen 2 worth the extra $$ over the gen 1? And just to clarify, it would be the gen 2 3-18x50 vs the gen 1 5-20x50 i know they have different tube sizes and turret styles but just wondering about durability and clarity wise.
Thanks again
AJ

 

[Bender]

Again I really appreciate all the feedback. I have decided to go with the vortex razor. I do have one other question for you guys is the gen 2 worth the extra $$ over the gen 1? And just to clarify, it would be the gen 2 3-18x50 vs the gen 1 5-20x50 i know they have different tube sizes and turret styles but just wondering about durability and clarity wise.
Thanks again
AJ

Yes. Buy Gen2. Although nothing wrong with gen one. Just save yourself time and money and buy the nicest scope you can afford now. That’s why I said just the generation 2

 

[Chasing3]

I like the Gen 2 3-18 or 4.5-27 better. It completes with the higher end scopes. Like others have pointed out it's been reviewed a lot.

 

[patriot07]

There isn’t much price difference in the 3-18 vs 4.5-27. They’re both heavy, and I’d much prefer the extra mag than the couple hundred dollars in your pocket.

If I was shooting LR, I’d either get the gen 1 or the 4.5-27 gen 2. I wouldn’t pay hundreds more than the gen 1 for less magnification. JMHO

 

[DownhillFromHere]

There isn’t much price difference in the 3-18 vs 4.5-27. They’re both heavy, and I’d much prefer the extra mag than the couple hundred dollars in your pocket.

If I was shooting LR, I’d either get the gen 1 or the 4.5-27 gen 2. I wouldn’t pay hundreds more than the gen 1 for less magnification. JMHO

^^^ This. I'm upgrading my 5-20 Gen-1 to the 4.5-27 Gen-2 because I want the extra magnification for "precise spotting" when needed.

In competition, it's rare (in my experience, which is four PRS matches and a bunch of club events) to run more than 15x. If budget is important, a Gen-1 can definitely save you $500 or more buying new - more if you find a used one on the PX here. Shoot me a PM if you like and we can probably work something out... mine is a 14 months old, pristine condition, all boxes etc with Vortex PMR rings and level.