<span style="font-weight: bold">Vortex Razor 5-20X50 HD Interactive Video Review </span>
Well this is the review you have all been waiting for, my take on the Vortex Razor 5-20X50 HD. As this is an interactive video, you can mouse over elements within the video and click on the interactive elements to link you back to the products you see inside the video. Later I will have a second video to further show the capabilities of this scope.
To start, I want to thank Chris at SWFA for offering up the scope for my review and then giving me Carte Blanche so that I might push the envelope as you'll soon see. So, think of that when you consider this scope, SWFA didn't have to offer this up, but did so immediately upon hearing they would have one.
The Pros:
The Vortex Razor is a Front Focal Plane, Mil Adjusted scope with a Mil based (EBR) reticle. Vortex did very well to collect the feedback from places like this site to produce a well thought out scope that addresses the most sought after features. Not only did they produce a well made Mil / Mil Front Focal Plane scope, they added a Zero Stop as well as the including the elevation and windage references so, regardless of the turn you are on, you know exactly where you are.
Some other smart features include the additions of the "mag view" with its small "Tru Glo" rod that illuminates the magnification ring so you can see what power you are on. They also added a second "Tru Glo" rod on the elevation turret to reference the "0" mark. Small, but smart little features like the turret references that make a difference.
They, like SWFA went with the HD glass and to me this is a good choice. In my opinion it makes a difference, the downrange resolution is excellent and I credit it to the HD glass. I think if other companies are reading this, they could learn something by this additions. Granted, most glass comparisons are subjective at best, and I'd be willing to wager you would need a machine to actually tell the difference, but there is a WOW factor when they use a better quality, even if its only a coating, well, that is what its about. As we progress I think it is smart to take advantage of modern materials, and techniques.
The reticle, we like the reticle. They are calling it their EBR reticle. Its a well done reticle, the subtensions are the right thickness and the hold overs included that branch out in that standard pyramid pattern don't obstruct your field of view, but still give you that reference necessary to hold over and hold off on a target and engage with that second shot follow up. The reticle has an 11 position illumination located on the eye piece. It has an off setting in-between every power setting and works to illuminate the center crosshair of the reticle. Everything but the hold overs, which is more than fine. Most work done at night is inside 400m so why bother making it busier than necessary.
The tracking on this scope is spot on. We tested it not only on paper but all the way out to 1000 yards and it has worked dead on during each and every test. Even after putting it through its paces, using and abusing it, the scope returns to zero, and tracks perfectly each and every time. The day after drowning it, blowing it up and dropping from 5 meters, I continued to use the scope and rifle out to 1000 yards and every single adjustment was the same as the day before. There no need to fine tune any adjustment as it was dead on. That bit of confidence in your optic is vital you have to have that peace of mind that it will do its job when you need to do yours.
Now for something I want to give Vortex a lot of credit on, the two manuals included in the box. Sure they added a Sunshade, Bubble Level and ARD, but the manuals are excellent. The included one detailed manual on the operation of the scope, very well done and another manual on operating the reticle and the Mil Adjustments. This little additions goes really far in my book. The information is correct and put forth in an easy to understand manner.
Cons:
Here are my list of complains with the Vortex Razor and these are easily debated as being pro or con, but I am going to put them out there regardless because its how I see it. It's not to say they are all necessarily a negative just my take on the features.
1. 35mm main tube, this could either way, but because it limits your choices in rings I am going to list it as a CON. They definitely took notes and corrected surmised you needed more than a 30mm tube, but going to 35mm was a bit much. I doubt they gain much over 34mm and since that has a couple of options out there already they should have stuck with it.
2. Zero Stop adjustments, the fact that when you loosen the locks and then have to dial the reticle to the impact without the aid of any clicks I am going to say this will be looked at as another negative. Not a tragedy by any stretch of the imagination, but I would rather have read the reticle, dialed the scope and moved on, than have to bag the rifle and move the adjustment without the clicks. The Zero stop is great, the turrets have a nice feel to them, everything is very positive but I don't like the lack of clicks. You can be your own judge, the process is definitely easy, but different enough to annoy me.
3. Reticle illumination, the illumination on the reticle has some artifacts visible when the illumination is turned up. Its' probably some reflection off the hold overs, but it looks like dim spots glowing in the lower quadrants of the scope. If you don't crank up the illumination to 11 they are very hard to see, but they appeared in my scope so I am reporting on it.
4. The Eye Relief and Sight Picture, it's the scopes' biggest weak point in my book. It's very, very unforgiving, especially at 20X. If you drop the scope down to 10X its not so bad, but as you creep closer to 20X you better be spot on behind the rifle. For a target shooter, this is okay, but for a tactical shooter, you have to plan on being thrown into an unconventional position where having that edge to edge clarity is all that you have to save you. This just doesn't afford you the room necessary. Again, the list of positives is very high, but this is one of my pet peeves with a scope. I need that good sight picture regardless of the situation.
Conclusions,
I think Vortex did an outstanding job on this scope. It's accurate, tracking and adjustments are dead on, its durable to say the least, we couldn't kill it and we tried. It includes an excellent set of features, and we definitely like the design of the reticle. The negative aspects of this scope are by far out weighed by its positives features and build and I think Vortex has a lot to be proud of with this optic. Its well worth the price tag with all of the most sought after features a tactical shooter could ask for. For those looking to purchase one I think it would be money well spent, can it compete with the big boys, I think it can.
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Well this is the review you have all been waiting for, my take on the Vortex Razor 5-20X50 HD. As this is an interactive video, you can mouse over elements within the video and click on the interactive elements to link you back to the products you see inside the video. Later I will have a second video to further show the capabilities of this scope.
To start, I want to thank Chris at SWFA for offering up the scope for my review and then giving me Carte Blanche so that I might push the envelope as you'll soon see. So, think of that when you consider this scope, SWFA didn't have to offer this up, but did so immediately upon hearing they would have one.
The Pros:
The Vortex Razor is a Front Focal Plane, Mil Adjusted scope with a Mil based (EBR) reticle. Vortex did very well to collect the feedback from places like this site to produce a well thought out scope that addresses the most sought after features. Not only did they produce a well made Mil / Mil Front Focal Plane scope, they added a Zero Stop as well as the including the elevation and windage references so, regardless of the turn you are on, you know exactly where you are.
Some other smart features include the additions of the "mag view" with its small "Tru Glo" rod that illuminates the magnification ring so you can see what power you are on. They also added a second "Tru Glo" rod on the elevation turret to reference the "0" mark. Small, but smart little features like the turret references that make a difference.
They, like SWFA went with the HD glass and to me this is a good choice. In my opinion it makes a difference, the downrange resolution is excellent and I credit it to the HD glass. I think if other companies are reading this, they could learn something by this additions. Granted, most glass comparisons are subjective at best, and I'd be willing to wager you would need a machine to actually tell the difference, but there is a WOW factor when they use a better quality, even if its only a coating, well, that is what its about. As we progress I think it is smart to take advantage of modern materials, and techniques.
The reticle, we like the reticle. They are calling it their EBR reticle. Its a well done reticle, the subtensions are the right thickness and the hold overs included that branch out in that standard pyramid pattern don't obstruct your field of view, but still give you that reference necessary to hold over and hold off on a target and engage with that second shot follow up. The reticle has an 11 position illumination located on the eye piece. It has an off setting in-between every power setting and works to illuminate the center crosshair of the reticle. Everything but the hold overs, which is more than fine. Most work done at night is inside 400m so why bother making it busier than necessary.
The tracking on this scope is spot on. We tested it not only on paper but all the way out to 1000 yards and it has worked dead on during each and every test. Even after putting it through its paces, using and abusing it, the scope returns to zero, and tracks perfectly each and every time. The day after drowning it, blowing it up and dropping from 5 meters, I continued to use the scope and rifle out to 1000 yards and every single adjustment was the same as the day before. There no need to fine tune any adjustment as it was dead on. That bit of confidence in your optic is vital you have to have that peace of mind that it will do its job when you need to do yours.
Now for something I want to give Vortex a lot of credit on, the two manuals included in the box. Sure they added a Sunshade, Bubble Level and ARD, but the manuals are excellent. The included one detailed manual on the operation of the scope, very well done and another manual on operating the reticle and the Mil Adjustments. This little additions goes really far in my book. The information is correct and put forth in an easy to understand manner.
Cons:
Here are my list of complains with the Vortex Razor and these are easily debated as being pro or con, but I am going to put them out there regardless because its how I see it. It's not to say they are all necessarily a negative just my take on the features.
1. 35mm main tube, this could either way, but because it limits your choices in rings I am going to list it as a CON. They definitely took notes and corrected surmised you needed more than a 30mm tube, but going to 35mm was a bit much. I doubt they gain much over 34mm and since that has a couple of options out there already they should have stuck with it.
2. Zero Stop adjustments, the fact that when you loosen the locks and then have to dial the reticle to the impact without the aid of any clicks I am going to say this will be looked at as another negative. Not a tragedy by any stretch of the imagination, but I would rather have read the reticle, dialed the scope and moved on, than have to bag the rifle and move the adjustment without the clicks. The Zero stop is great, the turrets have a nice feel to them, everything is very positive but I don't like the lack of clicks. You can be your own judge, the process is definitely easy, but different enough to annoy me.
3. Reticle illumination, the illumination on the reticle has some artifacts visible when the illumination is turned up. Its' probably some reflection off the hold overs, but it looks like dim spots glowing in the lower quadrants of the scope. If you don't crank up the illumination to 11 they are very hard to see, but they appeared in my scope so I am reporting on it.
4. The Eye Relief and Sight Picture, it's the scopes' biggest weak point in my book. It's very, very unforgiving, especially at 20X. If you drop the scope down to 10X its not so bad, but as you creep closer to 20X you better be spot on behind the rifle. For a target shooter, this is okay, but for a tactical shooter, you have to plan on being thrown into an unconventional position where having that edge to edge clarity is all that you have to save you. This just doesn't afford you the room necessary. Again, the list of positives is very high, but this is one of my pet peeves with a scope. I need that good sight picture regardless of the situation.
Conclusions,
I think Vortex did an outstanding job on this scope. It's accurate, tracking and adjustments are dead on, its durable to say the least, we couldn't kill it and we tried. It includes an excellent set of features, and we definitely like the design of the reticle. The negative aspects of this scope are by far out weighed by its positives features and build and I think Vortex has a lot to be proud of with this optic. Its well worth the price tag with all of the most sought after features a tactical shooter could ask for. For those looking to purchase one I think it would be money well spent, can it compete with the big boys, I think it can.
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