Rifle Scopes Vortex Razor Gen 2 brightness??

[DoubleOught-BMA]

Howdy all. I've had a Razor Gen 2 4.5-27 for about 2 years now. I've only ever compared it to Gen 1s, older NF, Leupold and below. Ive always preferred my Razor. I've never looked through alpha glass though. That said, I'm planning to make that jump here shortly into either a TT, ZCO or ATACR... but that's a different topic.

Anywho, I happen to also have a Vortex PST Gen2 on my rimfire and just happened to have both of those rifles with me on the bench today. I would let my match barrel (the one w the Razor) cool and shoot some 22 (the one w the PST) while waiting. Anyway, the image in my PST looks better. Like... a lot better. Brighter for sure. My Razor almost has a cool hue/tone. I don't know shit about technical terms so i may be butchering this... but something was definitely off. I wouldn't have noticed it if I weren't going back and forth... but the PST Gen 2 image was better. The diopter, parallax, etc were all where they needed to be on the razor. The image just didn't pop like the PST.

Should I (could i) just send it back to Vortex and see what they think? I mean... the Razor should have noticeably better glass than the PST, right?? Maybe something is off... I dunno. Suggestions?

 

[10ring'r]

I have the Viper PST Gen II 5x25x50 and for the amount of time I have behind it, it's bright. From what I have read on this site and two others, the Razor Gen II, should have better glass/optics, than the PST. How much, I would not know. If you feel the IQ is off, send it in and see what Vortex tells you. From what I've heard, the CS is one of the best. Mac

 

[58blackflag]

I have been using a Razor Gen2 3-18 on my only bolt action rifle since 2017 and it leaves a lot to be desired for brightness, especially deer hunting in the woods. I've had Premiers, NFs, Hensoldts, and USOs in the past and I'm really wanting something brighter. The best all around scopes for both long range and hunting in my experience was Premier. I'm sure the TTs are as good or better but the price certainly reflects that. I am interested now in the newer NF NX8 line. I really like the idea of a 30mm tube scope with a decent power range like they offer but not sure on the brightness of them.

 

[Huskydriver]

Call them up. Great people to talk to on the phone.

Another option to see if yours is off if you have a Scheels near you is to go look through a new razor and see if it looks different with yours right next to it.

The Scheels by me will swap any vortex optic on the spot without having to send it in to vortex dunno if this is just my store or a company wide policy.

 

[DoubleOught-BMA]

Damn, that's awesome! I'm in Houston and the nearest Scheels is in the Dallas area. I may have to check that out the next time I'm up there.

 

[TxWelder35]

Damn, that's awesome! I'm in Houston and the nearest Scheels is in the Dallas area. I may have to check that out the next time I'm up there.

It’s not open yet just FYI. Still in construction

 

[vigildom7]

Interesting in what you've seen in comparison.
From what I've seen my gen2 4.5-27X56 have easily out preformed the gen 2 psts I've been behind. And even the couple of gen 1 razors I've had.
Now compared the my buddies atacr was brighter at 100yds than my gen 2 havent be able to compare them at distance.
Then other scopes were compared at distance.

 

[viking78]

I have Razor and Viper, both gen II.
I dont see any different on the brightness, but if you think, Razor is 6 zoom scope, it has more glass than Viper.
But what i have seen thru my scopes, my Razor 3-18x50 is brighter.

I have also Kahles K624i, Steiner M7Xi, Bushnell ET DMR2, and borrowed a Minox ZP5 scope.

I should do a compare to these scopes, same time same light condition.

Today i was shooting with my son.

Hi has the Viper and i have the Razor.

Did a small turret test video few days ago.

Check out the scopes.

 

[Vamike9]

I've owned several Razors and PSTs, both old and new. The Razor line is far better in optical clarity. With that said, much of what we see is really in the eye of the beholder most of the time.
Optics with a Christmas tree style reticle tend to look darker or a little less clear to people.

 

[shoot4fun]

Okay, so here's my view. I own ten NF NXS scopes, mostly 5.5-22. They are NOT all the same as far as parallax and brightness. Differences are fairly insignificant but not the same.
I own four GII Razor 4.5-27 and they are all brighter than the NXS. Parallax on the Razor is, at least for me, much easier to deal with the with NF (even my ATACR). I own two GenI PST 6-24. Both are FFP and both are mounted on Vudoo 22LR rifles. Side by side comparison it is very easy to see the difference in resolution and brightness between them.
I'm 65 YO and wear progressive bifocal lenses now and I can understand how, day to day, my eyes could be a contributing factor to my comparison but I often have two to three rifles with same optics out at the same time and, in my mind at least, it is the optics that are indeed different.
As for the NX8 line, I think it's just a rehash of the NXS scopes.

 

[Pilotscrappy]

I have both scopes as well. Razor is noticeably brighter and clearer.

You mentioned your gun was cooling when you started looking thru the viper.

Are you sure you weren't getting heat mirage from your barrel thus causing the razors sight picture to degrade?

I have had that happen to me which is why I bring it up.

Next time out compare both optics before you start shooting.

But to answer the original question, yes, the razor should be much better.

 

[Vamike9]

My NightForce Atacr 5-25×56mm H59 has always had better contrast than my Gen2 Razors.
However, as far as a good crisp image, they are both great in that arena.
I like both and would say both will serve you well.
I know we are getting a little off subject but it's the scope section, I suppose ..

Here's 2 pics, NightForce and a Gen2 Razor both bath about the same range/direction.

 

[Hrsmn51]

I have a GenII Razor 4.5x27, Minox MP5, S&B PMII 5-25. I like all of them but the Razor as others have said before could be a club if necessary. For $1800 +or- the Razor is a great scope.

The Razor is 3 years old , Minox 2 and S&B 2years as well.

The S&B and Minox are brighter and just better visually. The Vortex is darker ( amber tone example from (Vamike9) but does not hinder use for me.

 

[DoubleOught-BMA]

Thanks for the input folks. I'm going to start fresh next time at the range with the express purpose of comparing these 2 scopes. I agree my Razor should be noticeably better... maybe I missed something that was unfairly hindering my Razor. I really don't feel like sending it off...

 

[tree man]

Okay, so here's my view. I own ten NF NXS scopes, mostly 5.5-22. They are NOT all the same as far as parallax and brightness. Differences are fairly insignificant but not the same.
I own four GII Razor 4.5-27 and they are all brighter than the NXS. Parallax on the Razor is, at least for me, much easier to deal with the with NF (even my ATACR). I own two GenI PST 6-24. Both are FFP and both are mounted on Vudoo 22LR rifles. Side by side comparison it is very easy to see the difference in resolution and brightness between them.
I'm 65 YO and wear progressive bifocal lenses now and I can understand how, day to day, my eyes could be a contributing factor to my comparison but I often have two to three rifles with same optics out at the same time and, in my mind at least, it is the optics that are indeed different.
As for the NX8 line, I think it's just a rehash of the NXS scopes.

^ This is very true, i also own several NF’s and I had one NXS that was noticeably off, it just wasn’t as clear as the rest of mine especially at higher magnification, I wouldn’t say it was defective just not as bright and clear.