Rifle Scopes Vortex Razor GenII 4.5-27 or Leupold Mk 5HD 5-25?

[USP45]

I am looking a purchasing either a Vortex Razor GenII 4.5-27 (Ebr-7c) or Leupold Mk 5HD 5-25 (CCH non-illuminated) and need some opinions based off what I will use it for. I am military (currently deployed) so I can get either for basically the exact same price.

The scope will go on an AR10 6.5 Creedmore that will be used for both hunting and long distance shooting at our ranch in East Texas. Typical hunting ranges will be anywhere from about 100 yards to 600-700 max, we have room to shoot steel out to about 1200 or so. I am not very worried about weight, I typically set up a shooting bench in a corner of one of the fields and hunt off of that. Use the Ranger or four wheeler to get out there so no hiking involved.

What I am concerned with is low light and optical performance along with tracking and durability. The deer tend to come out at first or last light, pigs normally in the evening. I had several deer come out at last light about 4-5 years ago, 500-530 yards away while using a 1st gen PST 6-24 and I just could not make them out well enough to take a shot. Or I should say I could not discern the antlers well enough to make a sound decision, it just did not have the clarity and resolution needed.

Illumination... Not sure if I need it or not to be honest? I have a Bushnell Elite ERS 6-24 with illumination but have only used it a handful of times, mainly because it tends to flare so much. I would also like much better optical quality.

So, the weight difference aside which would be the better option? I have been on here for a while but do not post much, tend to use the "search" function quite heavily though. I have looked at both scopes thoroughly and they both appear to be very good optics for the price (a lot of bang for the buck factor) but I am not sure which would suite my needs the best. Thanks for any suggestions.

 

[Hollywood 6mm]

I'd say go for door #3 and get a Bushnell XRS2 off their mil program. I've got two of them, and I have yet to find anything to complain about with them.

 

[elmuzzlebreak]

It's all going to come down to what's your favorite reticle and likes vs dislikes. If you haven't looked through both of them then the best first step is do a side by side comparison of their attributes.

My .02 to answer your question: You cannot go wrong with either and it's going to come down to personal preference. Both are good in low light but Leupold may edge out the Razor by a small margin (something that is very subjective). Illumination- is it needed? No. Nice to have? Eh... Is it annoying Leupold charges a premium for it and limits you to the Tremor 3 or TMR while everyone else has their entire reticle line illuminated? Yep!

Now if you put a Mk5 with CCH and Razor EBR7C infront of me and said, "Pick one for hunting and some competition." I would go to the Razor because it has a slightly larger FOV on low power.

TL;DR: Both are proven optics and you cannot go wrong with either. Going to come down to distinct characteristics, reticle, and your budget.

Happy hunting.

 

[Don-n-Texas]

I had the same problem last week. I went with the Razor gen 2. It came Wednesday. With my scope in hand I was very excited and happy with my decision.

 

[Tobyboy22]

I prefer the reticle and turrets on the Razor

 

[wade2big]

You absolutely need illumination if you will hunt with it. It is a must with any FFP scope used for anything other than the range. When it gets darker you will have to lower the magnification to let light through the scope. The Razor has a very thin .03 mil thick reticle which will not be visible on lower magnification settings and low light when not illuminated.

 

[elmuzzlebreak]

You absolutely need illumination if you will hunt with it. It is a must with any FFP scope used for anything other than the range. When it gets darker you will have to lower the magnification to let light through the scope. The Razor has a very thin .03 mil thick reticle which will not be visible on lower magnification settings and low light when not illuminated.

Only thing I would posit is what hours is OP hunting? If it's legal hunting hours for certain game there are multiple threads where posters said they did not need illumination. Will illumination help? Yes it will, no doubt, but necessity will be determined by OP's requirements and hunting constraints. Now if OP is a baller and has a PVS30 or something like that he's good either way.

 

[wade2big]

Only thing I would posit is what hours is OP hunting? If it's legal hunting hours for certain game there are multiple threads where posters said they did not need illumination. Will illumination help? Yes it will, no doubt, but necessity will be determined by OP's requirements and hunting constraints. Now if OP is a baller and has a PVS30 or something like that he's good either way.

He needs illumination if he hunts until he cant see like the vast majority of hunters do. This has been discussed over and over again. I couldn’t imagine people shooting or not because of what time it is. Even if you are a puss and hunt by your watch, overcast skies or hunting under cover could make seeing your reticle impossible even during “legal” shooting hours. I hunt a lot and have been burned using a much thicker ffp non illuminated reticle than either of the scopes the OP mentioned. I speak from experience.

 

[USP45]

Thanks for the responces, I think Wade is correct. I will hunt well into the evening as there are no time limits on pigs in Texas. So Razor it is.

Now just need to figure out which ADM mount to get. Will need qd as I am ordering a Thermion XP50 that may serve some time on the 6.5 as well.

 

[1911hombre]

I have both of these scopes and the Mk 5 is way better in low light (light gathering and being able to see antlers, etc.) BUT the non-illuminated CCH is not a dusk-and-dawn friendly reticle, at least to these old eyes. Starts to look like a screen door.....

 

[Midwest Optics]

My pic is the razor but both good choices

 

[USP45]

I ordered a Razor today, will have all sorts of fun things to do when I get home as I just received word that a 7-300WM that I had built is ready as well and should be to my house soon.

I am looking at ADM mounts for the Razor. I emailed ADM and they suggested the AD-RECON-SL 20 MOA which is not cantilever, whereas I had been looking at the AD-RECON 20 MOA which is a cantilever mount.

AD-RECON-SL 20 MOA Height 1.190" - No cantilever
AD-RECON 20 MOA Height 1.550" - 1.93" cantilever

Both are 2.52" between the rings.

Maybe one of you guys can help me out here, but I do not know that a 1.190" high mount would clear the objective? Also a little bit concerned that a non-cantilever mount would not allow me to mount the scope far enough forward... Thoughts?

 

[shoot4fun]

According to the latest issue of Rifleshooter magazine the Leupold Mk 5HD is a "game-changer".
Based on that and the fact that I own a few Razor Gen II optics I would vote for the Razor.

 

[beenjammin]

According to the latest issue of Rifleshooter magazine the Leupold Mk 5HD is a "game-changer".
Based on that and the fact that I own a few Razor Gen II optics I would vote for the Razor.

hahaha nice