Rifle Scopes Vortex viper 6-24 Good quality/price, or something else?

[Wisconsinner]

I am in the market for a Good quality scope. Its kind of a budget issue, but don't want an optic I pay a-lot of money for to let me down. I have done some research and narrowed it down to The Vortex viper Pst, Swfa ss 5-20 (350.00) more. Any thoughts from someone who has both scopes?

 

[dang472]

I have 2 PSTs and really like them. With matching turrets/reticles, zero stop, and good glass, I'd buy another one. That being said, a lot of guys say awesome things about the SWFA SS.

 

[Pinecone]

After a lot of research here on the Hide, and asking questions. I ordered a Viper PST 6-24 last week.

Call the guys at Sport Optics. They will hook you up.

 

[Luky]

I have the Viper PST 6-24 and love it. I like the zero stop, resetable turrets, it always returns to my 100yrd zero, good positive clicks (much better than my bothers Leopold Mark4) and is fast to dial in once you have your dope calculated. The glass is "good enough" even at 24x for me. No it is not a USO or S&B but great value if you are on a budget. I am just considering getting another PST for a 24" .223 AR. Probably my only complaint is the parallax knob/focus numbers don't match up with the actual ranges very well, but with the side focus it is easy to adjust if you have time to take the shot.

 

[Downzero]

I have the Viper PST 6-24 and love it. I like the zero stop, resetable turrets, it always returns to my 100yrd zero, good positive clicks (much better than my bothers Leopold Mark4) and is fast to dial in once you have your dope calculated. The glass is "good enough" even at 24x for me. No it is not a USO or S&B but great value if you are on a budget. I am just considering getting another PST for a 24" .223 AR. Probably my only complaint is the parallax knob/focus numbers don't match up with the actual ranges very well, but with the side focus it is easy to adjust if you have time to take the shot.

Now that the Bushnell Elite series is approaching $1k for the similar model, the Vortex is looking very competitive.

 

[Wisconsinner]

Exactly what I was hoping to hear about the Viper. They have a lifetime warranty from what i hear.

 

[Bear24]

I shoot 400-500 yards often and have been out to 1000 yards with my Vortex PST 6-24x FFP and I did just as well or better than all my buddies with NightForces. Their glass may be a little more clear but not enough to be the difference between a hit or a miss at 1000 and I have FFP for half the money they spent on their SFP NF's. That being said I would love to have the NF if it was in FFP. BUT IMHO you can't beat the PST FFP for the money.

 

[Wisconsinner]

I shoot 400-500 yards often and have been out to 1000 yards with my Vortex PST 6-24x FFP and I did just as well or better than all my buddies with NightForces. Their glass may be a little more clear but not enough to be the difference between a hit or a miss at 1000 and I have FFP for half the money they spent on their SFP NF's. That being said I would love to have the NF if it was in FFP. BUT IMHO you can't beat the PST FFP for the money.

Thanks for your input. I'm no guru on glass but targets from 100-800 I will probably not notice any difference. Any complaints on the eye relief with the scope?

 

[cobravenom39]

Exactly what I was hoping to hear about the Viper. They have a lifetime warranty from what i hear.

They have arguably the best warranty AND customer service.

 

[triceratops3]

Great scopes. I've got 2 and want to eventually put one on my .22 trainer. I regularly shoot to about 1200 or so and its fantastic. I've never had a problem with the quality of glass.

I've even shot out to a mile and at about 8x I could see the target (18" square) fairly well and could also see misses in the dirt, but not hits since it was with my 6.5 and didn't have much power left at that point.

Now, I'd like to have all Nightforces or S&B's but all those are out of my price range for now. I think you'd be satisfied with the PST and Vortex's Customer service and warranty.

 

[ollie]

I have 2 pst 6x24 ffp and would like to have more of them if the funds free up. Clear glass and what i consider excelent adjustments.

 

[demolitionman]

Isn't the Viper PST a 1000 dollar scope, and the SWFA one the OP mentioned a 350 dollar scope? Did I miss something? These two scope he's comparing are hardly on the same playing field. I'm primarily wanting to get this straight, because I'm in the market for glass on a new rig, and am wondering what the budget options are for around 600 dollars.

 

[scudzuki]

Isn't the Viper PST a 1000 dollar scope, and the SWFA one the OP mentioned a 350 dollar scope? Did I miss something? These two scope he's comparing are hardly on the same playing field. I'm primarily wanting to get this straight, because I'm in the market for glass on a new rig, and am wondering what the budget options are for around 600 dollars.

The OP stated that the SS 5-20 costs $350 MORE than the Viper PST.

I looked through a Viper PST 6-24x50 FFP this weekend at my club another shooter had on a brand new Remmy 5R.

I was impressed with the optical quality.

Joe

 

[boonewsm]

The SWFA scope he mentioned is $350 higher then the said vortex scope.

 

[springer01]

Anyone use the 6-24 out past 1000 yards thinking about one for a 7mm RM to shoot ELR until I can save up enough to upgrade.

 

[Fenix Mike]

They have arguably the best warranty AND customer service.

There really isnt an argument about it I had an issue with the battery cap on mine not opening, they had a call tag in my mailbox within 2 hours, and the repaired scope back within 4 days. I tried to be angry about the battery cap issue, but with service like that, I just bought another Vortex and can live with a bump here and there. Very nice people, although the guys at SWFA have ALWAYS been awesome too, I just havent had to use their warranty service yet, so I cant say anything about it.

 

[Fenix Mike]

Anyone use the 6-24 out past 1000 yards thinking about one for a 7mm RM to shoot ELR until I can save up enough to upgrade.

I just used the 4-16x PST today for 1,000 meters (not yards) and I could have easily gone much further with the optics, I just didnt bring heavy enough ammo to sail the shots any further. I imagine the 6-24x will be more than sufficient for 1500+

 

[springer01]

I just used the 4-16x PST today for 1,000 meters (not yards) and I could have easily gone much further with the optics, I just didnt bring heavy enough ammo to sail the shots any further. I imagine the 6-24x will be more than sufficient for 1500+

Cool looks like I might give the 6-24 a try. Thanks

 

[hfdcowboy]

I just used the 4-16x PST today for 1,000 meters (not yards) and I could have easily gone much further with the optics, I just didnt bring heavy enough ammo to sail the shots any further. I imagine the 6-24x will be more than sufficient for 1500+

I just put a PST 6x24 ffp on my .308 rem. 700 with a 1000 yard goal in mind. Thanks for this input. To the op I have only got mine out to 300 but it does track well, good glass, for the money a great optic i will buy another. And i have heard nothing but fantastic reviews about there customer service and warranty.

 

[triceratops3]

Cool looks like I might give the 6-24 a try. Thanks

I've used my 6-24 PST out to a mile and I had no problem seeing my target, I think for the price it is one of the best options out there.

 

[Bear24]

Thanks for your input. I'm no guru on glass but targets from 100-800 I will probably not notice any difference. Any complaints on the eye relief with the scope?

Not as far as I'm concerned, it fits me
and my rifle (FN SPR) great! My PST is riding in some ARC M10 rings that are awesome!

 

[oneshot.onehit]

Both the 4-16x50 or the 6-24x50 will do well to a 1000 and beyond some, we had a 308 and some 260s tapping steel with the rest of us as we worked our way out to 1760, I cant remember where they ran out of elevation and had to stop but anyhow they had some good fun beyond 1000 some yet.

A big plus is setting it up with a 20 or 30 moa rail, a 20 moa will help alot

Wisconsinner
Your more then welcome to take a little drive west with the good roads we have now and take a trip to Marshfield, you can look through the 4-16 and 6-24 PST as well as the Razor in a EBR-3 and EBR-2 as well as Night forces and others all set up on rifles. With that you can look at targets as small as a 3”x5” diamond to 12”x12” squares to a hostage target with sets of this from 500 yards out to 823 yards to give you and idea of how any of the above perform. Just let me know if you want to slide this way some time.

 

[AC Power]

Had two PSTs. Both had to go back for problems. Finally upgraded to the Razor. Still went back to Vortex because of the excellent customer service. I think you'll find the glass better in the SS, but the PST has zero stop and better reticle. The Bushy HDMR is a lot of scope for the same price range as well- great magnification range, great reticle, glass on par with PST. Good luck with your decision.

 

[bluto77]

I have the SWFA SS and like it. I haven't been able to compare it to a Vortex yet. I'm also very interested in the Viper PST and/or Razor. I've heard the Viper PST seems to have better glass in the 6-24 than the 3-16. Not sure if there's any truth to that though. My gunsmith told me the 4 or 5 shooting buddies he has that have had the Razor 6-24 all had to send them back to Vortex for something or another, but they are all still using them. Nothing but praises for Vortex's customer service department.

 

[MDM]

I've used both scopes in question. Used the SWFA quite extensively and the the Vortex a little less. I ended selling off the SWFA and Vortex for the Bushnell 6-24 Elite with G2DMR reticle. Liked everything about the SWFA but the reticle when compared to the G2. The Vortex is comparable to the Bushnell. Glass is similar. Bushnell G2 reticle is tits. Vortex has a half ass zerostop that works as intended. Bushy can be had for $900 so price is similar between it and the vortex. All 3 scopes tracked nuts on for me. SWFA has superior glass and more adjustment. When it comes to the Bushnell and Vortex, in my mind, it's a choice between a useable reticle and zerostop (Vortex) and a kick ass reticle and no zero stop (Bushnell). I would choose the Bushy Elite tactical over the Vortex and the Bushy HDMR with G2 over the SWFA every day of the week just because of the reticle. YMMV

 

[Wisconsinner]

Both the 4-16x50 or the 6-24x50 will do well to a 1000 and beyond some, we had a 308 and some 260s tapping steel with the rest of us as we worked our way out to 1760, I cant remember where they ran out of elevation and had to stop but anyhow they had some good fun beyound 1000 some yet.

A big plus is setting it up with a 20 or 30 moa rail, a 20 moa will help alot

Wisconsinner
Your more then welcome to take a little drive west with the good roads we have now and take a trip to Marshfield, you can look through the 4-16 and 6-24 PST as well as the Razor in a EBR-3 and EBR-2 as well as Night forces and others all set up on rifles. With that you can look at targets as small as a 3”x5” diamond to 12”x12” squares to a hostage target with sets of this from 500 yards out to 823 yards to give you and idea of how any of the above perform. Just let me know if you want to slide this way some time.

I may have to take you up on the offer, thanks! I added you to my contacts I will have to hit you up sometime...

 

[flatland1]

I've got a sfp 6-24x50 PST on a custom M700 in 223 AI; 26" Krieger 1:7tw sendero contour, McM A5 stock, EGW 20 MOA sloped base, TPS TSR rings. Took the little rig out to a precision rifle match just for $hits & giggles, and to get more cases fireformed. I'm running Berger 90VLDs at 2820fps; used Litz's PMS to print out come-ups to the 1400yds we shoot at this match. Made it to 1300yds OK, but ran out of elevation at 53.25 MOA while dialing up for 1400 - needed 58.88, according to the print-out. Used the 5 MOA hashmark on the EBR-1 reticle for hold-over, and got the hit. 90s went subsonic at 1260 according to Litz, but obviously stayed stable, as hits on 1300 & 1400yd plates were good, round impacts, with no indication of coning or tumbling. Whatever - ran the elevation knob back down to the zero stop before casing the rifle after the LR stage, then put 7.5 MOA back on it to shoot the mover at 443yds. Elevation was dead on. That's about all I'd ask out of a scope in this price range.

I've been shooting it on this rifle since last summer, and haven't had any sort of issue with it. After I'd shot it for awhile, I got another one of these scopes NIB out of the same batch - will have to put it on something with a little more recoil to see how it stands up. Getting ready to do a 280 AI bbl for a LA M700 in a bare-bones McM A5 stock; finished rig will probably weigh just under 13lbs. If the 2nd PST will stand up to the recoil of that rifle, I'll be sure to get back online and bang the drum a bit more for the PSTs. As it is, I'm very pleased with the 1st one - no, the glass isn't quite as good as a Sightron SIII, but then the PSTs cost me a couple hundred bucks less than a 6-24x50 SIII LRMOA, and the difference in glass is only really apparent when you're trying to resolve .22 cal splashes on steel while the targets are in shadows.