Rifle Scopes What The Joes Use: Top Optics Manufacturers in Local PRS Competition

[precisionriflecomponents]

Good evening folks,

I hope you have all been enjoying this holiday season! Since I had the day off of work (for my 9-5 job, that is) I decided to put together the latest article in the "What The Joes Use" series. Although I was aware that Vortex was pretty heavily represented in the WPRSC match series over the 2019 season, I had no idea they had effectively taken over the local match community!

Hopefully you guys find this data as interesting as I did.

https://precisionriflecomponents.com/what-the-joes-use-top-prs-optic-manufacturers-of-2019/

 

[Hairy Biker]

I love these reports. Keep it up.

My only issue with the US surveys, and it is an observation not a criticism, is how to moderate sponsorship of shooters - how can that be measured and how much of a real issue is it with your survey against other surveys that only look at the top achieving shooters?

 

[Ryridesmotox]

Valdada has more than USO, Steiner, ZCO, or SWFA?

Where is Quigley ford and huskemaw

 

[BroncoMustang]

I hadn't seen these reports before, but found them interesting reading. I also read the one about barrels and rifle stocks/chassis'. I agree; keep it up. Thanks 4 sharing the information.

 

[cummins cowboy]

one company gives scopes away like candy. another doesn't need to. you figure out which 2 companies I am talking about.

 

[Kadams1563]

one company gives scopes away like candy. another doesn't need to. you figure out which 2 companies I am talking about.

And here we go...

The people using Vortex were not all just given their scopes unless you know something no one else does? Where can I sign up for my free scope????

For the price point you can get a Gen II right now there is a reason they are dominating the field. Out of all the competitors scopes you have to spend almost double. Very large $$$ jump for not much performance IMO.

SURE looking through the S&B, Khales, TT side by side with the Gen II will leave you thinking you have to have something better but on its own the Gen II punches way above its weight class.

 

[BigPrince]

Good stuff! Thank you!

 

[Ryridesmotox]

With the new Howa models coming out in the bravo and oryx, I wouldnt be surprised if those start to take some more numbers from Remington

 

[Tunnuh]

With the new Howa models coming out in the bravo and oryx, I wouldnt be surprised if those start to take some more numbers from Remington

I think that Remington (as beloved as they once were) has been losing quite a bit to your point. Tikka and Ruger are more common here at matches in North Texas than Remington out of the factory options. Even Bergara seems more prevalent.

 

[Cascade Hemi]

one company gives scopes away like candy. another doesn't need to. you figure out which 2 companies I am talking about.

That might be the case but I see tons of Razor Gen2's and every one of them was purchased. I knew before opening the link vortex would be number one.

 

[precisionriflecomponents]

one company gives scopes away like candy. another doesn't need to. you figure out which 2 companies I am talking about.

Vortex does offer some phenomenal firearm industry/LEO-Military discounts and sponsorship opportunities, but it's a bit disingenuous to correlate a handful of 50% off certs at the finale with 286 registrants running their optics over the course of the season.

 

[precisionriflecomponents]

I love these reports. Keep it up.

My only issue with the US surveys, and it is an observation not a criticism, is how to moderate sponsorship of shooters - how can that be measured and how much of a real issue is it with your survey against other surveys that only look at the top achieving shooters?

That's a tough question to answer. Odds are that the top achieving shooters will be sponsored in some way, shape, or form by manufacturers for most of their build components, but they likely won't elect to utilize an inferior product that jeopardizes their standing in the competitive shooting arena (thus validating the capability of the product to an extent). In a match series such as the one described in the article above, a small percentage of shooters will earn certificates for a prescribed dollar amount off MSRP. That said, the overall effect of that sponsorship opportunity will be significantly reduced across the board for each product category, as a significant majority of shooters are electing to pay for items out of pocket.

There are solutions that could probably further reduce bias, but the infrastructure needed to collect that data while retaining the focus on one particular discipline would probably be fairly difficult to accomplish.

 

[cummins cowboy]

they are sponsored, IE get free scopes, come on now, use some horse sense here. No one gives away more free optics than Vortex does. Its ok they are great at marketing. but don't confuse that with being better. I don't plan on trading my nighforce scopes for any vortex scopes. If your sponsored by vortex you have to use their scopes. I suspect that is a lot of it.

 

[minn_wild1]

Vortex is a Wisconsin based company. It seems logical that the shooters would support the manufacturer that is in their back yard who also supports the shooters. I wish Zero Compromise would move to Minnesota....

 

[Kadams1563]

So... you did READ the article was what the JOE’S use right? This isn’t what the pros use even though Vortex kills it there as well.

Vortex sport much more then any other optic company. That is the reason you see much more of them.

your statement of being better has nothing to do with price. Unless your shooting a NF 7X35 then your just about as equal as a Gen II for a whole lot more money.

you can get a Gen II right now for $1400. Show me another scoop that’s equivalent for the same amount of money. I don’t wanna hear Athlon either lol.

so where do you sign up for sponsorships for Joe’s? I wanna be sponsored even though I shoot 50%.

 

[North Island]

Nice ... thanks

 

[mercracing]

they are sponsored, IE get free scopes, come on now, use some horse sense here. No one gives away more free optics than Vortex does. Its ok they are great at marketing. but don't confuse that with being better. I don't plan on trading my nighforce scopes for any vortex scopes. If your sponsored by vortex you have to use their scopes. I suspect that is a lot of it.

Dude I shot almost every one of those matches and I’m pretty positive there are no Vortex sponsored shooters at the monthly matches.

 

[Mormegil87]

they are sponsored, IE get free scopes, come on now, use some horse sense here. No one gives away more free optics than Vortex does. Its ok they are great at marketing. but don't confuse that with being better. I don't plan on trading my nighforce scopes for any vortex scopes. If your sponsored by vortex you have to use their scopes. I suspect that is a lot of it.

Hmm I was at every match and I can't for the life of recall seeing any of the known Vortex sponsored shooters at any of our club level matches. Maybe some Vortex dealers and an employee or two. There were a few at our two day match but so were some NF shooters, Bushnell shooters etc. I guess the numbers have nothing to do with Vortex being two hours from where our matches are held.

I invite you to come shoot our club shoots this year and see for yourself that it's about as grass roots as it gets in it's growth. Started at a public shooting range out to 600yds, moved to a private hunt club, built up support from local industry partners. No prize tables until the finale, yet it averages 60+ shooters at a match in a region/state not known for precision rifle.

 

[B-P-UU]

they are sponsored, IE get free scopes, come on now, use some horse sense here. No one gives away more free optics than Vortex does. Its ok they are great at marketing. but don't confuse that with being better. I don't plan on trading my nighforce scopes for any vortex scopes. If your sponsored by vortex you have to use their scopes. I suspect that is a lot of it.

I don't shoot the Wisconsin circuit but follow it since some of my buddies do and there is some overlap with the Border Wars series. There are very few what I would consider "national-level" shooters showing up to these events and even less sponsorship.

To use your own term, use some horse sense here.. Wisconsin based series, Wisconsin based optics company... hmmm.

Vortex puts a lot of 50% off certs on the tables of these midwest/local matches and series. Most if these shooters are doing what they should; support the companies that support the matches.

I don't own a single Vortex, BTW.. 100% NF here. Gen II razor is a solid optic for the price they are going for now.

 

[CSTactical]

Vortex is a Wisconsin based company. It seems logical that the shooters would support the manufacturer that is in their back yard who also supports the shooters. I wish Zero Compromise would move to Minnesota....

No worries, we can send a ZCO to you no problem

 

[BLKWLFK9]

Just for public information, im a Vortex sponsored shooter, and i have only been "given" a throw lever and some stickers. I do however get a generous discount. Thats it, and im happy to support a company that stands behind an already proven product like the Razor and AMG line of scopes, among all their other products. No freebies from Vortex for most sponsored shooters. Maybe the top tiered shooters do, i dont know, but the one thing i do know is, Im not a top tiered shooter by far.

 

[TonyTheTiger]

FWIW, those 50% discount codes are for MSRP. Retail on most Vortex scopes is around 60-65% of MSRP, so the 50% codes are great but not the huge gamechanger that they appear to be at first glance.

 

[CSTactical]

Just for public information, im a Vortex sponsored shooter, and i have only been "given" a throw lever and some stickers. I do however get a generous discount. Thats it, and im happy to support a company that stands behind an already proven product like the Razor and AMG line of scopes, among all their other products. No freebies from Vortex for most sponsored shooters. Maybe the top tiered shooters do, i dont know, but the one thing i do know is, Im not a top tiered shooter by far.

There are different tiers however they sort it out, one of our 3 gun guys was given a Razor Gen II 1-6 E plus accessories while the other guy got slightly less.

 

[Steel head]

I’m not surprised at the least with that list.