[Allen in MT]

Looking for comments from VORTEX users.
Which model do you use? Did you had one and then got rid of it and why?
What is your overall thoughts on the Vortex scopes? good, bad.
Any problems

[Quiet]

Vortex SPARC

IMO... one of the best low budget red dot sights on the market

[montanaoffroader]

Last year my nephew picked up a Vortex Crossfire at Scheel's in GF for his Savage Axis. It took us 2 range sessions to get it zeroed, not really the scope's fault more likely shooter problems.

Since then we have put ~250 rounds through it with no problems, not exactly a torture test but so far so good. Compared side by side with a Nikon Buckmasters, the brightness level is close enough in daylight that we can't tell the difference. The Nikon seems slightly sharper, and both seem to hold their zero just fine.

Both scopes are mounted on identical Axis .223 rifles with the same model Weaver rings and both rifles shoot decent groups, close enough that you could probably swap the targets and we wouldn't notice...;)

I like his scope well enough that I will probably put one on my Marlin XL7 in the near future.

[greyling22]

I've got a viper 4-12x40 from when they were clearing out that model a couple years ago half price. the first one was off. vortex cs was awesome and I had a new one at no cost to me in a couple of days. that one works great. nice glass.

I'll be honest though, I don't hunt in low light, am not a scope expert, and can't really tell a difference between most scopes for the most part. side be side I could tell a slight difference between the viper and the diamondback, but not much.

[Owen Sparks]

The only bad thing so far is that small twigs tend to snag in it if you go through a lot of heavy brush. As I understand it, this was one of the reasons that the original 'birds mouth' flash hider on the Viet Nam era M-16 was replaced. The current wars are not being fought in a jungle so this is not a problem for the military but it can be for hunters. Other than that, the Vortex works as advertised.

[Sky]

Sparc, Strikefire, and 4.5-20x50 viper great company and value for the money

[Carne Frio]

Vortex Optics.........http://www.vortexoptics.com/category/riflescopes
Smith Enterprises Vortex Flash Eliminator...............http://www.smithenterprise.com/products06.05.html
I have both products; the flash hider works fine.
The Vortex Strikefires (both of them) also work fine.

[Inebriated]

I use the Stikefire on one of the AK's. Solid optics, especially for the money.

[saskcop]

I have a SPARC and have found it to be an excellent red dot. It constantly turns on while transporting it though as Vortex needs to rethink the controls.

[click clack]

I was looking at Vortex until someone on here recommended http://www.natchezshooterssupply.com/brand.cfm?contentID=productDetail&brand=WE&prodID=WE94530&prodTitle=Nitrex%20TR%20Two%203-15X50mm%20Rifle%20Scope%20Matte%20Finish%20TrexPlex%20Reticle Its alot of scope for the money and they were running a rebate when i ordered mine.. Bright crisp glass, holds zero, and it sreally just a quality piece..Made by Weaver i believe. Mine is on my Remmy Tactical 700 in .308

[CraigC]

I've been very impressed with my Strikefire but I still wouldn't take a chance on one of their higher priced rifle scopes. Not if I could get something comparable from a well-established brand like Leupold, Burris, Nikon, Weaver, etc..

[wally]

It constantly turns on while transporting it though as Vortex needs to rethink the controls.

Yup! and since it uses a $5 battery it gets tiresome quickly! Only reason I haven't got any more.

[Walkalong]

I have two Vipers and a Viper HS. The Vipers are real nice, and the Viper HS is really nice.

[ifit]

vortex sparc reddot, goin on two years and still using the same battery. as others stated the on/off button they should consider another design. comes with 3 size mounts,2x magnifier,NV capability,10 brightness settings, nice small 2 moa dot, the highest mounts co-witness w/my ar15 flip up sights, light and small red dot. have used the sparc on my rifles from .22/.223/7.62x39/.308/7.62x54r. for $199 its a very good red dot with all it has to offer, at least for me

[FrankCastleThePunisher]

I have a Sparc on my AR15 and will be purchasing two more for another AR and a HK MP5. Great red dots for the money.

[Sebastian the Ibis]

I have a viper 2-7. Great scope for the money. Fantastic Customer Service. I lost a scope cap and called to order another. They immediately sent me one FOR FREE and also sent a free hat. I wouldn't hesitate to get another.

[pdd614]

The vortex razor 5-20 has been the best scope I have ever used. That is saying a lot considering how many scopes I have broken. Leupold, weaver, Nikon, and Burris could all use a lesson in listening to what the end user really wants. They simply don't offer anything close to the Razor.

http://i958.photobucket.com/albums/ae65/pdd614/65x47.jpg

Have you ever heard of one of these other companies offering to install upgrades to your scope for free? That is exactly what Vortex did for me when they came out with an upgraded eyepiece for my Razor.

[DougW]

Viper 2X7 on my "match" AR15 rifle (3 gun) (if I ever get to compete again!).

[Ridgerunner665]

I have a Viper HS 4-16x44mm...so far the best hunting scope I've ever had.

[rjrivero]

I just mounted a Vortex Viper PST 4-16x50 on a new-to-me Remington 700 5R. Kind of excited to get it out to the range to sight it in!

http://www.revolverforums.com/forum/picture.php?albumid=49&pictureid=291

[CharlieDeltaJuliet]

I have a vortex viper pst 6-24x50 and a viper 6-20x50. I love both. For budget (under $800) they are great scopes. I am VERY picky about scopes, and these do impress me.

[back40]

i have a viper pst 4-16x50 on a rem 700p. it's met my expectations at every turn so far. i wouldn't hesitate to buy another. i haven't needed their customer service, but every report i've read is that it's top notch.

[Olympus]

Viper and Diamondback. I love Vortex!

[checkmyswag]

I'm currently considering the

Vortex SPARC
Vortex StrikeFire

and Bushnell TRS 25.

Hear good things about all of them.

[LAL357]

i have a vortex crossfire 8x32x50 on my 223 bolt gun well over 1000 rounds through it not one problem when i get started on my wifes 223 f class rifle i'm hoping to find another one for it .

[jlewis406]

I have a Sparc on my 10/22 and a Strike Fire on my wife's Bushmaster. They are pretty much the same scope in my opinion.

Things I like about the Strike Fire
-Cheap
-Robust enough for every day use. Banged it around a bit and still held zero.
-Long battery life.
-Ability to switch between red and green dots. Dots are good size too.
-Control's are decent. On/off/dot color could use some re-design but I don't have any better ideas.
Things I don't like about the Strike Fire
-Objective lens coating makes shooting in low light hard. Even at low power settings the dot can bloom out your optic easily.
-Red and green dots bloom out scope even at low power settings in low light.
-Magnifier doesn't really magnify. It just restricts your vision (like watching a small TV across a large room. After a while you don't even notice it's a tiny TV)
-Magnifier takes about 13,000 turns to get installed. Kind of a long ordeal. Focus adjustment takes about 5 or 6 turns to see any change.
-The mount is meh. I torqued it down tight with some nail polish on the threads.
-It takes a CR2 battery that can be tricky at times to find.


Things I like about the Sparc
-Size. I can shoot both eyes open and the optic all but disappears. Doesn't obstruct my vision very much.
-Very light weight.
-Options on mounts. Low cheek weld on my 10/22 or co-witness on an AR-15.
-Good battery life.
-Tough. It's on my 10/22 that gets banged around in my truck or in my ruck and holds zero.
-Has lanyards on the adjustment caps.
-Price.

Things I don't like about the Sparc
-Lanyards have a tendency to twist and can be hard to get tiny caps off for adjustment.
-Screws in mounts need some nail polish or Loctite to stay put. I pulled it off after a few hundred rounds and found 2 screws missing.
-Objective lens coating is better than Strike Fire, but still not awesome in low light. Even in normal light it adds a blue hue to everything. Odd when shooting both eyes open because one eye sees things normally, the other see's the blue hue.
-O-rings on caps suck. Cracked or broke in a few months.
-Magnifier...same as I said on Strike Fire.
-Controls....same opinion as on Strike Fire.
-Would like option of red or green dot with the push of a button like on Strike Fire


Conclusion.
For the price, they are to beat IN MY OPINION. The optics seem pretty tough and stand up to abuse as long as you put in some forthought to use loctite or nail polish (my personal favorite for screws) to keep things from falling out. Easy to zero and they hold their zero well. Good battery life and decent controls. The magnifier and the objective lens coating are my only real gripes with these dudes. All in all, if you don't wanna drop the money on a high end red dot or holo optic this is a good choice especially for normal use. Would I take them to Afghanistan with me? No. Would I use them for plinking, coyote hunting and as a fairly reliable everyday use optic? Yes.

[WoofersInc]

I have a Strikefire on one of my Ar's. Main complaint for me is that in bright daylight the dot is hard to pick up. Other than that it has worked great. Holds zero and was easy to get dialed in.

I also have a Crossfire on a 10/22 Target. So far it has been a great scope on this gun.

[gunfighter48]

I have a Vortex Viper HS 5-15 X 44 on my DPMS LR 308 and it's a fantastic scope. These scopes were made for Midway and only sold thru Midway. It's very clear and sharp from edge to edge and holds it's zero just fine with the 308. The turrets have very positive clicks and it has zero reset. The reticle is Mil - Mil, very sharp and easy to use. I've had several scopes over the years and the Vortex is the best one yet. I got mine a week after the Midway sale price of $399.00 expired. So I paid $499.00 for mine and it's worth every penny!! Now the listing on Midway says out of stock, it's a seasonal item. Hope they get them back again because I want to buy another one for my next rifle!!!

[Walkalong]

I bought the same scope. I back ordered it when it was on sale. It took almost four months to receive it, but It was worth the wait.

I agree. Superb scope (http://www.thehighroad.org/attachment.php?attachmentid=169748&stc=1&d=1344736585).

[helotaxi]

I've been very impressed with my Strikefire but I still wouldn't take a chance on one of their higher priced rifle scopes. Not if I could get something comparable from a well-established brand like Leupold, Burris, Nikon, Weaver, etc..None of the brands you listed offer a scope with comparable glass and features in the same price category as a Vortex. Leupold can offer some of the same features but at 2x or more the price.

Vortex has been around for around 20 years, or thereabout, so it's not like they're some upstart. They are relatively new in the riflescope market but they've been well known for their binoculars in the birding community for some time.

[Driftertank]

Viper PST 4-16X50 FFP

Some people will say "My Schmidt & Bender/Swarovski/USOptics has MUCH better glass" and i'm sure they are, but i've never played with any of those. As far as my experience, my Vortex is the most scope i could have gotten for the money. Glass is brilliant, controls and adjustments have a good feel. Reticle is easy to read, simple to use (I specified MOA graduation/adjustment, and being FFP, leads and holdovers are accurate at ANY power) and features multilevel LED illumination. Has large, clearly marked target turrets, and a simple but effective shim-based zero-stop feature. Has "side-focus," and generous range of eye-relief. Very little glare/flare from light sources in low-light conditions. The best part is i paid less than a grand for it.

A friend of mine hadn't heard of Vortex a year ago, now owns a riflescope, rangefinder and binos from them, loves them all.

Neither of us has had to use their (reportedly excellent) customer service yet.

[chaser_2332]

I have 2 razors and a pst. Love them all. The only scope
I would trade my razors for are a s&b.

[rodensouth]

I've got a Viper HS 4-16 x 44 and it has impressed me. I have a Swarovski Z6 2-12 that may be a bit nicer glass as far as edge to edge clarity and low-light work, but my lower end Swaro's are not as nice as the Viper IMO. I also have Leupold and Zeiss. It has become MY opinion that a high end Vortex is better than an entry level Swaro/Zeiss.

[Zebraranger]

I've had the Vortex Strikefire red/green dot on my Beretta CX-4 .40 for almost a couple of years now with no issues. Primarely my HD and fun range gun. Its held up well and it holds zero, seems to be pretty rugged too. Here in Florida on bright sunny days, the green dot can be hard to see, no issue seeing the red dot. I have it mounted on the low ring so it will co-witness with the iron sights. I dont use the magnifier because it really does'nt help, I think its just a selling point. All in all though, its a good value especially for its price point.
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb204/zebraranger/Collection/010-1.jpg
http://i204.photobucket.com/albums/bb204/zebraranger/Collection/004.jpg

[Fishbed77]

I own a Vortex StrikeFire red dot that I have mounted on a dedicated .22LR AR-15.

It's a nice enough sight for that use, but there is NO comparison in build quality or optical quality to the Aimpoint PRO that I own. TheVortex glass is much darker and greener than the Aimpoint glass, and the dot is less crisp (but still quite good). I also find the button placement and operation a little fiddly compared to the simple dial and "always-on" battery life of the Aimpoint. I've also had the included Vortex mount work itself loose under the fearsome recoil of the .22LR (though easily addressed with some blue Loktite). It's nothing compared to the beast of a mount included with the PRO (QRP2 mount, as used with Aimpoint CompM4). The Vortex flip-caps are annoying difficult to close.

It may sound like I'm being really harsh on the StrikeFire, but I actually like the sight. At it's price point, it's the best thing out there. I just wouldn't call it the best "value" in red dot sights.

The StrikeFire is great for plinking, but for any hard use, the PRO is by far the best value out there. I've seen them occasionally priced under $400 at PSA. In the scheme of things that's not really a whole lot more money than the StrikeFire for a whole heck of a lot more optic.

[adelbridge]

I have 2 Crossfires and a Crossfire II

3-9 with illumnated reticle
4-12X 42 crossfire II
4-16 X50 AO illuminated reticle

the 3-9 I ran side by side with my buddies Leupold VX-II on a night hog hunt last week and the glass was pretty much identical. The illuminated reticle actually makes the scope slightly brighter under moonlight and I had no problem picking off a hog at 40 yards at 10:00 pm with no other light source.

[Snubshooter]

Good glass. Some of their electronics can be iffy at times. I think they expanded too fast and that part of QC didn't keep up.

[Zebraranger]

It's a nice enough sight for that use, but there is NO comparison in build quality or optical quality to the Aimpoint PRO that I own

I have to agree but you cant even compare the two. The Aimpoint Pro is in another league at upwards of $400. compared to $129. for the Vortex Strikefire. The Aimpoint is definitely a much better and quality optic, but you're paying for that quality in three times the price. Its kind of like comparing a Chevrolet Corvette to a Chevrolet Cavalier, they both do the job but the vette does it better.

[Temp430]

I purchased a Vortex Viper HD 20-60x80 angled spotting scope. Very nice. I can see Jupiter's cloud bands with it. Bought it to see holes at the range and it's seems a bit of an overkill for that.

[Batty67]

I've had a SPARC on my AO M1 carbine (scout-mounted). On/off crapped out and Vortex replaced with only a minor (reasonable) amount of fuss. New one works like a charm. You MUST use loctite or it will rattle and lose zero. I added Butler Creek flip-up covers. Very good quality and accesories for the price.

[Lloyd Smale]

i have to agree with the others. I also have 3 aimpoints. two comp 2s and a comp3 and there hands down better. But they sure should be for the price. My vortex strikefires are both on 22s. they serve well on those. But on the guns id want to rely on to protect myself and my family theres aimpoints and acogs. To me its worth the extra cost for piece of mind. But for a plinking gun or for someone that just cant come up with the 500 bucks for a aimpoint there a class setup. I also agree with the magnifier assesment. Id like to see them sell them for 10 bucks cheaper and ditch the magnifier. Its a joke.

[JoeMal]

I have a Vortex Viper 6.5-20x40mm on a Savage .223...holds zero, clear glass, and great customer service. One of my lens-caps broke and I called them up to see what they would do. They overnighted a new lens cap set and included a camo longsleeve shirt for hunting season. Not bad IMO. I will buy more

[elwoodm]

put my vortex strikefire on a saiga 12 and it handles 3 inch mag loads fine slugs 00 buck no problem great red dot for the money.

[JustinJ]

While comparing the Leupold VX R 1-4X against the vortex PST 1-4 i found the Leupold to have clearer glass. I could read signs with it at 4X that i could not with the Vortex. I think the VX-R patrol is a lot more scope for the money.

[saenzrich]

1-4x24 PST Is always at zero every time i take it to the range. Can't beat it for the price. I know but this was not luck yes 1st shot and it was only at 50yds, but there are always naysayers... they are great clear scopes as long as you can do your part..http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u431/saenzrich/IMG_6645.jpg
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u431/saenzrich/IMG_6652.jpg
http://i1067.photobucket.com/albums/u431/saenzrich/AmericanSpirit1shotkill.jpg