Vortex Viper Riflescope Assessment | Out of doors Lifestyles

This spring Vortex presented a made over line of Viper rifle scopes, which are available in 3 iterations and be offering slightly one thing for all sorts of hunters. I figured Vortex’s Edge coaching facility in Wisconsin will be the very best position to box take a look at the brand new Vipers, so I threw a pre-release 3-15×44 Viper HD on my rifle and headed to their Hunter Marksmanship vary outdoor of Madison. I had hardly ever set my rifle case down on the Vortex headquarters ahead of I were given the corporate’s normal greeting.

“Were given any hunts coated up?” Corey Eliasson, Pete Schreier, and Sawyer Briel of Vortex waited for my reaction with rapt consideration. I right away concept in regards to the Wyoming antelope tag I had q4 and the rig I had deliberate for the search—a Weatherby 307 within the flat-shooting 6.5 WBY RPM.

With some excellent coaching from the Vortex professionals, I temporarily discovered that my tools and my talents can be able for pace goats q4. 

Meet The New Vortex Viper HD Scopes

Vortex has been promoting the Viper line of scopes for ages, and it was once time for a refresh. In keeping with my dialog with the product group, those new fashions were within the works for a couple of years. In comparison to the former fashions, the brand new Vipers come with upgraded glass, illuminated reticles, and your number of capped or uncovered turrets and both first or moment focal aircraft reticles. In different phrases, the brand new Vipers promise to ship what as of late’s hunters and shooters be expecting out of a top quality riflescope. In the case of worth and function, the Viper line sits between Vortex’s higher-end Razor line and extra reasonably priced Diamondback line of rifle scopes. The brand new Vipers are made within the Philippines. 

There are 3 other scopes within the new line: a 2-10×42 SFP, a 3-15×44 SFP, and a 5-25×50 FFP or SFP (right here’s our information explaining FFP vs SFP). 

All 3 choices characteristic a 30-millimeter tube, adjustable reticle illumination, and new HD (high-definition) glass this is distinctive to the Viper line. Vortex says the improve provides a clearer view, extra reasonable colours, extra mild transmission, and higher edge-to-edge sharpness than the outgoing fashions. Vortex additionally says they’re fog-proof, shock-proof, water resistant, and sponsored through the corporate’s VIP Guaranty.

Reticles in those new scopes come with the Lifeless-Cling BDC in MOA, the VMR-3 in MOA or MRAD, and the VMR-4 in MOA or MRAD. Vortex pairs magnification and reticles in keeping with the supposed packages of the scope. The similar is going for capped and uncapped turrets – nor is higher, it simply relies on your capturing and looking genre.

Whilst I were given to check the 3-15×44 Viper, OL editor-in-chief Alex Robinson and tool editor Scott Einsmann each and every box examined the opposite two fashions at their house levels. 

Trying out the Viper 3-15X44

Vortex Viper HD 3-15×44 SFP Specifications and Options

See It

• Magnification: 3-15x
• Purpose Lens Diameter: 44 mm
• Focal Airplane: 2d focal aircraft
• Reticle: VMR-3 (MOA)
• Turrets: Uncovered locking elevation, capped windage
• Tube Diameter: 30 mm
• Changes: 1/4 MOA
• Parallax Adjustment: 20 yards to infinity
• Most Elevation Adjustment: 102 MOA
• Most Windage Adjustment: 92 MOA
• Eye Reduction: 3.4 inches
• Duration: 13.2 inches
• Weight: 22.5 oz
• MSRP: $750

The Vortex Edge instructors have noticed and accomplished all of it, they usually’re more than pleased to percentage the data they realized alongside the way in which. Eliasson served as a Marine Corps scout sniper and designated marksman as a protection contractor. Along with instructing at Vortex Edge, he’s a aggressive precision shooter. Schreier served as an infantryman within the Military’s tenth Mountain Department and as a police officer. Now, he competes in USPSA and teaches at Vortex Edge. Each are avid hunters.

Eliasson, Schreier, and I labored via an abbreviated model of the Vortex Edge Hunter Marksmanship route. Scholars who join the actual deal spend two complete days studying about rifle setup, ballistics, marksmanship basics, and real-world capturing positions. 

From those guys I realized to think about my rifle, optic, and ammunition as one cohesive device that each one must be calibrated in combination. I plan on looking with 6.5 WBY RPM ammo loaded with 127-grain Barnes LRX bullets, in order that’s what I delivered to Vortex.

In combination, we zeroed our scopes at the 100-yard indoor vary. My instructors stressed out development a cast place, dry firing till I felt assured, after which taking my time to make best possible pictures. In case your 0 isn’t exact, each next ballistic calculation can be in response to misguided knowledge. 

With a excellent 0, we ran via some fundamental positional capturing at 50 yards after which we moved to an out of doors bench and walked pictures out in 100-yard durations the usage of 10-inch metal plates to simulate a deer’s vitals. Simplest at 800 yards did the moving wind in spite of everything turn out an excessive amount of for me to make constant hits. 

We then took to the sphere to have interaction a sequence of goals from unknown distances and real-world capturing positions. Eliasson discussed that numerous folks put out of your mind health and mobility on the subject of positional capturing. Sure, kneeling and sitting are helpful, however are you able to with ease get into place and hang nonetheless lengthy sufficient to take a shot? Will joint ache or tight muscle tissue distract you from specializing in your shot procedure? What is going to your shot placement appear to be after you huff and self-praise a hillside? He says including some fundamental workout and stretching on your day by day regimen will strengthen positional capturing. 

On an afternoon ruled through shifty, multidirectional winds, the Viper HD 3-15×44 shined. The intense, sharp symbol via the brand new HD glass helped me pick the motion of the quick spring grass from masses of yards away. The reticle’s adjustable illumination works intuitively. Press as soon as to show it on. Press once more, many times, to extend brightness till it maxes out, then stay urgent many times to lower brightness. Press and hang to show it off. The sophisticated illuminated dot created simply the appropriate steadiness of distinction for aiming exactly on shaded goals.

I’ve lengthy been partial to the uncovered turrets Vortex makes use of. The Viper HD’s elevation turret pops up, supplies audible and tactile clicks, and locks again in position identical to the turrets on my precision rifle scope (a Vortex Strike Eagle 5-25×56 FFP). The capped windage turret takes slightly bit extra time to get right of entry to, nevertheless it’s simple sufficient and also you’ll most probably most effective contact it while you 0 the scope. The RevStop device is fool-proof for returning to 0 after a large elevation adjustment. The windage turret makes use of a artful spring-loaded design the place you pull the turret outward to regulate the alignment with out shifting the reticle itself.

I in most cases favor a first-focal aircraft reticle, however the uncovered elevation turret made dialing for elevation really easy that I grew to love the second-focal aircraft reticle. On longer pictures, the 2-MOA subtensions made maintaining for wind a snap. 

Whilst the VMR-3 reticle is superb for making elevation or wind holds, it’s no longer reduce out for each on the similar time. With out a Christmas-tree-style holdovers, you’re going to most probably need to dial for elevation and hang for windage. As long as you’ve gotten time to dial, that’s no longer an actual drawback. But when this can be a deal breaker for you, go for the Viper HD 5-25×50 with the VMR-4 reticle.

Trying out the Viper HD 2-10×42

Vortex Viper 2-10X42 Specifications and Options

See It

• Magnification: 2-10x
• Purpose Lens Diameter: 42 mm
• Focal Airplane: 2d focal aircraft
• Reticle: Deadhold BDC (MOA)
• Turrets: capped windage and elevation
• Tube Diameter: 30 mm
• Changes: 1/4 MOA
• Parallax Adjustment: 100 yards
• Most Elevation Adjustment: 135 MOA
• Most Windage Adjustment: 135 MOA
• Eye Reduction: 3.4 inches
• Duration: 12.1 inches
• Weight: 19.9 oz
• MSRP: $600

That is probably the most conventional scope of the brand new Viper line, nevertheless it does come with some great fashionable options. The 2 I really like probably the most are the illuminated reticle and the capability of the turrets, which you merely raise and spin to reset to 0 after sighting in (there’s no wish to loosen tiny set screws). 

The scope is understated and compact and turns out find it irresistible may well be the easiest optic for an all-around deer rifle, so I determined to run it via a pair box exams related to deer hunters. First I devised an unofficial low-light take a look at through putting a 3-d deer goal 100 yards out from my yard deck. After sundown, I targeted 4 scopes, together with the brand new Viper, at the goal. My take a look at topics have been:

• Bushnell Elite 4500 2.5-10X40
• Leupold VX3I 3.5-10X40
• Vortex Viper HD 2-10X42
• Leupold VX6 HD 3-18X44

I set all of the scopes to 7X after which appeared via each and every of them throughout fading mild, paying shut consideration to how smartly I may make out the tines at the greenback goal. Unsurprisingly, the extra reasonably priced Leupold VX3I and Bushnell scopes (with fairly smaller function lenses) have been the primary and moment to drop out (respectively). Whilst I may not make out element with the ones two scopes, I may nonetheless depend issues with the Viper. A few minute and a part later the Viper winked out adopted in a while through the VX6 with the bigger function lens. 

The 2-10X42 Viper did outperform the extra reasonably priced scopes, because it will have to have, and it was once additionally aggressive with the VX6, which prices greater than two times as a lot. In different phrases, it delivered low mild efficiency as anticipated. It’s additionally price noting that all of the scopes collected greater than sufficient mild to peer the objective well past criminal capturing mild. 

As any other casual box take a look at, I left the Viper out throughout a torrential downpour. I didn’t be expecting the scope to tackle water, however I used to be curious to peer if the using rain would possibly brief circuit the battery-powered illuminated reticle. I’m glad to file that it didn’t. After sitting in heavy rain for approximately an hour, the reticle labored simply because it had ahead of—no worse for the damage. There was once no fog or water at the inside lenses.

The one complaint I’ve for the Viper I examined is that I spotted a skinny scratch on probably the most inside lenses (I realized it whilst shining a flashlight down the tube throughout the function lens). Whilst glassing towards the atmosphere solar I might from time to time catch a sliver of glare, which I guess was once coming from the scratch. Whilst this isn’t what you wish to have to peer out of a $600 scope, I in fact don’t in finding this a deal breaker in any respect. Originally for the reason that take a look at scope I were given was once a pre-production style, which have a tendency to have some hitches. Secondly, this defect would most probably be lined underneath the Vortex guaranty, so if I have been a shopper, I most definitely wouldn’t need to are living with the scratch in any respect.

In the long run, I feel the 2-10X42 Viper is a cast looking optic at a good worth. I might be more than pleased to throw it on any of my deer rifles. —Alex Robinson, editor-in-chief

Trying out the Viper HD 5-25×50

Vortex Viper HD 5-25×50 FFP Specifications and Options

See It

• First Focal Airplane
• Reticle Choices: VMR-4 MRAD (examined) or VMR-4 MOA
• 10 illumination settings
• Eye reduction: 3.4 inches
• Box of view at 100 yards: 23.6 ft at 25 energy and four.7 ft at 5 energy 
• RevStop zerostop 
• 30mm tube
• .1 MRAD or 1/4 MOA changes 
• Max elevation: 18.9 MRAD or 68 MOA
• Commute in keeping with rotation: 10 MRAD or 25 MOA
• Parallax: 20 yards to infinity
• Weight: 25 oz 
• Worth: $900

I examined the Viper HD 5-25 on my FX Affect M3, which is an air rifle that may shoot 1-inch teams at 100 yards, which is accuracy that opponents most of the best possible .22 rifles. I selected it as my take a look at gun for the reason that Viper HD 5-25 is a perfect scope for precision .22 rifles and airguns. The important thing characteristic that makes this an excellent rimfire scope is that the parallax adjusts from 20 yards to infinity with a variety of reference issues for shut vary capturing. I did the majority of my checking out at 25 and 50 yards with 0 problems getting a crisp symbol. The primary factor with the parallax adjustment is that it sits proper subsequent to the knurled knob for switching at the illumination. Their proximity makes it conceivable to show at the illumination when you wish to have to regulate parallax. 

Some other characteristic that makes the Viper HD very best for precision rimfire is its reticle. I shot 100 pellets at a KYL rack at 25, 50, and 75 yards on a windy, prefrontal day. Whether or not I used to be maintaining elevation, wind, or each, the reticle gave me all of the knowledge I wanted with out feeling cluttered. I discovered the wind subtensions to be particularly intuitive with small dots each .1 MIL and a daring dot each .5 MIL. 

The zoom has sufficient rigidity that it received’t slip off a atmosphere, nevertheless it’s nonetheless simple to make fast changes. The one factor that may make it higher is including a Switchview throw lever. 

The locking elevation turret is a pleasing characteristic for fighting errant clicks. It unlocks through pulling the turret instantly up, and the elevation changes are tactile and audible. Sadly the windage clicks weren’t as crisp on my take a look at style. 

I’ve used the RevStop 0 forestall on a number of Vortex scopes, together with a Razor HD LHT that I took elk looking. It’s a easy device that may be set in a couple of mins. For those who’re taking a look to push a rimfire to 300 yards, or past, you’ll be able to take away the RevStop ring to get probably the most elevation out of the scope. 

I’ve discovered the glass to be vivid and blank from edge-to-edge. I may obviously make out element on a 3-d goal 100 yards away quarter-hour previous criminal capturing mild. I when compared it to my Athlon Ares ETR and it hung on a couple of mins longer into the fading mild. The Ares makes use of a 34mm tube and a bigger function, which makes that tight race spectacular for the Viper HD.    

The Viper HD 5-25×50 is set 6 oz lighter than the Viper PST 5-25. For those who upload in the truth that it has a locking elevation turret and a capped windage turret, you’ve gotten a very good open-country looking scope. —Scott Einsmann, tools editor

Ultimate Ideas at the New Viper HD Line

The previous Viper line was once slightly complicated. There have been such a lot of variants and choices that looking for a brand new scope may well be daunting. Those 3 new scopes reduce the noise and streamline the product line, all whilst providing extra options and higher efficiency. The whole thing from the reticle variety to the turrets is sensible given. 

Those new Viper HD scopes are years within the making. They constitute numerous hours of analysis, building, and checking out. After spending a while within the Vortex headquarters, I will be able to’t wait to place mine into motion q4.