Looking for a scope to put on my new rifle. I have a new Browning rifle. A Xbolt Hells Canyon Speed Long Range 280AI. With a 1@8 twist 26 inch barrel. Looking for a scope to shoot out to 500 to 600 yds on steel. Plus planning on going out to the northwest bear hunting next spring. One of my friend's has a Xbolt Speed 280AI 24 inch in 280AI. He has a Viper 4x16x44mm HS LR scope on his. Would that scope work for what I want too do? Never had any dealing with a Vortex. I want a exposed elevation turret. A capped windage turret. And a SFP scope for hunting. I have never messed with a FFP scope. I want a scope in the Range of low 3 or 4 up to 16 to 20 power. Going to order a pr of Sig rangefinder 2800. To use with the scope.
If you go vortex I would recommend the 3-15 razor lht
Nightforce SHV is what I would recommend. Also, in spite of the Leupold haters that appear on this site quite regularly, a new VX5HD is certainly worth a look
Nightforce SHV is what I would recommend. Also, in spite of the Leupold haters that appear on this site quite regularly, a new VX5HD is certainly worth a look
What other scopes do you have? If you are used to higher end glass, you will be disappointed in a Viper. There are some good options listed above and I would add the Zeiss V4 4-16x44 into the mix. It meets all your requirements and has a bunch of reticle options. I prefer ZMOAi30-#64 but ZBi #68 is another good one. I do not know if weight is a factor but compare the weights of scopes that you are considering. Some of them weigh a ton.
[Also, in spite of the Leupold haters that appear on this site quite regularly, a new VX5HD is certainly worth a look[/quote]
And VX6HD. They check all the boxes.
I have a VX5HD 2-10.
I have looked at a VX HD 5 3x15 44mm CDS. It was what I had planned on buying. But I came across the the issues people was having with them. Zeiss or even a Huskemaw scopes i have been looking at. Steiner is a nice scope. But the elevation has a capped turret. I want the elevation turret exposed.
I'd rather have an Arken epl 4-16, than half-dozen vipers.
Having owned Viper PST, HS & HST scopes in the past I would not recommend them to anyone. IMO the glass and tracking both sucked. The only Vortex worth a schidt is the Razor LHT and I'm not that big of a fan of it.
Anything Rupold is an easy pass too.
I like the Zeiss v4 4x16x44mm. I like the Huskemaw 4x16x42mm blue diamond scope. But don't know much about it. I want a exposed elevation turret. And a capped windage turret. I want a SFP scope for hunting. Don't know much about the FFP scope. I would buy a Leupold VX5 3x15x44mm CDS scope. If I hadn't read about the issues with them.
I like the Zeiss v4 4x16x44mm. I like the Huskemaw 4x16x42mm blue diamond scope. But don't know much about it. I want a exposed elevation turret. And a capped windage turret. I want a SFP scope for hunting. Don't know much about the FFP scope. I would buy a Leupold VX5 3x15x44mm CDS scope. If I hadn't read about the issues with them.
IF you like the Zeiss, get it. Why the questions about it? I've had one, the glass was not as good as I would have liked. For the money, I'd rather have a NF SHV, but if you can live with the glass, the Zeiss isn't a bad scope. They track very well. The plastic piece they have under the turret, used for the zero stop, is cheap. I prefer the SHV way over the Zeiss: Better glass, better turrets, and about the same price. That's me though. If you like the Zeiss, get it..
As for the scope in the OP (Vortex 4-16x44 Viper): That's a hell no!
I like the Zeiss v4 4x16x44mm. I like the Huskemaw 4x16x42mm blue diamond scope. But don't know much about it. I want a exposed elevation turret. And a capped windage turret. I want a SFP scope for hunting. Don't know much about the FFP scope. I would buy a Leupold VX5 3x15x44mm CDS scope. If I hadn't read about the issues with them.
your first 2 options there are excellent!! either willl work great. I have both scopes except my husky is a 3-12. its my understanding that they use a titanium erector spring like nightforce does on the huskys. my husky has been awesome its been bounced around for thousands of miles in a jeep, in my truck, over ruff nevada roads. I think mine is 5 years old or so. I use the dial to reach out and take a longer shot every now and then, I have never had to readjust the zero on it, unless I changed cans the gun was zero'd for. it has seen about 2 weeks a year of hunting for 5 years. its one of my most trusted scopes now.
I have 3 zeiss v4's and my son has another, all of them have been great, with perfect tracking. I think the zeiss has a little better glass than the husky. for me it probably comes down to which one I can get the best deal on, which is probably zeiss unless I could get lucky and pick up a used husky.
the vipers, ahhh NO! I bought 2 gen 2 vipers and they both had right reticle travel when the scope was dialed up for elevation. don't know if they fixed that or not. I would love to check another one to see if they fixed that or not. but both new off the shelf samples did that. They are made in the phillipenes. the error was pretty small and very very few people would ever notice it. but still its not as good as other options.
I got to look at a Trijicon tenmile 4x24x50mm. I like that scope. Only ever owned Leupold and nikons. So looking at different scopes is new to me.
I would buy a Leupold VX5 3x15x44mm CDS scope. If I hadn't read about the issues with them.
Sounds like your mind is made up, but I have had 3 of these for years and they work great. They have put lots of meat in the freezer and horns on the wall.
Also have 2 of the Vortex Razor LHT 3-15x42 scopes which came out some time after, and I personally think the feature sets of these two models make them the most versatile choices for the hunting I do.
YMMV.
I actually own and use 2 Vortex Viper 2.5-10x44 BDC scopes. I like them. Excellent hunting scope in my opinion. It is basically a set and forget type of scope with the BDC reticle being used for longer ranges. Glass is very good - on par with the 3-10x40 SHV that I had. The turrets have nice solid clicks and have not been an issue for me - but I set and forget, minimal cranking up and down - kind of the point of a BDC reticle. They are built very solid and no I have not needed the warrantee. For a sub $500 scope it's a great option.
I would not suggest the 4-16 model in SFP though. To get the BDC to work (without a lot of calculations) the scope needs to be on max power. 16X is a lot to deal with in field conditions. Difficult to hold still, dim view at dusk/dawn, just too much scope for quick action on a big game scope. Again, just my opinion after trying several. If you were talking Varmint hunting, then a different story.
IF you think that you will be cranking the turrets then I'd go with the SHV.
The Zeiss v4 , Niteforce shv and Trijicon tenmile. All about the same quality? Never owned any of the 3. The one I buy I want it to track right.
I had a pair of Viper 6.5x20s with some of the worst glass. The one with the dot reticle I've kept for SHORT range target stuff, the other went down the road.
I looked at a Leica amplus 6 3x18x44mm. That is a nice scope. Don't know much about them.
Real good sale going on at Cameraland right now. Call Doug and get his recommendation. Personally i would be looking for a Nightforce or Zeiss
Looks like you’re considering options that are much better than the Viper. I’m a big Zeiss fan & think the 4-16 x 50 is tough to beat for all around hunting & ringing steel way out there.
I own an old higher power Viper & the glass is marginal the eye box unforgiving but on a 22-250 it’s been accurate. Thy have excellent products in the Razor line & vipers aren’t bad but all the others mentioned are better scopes. Look through what you can find and see what looks best to you. I like most Zeiss glass better than most Nightforce glass I’ve looked through but all the scopes in that class look great.
I have the Vortex HST 4-16x44 mounted to an M1A SuperMatch. Great scope for the price. I really like its simplicity and the glass is very clear for the price point. I have used the Vortex warranty on a PST Gen II scope and it is an excellent warranty.
Easy pass on any Vortex Viper models. Been there done that when Doug @ Cameraland was praising and pushing the Vortex brand years ago. Tracking and glass both sucked. I thought a cheap Nikon Prostaff scope had better glass when compared side by side. Down the road the Vipers went, never to return.
I have several Zeiss & Nightforce scopes. IMO the glass on a Conquest V4 is better than the glass on my SHV. My hunting rifles all wear Euro glass. My target rifles all wear Nightforce scopes.
I'll also pass on the Vortex model your looking at, have Vortex Viper HS, Swaro's, Leupold and Trijicons. IMHO the Accupoint 4-16X50 is as ideal as it gets. No batteries No buttons and a bright green dot. Mine Tracks to 600(far as I've taken it). Great eyebox and eye relief is about right to boot. I'd buy more if I could find them at the price i was paying new 5yrs ago.
Easy pass on any Vortex Viper models. Been there done that when Doug @ Cameraland was praising and pushing the Vortex brand years ago. Tracking and glass both sucked. I thought a cheap Nikon Prostaff scope had better glass when compared side by side. Down the road the Vipers went, never to return.
I have several Zeiss & Nightforce scopes. IMO the glass on a Conquest V4 is better than the glass on my SHV. My hunting rifles all wear Euro glass. My target rifles all wear Nightforce scopes.
You must have gotten a stellar V4. The 2 I looked through, and the one I had and sold, sucked. There's no comparison in glass quality. The SHV wins, easily, hands down..
Not looking at a Vortex anymore. After all the post. Glad I fount out before I bought one.