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Vortex 2-7 x35 Diamondback test drive

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martin3175 View Drop Down
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    Posted: April/24/2008 at 20:29
Got my test drive Vortex 2-7x35 Diamondback scope out of the box tonight. First thing I noticed as I removed it was that it is heavy . Then I heard a clang as the objective scope cover's clear plastic lens cover fell out in 2 pieces, as I believe it did for Pyro's test drive 3x9 model. Oh well , these things happen.
I took a good look through it here in the house as it is cloudy and quite dark out, and it is very sensitive to eye position. Move your head just the tiniest, and  the edges go black on ya. Clarity seems okay, but I will wait judgement till I can get some other scopes out to compare it to. The duplex reticle is sized just about right, and is quick to pick up. The weight now feels kinda re-assuring . Inside the scope tube is a sizeable white smudge about the size of quarter, and some dust ( not re-assuring ) .The power ring has a good feel to it ( not too hard--not too easy to turn ) . Weather permitting, I will break out some similar scopes I have to line it up against ( 4200 1.5-6, Monarch 2-7, Trophy 1.75-5, Pentax Whitetails Unlimited 2-5 , Browning 2-7, and a 3200 Elite 2-7) Should be fun. I have a Handirifle 30/30 I can swop the optics out on, and see what's what at the range hopefully on Sunday.


Edited by martin3175 - May/01/2008 at 21:37
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 8shots Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/25/2008 at 07:37
Waiting for the range report........Get%20Your%20Popcorn%20Ready
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mercenary1947 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: April/25/2008 at 19:08
 The already afore-mentioned bad points already put a " I don't think so " frame of mind to me .
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martin3175 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote martin3175 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/01/2008 at 15:40
So -for the actual comparison. I lined up the Vortex 2-7x35 against what I had in the safe .
My 14 yr son ( good eyes ) and my 43 yr old old fogee eyes  tried them out . I gave them in comparison a scale of -2 ( worse ) , 0 =the same , and up to +2 for optically superior. My son and I gave them whole numbers , and I averaged them out below.We had the fortune of a robin in the shadow under a trampoline at about 45 yd.s  to get a good idea of how they performed.
 
Vortex 2-7x35 = baseline
Simmons 2x7 x44 ( 44 mag) big surprise - 0.5 ( pretty clear )
4200 1.5-6 ...+1.5
Vari-X  III 2.5-8x36 ...+1
3200 Elite ...-0.5 ( hoped it would do better)
Monarch 1.5-4.5 ... 0.5
Trophy 1.75-5... - 1
Sightron SII 1.5-6x42 ....-0.5 ( big surprise -  disappointed )
Browning 2-7x32 ( recently discontinued ) ...0.5
 
Overall , the scope was really very clear. I swopped it on the 30-30 handi-rifle in the photos and put a box of Hornady  Leverolutions through it .
Positives- really very clear for the money, boxed out just fine, tracked true ...
Minuses - its heavy, and  very sensitive to eye position  ( forward / back and line of sight ) . I mounted it on a light kicker , but appropriate for the magnification range and unit price.  Seems like an okay piece , but note it's heavier than all I compared it too ,watch the scope covers -arrived cracked, and some dust and a white smudge inside the scope body.
 


Edited by martin3175 - June/18/2008 at 21:30
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/01/2008 at 15:54
Good review, Martin.
 
Is it the exit pupil on the scope that makes head position so critical or what?
Kind of a bad attribute for a low magnification scope, wouldn't you say? 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote martin3175 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/01/2008 at 16:04

Gotta line your eye up just right or it will form black shadows along the edge ..



Edited by martin3175 - May/01/2008 at 20:01
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tahqua Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/01/2008 at 16:32
Very good report and photos, thanks. To be honest, what really stood out in your findings, the VariX-III.
BTW, I like how you benchmarked against the Vortex.

Doug
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martin3175 View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote martin3175 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/01/2008 at 19:37
I had it right next to the Sightron SII, all were set on 3X, and it was noticeably brighter that the SII. I was surprised how much , but it does cost twice as much.

Edited by martin3175 - May/01/2008 at 22:00
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote 8shots Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/02/2008 at 06:58
Thanks for a nice report. The scope to scope comparison is a nice touch.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote lucytuma Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: May/03/2008 at 05:26
Good to see a fair comparison with other scopes, keep up the good work A+.
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