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Vortex Viper HS LR 4-16x44

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mil169 View Drop Down
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    Posted: March/12/2012 at 21:39
Just recieved my new Viper HS LR today. All I can say is "wow" about the feel, fit and finish. It appears to be a quality scope. Compared it next to a Leupold VX3 3-9x40 today and they seem on the same playing field. Not an expert here by any stretch, but they seemed very comparible to me. As they should, they're at about the same price point.
 
Now, my only hesitation about being totally excited to mount it on a rifle is the crosshair. I read a review once where they thought the cross hair was to light or fine for low light. They may not be wrong. The crosshairs are fine, however I was able to pick them out on a bare patch of dirt in a shelter belt at about 125 yds.
 
So my question is "does anyone have experience in the field with the Viper HS series in low light?"
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tahqua Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/12/2012 at 21:53
I haven't used the Viper. But, I don't believe the VX3 comes in a 3-9x40.
I contacted Vortex and they thought the BDC was not as good as the V-Plex, if low light performance was key. The 4-16x44 HS LR is a very nice package.
Doug
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mil169 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/13/2012 at 12:37
Ya, I think your right. I'm pretty sure it is a 3.5-10 or something similiar. Anyway, I looked at both scopes on  4 power.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mil169 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/13/2012 at 23:20
Anybody have any thoughts on this?...... Anyone?
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mil169 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/14/2012 at 23:29

Well, it feels like I'm talking to myself-but oh well.

I looked at the scope several times as light was fading tonight trying to assure myself that the .08 MOA crosshair won't be an issue. I don't think I was successful. All though I could probably make it work, I fell that the crosshair is just to thin to be picked up in low light. The picture through the scope is fantastic, but it is very hard to see the crosshair. I wish they would have an option to put the regular Viper stadia in this version.
 
As of right now I'm seriously contemplating contacting the supplier and seeing what it will take to send this back. As a target scope this wouldn't be an issue, but for hunting deer at dawn and dusk I think it will be. Now I kinda of wish I would have sent for the Sigthron SII Big Sky 4.5-14x44MD I had picked out.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bitterroot Bulls Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/15/2012 at 07:49
mil469,
 
Thanks for the info.  I have looked often at the 4-16X50, and that thin reticle does concern me.  I will be giving the scope a shot anyway, and we will see how it goes.
-Matt
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote oldguy Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/15/2012 at 08:17
As a target shooter I love thin reticle but for hunting they simply don't work.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mil169 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/15/2012 at 19:53
Ya, I guess sometimes we have to pay for our education. I looked at the specs for the Sightron Big Sky Mil Dot I was looking at and the reticle on that onn is .1 MOA at 100yds on 14x. So I guess that one wouldn't be much better than the Viper HS.
 
Now I'm looking at an SII Big Sky 4.5-14x42 with an adjustable objective and target turrets. I'm thinking of just staying with the duplex reticle and figuring out how the resetable turrets work when I'm messing around on the range.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bogey Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/16/2012 at 07:25
I used this scope this year and shot a couple deer with it at dusk.  I never had a problem with the reticle thickness.  Still when shooting it I seem to wish it was a little thicker.  Never noticed this when shooting deer so, I ask even my self is the thicker needed for hunting or do we just think it is?  I don't have an answer only that it worked fine for me and it was not a thought when actually taking the shot on game, it was easy to see.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mil169 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/16/2012 at 20:43
I would be curious as to what distance the deer were at, just for a reference.
 
Thanks
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bogey Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/17/2012 at 10:18
Actually both were close.  The WI buck was not much over 100 and The fading light and weather caused me more problems judging horn size then seeing the crosshairs.  The KS buck I glassed at a mile(no problem judging horns on him!) in the morning but moved to a good spot later and I first spotted him at like 150 and he let him walk into about 70.  It an LR scope but i would always prefer to shoot them close then far.  Like I said; when I look into the scope I seem to want a thicker reticle also.  I was just saying that in practical use it worked totally fine.  So I guess more time with it, will tell me more, but at this point it works.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote bigdtd Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/17/2012 at 10:50
fyi they used to make a leupold vx3 in 3-9x40 i have one on my rem 700 300win mag, another great scope
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Bitterroot Bulls Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/17/2012 at 10:56
Originally posted by bigdtd bigdtd wrote:

fyi they used to make a leupold vx3 in 3-9x40 i have one on my rem 700 300win mag, another great scope
I believe that was a VX-III or Vari-X III.  The only VX3s in that mag range I saw were the 2.5-8 and 3.5-10
-Matt
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tahqua Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/17/2012 at 11:15
Originally posted by Bitterroot Bulls Bitterroot Bulls wrote:

Originally posted by bigdtd bigdtd wrote:

fyi they used to make a leupold vx3 in 3-9x40 i have one on my rem 700 300win mag, another great scope
I believe that was a VX-III or Vari-X III.  The only VX3s in that mag range I saw were the 2.5-8 and 3.5-10
 
My VariX-III's are the same powers as the V3's mentioned.
Doug
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote btate868 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/22/2012 at 01:44
mil169, I know you said the crosshairs were to fine but over all how do you feel about the scope if you dont mind me asking? I almost just bought the Nikon M-308 when I realized its not even out yet so the next most comparable one was that one you got, which had real good reviews everywhere I looked. I wanted both turrets exposed but I can prob deal with just the elevation, if thats even the one you got. If the crosshairs are really that thin ill just wait for the Nikon, even though I dont want to.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote JGRaider Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/22/2012 at 08:29
Originally posted by oldguy oldguy wrote:

As a target shooter I love thin reticle but for hunting they simply don't work.


Admittedly my 51 year old eyes aren't what they used to be, but i still don't need glasses except to read small print.  I sold my S&B Summit for this exact reason.....the thin wires were much too thin for my use.  As good of glass as I've ever seen in a scope though, but if you can't see the reticle you're toast. 
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote mil169 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/22/2012 at 21:27

Absolutely everything elso about the Vortex Viper 4-16x44 HS LR 4-16, I liked. It was a little heavy, but it is a 30mm tube. If it hadn't been for the low light thing, I would have mounted it with out a second thought. I haven't looked through an abundance of scopes so the 80moa crosshairs were a surpise to me. I new what the dimension was before I ordered, but didn't realize how it would look.  I probably could have gotten by with it, but I wanted to be absolutely sure I could see a deer at 125yds and be able to see where to aim. From what I've figured out from a customer relation standpoint, Vortex is top notch. I have ordered a differant Viper, so hopefully I will not have to find out how they are if you actually have a problem. From what I've read it shouldn't be an issue.

 
My two cents is this, if you think you will like it, order it. If  you can't live with it when you get it, then send it back. All it will cost you is a little shipping. Unfortunately there doesn't seem to be an abundance of dealers to get a first look before we buy, so it's a chance we take. My second point is this, in this day and age their is no reason for sub par customer service. I've had good luck talking with Leupold, Sightron, and Vortex. These C.S departments are very good. I've spoken once with Bushnell, and the guy was alright, sounded helpful but wasn't. He didn't have access to a stadia dimension I wanted. Other than that I can't tell you how Bushnell or Nikon's C.S is. But there are plenty of posts on them. Most read that they are getting better-meaning there is room for improvement. To me, the backing of a scope is almost more important than the scope itself.
 
Sorry this got long winded.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote btate868 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/23/2012 at 00:45
I appreciate the reply trust me. I may still get this scope iv heard good things and you liked it also. Having target turrets, at least the elevation like on this model, is pretty much a must. I may wait a few more weeks and see if the M-308 becomes available on competitor  and it not go with this one. btw Nikons CS, from my experience which was only twice, was very good. It was the first time in awhile that I got off the phone and said to myself wow that guy answered every single question I had. I asked a ton of questions to. Each rep im sure hasnt had any real hands on with most of their products im sure but they sounded like it to me.
 
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Edited by Kickboxer - March/23/2012 at 07:50
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cpwomack Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: March/23/2012 at 09:10
You may want to look through a Nikon with their BDC reticle if you haven't yet.  I tried one and couldn't stand the little circles.  Another thing, I have owned three Monarchs, a 2.5-10, a 3-12 and a 2-8 and have two Vortex Vipers, both 2-7's.  I traded in two of the Monarchs, kept the 2-8. To my eyes they Vipers have better glass, so if you can look through both.
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