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Vortex HS-T vs. HS LR |
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Jake123
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/23/2018 Location: Tennessee Status: Offline Points: 8 |
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Posted: September/23/2018 at 14:45 |
Hello everyone, and thank you in advance for your advice, opinions, and considerations-
I am somewhat new to hunting, and shooting with scopes in general. I was raised to be familiar with pistols, but have only recently been opened up to the world of hunting rifles/calibers, quality optics, and the likes. The family member who has encouraged me to get into this side of shooting is handing off a Remington 700 BDL 7mm Rem Mag and only asks that I top it with a nice scope and put it to good use. Not a bad deal, right?! The majority of the shots I’ll take with this rifle are 100-400 yards. However, that is not to say that I won’t ever hunt somewhere else where the distance is doubled, especially considering the capability of the rifle. I want to develop my skills to confidently hit targets at twice that distance, and therefore want to make one scope purchase that I can grow into over the course of many years. For all of the above reasons, I’ve set my mind on something in the $500-$700 price range with either 3x12 or 4x16. I refuse to raise the low end any further than 4 so that I have a chance on short range shots. After lots of research, I’m seeing a lot of value in Vortex’s Viper line. I don’t think that my application, hunting primarily, target shooting on occasion, justifies an illuminated reticle or FFP, two of the big inclusions on the PST. This brings things down to the Viper HST 4x16 or the HS LR 4x16. I don’t see much difference in them aside from 1/2 MOA adjustments on the LR. For my purpose, I am thinking the HST is the most appropriate. Generally, I will be hunting out of one particular blind that is not a far walk or off the ground-so things like weight or capped turrets are not a huge factor. Simply put, I believe my ideal scope is something with a large objective, quality glass, easy to use reticle, good low-light performance. I am trying to play a middle ground between a $1,000 Zeiss and sub $500 Nikons.. Leupold doesn’t seem to offer the magnification at the price I want, so here I am, thinking Vortex is the most solid for my purpose and budget. Now, bring on the wisdom! |
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13182 |
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Given your budget and application, I would really suggest you step up to the Vortex Razor HD LH 2-10x40.
SWFA has it on a major sale right now and in terms of optical and mechanical quality, it is a serious step up over the Viper series that you are looking at: For your purposes, you do not need exposed turrets and the reticle in the Razor HD LH is a lot easier to see in low light than the reticles availablein HS-t or HS LR Viper scopes you are looking at. Eye relief is more flexible as well and the scope is lighter and more compact. There is enough holdover capability in the G4 reticle should you need it. ILya
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Jake123
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/23/2018 Location: Tennessee Status: Offline Points: 8 |
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That definitely is a good sale..
What I’m fighting with is giving up so much on the high end of the magnification. I recognize that I can’t necessarily have the best of both worlds within the budget I’m looking at, but I’d be hard pressed to limit myself and my rifle to 10x mag.. I feel like I might be losing some potential for long range work. |
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Jake123
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/23/2018 Location: Tennessee Status: Offline Points: 8 |
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In addition to the fact that the HS LR has a 50mm objective and 30mm tube, neither of which ever hurt to have, generally speaking for the sake of light gathering and overall durability/internal adjustment.
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13182 |
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It is not as much as you think and given that HD LH is significantly better optically, you are not giving up much at all.
I am pretty comfortable shooting out to 1000 yards with 10x, which is longer than people usually take their hunting rifles out to. ILya
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Peddler
Optics God Joined: July/04/2012 Location: Oswego,NY Status: Offline Points: 13526 |
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Trust the Dark Lord !💥
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When you are dead, you don't know you are dead.It is difficult only for others.
It is the same when you are stupid. |
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13182 |
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Tube diameter does not have anything to do with low light performance. Internal adjustment range really only comes into play if you are planning to shoot pretty far out. Razor HD LH 2-10x40 has 90 MOA of adjustment range, which will take you out quite far with any sort of proper mounting. Either way, if you really insist on more magnification which, given that you said you are new at this is not a great idea, you can try the higher magnification version of the HD LH: ILya
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Jake123
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/23/2018 Location: Tennessee Status: Offline Points: 8 |
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Not so much insistant, so much as I want to have something as versatile as possible. I haven’t thrown too much thought into much less than 3x12 at this point, but understand that often times, especially given a budget, I will be sacrificing either magnification or glass quality. I want to put my money in the best place possible and that is certainly within the glass over anything.. I guess I’m also somewhat biased because I find myself comparing lots of info to the only other scope I own and have real time experience with, which is a cabelas 3x12 that, although is not “too bad”, is not in the same class as any of the scopes we are discussing here..
I definitely appreciate any and all help, as there are clearly people on this forum that have been honing their skills longer than I’ve been alive! |
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13182 |
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I would advise against trying to go as versatile as possible.
If it is a hunting rifle, set it up to be as good for that as you can within your budget. A 2-10x40 is an excellent overall configuration that will let you reach pretty far out if needed. Also make sure you invest into good quality base and rings. That is not where you want to skimp. ILya
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Jake123
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/23/2018 Location: Tennessee Status: Offline Points: 8 |
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I can understand that. Last question for you and I hopefully will have my mind made up..
I came across a deal online on the Zeiss HD5 line offered in different ranges, all of them at $700, which is in the same ballpark as the Vortex’s we discussed. From doing a little research, the Zeiss often gets a nod for outstanding quality.. any input on their HD5 line in particular? The newer V6 and V8 are out of my price range, and there’s not too much info on Zeiss’s website about the HD5. |
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koshkin
MODERATOR Dark Lord of Optics Joined: June/15/2004 Location: United States Status: Offline Points: 13182 |
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I am not a fan of the HD5, although it was probably the first truly decent quality scope to come out of China.
It looked good on paper and performed fairly well, but I think Razor HD LH is a better scope optically and mechanically (as are the newer V6 models that replaced the HD5, I think). I am generally a little confused by what Zeiss is doing with their hunting scopes right now and a few I have seen were not consistent, so I am not recommending them for now, until their production stabilizes or I confirm that what I saw was a fluke. ILya
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Jake123
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/23/2018 Location: Tennessee Status: Offline Points: 8 |
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That makes sense..
The change in glass is one thing, but the “love it or hate it” mentality that I see a lot of online is concerning above all. I would hope to be one that loves it, but when spending upwards of $600, I’m not willing to buy on ‘hope’. For that reason, I think I’ll be taking your advice and giving my money to Vortex on this one. |
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Peddler
Optics God Joined: July/04/2012 Location: Oswego,NY Status: Offline Points: 13526 |
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Smart !
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When you are dead, you don't know you are dead.It is difficult only for others.
It is the same when you are stupid. |
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Jake123
Optics GrassHopper Joined: September/23/2018 Location: Tennessee Status: Offline Points: 8 |
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There’s simply too much positive feedback on anything and everything Vortex to ignore or move away from, at least for my purpose and price point.
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