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Vortex Viper 4-12x40 w/BDC reticle

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koshkin View Drop Down
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    Posted: December/31/2008 at 19:50

Vortex Viper 4-12x40 with BDC reticle

 

I am going to skip a lot of the usual introductions that people typically make in the beginning of their reviews.  It is customary, I suppose, to talk about the company and say a few words about all the goodies that come in the box with it.  Personally, I only care how the scope performs.  As for the rest of the stuff … well, really… by now all of you have heard of Vortex Optics and you know that their products come nicely packaged with documentation and accessories (better packaged in fact than most scopes out there)

 

Viper line-up is, for the time being, comprised of the highest end riflescopes made by Vortex.  I hear some internet rumors that they will have something more expensive in the future, but I do not know any specifics.  The exact scope model that I have reviewed is a 4-12x40 with BDC reticle. 

 

For those who are just looking for a brief summary, here you go:  I liked the scope enough to buy it from Vortex.  It does have some shortcomings and some competitors have a leg up on it in several respects (I will provide some detail below).  Still, I liked it and it matched well with my eyes.

 

Now, we move onto some specifics.  I like to compare scopes with one another.  I can take them to work and get some hard numbers, but that will not necessarily tell you anything about how well you see through them.  I found that direct comparison against a number of well-known scopes makes for the most relevant information.  I compared it to a number of different scopes, some are in the picture below (Picture 1) and some are not.  I also had three other people look through the scopes at some resolution charts and tell me their impressions.


Picture 1. From left to right: IOR 3-18x42FFP, IOR 6x42 Hunting with #4 reticle, Bushnell Elite 4200 6-24x40AO w/Mil-Dot, Bushnell Elite 6500 2.5-16x42, Sightron S2 6-24x50 (previous gen), Vortex Viper 4-12x40

 

I had the Vortex mounted on a few different rifles in the course of my testing, but it spent most of its time on my Savage 12FV Varminter in 22-250.  That rifle is very accurate and, equally importantly, is easy to shoot accurately.  I am not the greatest shot in the world and I need all the help I can get.


Picture 2.  Savage 12FV with Vortex Viper 4-12x40 (turrets cap removed)

 

I shot both off the bench and prone off of a bipod about the same amount of time.  I shot off hand and sitting when the scope was mounted on a different rifle (Mauser 98 chambered for 7.92x57, and Finnish M39 Mosin Nagant chambered for 7.62x54R).

 

Specs and Configuration.

 

For detailed specs, you are probably better off visiting Vortex website (www.vortexoptics.com) and looking them up.  They are all there.  Here is a copy though:

 

Magnification:

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jonoMT Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: December/31/2008 at 20:58
Thanks for a very thorough review - quite a bit of information applicable to scopes in general. I haven't checked out their scopes but their bino glass is pretty good and I'm not surprised that their customer service is good, having dealt with a sister company that sells binos, etc. (Nothing on SWFA, but just mentioning that because the owners are good folks and did well by me).

I'd also prefer a mil dot or similar reticle and find it hard to get behind the idea of a BDC reticle, mostly because I develop my own loads and those are subject to change.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ed Connelly Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/01/2009 at 06:17
 
                                          Thunbs Up      Now THAT was a good review!! Send THAT in to Guns&Ammo!!!     Bandito
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ed Connelly Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/01/2009 at 06:23
I do have a question that I have wondered about ever since I had first seen photos of these scopes:  Does that high Power-Selector-Finger-Tab-HANDLE-thinger get in the way of bolts lifting??  Otherwise, I like the shape of the whole outfit!!   Big Grin
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tahqua Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/01/2009 at 10:41
Fine review, thanks.
I like the size of that 6500.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Jon A Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/01/2009 at 14:59
Great review, ILya.  Thanks.  One note I'll add:
Originally posted by koshkin koshkin wrote:

Most modern scopes in this price range are migrating to 4x erectors.  Viper has a 3x erector.  Does it matter? That depends on how you plan to use the scope.

I agree and I also like larger zoom erectors for their versatility and will usually choose 4X, 5X and 6X.  Though it deserves mentioning that one possible, maybe not direct benefit but more of a side effect, of the 3X erector is generally more adjustment range for a given tube size/power range.

For example, one reason I chose the 6.5-20X50 Viper was nearly 70 MOA of total adjustment.  Most competing 20X or greater scopes in the price range had significantly less--enough to be problematic for some of the intended uses I had.  And since for those uses the low end didn't matter too much, it turned out to be a benefit.

Anyway, just something to keep in mind for those choosing.
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koshkin View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/01/2009 at 15:10
Originally posted by Ed Connelly Ed Connelly wrote:

I do have a question that I have wondered about ever since I had first seen photos of these scopes:  Does that high Power-Selector-Finger-Tab-HANDLE-thinger get in the way of bolts lifting??  Otherwise, I like the shape of the whole outfit!!   Big Grin


Not on anything I tried.  It really does not stick out all that much.

ILya
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koshkin View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/01/2009 at 15:11
Originally posted by tahqua tahqua wrote:

Fine review, thanks.
I like the size of that 6500.


I'll talk about Elite 6500 in a separate post.

ILya
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koshkin View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/01/2009 at 15:26
Originally posted by Jon A Jon A wrote:

Great review, ILya.  Thanks.  One note I'll add:
Originally posted by koshkin koshkin wrote:

Most modern scopes in this price range are migrating to 4x erectors.  Viper has a 3x erector.  Does it matter? That depends on how you plan to use the scope.

I agree and I also like larger zoom erectors for their versatility and will usually choose 4X, 5X and 6X.  Though it deserves mentioning that one possible, maybe not direct benefit but more of a side effect, of the 3X erector is generally more adjustment range for a given tube size/power range.

For example, one reason I chose the 6.5-20X50 Viper was nearly 70 MOA of total adjustment.  Most competing 20X or greater scopes in the price range had significantly less--enough to be problematic for some of the intended uses I had.  And since for those uses the low end didn't matter too much, it turned out to be a benefit.

Anyway, just something to keep in mind for those choosing.


A good point Jon.  Vortex Viper does have a lot of W/E adjustment available.  The 4-12x40 Viper has 92MOA.

With similarly priced high magnification (20x or greater) scopes, the closest would be the 1" tube Sightorn Big Sky scopes which offer 60MOA of adjustment in the high magnification models.  More expensive SIghtron S3 offers a lot more adjustment, however.

With my other favourite scope line: ELite 4200, the 30mm tubed 6-24x50 offers 50MOA.

For a long range scope, I would gladly lop off some high end magnificaition for extra adjustment.

ILya
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote cheaptrick Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/02/2009 at 06:03
Another great review. Thank you, Koshkin.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote RifleDude Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: January/10/2009 at 07:38
Outstanding, very thorough review, Koshkin!  Thanks!

Vortex has really impressed me for being such a recent player in the optics field.  Besides the solid performance of their products for the price, I agree that their people, warranty, and CS is second to none! 
Ted


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/07/2009 at 17:41
BTT.

I am applying for a "media" badge for the next SHOT Show which requires proof, i.e. industry relevant stuff that I have written and posted here.
I will bring several of my threads back to the top to make them easier to find.
Thanks
ILya


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kickboxer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/07/2009 at 18:33
Don't know how I missed this one, must have been on travel.  Very good review.  

I was going to go to Shot this year, had already gotten approval to submit application, but my new "schedule" will probably preclude my attendance.  
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote koshkin Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/07/2009 at 19:54
I ended up buying this scope from Vortex and it worked very well.  I have more scopes than scopable rifles, so I ended up giving it to a friend of mine, who needed a better scope for his 6.5Grendel built.

This was the second Vortex Viper I had looked at (I also played with a 3-9x40 earlier) at the time of the original review, but all the ones I have seen since have been very impressive.  

As far as your schedule goes, when are you going to be around here next?

ILya
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Kickboxer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: October/07/2009 at 20:25
ILya, I am "owned" for a while.  Maybe be around sometime in Nov or Dec.  Very tentative.  After that, ???.
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