Vortex Rifle Scopes - Overview and Reviews

The Vortex rifle scope line up has been creating a buzz especially in the tactical and long range shooting community. The Vortex optics product line currently consists of riflescopes, red dot scopes, spotting scopes, binoculars, monoculars, and a line of tripods. However, most of the aforementioned buzz has been around their high end riflescopes, which contain all the latest optics technology plus some innovative features such as utilizing a 35mm main tube for maximum field of view. Vortex currently offers six series of rifles scope with prices ranging from around a $100 up to $2000. Vortex may not be a household name yet, but looking at the catalogs of major retailers of outdoor gear and optics reveals this brand gaining traction with the main stream retailers.

Vortex Comparison Chart

Model	Viper HS LR	Viper HS	Viper	Diamondback	Crossfire II
Picture
Est. Price	$549 - $899	$399 - $599	$299 - $459	$169 - $249	$99 - $209
Options	4-16 x 44mm 4-16 x 50mm 6-24 x 50mm	2.5-10 x 44mm 4-16 x 44mm 4-16 x 50mm	3-9 x 40mm 3.5-10 x 50mm 4-12 x 40mm 6.5-20 x 44mm 6.5-20 x 50mm	1.75-5 x 32mm 2-7 x 35mm 3-9 x 40mm 3.5-10 x 50mm 4-12 x 40mm	2-7 x 32mm 3-9 x 40mm 3-9 x 50mm 4-12 x 40mm 4-12 x 44mm 4-12 x 50mm 6-18 x 44mm

Models

Vortex Viper HS LR – The Viper Hunting Shooting Long Range models are the long distance versions of the Viper HS series. These Vortex rifle scopes are built on a 30mm main tube and are purged with Argon. Models in the Long Range series use either a Dead-Hold BDC reticle or a XLR MOA reticle which feature a Christmas Tree style hold over reticle with windage marks. New additions to this line include a 4-16x50 model and a 6-24x50 model, both of which feature Front Focal Planes and the XLR reticle.

Vortex Viper HS LR

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Vortex Viper HS – The next series of scope in the line up, the Viper HS is also built on a 30mm main tube and some configurations are available in either a standard or long range model. The 1-4x24mm model is the only one that retains the illuminated reticle of the higher priced models. The indexed lens system, glass etched reticle, and front focal plane reticle option have all been dropped from this line up, giving those who don’t need these features a more economical model.

Vortex Viper HS

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Vortex Viper – The standard Vortex Viper scope series comes in a number of configurations: 2-7x32mm, 3-9x40mm, 3.5-10x50mm, 4-12x40mm, 6.5-20x44mm and 6.5-20x50mm. The 6.5-20x models are built on a 30mm main tube while the rest of the scopes in this series are built on a standard 1” tube. These scopes have many similar features to the Viper HS series; however the main difference is that the majority of these scopes are built on a 1” tube instead of the bigger 30mm tube of the HS series. Most of the lower power models in the Viper series appear to be made more for hunting than tactical situations.

Vortex Viper

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Vortex Diamondback HP - The HP (High Performance) version of the Diamondback line currently is made up of three configurations: 2-8x32, 3-12x42, and 4-16x42; all of which can be had with either the Dead Hold BDC reticle or their V-Plex (duplex) style reticle. The 2-8x32 model is particularly unique for a scope with this magnification range because it features a side focus parallax knob which can correct for parallax from as close as twenty yards out to infinity; a feature usually found on scopes with over 10x top end magnification.

Vortex Diamondback HP

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Vortex Diamondback – These scopes are all built on a 1” main scope body, and include magnification models ranging from 1.75-5x32mm to 4-12x40. They still have a lens coating but it appears to be different than the one applied to the higher priced models. There is a 2-7x35mm model that is available in either a standard model or rimfire model; the 4-12x40 version is also available with or without and adjustable objective (note that higher end Vortex scopes use a side focus knob for parallax adjustment).

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Vortex Crossfire II – This entry level line series covers a lot of ground with something for everybody. Magnifications range from a 2-7x32 model all the way up to a 6-18x44mm model. The Crossfire line got a major update which included fully multi coated lenses and fast focus eyepieces; also many models were cut and new models including illuminated V-Brite models were added. All models in the Crossfire series now appear to be built on a 1" main tube.

Crossfire II

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