Rifle Scopes Leupold VX-R or Vortex Viper PST?? Can't pick!!!!!

[amedeo1227]

I can't decide which scope I want!

The more I look and read, the worse it gets!

I think I have it narrowed down to 2. The Leupold VX-R 1-4x or the Vortex Viper PST 1-4x. The problem I have is, before I got into precision shooting, I never heard of Vortex, but Leupold is well known in the hunting community. I've heard of SB and Nightforce, but those are out of my budget range right now. The optic will be going on my AR15.

I don't want a millet, or Nikon, and I don't want fixed power. Staying around $500-600 is a must. So saving more for a NF or a SB is out the question, so please keep it simple.

I'm just looking for some advice from the hide. Can someone point me in the right direction?

 

[DPRoberts]

Re: Leupold VX-R or Vortex Viper PST?? Can't pick!!!!!

If it was my money I would try to pick up a used SWFA 1-4. They can be had for around $600, but they don't stay available for very long at that price. It could also be worth the wait to hold off a purchase until black friday rolls around. You'll get more bang for your buck from both merchants with great sales and people trying to free up cash for upgrades.

 

[fdkay]

Re: Leupold VX-R or Vortex Viper PST?? Can't pick!!!!!

Burris
Tac-30 or MTAC

 

[amedeo1227]

Re: Leupold VX-R or Vortex Viper PST?? Can't pick!!!!!

I looked through the Burris, I don't care for the reticle.

It's just a personal preference I guess

 

[BCP]

Re: Leupold VX-R or Vortex Viper PST?? Can't pick!!!!!

They are both decent so pick whichever reticule you like more.

Also ask yourself if 1-4 is what you really want. For mainly range use a 2.5-10 is much more comfortable.

 

[jasonahull]

Re: Leupold VX-R or Vortex Viper PST?? Can't pick!!!!!

Get a Leuptex it is a new hybrid.

 

[JC189]

Re: Leupold VX-R or Vortex Viper PST?? Can't pick!!!!!

+1 on the 2.5x10 pst or the 3x9 vx-r dont think you will be happy with a max of 4x power.

 

[z71rat]

Re: Leupold VX-R or Vortex Viper PST?? Can't pick!!!!!

Pretty much all a matter of opinion with this question. Yes, Leupold has been around a long time, but that doesn't mean it is a better scope.

My time, my dime... will all be Vortex from now on. YMMV.

DK

 

[Ghillie Zen]

Re: Leupold VX-R or Vortex Viper PST?? Can't pick!!!!!

Was able to do a side-by-side comparison of the two optics you mentioned early this summer at the range. The Vortex Viper PST 1-4 was mine and a friend had the Leupold VX-R 1.25-4.

Up to that point, I liked the glass quality on the Vortex for the price, but was not a huge fan of the reticle size. When I looked thru the VX-R, I not only felt the edge-to-edge clarity and brightness was better than the PST, but liked the reticle much better as well.

Illumination was very good on both models. I personally preferred the turrets on the VX-R because they were more compact and I typically prefer to use holdovers on low power optics.

I'm not trying to say Leupold's glass will outshine Vortex's with every model, but in this specific comparison, I felt the VX-R 1.25-4 was superior.

 

[pyplynr]

Re: Leupold VX-R or Vortex Viper PST?? Can't pick!!!!!

I have a Leupold VX-R 3-9 with the firefly reticle on an ar. It's a great scope, the only thing I wish it had was matching knobs and reticle (preferably in moa) which the PST has in the 2.5-10 scope. The Loopy is a good scope but I really wished I'd have went with the Vortex. The Vortex optics that I have (Razor HD spotter and Viper HD binos) have great glass and the warranty if you were ever to need it is second to none.

 

[MitchInOR]

Re: Leupold VX-R or Vortex Viper PST?? Can't pick!!!!!

Isn't the Leupold actually 1.5x on the low end vs. 1x with the Vortex. Might make a difference. I think if the vx-r was a true 1x they would sell a lot more of them.

 

[bassani]

Re: Leupold VX-R or Vortex Viper PST?? Can't pick!!!!!

you cant go wrong with the Leupold VXR. they are reasonably priced solid scopes.

 

[jsnspck]

Re: Leupold VX-R or Vortex Viper PST?? Can't pick!!!!!

Just make sure you know only the Vortex is a true 1-4x scope. If you look on the leupold website, the VXR is 1.5-4. Don't know if this will make a difference, but for me it took away the advantage of having a low power scope. Not having the true 1x power will mess with your vision when you are trying to use it with both eyes open.

 

[bmt]

I got a chance to look though the VX-R today at Cabella's. That is a nice scope.

BMT

 

[SomeOtherGuy]

Both come with an excellent warranty, which odds are you will get to use.

Beyond that, both are pretty good for the price. A 1-4x scope is basically a 3-gunner or CQB scope, and I hope you aren't doing CQB on a $500 budget. For something like deer hunting, generic SHTF, etc. I would prefer more magnification in most cases. Or a 1-6x is quite nice, at about double the money.

If you don't need illumination, Weaver makes a "Super Slam Dangerous Game" 1-5x scope that is often only $300 at Amazon (I think they bought thousands of them) and optically will be ahead of those two, with comparable mechanics and a better zoom range. If you do need illumination I would pick up the SWFA or the Burris XTR, both at more money... and if you need illumination but $500 is a hard limit, either of the PST or VX-R will be fine.

 

[FALex]

Shit, if you're considering the 2.5-10 PST, don't forget about the SSHD's...

SWFA SS 3-9x42 Tactical 30mm Riflescope

you can get into them off of SWFA's sample list for around 500.00.

 

[Timo Turl]

Got the VX-R Patrol and the only thing wrong is the TMR reticle sucks big time. The glass, turrets, firedot are truly awesome. For my application it works well but I see the weaknesses it does have.

 

[Crosshair]

1-4x's definitely have their place on AR platforms and I like them fine out to about 400 yards on torso-sized targets. I personally only see the true 1x offerings as the only real useful ones, the main point to that type of scope is seamless stereoscopic vision. If going to mag above true 1x on the low end, I'd much rather have a 2.5-10x. Fwiw, my favorite 1-4x hands down right now is the Trijicon Accupoint with Amber triangle.
Between the Vortex and the Leupy, my vote would be for the Vortex.

 

[diggler1833]

Went through the same dilemma that you are, but was looking at the VX-R Patrol in the 3-9 and the PST in 2.5-10. Went with the Leupy after a ton of personal debate, and have been very happy with it.