Rifle Scopes Vortex Viper PST GEn. II vs. Meopta Optika6
- Thread starter Jayjay1
- Start date
I've been eyeing the Meopta and the Viper PST gen 2 as well as a few others. On paper the Meopta has a wider elevation adjustment range but the FOV is smaller. I've shot a buddies pst gen 2 and they're great scopes but I really want a mid power lightweight optic for a hunting rifle in the 3-18 ish range. Unfortunately both mid power options are 30ish oz so I think I will end up saving up for something like a VX6, razor lht, or something else in the low 20 oz range.
What sizes are you looking at and what kind of shooting are you planning on doing with it?
What sizes are you looking at and what kind of shooting are you planning on doing with it?
Of course its entirely up to you but the Viper comes in at 28 oz. "low 20 oz range" to my reading would be...for example, 22 oz. A difference of 6 oz. Is that important to you.
I ask because I do have a 3-15 x 44 Viper on a .308 for deer and I'm pretty happy with it.
Well, I want it for a 22lr trainer and it is about the Viper PST Gen. 2 5-25x50 vs. Optika6 4.5-27x50 (or 5-30x56).
After starting this thread I´ve read some things about quality issues lately with the Vortex, so I´m tending a bit towards the Meopta right now.
After starting this thread I´ve read some things about quality issues lately with the Vortex, so I´m tending a bit towards the Meopta right now.
The razor LHT in 3-15x42 is 19.1 oz and the VX5 in 3-15x44 is 19.7 oz so i guess I should've said 20 oz or less but I hadn't pulled up their weights, I just went off memory for the ballpark. Half a pound saved on a hunting rifle makes a difference when you get it in as many places as possible. The rifle I'm building is getting a fluted 18" barrel to save weight and make it more handy, scope will get the same approach.
Either one would be great for a 22 trainer. I wouldn't worry about quality with Vortex as they have a great service dept, it's not world ending to have to use a warranty like some people make it seem. I would like to see more people review the Optika6 though, just for my own gratification. 110 moa vs 70 moa elevation adjustment means that you would get to about 275 yards with the vortex and 350 yds with the Meopta before you need a canted base. I might go with a 20 moa base on the vortex and a 30 moa base on the meopta because I dont like being at the very end of the turret for my Zero. Buy the Meopta and tell us how you like it lol.
I have the 5-30×56 Meopta on a V22 that replaced a gen1 pst. I haven't looked through a gen 2 but the Meopta is way better than my gen1 and 18x compares very well with my 3-18 MkV HD. Also on the 22lr the extra magnification is welcomed, I would really like 45x.
I have ILya's reticle, MRAD RD, and it's my favorite at the moment. I like being able to dial to one of 4 smaller dots surrounding the center dot for benchrest.
I would love to try out the new March in the article bellow but it's out of the budget at the moment. Same reticle or pretty close.
Attachments
The weight on the Meopta Optika 6 looks like 37oz? 
Weight (g / oz) : 1039 / 36.7
www.meoptasportsoptics.com
Weight (g / oz) : 1039 / 36.7
Meopta Sports Optics - European premium optics
www.meoptasportsoptics.com
Can't speak to current quality issues, but I've had a Vortex Viper PST Gen 2 3-15x44 on my M1A (7.62 NATO) since March 2020 and have had no issues with it.
PST Gen1 scopes had some quality issues. The Gen2 has been a lot more consistent. Given how many of these are out there, I am sure there are some with problems.
In terms of optical quality, with the PST Gen2, the 3-15x44 is probably the best one of the line-up, but 5-25x50 is very respectable as well. Both are pretty easy to get behind with nice wide FOV.
The Razor HD-LHT mentioned in this thread is lighter and has better optics (albeit with a narrower FOV), but it is a SFP scope. If you are comfortable with SFP, it is hard to do better than HD-LHT for the money.
With FFP, between PST Gen2 and Optika6, it is a harder call. I think that the 3-18x50 Optika6 is a little worse optically than the 3-15x44 overall, but in low light that 50mm objective helps.
Between 5-25x50 PST Gen2 and 4.5-27x50 Optika6, I would lean toward the PST Gen2.
However, the 5-30x56 Optika6 is a step up from the 50mm Optika6 models.
If you spend a lot of time on high magnification (above 20x), I think the 5-30x56 Optika6 has an edge.
ILya
In terms of optical quality, with the PST Gen2, the 3-15x44 is probably the best one of the line-up, but 5-25x50 is very respectable as well. Both are pretty easy to get behind with nice wide FOV.
The Razor HD-LHT mentioned in this thread is lighter and has better optics (albeit with a narrower FOV), but it is a SFP scope. If you are comfortable with SFP, it is hard to do better than HD-LHT for the money.
With FFP, between PST Gen2 and Optika6, it is a harder call. I think that the 3-18x50 Optika6 is a little worse optically than the 3-15x44 overall, but in low light that 50mm objective helps.
Between 5-25x50 PST Gen2 and 4.5-27x50 Optika6, I would lean toward the PST Gen2.
However, the 5-30x56 Optika6 is a step up from the 50mm Optika6 models.
If you spend a lot of time on high magnification (above 20x), I think the 5-30x56 Optika6 has an edge.
ILya
Every company can have issues. There are no widespread issues with the Gen II PSTs. If you wait to buy a scope from a company with no issues then you will be shooting iron sights.
Every company can have issues. There are no widespread issues with the Gen II PSTs. If you wait to buy a scope from a company with no issues then you will be shooting iron sights.
I've seen quite a lot of iron sight issues over the years...
ILya
@AMTGMC how is the Meopta reticle at 8-12x? Is it easily usable there? Some scopes I've messed with for NRL22 (along with cohorts) have struggled with scopes in the 4.5/5-29/30x range having too thin of a reticle to easily use in the 8-12x range (cranking up mag to 15x making target acquisition difficult). Pics?
Well, the MRAD 1 reticle has a horseshoe which might help for shorter distances and lower magnification.
I have a Steiner M7Xi in 4-28x56 with the MSR-2 reticle.
I can´t aim with it under 12x magnification, and the illuminated dot (which I thought can be used like a red dot) is not bright enough for daylight.
My only concern with that scope, but therefore I know what you mean.
I think its useable on 5x with the heavy lines like a #4 German your eye is drawn to the center, just not for precision. For my old eyes I start to see the Mil lines around 8x and by 10x-12x full tree is in view. The whole reticle thing is just so subjective but I'm happy with this.
MRAD RD not MRAD 1
There is a better picture in one of other threads.
I haven't looked through a PST but I own 2 Optika 6's. The 4.5-27 and a 3-18 both with the mrad reticles. For the price, I think they are hard to beat. I've owned both of them for over a year now with over a dozen trips to my local long range and constant dialing when I'm out there. So far they've been spot on and have returned back to zero perfectly. As far as the glass, I think it's easily 80% of my S&B PMII. Resolution and brightness are very good. For comparison in a similar price range, my son has a 4-16 Nikon FX1000 and there is a distinct difference in the resolution between the FX and Optika with the Optika being much better and easier to see targets in shadows.
One knock that I do have against the 4.5-27 is that it gets dark past 24x and the windage turrent doesn't lock. I mainly use these scopes for hunting and they work great in that application. However, horseshoe reticle is kind of a pain to use for precise wind holds because of the huge gap between .4 and 1.5 mils but does come in handy in low power and low light.
One knock that I do have against the 4.5-27 is that it gets dark past 24x and the windage turrent doesn't lock. I mainly use these scopes for hunting and they work great in that application. However, horseshoe reticle is kind of a pain to use for precise wind holds because of the huge gap between .4 and 1.5 mils but does come in handy in low power and low light.
I haven't looked through the Meopta, but as someone that primarily hunts paper I feel the barrel distortion would bother me...
5-30 Review by respectable source
Although, based upon the exoticness of the names, I'd go for the Meopta.
5-30 Review by respectable source
Although, based upon the exoticness of the names, I'd go for the Meopta.
Go to 3:36 minutes and start from there.
That´s one of the infos I found about Vortex quality issues.
I don´t want to blame Vortex at all, I had once a Vortex and was very happy with it.
And I have no idea, if this is new or if it is there since a while, but maybe they should do something about their qc.
Anyways, I don´t want to play jeppardy and I don´t want a scope in the post, I want it on my rifle.
So, I´m looking around for a deal for the Meopta, of which I didn´t hear such issues or any bad reviews at all.
Am curious where that brings me to.
I can't help but think three broken Strike Eagles is most likely operator error.
Cyclops' videos are good for some entertainment but hardly comprehensive reviews that hold much weight.
You only need to look at the $10 scopes he started out testing to know who his audience is.
If all Vortex scopes were as unreliable as they are claimed to be they would have gone bankrupt years ago. You can't turn profit replacing products for free every 5 seconds.
The PST Gen 2 scopes are excellent and what I'd choose (and have choosen) for a NRL style/22 trainer.
A sunshade will help with stray light handling, it will have no impact upon optical distortion.
Yeah, but the review's optical performance is based upon use on a test stand not a rifle...
If you look at that guy for actual info then not sure what to tell you. LOL Good luck. I have had a Strike Eagle 5-25 on my Vudoo since they came out and I have used it in matches all this past year and will continue to use it as it tracks and holds zero. I have shot it out to just past 500 yards dialing it that far. As I said any scope company can have issues but it comes down to percentages. Again good luck.
Not sure what that is but tested tracking to 20 mils and it was on. Not as scientific as a nipper twister I am sure though. LOL
I dunno, that sounds like a painful test which will result in purple nurples. I'll pass...
