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Rifle Scopes Vortex Gen II 4.5-27 This is it. This is the one!

Terry Cross

Dingleberry
Supporter
Commercial Supporter
Full Member
Minuteman
Mar 15, 2003
2,478
8,204
Alexandria, LA 71303
www.kmwlrs.com
This is it! This is the one!
I have decided that FOR ME, the new Razor Gen II 4.5-27 will be what I trust my gas money and points to for the foreseeable future.

As many of you know, I have been the few still showing up at some of the tact comps with an SFP.
My old NXS has served me super well. I am comfortable with it and trust it to be there when I need it to work. However, since borrowing John Sommer’s S&B (thank you John) a couple of years ago and some other FFP scopes I believe that I really was giving some points away on some events.

I have been looking for a combination of FFP, good turrets and good reticle for several years now. I have been waiting anxiously for a lot of the new arrivals as well as looking at the existing versions already in the field from different makers. The original Vortex Razor 5-20 was/is very good and I came to love the EBR-2B reticle. The glass is very good but I found it a bit tight to get behind on the high end of X. I also was worried about the turrets moving when they shouldn't.

Around the first of May, I was able to sneak into some secure places and make away with one of the Gen II 4.5-27 models with the EBR-2C and Mil turrets.
My ninja suit

and my accomplice Mr. Sock

made this possible, otherwise I would have been toast. Had I been caught, key people at Vortex would have likely made me dress funny and say bad things to keep from going to jail.

The FOV is very generous, the glass is bright and has very good color. I believe that the turrets are the best design I have found for my tastes. Easy to set, zero stop, lockable and easy to read/set in a hurry!
This last item is one of my personal peeves. I am NOT a fan of the “high speed” turrets with a zillion Mils per revolution. In poor light and in a hurry, you always have to second guess and look again to make sure you really did dial your intended dope correctly.

I did run a 10 mil box test repeatedly and it was spot on. Also worthy of note is that the reticle is perfectly calibrated and the shots were falling exactly against the hash marks when superimposing the reticle against the groups on the large cardboard. The box test was run at 100yds confirmed by tape measure and same for the group to group shift distance. Rifle was my old original SENTINEL with 6XC barrel. Shots were made prone from the deck and gun was shooting in the .3s



I have always pushed for larger diameter turrets with lower profile.
Lower Profile: Anything that can be designed into a rifle system that minimizes the profile and snag points is always a good thing. Anything that sticks out WILL catch stuff, WILL hit things and sometimes even WILL be broken off.

Larger Diameter Turrets: Larger diameter brings with it increased circumference. Increased circumference means more real estate to space out the turret hash marks and allow both increased “click” robustness as well as increased clicks/rev for those of you that still want more than 5Mils /rev. (are you reading this HuDisCo?)
The Gen II Razor turrets have all of that .

It is definitely not a lightweight scope yet compared to many of the 34mm tube / 56mm Obj. FFP competitors in this magnification range, it is really not that far off. I believe Vortex could have VERY EASILY made a light weight scope. I just do not believe such a scope would handle potential hard use and abuse that the Gen II should be able to work through.

Anyway, I was able to take this scope out a few times in May and brought it to the TBRC at NorCal. I was very confident with this scope while there and worked it out from 20yds to 1000yds. In the couple of months that I have had it, it has been on 4 different rifles, literally from a .223 trainer to a .338LM LongSword. It has also been to two Fed. L.E. open house demos with very good feedback from quests twisting the turrets and mag ring a bunch during live fire. I am sold so far.

I see Rob has a thread on this scope and encourage you to visit that ( http://www.snipershide.com/shooting...took-new-vortex-razor-ii-4-5-27x56-range.html ) for more/better pictures and probably way better technical opinions. Since Rob has been out of prison, he has been doing very well reintegrating back into society. Way to go Rob. :)

Lots of things happening in the optics industry for our niche. It is good to see that Vortex is busy trying very hard to bring value to the upper tier optics market.
FWIW, there were 4 of these pre-production scopes at the TBRC in May. All 4 ran perfectly for 3 days of hard use and the users were all very happy with the performance. I do believe that first place was taken by Francis Kuehl who was running one.

Little bit closer. Sorry. Pics were from my phone camera.
 
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Thanks Terry but the "joint" changes you forever! ;) Thanks for posting up your thoughts and experiences with the scope and that sexy pic of you in your ninja suit. It will haunt my dreams!

Vortex has definitely hit the market with a winner.
 
I like this!
Would you ask them to offer a black anodized option for us OCD types that need the scope to match the rifle color?
 
Would you ask them to offer a black anodized option for us OCD types that need the scope to match the rifle color?
Eben, I would not hold my breath for a color option. They will be lucky to make enough as it is without doubling the SKUs and such that comes with other options. I am speaking strictly as a Ninja and not officially for Vortex. Scott Whatshisname might want to chime in.

I can tell you that when I was egressing (it's a tactical term used by ninjas) the Vortex compound, I did not have any pockets to stow the Gen II. Ninja suits are invisible but they don't have a lot of pockets. My only option was to let Mr. Sock carry the scope to the extraction point.

Now we all know that the Vortex compound has all those high tech laser motion detectors, thermal cameras and High Def video. We also know that I was invisible to them (did I mention the Ninja suit makes me invisible?) however Mr. Sock is a putz and carried the scope in full view. I can tell you that the current color and finish of the scope is both scratch resistant AND obviously almost as low visual signature as a ninja suit. We obviously made it out alive so it must be true.

All in all, I figure the above is a pretty serious testament to their color choice and finish.
 
Ha I kinda like that it's not offered in black. It's like "notice me! I'm not just a pst!"

But seriously that color is kinda sexy
 
Man, I really love those Sentinel stocks.....hey OP, you wouldnt happen to know where I could locate one of those do you?


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I am really ready for Vortex to ship mine! Hearing nothing but good things about this scope so far.

And Terry, I assume you test fire your rifles in the Ninja suit? You would have to have super powers of some
kind to shoot off that table in your pics....
 
And Terry, I assume you test fire your rifles in the Ninja suit? You would have to have super powers of some
kind to shoot off that table in your pics....

Why do you think I said I shot from prone off the deck.
That table was the shit in the 80's. I'm letting it weather and will sell it to the local antique shop.

Seriously, I do like the scope.
 
You're killin me Terry.

As for the scope....it's exactly as you described it. Everything guys like us want, and maybe more importantly, don't want. I played with Francis' at the K&M match and loved everything about it.......time for Mr. Parks to hook me up. (because he NEVER gets requests like that)
 
Must.... Have....... Gen II.... Razor....... Does the Hide have an "Organs for Sale" section??
 
Mines been on order since May, when the hell are they going to release them? First it was June, then Summer, now 2014! Are they having manufacturing issues with it?
 
Mines been on order since May, when the hell are they going to release them? First it was June, then Summer, now 2014! Are they having manufacturing issues with it?

They are out now and shipping to fill dealer pre orders as well as shipping others. Someone posted they called and ordered an MOA version and it was in stock at the dealer. I ordered mine in early January so seeing as you didn't order until May it might be another month or so. There are absolutely not manufacturing issues. Just a lot of people pre ordered.
 
Patience gents. Patience. They are on the way.
 
It would be easier to be patient if the reviews weren't as glowing...lol anyone get there gubby paws on the 3x18x50???
I have one of each coming excited probably 8 ant the right term but I don't have a fancy suit like Mr. Cross
 
It would be easier to be patient if the reviews weren't as glowing...lol anyone get there gubby paws on the 3x18x50???
I have one of each coming excited probably 8 ant the right term but I don't have a fancy suit like Mr. Cross

406,
From what I understand the 4 Gen II scopes that were used by competitors in May at the TBRC were "pre production scopes". They were to be run hard and put up wet and abused to get some feedback for Vortex.

I'm guessing that 99.9% of the features and design probably stayed in place since then but teeny tiny things like tweaks to the user manual and such were probably being implemented as they tried to ramp up for a decent supply for release. Pretty sure they want this to be GTG when it is released in mass and I believe it is.

I want to put one of the 3-18X on my demo .308Win. as I believe it would be the best bet for L.E. magnification range and Murphy proof features. The 4.5-27 I have works Excellent with PVS-22 and 27 so figure the 3-18 little brother will be at least as good.

Don't sweat the fancy Ninja suit, mine makes me look fat! I am only consoled by the fact that I can pretty much disappear on demand while wearing it!
Besides, I figure a person would have to watch thousands of hours of Ninja craft on YouTube like I did to be worthy of a real life Ninja suit.
 
Awe the youtube here I spend all my time reading and looking at shooting porn and I could have been well on my way to becoming a ninja !!! Damn it I need to punch my old guidenice counselor. Lol
 
Awesome review Mr Terry, I sure hope I can shoot with you one day as a team wearing those ninja suits with help my my trusty spotter Mr sock
 
Awesome review Mr Terry, I sure hope I can shoot with you one day as a team wearing those ninja suits with help my my trusty spotter Mr sock

Hahahaa.... Don't hold your breath Robert. Although I would be totally up for shooting with you otherwise.

Couple of images from the TBRC to give you an idea of what this scope looks like mounted on typical rifles. Looks big when you're standing over it looking down but really isn't out of scale when viewed as a package.

TC on the Tank Trap.
You had a fairly compressed time limit to drop into any of the wood "V"s find your targets (2 different distances) and engage multiple times.


USMC shooter Tony P, on the Run and Gun. This Station put you at a terrifically sucky (Thank You Phoenix!) position to shoot 2 small Shoot&Sees on your way to hauling ass to the last engagement while picking up KIMS clues at each engagement.
 
406,
From what I understand the 4 Gen II scopes that were used by competitors in May at the TBRC were "pre production scopes". They were to be run hard and put up wet and abused to get some feedback for Vortex.

I'm guessing that 99.9% of the features and design probably stayed in place since then but teeny tiny things like tweaks to the user manual and such were probably being implemented as they tried to ramp up for a decent supply for release. Pretty sure they want this to be GTG when it is released in mass and I believe it is.

I want to put one of the 3-18X on my demo .308Win. as I believe it would be the best bet for L.E. magnification range and Murphy proof features. The 4.5-27 I have works Excellent with PVS-22 and 27 so figure the 3-18 little brother will be at least as good.

Don't sweat the fancy Ninja suit, mine makes me look fat! I am only consoled by the fact that I can pretty much disappear on demand while wearing it!
Besides, I figure a person would have to watch thousands of hours of Ninja craft on YouTube like I did to be worthy of a real life Ninja suit.

Terry,
This is all great news. I just ordered a 4.5-27 To sit on top of the Badger/Sentinel you just sent my way. Should be one hell of a stick. Thanks again for all of the help
 
I really am starting to consider this scope for my AO built 308. I was intent on the new Steiner but not so much anymore.
 
I really am starting to consider this scope for my AO built 308. I was intent on the new Steiner but not so much anymore.

I'm stuck between the new Steiner and the Gen.II , I hope their will be a side by side review/comparison in the near future so I can finally make a decision on my purchase !