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Your experience with the Razor 1-10x on lower mag

D

DeaconBlue

Private
Minuteman
Aug 2, 2025
41
12
Earth
#1
Don’t ask me how I haven’t noticed it till now. I’ve had my Razor 1-10 for awhile, but generally only shoot with it on 1x and greater than 4x. I’m clearly not one who sits and thoroughly analyzes everything in a scope like C_DOES unless I just don’t remember, but was wondering what others’ experiences are with this scope on 2-3x?

I keep my LPVO diopters set for as true a 1x as possible, but recently have done some shooting on 2 and 3x and notice at distance there’s quite a bit of edge distortion where only the center portion of the image is true, not something you can see in the garage. I’m guessing it’s maybe a function of the 10x erector, but this goes away when I get to 4x. I don’t have another 1-10 to compare and never seen it on a 1-6. I wish I’d thought to take pictures last time I was out, but maybe next time.
 
#2
I may be in the minority here but I found the 1-10 to be not as good as the razor 1-6, but way better than the atacr 1-8 except in terms of eyebox. I haven't seen any edge distortion, my biggest gripe with it is a soft image at 10x at distance. 2-3x has been fine for me, but I'm usually down at 1x or above 5x.
 
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#3
CuddlyCat said:
I may be in the minority here but I found the 1-10 to be not as good as the razor 1-6, but way better than the atacr 1-8 except in terms of eyebox. I haven't seen any edge distortion, my biggest gripe with it is a soft image at 10x at distance. 2-3x has been fine for me, but I'm usually down at 1x or above 5x.
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Vortex actually took the scope in for inspection and reported it checked out through all of their testing, and that it even compared to new units they had on hand. Although I don’t know if they just look through these in an office and call it good because I don’t notice this distortion at close range (my eyes could also just be completely hosed). Mentioned all LPVOs will have some distortion, worse in 1-10s, and can be reduced by adjusting the diopter.

I know I messed with the diopter some the last time I noticed this, but I couldn’t adjust it out. Regardless, I’m going to run the diopter where it gives my eye the most true 1x so if a not great 2-3x is the side effect, then so be it.

I’d also love to have a Razor 1-6 but not quite sure I’d sell the 1-10 for it. If I ever ditched the T2 on my 11.5, I’d put a Razor 1-6 on it most likely.
 
#4
DeaconBlue said:
Don’t ask me how I haven’t noticed it till now. I’ve had my Razor 1-10 for awhile, but generally only shoot with it on 1x and greater than 4x. I’m clearly not one who sits and thoroughly analyzes everything in a scope like C_DOES unless I just don’t remember, but was wondering what others’ experiences are with this scope on 2-3x?

I keep my LPVO diopters set for as true a 1x as possible, but recently have done some shooting on 2 and 3x and notice at distance there’s quite a bit of edge distortion where only the center portion of the image is true, not something you can see in the garage. I’m guessing it’s maybe a function of the 10x erector, but this goes away when I get to 4x. I don’t have another 1-10 to compare and never seen it on a 1-6. I wish I’d thought to take pictures last time I was out, but maybe next time.
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Since you were able to use it as long as you did without noticing the issue, I'd just put it out of my head. I think the best LPVOs fall within the 1-6x category. Even in that category, there are trade offs. I think the best two are the Razor and the Credo and one is too heavy for what it is and the other not as compact as it should be. The higher you get above 6x, the more trade offs there are going to be.

If your only issue is one that you didn't notice in normal use, I'd say you are lucky. I run an NX8 and I just live with the distortion at the outer edges when on 1x because everything else is just fine.
 
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#5
I use my 1-10x in carbine matches from 5y-350y all the time. I hardly ever have it on true 1x, usually 1.5x-2.5x on the close stuff and I might dial up to 6-8x on the far stuff if from a barricade, and up to 10x if able to go prone. The 1.5x-2x is just preference for me, just something I've always done and like. When I know I'm shooting close, I'll crank the illumination all the way up so my eye catches the red reticle quick.

I've shot the same matches with red dots and I just prefer LPVO's. I've been shooting with LPVO's since 2010, starting in 3-gun with a millet dms 1-4x.
 
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#6
TonyAngel said:
Since you were able to use it as long as you did without noticing the issue, I'd just put it out of my head. I think the best LPVOs fall within the 1-6x category. Even in that category, there are trade offs. I think the best two are the Razor and the Credo and one is too heavy for what it is and the other not as compact as it should be. The higher you get above 6x, the more trade offs there are going to be.

If your only issue is one that you didn't notice in normal use, I'd say you are lucky. I run an NX8 and I just live with the distortion at the outer edges when on 1x because everything else is just fine.
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Yes I feel like LPVOs are kind of best in 1-6 SFP. If the Razor 1-10 reticle had lines to the edges, it’d be way more serviceable at 1x without having to rely on illumination, but it’s the glass quality that helps overshadow the shortcomings relative to the physics of the scope.

Like I even somewhat enjoy some of the cheap 1-6 SFP like the Sig Tango MSR, but I can’t imagine the headache of trying to use that same scope in 1-10 with that level of glass and build quality.
 
#7
Wormydog1724 said:
I use my 1-10x in carbine matches from 5y-350y all the time. I hardly ever have it on true 1x, usually 1.5x-2.5x on the close stuff and I might dial up to 6-8x on the far stuff if from a barricade, and up to 10x if able to go prone. The 1.5x-2x is just preference for me, just something I've always done and like. When I know I'm shooting close, I'll crank the illumination all the way up so my eye catches the red reticle quick.

I've shot the same matches with red dots and I just prefer LPVO's. I've been shooting with LPVO's since 2010, starting in 3-gun with a millet dms 1-4x.
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I hear ya. I have been blessed with an unusually dominant eye, or maybe its just from 40 years of doing it, but I always shoot with both eyes open, no matter the magnification and 1.5x doesn't bother me at all. I shot a 1.5x acog for years.
 
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#8
but recently have done some shooting on 2 and 3x and notice at distance there's quite a bit of edge distortion where only the center portion of the image is true
Click to expand...
I was wondering if mine was faulty because I've had the same issue, looking through the scope and increasing mag makes the image look really distorted around a good chunk of the edge. Wonder if setting diopter more for the middle of mag range would help.
 
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#9
It seems that past 6x on an LPVO, your diopter setting has to choose -- near bias or far bias, you can't get both. My junky Arrowhead 1-8x definitely has this, maybe better ones don't. But I seem to remember Koshkin saying something towards this point as a mechanical limit of LPVOs.
 
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#10
flogxal said:
It seems that past 6x on an LPVO, your diopter setting has to choose -- near bias or far bias, you can't get both. My junky Arrowhead 1-8x definitely has this, maybe better ones don't. But I seem to remember Koshkin saying something towards this point as a mechanical limit of LPVOs.
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Absolutely agree. Whenever I'm talking LPVO's with guys and they're telling me there's is the best I ask them if they have it set up to be a magnified optic that can go down to 1x in a pinch, or a dot that can be magnified. They always look at me like I have two heads when I explain that you can't have it both ways, especially once you get to 8x-10x top end.
 
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#12
MerkZ said:
I was wondering if mine was faulty because I've had the same issue, looking through the scope and increasing mag makes the image look really distorted around a good chunk of the edge. Wonder if setting diopter more for the middle of mag range would help.
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For me, if it’s only at 2-3x, I can live with it. I have to have these set up for a true 1x because my brain just can’t handle well slight magnification both eyes open shooting at 1x. One reason I hate the MRO. I’d rather honestly see this phenomena at this mag range than 4-10x where I spend most of the time.

If I sit to shoot groups at 10x, I might turn the diopter a quarter turn in to try and eke out a little more clarity in the reticle.
 
#13
Yeah, if 3x-2x-1.5x makes you dizzy etc with both eyes open, you have to go with what your brain is telling you. You can try to train through it but it may not work. Everyone's vision process system is different, everyone's brain handles the inputs differently. Some can do an ACOG 4x with both eyes open like they are running a red dot. Me, unless it's 75+ yds distance, 4x is just dizzying.

I spent a range day with P4Xi 1-4x and targets at 25, 50 and 100 yds, all shots fired standing. I tried 1x for all targets, 1.5x for all targets, 2x for all targets, 3x, 4x. Also tried 1x for 25/50 and spin to 3x or 4x for the 100. All to compare transitions, dizziness, and what works for me. I've done likewise with RDS and flip 3x magnifier.

1.5x was okay at 25 for me, 2x I managed, 3x was rough, 4x felt like a struggle.

I set the P4Xi ocular for best at 1x. When I set it for best at 4x it is slightly more than 1x at 1x, which isn't a problem in perfect light but...
 
#14
CuddlyCat said:
I may be in the minority here but I found the 1-10 to be not as good as the razor 1-6, but way better than the atacr 1-8 except in terms of eyebox. I haven't seen any edge distortion, my biggest gripe with it is a soft image at 10x at distance. 2-3x has been fine for me, but I'm usually down at 1x or above 5x.
Click to expand...
I much prefer the atacr over the gen 3 1-10. I found optics quality to be similar, but really hated the reticle on the razor.
 
#15
I couldn't tell you what 2-9x looks like, my scope is on 1x or 10x, just haven't had a comp where somewhere in between is ideal. I generally seem to be within 100 and running a dot or shooting past 300 at smaller targets, where I want the reticle.

Nothing crazy regarding edge distortion on my scope, I also never expected the sharpest image, if there's anything there, its not enough for me to miss a target.
 
#18
JustSendit said:
I couldn't tell you what 2-9x looks like, my scope is on 1x or 10x, just haven't had a comp where somewhere in between is ideal. I generally seem to be within 100 and running a dot or shooting past 300 at smaller targets, where I want the reticle.

Nothing crazy regarding edge distortion on my scope, I also never expected the sharpest image, if there's anything there, its not enough for me to miss a target.
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Yep I understand what you’re saying…took me 4 years of use to see it myself lol.
 
#19
TonyTheTiger said:
I'd give my left testicle to have those types of matches around my area. The ranges just don't exist though.
Click to expand...

I'm pretty lucky this one is only an hour from me, and I live in BFE texas panhandle. I drive over 6hrs for some DMR matches and I'd definitely drive that far for these, they're done right.
 
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