6 Best Vortex Scopes [From Short Range to Long Range]

Drawing on the achievement of a newer scope company that has gone to the top in terms of successful marketing, we turn to the Vortex Optical Company. This company checked what the market offered and then upgraded many basic and advanced riflescope models.

The following is an overview of the Vortex product line of many high-end scopes that will get the job done for the hunter, target shooter, and long-range challenger.

1. Vortex Viper HST

The Vortex Viper HS-T is offered in the second focal plane. This glass system fits many long-range, high-performance optical systems. This scope fits the needs of a mountain hunter or long-range shooter.

For the general-purpose deer hunters, this glass sight is overboard when it comes price and level of performance for that shooting requirement.

This scope operates in the first focal plane. The crosshairs increase in size right along with the power setting selected by the shooter. This is a system designed to increase target size at very long distances. The second focal plane provides for those short-range shots.

This scope uses open turret settings that are quick to grab onto and easy to bring up increased windage or elevation settings. The CRSD Zero Stop system allows the shooter to return to a correct 100-yard zero without even looking.

This is often just called “Zero Stop” among many scope manufacturers.

This big optical unit features a main housing tube that measures 15.5 inches. That’s a telephone pole on the rifle's receiver. This size makes it difficult to be hauled around as a walking rifle system for a Minnesota or Wisconsin style deer hunter.

This scope is set up as a 6-24X50 which puts it in the bracket of a 1000-yard plus target or warm target shooting system. The scope includes great glass. I own two of them and use them on 6.5 Creedmoor rifles.

The first is a long-range target chassis rifle. The second is a walking deer rifle. Both get the job done in spades.

The one-piece scope tube makes a very tough system with its ability to stay in one piece even under harsh field conditions. This waterproof, fog proof scope works well in wet or cold weather conditions.

Shooters have the option of buying this scope in MOA graduations in sub-tensions or MRAD military sub-tensions. You can save money if you keep in mind most snipers (professionals) use 10 X in most cases.

Three bell sizes and power settings are options for the buyer. The following applies here. 3X9X40 MOA in the Second focal plane (Deer Hunters Model), 4-16X44 EBR-2C MOA first focal plane, target model, 6-24X50 EBR-2C MOA, first focal plane.

They all have the same power settings and focal plane settings for their MRAD sub-tension offerings.

This scope features low dispersion glass and fully multi-coated lenses, This glass holds up well in low light and adds time to your hunting or shooting day. The first focal plane includes etched glass which is preferred among long-range shooters.

The precision glide erector system uses high-grade parts and withstands years of making turret changes in elevation and windage or magnification adjustments. Turret adjustment knobs are fully exposed for fast range change applications.

This scope uses a 30mm single-piece tube housing. This scope is strong and contains the elements that allow it to function correctly and efficiently.

Buyer's note: At this point, I have covered two scopes. However, with the options offered in the Vortex system, we have actually covered eight scopes. These variations include bell size, objective lens, offerings in sub-tensions (crosshair), MRAD, MOA, and basic tube size housings. Prices change with scope size and the number of designed elements involved.

3. Vortex Optics Crossfire II

The Vortex Crossfire series scopes range from the smaller tubes that fit Ar’s and light walking deer rifles to some larger scopes that are better designed for larger rifles and for long-range work.

The Crossfire II is best used with carbine or AR platform firearms. The tube size is one inch and the bell housing is reduced to 32 mm. This scope will not exceed 10.5 inches in length.

Vortex has eleven different scopes in this line that range from the smaller tube system being reviewed here to the larger 4-12X44design.

The 2-7X32 Crossfire II can be assigned to a rimfire rifle or light centerfire such as the 22 Hornet, 223 Rem. This can also be used with cartridges like the new .224 Valkyrie. It is a medium-range system and is better used inside 300 yards for most field applications.

The scope uses the Vortex V-Plex reticle making it an all-around useful sub-tension system. This glass has long eye relief making it useful with recoiling rifles. The eye box allows for a fast target acquisition every time.

The lens on this scope features anti-reflective surfaces and quality glass that picks up all available light downrange. The scope uses capped turrets for use as a general-purpose glass sight. This scope works well as a good close-range sighting system.

The main tube on this scope is built tough from aircraft-grade aluminum, No, not any plastic of fabricated off-brand materials are used in the production of this scope. The O-ring sealed scope is waterproof, fog-proof, and shockproof.

4. Vortex Razor HD Gen II

Here, we turn to a scope that runs with the big dogs in the high price market. These scopes are built for pushing the range beyond a mile. The guts built into the scope tube say it will do the deed.

While there are at least a dozen models in the Vortex Razor HD Gen II series, this selected scope is a 4-27×56 mm scope. The scope is designed from the main 34mm one-piece tube.

It accommodates the longest range cartridges in use today among “stretch” riflemen that are pushing bullets into the next zip code.

This scope uses reticle options that include EBR 7C MOA, OR MRAD, HORUS H59 (my suggestion for shooting over 1000 yards) and the Horus Tremor 3.

All of these systems are designed with the first focal plane (FFP) and are set up for long-range work. Cartridges like the 300 Win Mag, 300 PRC, and 338 Lapua are among some to be considered when taking this scope to its limits.

The scope maximizes turret settings by allowing an expanded adjustment range. Micro-adjust zero settings mean the zero can be adjusted between clicks. These options provide accuracy in target competition or critical long-range shots.

This scope is state of the art including the quality of the glass, components, and manufacturing methods.

5. Vortex Optics Strike Eagle

With the Vortex Strike Eagle, we are looking at a second focal plane riflescope that is designed primarily for light rifles and Ar and Ak platforms. Like others, this scope offers various features, so this is not the end when considering the Vortex series of Strike eagle scopes.

This scope is a 1-6 X24 and features a quick access system to bring the target into the field of view in the scope's box. Even at close range, this scope is effective in that the power settings are low and workable on in your face running shots.

I hunted Russia for boar some years ago and noticed that all the hunters were shooting close range lower optical systems. One day in the field as pig number six went by me then got killed dead in his tracks, I understood exactly why.

This scope like all Vortex products is built of high-quality optical glass and has strong internal parts. The turret system on this scope is caped and contained.

The scope's glass etched reticle will not fall out of the line of sight with hard field use.

A BDC reticle aids in viewing an object at the 6X level. It allows the target to be seen through the graduations (circles) on the crosshairs.

This scope's mounting system combines the main tube and a cantilever system. This develops the correct elevated position and angle for the shooter to get into the scope fast and acquire his or her target.

The scope is illuminated with 11 different settings. An extra battery can be stored onboard the sight to provide a quick method of keeping the lights on so to speak.

Want to know more about vortex strike eagle 1-6x24mm scope, Check out our hands on review.

6. Vortex Optics Viper PST

The Viper PST is offered in up to 14 different configurations, The model we are viewing here is the PST Gen II.

This scope is a well-built tactical model. I have used several of them on everything from the 6.5 Creedmoor in a chassis rifle to the heavyweight 300 Win Mag on an Armalight chassis rifle. I can say for a fact that these Viper series scopes get the job done quite well.

In my work as a gun writer, I evaluate ammunition on an on-going basis. I use new rounds all the time and need to count on my equipment. Among other great scopes, the Vortex line holds a prominent place in line when it comes time to send rounds downrange.

Designed as a 5-25 X 50 first focal plain scope, the glass is long-range ready right out of the box. This scope features open turrets for fast changes in elevation and windage and carries an ample number of clicks for drift and elevation on long shots.

The Viper is based on a 30 mm tube size. This means a loss of turret room for multiple levels of adjusting. Some scopes come up very short in this area, but Vortex has covered their bases well.

The laser etched reticle on this scope will not let you down. Long Range shooters like this system. Designed by Horus, it was never thought to amount to anything. Man, were all the naysayers wrong! Etched is best. That ends the lesson right here and now.

The reticle offers shooters clear hold over points when working from the scopes sub-tensions. However, the scope is not cluttered up with a whole pile of unneeded marks.

This reticle is lighter and includes 10 intensity levels that can be controlled in response to external lighting conditions.

The scope can be obtained in both MRAD and MOA configurations. As previously indicated, the Viper is offered in 14 variations.

When you start to count Vortex's offerings, you begin to understand that this outfit is not small change in any way, Last year at SHOT, the big American national gun show, Vortex took up a corner display that was nothing short of outstanding.

The company is on the move and offers nothing but quality to its customers.

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