I looked through a buddy's at the range last week. My Nikon prostaff with mil dot reticle in 4x12 was making target fuzzy at anything over 10 power. Adjusted ocular until reticle was clear. Also didn't have adjustable objective. Crosshairs were too thick to put on dime size target without covering it up. Vortex with 30 mm tube seems to gather much more light and the bdc reticle may come in handy. Just wondered if anyone had one and what they thought about it. Still mid range scope in $400.00 range but quality and warranty seemed good if it's what they say. I mounted it on Remington 700 sps 308.
Anyone Own a Vortex Viper 6.5x20
- Thread starter Wendyj
- Start date
precision_shooter
New member
Probably one of the best bang for the buck scopes there is. I have a viper 6.5-20x44 on my .308 target rifle and it's been great! And yes, their warranty is everything they claim it to be!
I have one of their Vipers with the target turrets on my .308 also. I haven't been shooting it very long and not found a good factory load for it yet, but I think the scope is outstanding. I have not had to personally use it, but the reports I am hearing on their warranty support are excellent. For what I was getting, it was about the only scope I could find in its price range. The next reputable scopes with comparable features I was finding cost like 50% more.
Nikon Pro staff scopes have never impressed me, and the Viper is more in line with a Monarch quality wise than your Nikon.
It all depends on what you are using it for, on a hunting rifle it's worthless IMO. 20+ ounces and 6.5 power bottom end is just too much for a hunting rig. As far as optics go it was a good scope and the adjustments on the turrents tracked well. For use on the range or varmint rifle its an okay scope but lacking in some features I'd like. I'd like better reticle options and exposed turrents. Mil Dots and BDC just aren't my favorites. I had one with a wide plex reticle and for me it was far better than their current offerings.
Anyway you'll have to ask hooligan1 how he likes it as he now owns it along with the rifle I had it mounted on. My favorite Viper scope is the discontinued 2-7X32, that was a lot of scope for the money. I own three and would love to find more.
It all depends on what you are using it for, on a hunting rifle it's worthless IMO. 20+ ounces and 6.5 power bottom end is just too much for a hunting rig. As far as optics go it was a good scope and the adjustments on the turrents tracked well. For use on the range or varmint rifle its an okay scope but lacking in some features I'd like. I'd like better reticle options and exposed turrents. Mil Dots and BDC just aren't my favorites. I had one with a wide plex reticle and for me it was far better than their current offerings.
Anyway you'll have to ask hooligan1 how he likes it as he now owns it along with the rifle I had it mounted on. My favorite Viper scope is the discontinued 2-7X32, that was a lot of scope for the money. I own three and would love to find more.
Where do you find rings for 12mm scopes? 
Just a minor pet peeve, but a 4X12 scope would a fixed power 4X scope with a 12mm front objective. A 4-12X scope is an adjustable scope with 4X through 12X magnification. It would usually have the scopes front objective listed at the end, such as 4-12X40.
FWIW I've played and even owned with a few Vortex scopes. I agree they are better than the Prostaff. In fact I find the glass on Vortex scopes to be as good, if not better than the glass on other brands within the same price range. It should be as good if not better than any other $400 scope. If that is the primary consideration they are good scopes.
I really like the Vortex binoculars I've used and owned. But I'm less of a fan of their scopes. On a rifle scope there are other features to consider other than glass quality. Things like eye relief, the reticle style, and the view through the scope are less than optimal for me so I prefer other brands. If those factors aren't a problem to you then I think you'll like one.
Just a minor pet peeve, but a 4X12 scope would a fixed power 4X scope with a 12mm front objective. A 4-12X scope is an adjustable scope with 4X through 12X magnification. It would usually have the scopes front objective listed at the end, such as 4-12X40.FWIW I've played and even owned with a few Vortex scopes. I agree they are better than the Prostaff. In fact I find the glass on Vortex scopes to be as good, if not better than the glass on other brands within the same price range. It should be as good if not better than any other $400 scope. If that is the primary consideration they are good scopes.
I really like the Vortex binoculars I've used and owned. But I'm less of a fan of their scopes. On a rifle scope there are other features to consider other than glass quality. Things like eye relief, the reticle style, and the view through the scope are less than optimal for me so I prefer other brands. If those factors aren't a problem to you then I think you'll like one.
I've had this one of a few years now. I used to have it on a .308 AR and now it resides on my Savage Model 10 fcp-sr. It's held up pretty good but I do have one gripe with it. When I turn the magnification past 18x it gets a little dark around the outer edges of the lens. For the money its a great scope and thankfully my range only goes out to 200 yrds so these old eyes can get by.
ammo.crafter
New member
Vortex
Cannot comment on their scopes but their red dots are fantastic!
Well made, hold all settings and clear as a bell.
Cannot comment on their scopes but their red dots are fantastic!
Well made, hold all settings and clear as a bell.
Huffmanite
New member
Yep, Vortex makes a good scope and has a good warranty. Have noticed a fair number of Vortex scopes at 750+ member private range I belong. I have a habit of chatting with members about their scopes and except for one time, all of them were quite happy with their Vortex scope. The exception happened a couple of months ago. Gent had what I recall was a Viper 6-24x44. Think it was a discontinued model he'd found reduced in price about $150 below what it used to sell for. I was with him shooting the day he first used the scope. He was in process of zeroing the scope when he approached me saying, the Viper's optics at 24X is nothing but a blur......dial it back to around 21 power and optics are very good. This guy is not a novice shooter and when you walk into his reloading/gun room, you'd probably quickly notice the 25 or pricey scope boxes on his shelves. So, I'll sit down with his Vortex Viper scoped rifle and confirm the problem, yep, nothing but a blur at 24X, good around 21X. Guess my point is: even a Vortex can have a problem out of the box.
I have two of them. They used to make the 6.5-20 in both a 44mm and a 50mm, the 44's were discontinued and were on closeout not too long ago- if you can find one of them it would be an even better deal.
Probably one of the best values in a variable 20x, and combined with their warranty you can't beat it. The other advantage of a Vortex not always mentioned is that because of the quality- and the warranty- their scopes can always be re-sold for nearly what they cost new.
Probably one of the best values in a variable 20x, and combined with their warranty you can't beat it. The other advantage of a Vortex not always mentioned is that because of the quality- and the warranty- their scopes can always be re-sold for nearly what they cost new.
Greetings I have a Remington 700LR M40 in 300 win mag. Mounted on it is a Vortex Viper 6.5-20 X 50. I like it and it fit my budget. Glass quality is good for close and distance. All the necessary possible optical adjustments that will be needed. It so far has done a great job for me and it isn’t the only Vortex scope I have purchased and won’t be the last.
tahunua001
New member
my brother owns one as I own one in 3-9x they are great scopes with nice clean picture for a decent price. I also own 3 nikon prostaffs, I wouldn't call them fuzzy, but there is no denying that the viper has clearer picture. I still recommend nikons for anyone that can't go over $250 for a scope but if you can get in the $300-500 range, I will recommend the Viper every single time. their diamondbacks are good too but somewhat comparable to the prostaff in terms of quality and price.
Palmetto-Pride
New member
I have two Vortex Viper PSTs 4-16x50 FFP and the 6.5-20x50 FFP they have performed well they hold zero and track great, the glass is pretty good its no Zeiss, S&B or Nightforce, but then they were a third of the cost also. I also have a Nightforce BEAST, but I wouldnt want to give up my two Vortex either.
I bought a pair of Vortex Viper 6.5-20Xx44 Mil Dot scopes on sale at Sportsman's Warehouse a while back when they had them on sale for $279.95 each. Both my son and I have been very pleased with them, although we generally stay with 14X on them to be able to utilize the Mil-Dot reticle. It is nice to be able to zoom up to 20X to check targets at 200 yards. Mine is mounted on a Stag Model 6 in .223 Remington and his used to be on an identical rifle, but he switched it over to a Stevens 200 in .243 Win that is unbelievably accurate. Has no trouble putting 70 gr Nosler Ballistic Tips or Varmageddons on a 6"x 8" steel target at 600 yards. They are great scopes and a good deal at retail of $429, so you can understand how I couldn't pass them up at $279. The only possible drawback is they don't really have a lot of eye relief, and I probably wouldn't want to mount them on a heavy recoiling rifle.