Help with choosing Long Range hunting/target scope

[cb4128]

Trying to decide between the following scopes but am not able to compare side by side. So, hoping to get some insight from you guys:

Vortex Viper PST 4-16x50
Leupold Mark 4 LR/T 6.5-20x50
Nightforce SHV 4-16x56

All have illuminated and MOA reticles.

Anyone have one of these that they love?

[Mike D]

The Leupold.

[sir shovelhands]

Not an FFP fan?

[bphillips]

Out of those the leopold.. Nightoforce if you could go for the nxs but the new one I have no experience

Not an FFP fan?

Funny thing is I know several people who got into that ffp thing and then sold at a loss to go back to sfp

[westtexducks]

Of the 3 the leupold or nightforce.

Here is a question for the scope gurus what is the actual usefulness of a FFP scope over SFP scope?

[gumbl3]

Simply stated, in a ffp scope the reticle adjusts with you as you change the zoom.. si if you are ranging/holding off with the reticle you are always in the 1:1 setting if that makes since.. most scopes have to be in a certain power (6x, 9x, 12x etc) to do your straight mil calculations.. the tradeoff is at 24 power you now looking thru a big fat reticle as opposed to a nice fine crosshair as your used to on sfp. . It has its place.. if your engaging quickly at varying distances it can be the cats ***.. if you know your range and dialling in your turrents you're not gonna use it

[kumathebear]

I keep seeing Vortex mentioned in a lot of threads. I've never had one so can't even comment, are they that good as I have read? Just curious..."opinions are always in great numbers on TBH," so give some please.

[Abcdj]

I ve got a Leupold vx-III 4.5×14×50 and I like it better than my Swarovski 4×12×50. JMO

[Team Roper]

Nightforce all the way.

[JANSLEY817]

I have the leupold Mark 4 4.5-14x50. Im pretty happy with it. You can come check it out if you want. It is the LR/T model.

[sir shovelhands]

Out of those the leopold.. Nightoforce if you could go for the nxs but the new one I have no experience


Funny thing is I know several people who got into that ffp thing and then sold at a loss to go back to sfp

Like gumbl3 said, if you don't do a lot of ranging at different distances, then you may not care for FFP. I personally love it for long range, especially if I'm using a high power scope, like my 4.5-30x bushnell XRS. For my 1-6 scopes I will only use SFP.

[Slick8]

Vortex Viper PST 4-16x50
Leupold Mark 4 LR/T 6.5-20x50
Nightforce SHV 4-16x56

All have illuminated and MOA reticles.

Anyone have one of these that they love?

I have a PST and have had a couple VX-III's and briefly a Mark 4.

IMO it's not quite an even comparison. The PST will do every thing that the other two will but falls short on glass quality. It's a great scope for the average hunter and fits well within most budgets. That's what's made it so popular.

Many look at mine and can't believe how clear it is and it's very clear. The difference is at the very start and end of the day or at truly long range.

I hunted from a ground position with the sun at our backs watching a feeder 200 yards away and an oat patch that stretched out to 400 yards. My cousin had a 3-12 Swarovski and he could see deer and make a shot about 10 minutes later than I could.

I also had a chance to look at a 6" orange target with a 1" black diamond at 600 yards with my PST along side a NightForce NXS. The NF presented a slightly sharper image.

The tracking of the target knobs and all other features of the PST are excellent, to me it all depends on what your budget and goal is. IF you're very serious about shooting out to 1000 yards then you'll come up a bit short on the PST.

Think about it, the PST cost half or less than half of what the other two cost, there has to be a difference somewhere.

[Coach W]

I ve got a Leupold vx-III 4.5×14×50 and I like it better than my Swarovski 4×12×50. JMO

I've gotta leupold vx3 3.5-10x50 setting in the safe. Or a leupold vx3 4.5-15x50 that I'd have to take off a rifle. Both in pristine condition black matte finish.

If you would like to trade for either plus cash for your Swarovski PM me.

[bphillips]

I keep seeing Vortex mentioned in a lot of threads. I've never had one so can't even comment, are they that good as I have read? Just curious..."opinions are always in great numbers on TBH," so give some please.

Upper end of avg IMO

Like gumbl3 said, if you don't do a lot of ranging at different distances, then you may not care for FFP. I personally love it for long range, especially if I'm using a high power scope, like my 4.5-30x bushnell XRS. For my 1-6 scopes I will only use SFP.

Only makes a difference if you range with a rangefinding reticle I prefer a rangefinder because they're more accurate anyway