It’s funny how experiences vary. I’d never buy a new Leupold or Vortex again. I’ve had mechanical issues with both. I’ve had good luck with Trijicon, SWFA and Primary Arms optics. The Trijicon was capped with a mil quad reticle so not something I would dial but good for an elevation hold. For the traditional hunting optic from years past, I like the Japanese Weavers and the Meopta Meopro.

Thats a good scope. I got one when they first came out and still have it

Good scope, but go Mil-R reticle and .1 Mil turrets.

I have ran SHVs out to 800 yards many, many times. I could see, the reticle worked, turrets tracked out and back to 100 yards. I would own one.

Pretty good

Glass kinda blows

All I can say is, any time I see “Vortex” in the title of a thread I get the popcorn ready hahaha

I think the Razor LHT is the perfect hunting scope. They make some good stuff but are known for their low end models breaking...stay PST 2 or higher on the models and you're stacking the odds in your favor, less than that and your rolling the dice it appears. I say it appears because I've never had anything less than the original PST.

What you have here are folks who have seen it, folks whom has lived it and folks who have read about it...you have to sift through and figure out who is who. Good luck.

I’ve never paid more than $400 for any scope. It might ruffle some feathers but here goes.

Vortex Diamondback tactical tracks better than any Leupold in the same price range. Dollar for dollar a Leupold might have better glass, not always, but will be more durable. You can get by on a $300 vortex crossfire with an illuminated reticle at night and still do pretty well, but you need a good light source. Spot light etc. That same scope has mushy adjustments and does not track well… but durable enough to use on a spring air rifle (for a little while). I don’t think any of the crossfire scopes track well.

As far as durability with a Vortex, I am beginning to think many of their scopes come out of the same factories as many of the lower end Bushnell scopes. You get about 2x as much scope for your money with Bushnell vs Virtex sometimes maybe more… again on the bottom end. A $100 bushnell is equivalent to maybe $200 vortex but when it breaks you will probably have to buy another.

I can’t tell you anything about the PST or etc.

LO makes in-house the NF SHV, Vortex Razor, Bushnell LHTS at a min in their Japanese facility, now I would be not surprised if they have the contract on the lower level product lines in their China and Philippines (vortex, Bushnell, Luppy, etc)

With that said it’s to the brands specs.

Country of origin is becoming much less an indication of quality IMO.

I understand that much. But speaking specifically to the + or - $100 bushnell vs $200 vortex you are really splitting hairs. There’s always exceptions.

The Diamondback tactical is a really good one for $300. I think the price may have gone up on them though. It is NOT a good pick for spotlighting.

The part about brand spec's and COO being relative to quality is spot on, for all things. We send a design with tolerances and spec's on it, they have to hit it, no matter where it's made. Further, just because X, Y & Z are made in the same factory has nothing to do with the tolerances and spec's that each are made to. Until optic companies start publishing their designs with dimensions and tolerances and we know their AQL's and inspection criteria, all we have to go on is performance reputations. That's why we BS here about who likes what, and why.

SHV 4-14 is the best scope mentioned so far, but 14x at 1000 yards is rough with the SHV-level glass.

You're asking a lot of a scope to be able to shoot well at night and shoot long distance. Honestly I haven't seen a budget so Tangent Theta 3-15 gets my vote.

If you can't use a Night Force 4-14X SHV F-1 to do what the O.P. requires, then you either need to see an optometrist, or you suck at life, and are a whiney b*tch.

Is the SHV better than the Bushnell 3-21? I have no experience with the SHV but recently used a friends Bushnell and was impressed. They’re known to track well, the clarity was good but the color was off, rather flat or monochromatic. He caught it on sale from Optics Planet for $800ish to his door. I would have bought one. For me it will go on the list with the SS 5-20. Also with you specifically looking for a hunting capable scope the 3 on the low end would be helpful.



I’ve only owned one Vortex, an original Viper, maybe a 6.5-20. It didn’t fail it was simply crappy. Bad glass, eye relief and eye box. Small sample but it was enough for me.

I've been called the latter many times

My brother picked up a Bushnell 3-21 and I like it better than my SWFA 5-20, but not by much. Both great scopes. You just get more FOV on the bottom end with the Bushnell. That's actually probably the best recommendation on the thread so far IMHO.

You talking about a Bushnell DMR?

I’m going to say yes but not certain. Cameraland closed them out last year. They were originally about $15-1600

Better turrets than the SHV. Higher magnification, heavier duty scope, which makes it weigh more.

High end Bushnell is good stuff. I still use an ERS from 2016.

Just ask him. It’s a DMR II

My brother's is an ERS just like fireman's. It's shockingly good for the price.

Thanks for all the info. Now yall definitely have me thinking. Now im looking at the Nightforce NX8 2.5X20X50. Have any of yall had any experience with this scope? If so what are your thoughts?

First reply to this thread.

March 26 2022 6:04 am.

Yes, I have used the NX8, and it is fantastic.

Burris XTR III for $1000. Made in the USA. Could be another option.

https://cameralandny.com/shop/burri...0e196?variation=2226252&query=xtrIII

Dang good option!

It is not Night Force NX8 glass, but the NX8 glass is not an additional $1500 better.

Holy carp - how long has this deal been going on?