Scope Choice

[jkrueger]

Trying to decide what to put on my new prairie dog rifle, this is going to be for shorter shots out to 500 or so with a 20 vartarg, trying to decide between

Vortex Viper 6.5-20x44

Swfa SS 16x fixed mil-mil

Primary purpose of the rifle is going to be p-doggin and when im back around here I will probably just casually punch paper / shoot steel

what is the better scope for the task and why?

 

[jkrueger]

ok after 100 views and no opinions i will try and make it easier on you guys

** since i cant edit the original i will add the viper tactical scope mil dot/mil turret that is currently on sale at midway to the list of options****

which one has better glass?

is the variable power going to be more useful than the fixed power?

I believe the new mil dot reticle on the SWFA is going to be much more useful than either the viper wide v-plex or the mil dot

 

[405win]

Sorry, I can't help out with your dilemma. I have no experience with either. We carry vortex at the store and I'm tempted to try one out. They do have a great warranty though. Good luck.

 

[kbaerg]

I have a vortex viper pst in the 4x16 power I have not had a chance to really play with it but from what little I have done it is a well built optic, clear lens with crisp reticle, mine has solid click adjustments which I like and a nice eye relief for my 300 win mag.

 

[bruce_ventura]

The Vortex optical performance is fine for your use. You'll usually be limited by turbulence, so optical performance should be secondary to reticle tracking performance and features. Field reports indicate that turrets on all three scopes track well, IIRC.

I haven't had a SWFA 16X in my hands, so I can't say anything about its optical performance. Again, field reports have been good, IIRC.

I use a fixed 10X for ground squirrels. It works fine. I would not use a fixed 16X if I had other options. Too difficult getting on targets and no option to turn down the magnification when the turbulence (mirage) gets bad. I think you would have regrets with a fixed 16X.

 

[42769vette]

go with the vortex, fixed powers really limit you

 

[tulku]

My favorite Scope for Pdogs using a Custon Heavy Barrel 223 is an old fixed power 16X Leupold out to about 450 Yards . I have never had Mirage problems in S. Dakota , Wyoming , or Montana with that 16X in many years of hunting . Beyond that Range , I prefer more Magnification . YMMV .