Done with Vortex

[Telemark]

I used to be a big fan of Vortex, and I haven't had any issues with their products, until now.

I have an older Strikefire red dot that is basic, but I liked it while it worked. Now it won't shut off, so I have to install and remove the battery every time I want to shoot. Bummer. Maybe I'm just unlucky.

Now I have a newer Venom LPVO that I just sighted in, and the illuminated reticle stopped working. I changed the battery, but nope, the reticle won't illuminate. Now I'm annoyed.

I'm sure Vortex will sort it out eventually, but I can't use my rifles in the mean time, and presumably I have to pay shipping to send the defective units back. Plus the fact that I'm now skeptical toward my optics, even if Vortex repairs or replaced them.

It reminds me of Tommy Boy:

"Because they know all they sold ya was a guaranteed piece of shit. That's all it is, isn't it? Hey, if you want me to take a dump in a box and mark it guaranteed, I will. I've got spare time. But for now, for your customer's sake, for your daughter's sake, you might want to think about buying a quality product from me."

Is Vortex just junk with a lifetime guarantee these days? Seems like I'm better off saving a bit more money and buying a quality product. I'm in the market for a red dot for my new pistol, but it seems that purchase will be put on hold until I can figure out te current state of the optics market.

 

[bigboreblr]

I have 2 Burris fast fires. Seem ok. One on a sks and and another on s marlin 60.

I am a Burris guy. Got a fleet of full field scopes zero problems.

My 450 marlin BLR has a skull tac 1-4×24 red dot scope. Scopes are less problems than red dots

When you could hVe anything you want in guns in NY years n years ago, I had eotech red dots on an AK. Awesome for stalk hunting.

I did buy a guy in my hunting g club a trijicon red dot. Family was poor and he was going to Iraq or so.ehwere down there a few years ago. Worked well for him.

I am of the camp of having a few guns well setup than owning many.

I like the good big 3 night dots on a handgun. Just use big or realistic targets on them. Not too realistic though....

 

[Westwind]

If I can’t afford Trijicon Eotech or Aimpoint I wait until I can. There may be other reliable options but I don’t live in that world like I used to.

On a handgun I can go a long time with just good night sights while I wait. Good irons are still very good but red dots are better.

I walked into my local gun store which is a big Glock dealer and the owner who is a former cop acted like he had never seen a RMR. I was surprised.

 

[Telemark]

I'm new to the pistol scene, so I'm not in a rush to get a red dot on my new .22, but I'd like to get one eventually. It's primarily for varmint and range shooting. Going to be an adventure deciding on a sight since I know basically nothing about pistol sights. I just recently shot my BIL's service pistol with a red dot, and it made it possible to shoot accurately a lot faster.

I'm really annoyed about my rifle sights crapping out. I put Iron sights on the one, but it's just not nearly as effective. The LPVO still works without the illumination, but I paid for the illuminated reticle, so I expect it to work.

 

[Westwind]

In a case like that a really expensive red dot like I’m talking about doesn’t make sense. I know you mentioned the lifetime guarantee- was that a no-go?

 

[Telemark]

. I know you mentioned the lifetime guarantee- was that a no-go?

Back in Norway and sick again. I'll probably start the process tomorrow. I assume they will fix them, but I'm going straight to Canada when I get back to Ohio, so the whole process will probably take a long time and be difficult and annoying. I'd rather my sights just not break.

 

[bigboreblr]

Rifle wise, I have a 22lr match every kind of optic I use.. except the skulltac.

Got full field, the fast fire, and open irons like what I use on my flintlocks. Same color blades, similar seen air gap between the rear and front.

Having this gs the same help.

 

[FeelsLikeFar]

That's both sides of the popular argument with Vortex.

Pro argument: "Great warranty"
Con argument: "Yeah, because you need it way too often."

 

[Hoytvectrix]

A sample size of two is carrying a lot of weight to me. If Vortex repairs the scopes and they end up having the same issue, I think that would be pretty concerning. Otherwise, I think it is safe to assume that all products are going to fail eventually.

 

[Telemark]

A sample size of two is carrying a lot of weight to me. If Vortex repairs the scopes and they end up having the same issue, I think that would be pretty concerning. Otherwise, I think it is safe to assume that all products are going to fail eventually.

The Strikefire was older, so I didn't think much of it.

The brand new Venom LPVO conking out is troubling, to say the least.

I'm not throwing all my Vortex stuff in the trash, but I probably won't be buying any more, and neither of these units will end up on a hunting rifle. I recently, just before last bow season, bought a Vortex range finder. It makes me uncomfortable to go out in the field with gear I don't feel I can trust.

 

[gunfun13]

Last Vortex scope I bought was so bad (crossfire ii), I contacted the company to see if it was a counterfeit. I realize it is a budget model, but it was really bad.

 

[FeelsLikeFar]

I've owned one Vortex, years ago. Took it out once, tried it for about 20 mintues, knew immediately it wouldn't work and had it up for sale that same night. lol
Back when I was still shooting multigun. A 1-4x, $800+/- scope at the time. A ridiculously busy reticle for it's size that was too small/complicated to use on 4x and all but invisible on 1x. It didn't have anywhere near enough brightness to be daylight visible (essential with that tiny blob of a reticle on 1x). I took a beating selling that one. I was one and done with Vortex.

 

[Westwind]

@FeelsLikeFar what did you end up with back then and what would you buy today

 

[FeelsLikeFar]

At the time I was using a Meopta Meostar K-dot. Honestly I don't remember if I was looking for improvement, or if it was for a second rifle. (this was "cutting edge" stuff in 2007, lol. Today's LPVO's way outclass it in terms of zoom range)

A Meopta ZD came a little later. I still have them and they're still great glass, but they're sort of obsolete in that world now.

(ETA: "What would you buy today?" 2012 or 2013 was the last multigun match I shot, so I haven't kept up with the wider range "LPVO"s. Even at that time companies were selling 1-6 and 1-8 scopes, but in my neck of the woods it was rare to shoot much past 200 yards. I used the ZD out to 425 at one match and it was fine, so I didn't see the need. Besides that, prices made my head spin.)

 

[Westwind]

15 minutes and stuff was out of date lol! I’m still using an old Comp 3. My former employer wanted no magnified optics- I was one of the wierdo’s that loved ACOGS. Sold my ACOG to get the Comp 3, had little kids and couldn’t afford both. Twenty some years ago, always said I’d get another ACOG one day but I’d really look like a geezer at the range with that lol!

 

[b116757]

I generally do not buy any electronics in my optics if I don’t want problems down the road. If you do get anything that takes a battery just expect issues with it at some point.

 

[Telemark]

I think I'm out of the optics market for the time being. I'm out of touch with the current state of things, so I have a lot of reading to do.

I have always liked Leupold, but I don't know anything about their new product line. Not sure what VX-Freedom is, but they seem to have a scope for every caliber, which I'm not interested in.

Meopta seems to be out of the US market. Not sure what happened there. I thought they were a big up-and-comer.

Zeiss doesn't make the Terra line anymore, which is a shame. I bought mine on sale when they first came out, and it has been an absolute workhorse.

The top tier stuff all looks amazing still, but with the top tier pricing it commands, i.e. out of my price range.

Oh well. I guess one of my winter projects will be reading up on the current state of the optics market.

 

[MN Slick]

I've got a new Ultradot Matchdot II I'd like to get rid of, $200.00. Tried it on a bowsight and didn't like it.

 

[swat1018]

I don't mind vortex binos, but optics on a rifle need to be a little better. Optics on my carry guns need to be top of the line....

 

[bigboreblr]

Handguns are another story, but rifles you can get a traditonal scope in low power and have it similar to a red dot in quick target aquisition.

Most of my hunting time, I stalk hunted. Slow woods walk. Poor odds, many mistakes with noise, and a very short time frame to get the shot. 1-4x scope with nice noticeable recticles. When the battery is off, lighted scopes are still visible.

I have 20 year old burris scopes with zero probles, no fog, holds zero well 200 yards or so, maybe more. Buy and you don't like it, I need one anyway. Removing the peep sight on a nice marlin 22lr bolt gun I have. A scoped 22lr is a must at home. I only have 1 22 scoped right now. Making me want to get another one right now.......

Absolutely loved my bushnell elite 3200 1.5-4.5x32 scope. Has the firely recticle. 4 or 5 times thicker crosshairs than a regular scope, and shine a light in it for a few seconds, you got that last 20 minute of low light in the evening. I can shoot with that scope with both eyes open. I use that scope on my muzzleloader. Also had another on my BLR until last year, when I put hte skulltac on it.