Welcome to Vortex Anonymous, my name is Ryan and I'm an addict. It's been 6 days since I last bought a Vortex scope, and I don't know how long I can resist the urge to buy another. Who wants to be my sponsor?
Its easy to become a Vortex fan after picking up any one of the Viper scopes. For the moderate price tag, you get really clear glass, superb reticles, a plethora of magnification options, and a lifetime/no questions asked warranty that will cover just about anything you can throw at the optic. I already owned two Viper scopes, but was interested in picking up something from the cheaper family, known as the Diamondback series for testing and evaluation.
I picked up a Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40mm scope to add to a 22-250 bolt gun. I bought it as Sportsman's Warehouse for the average retail price. Comparing the glass indoors with other brands in the same category including Nikon Prostaff, Redfield Revenge and some of the low end Leupolds, the Diamondback certainly seemed to be as good in most areas, with an edge over most in glass clarity. The other factors that stand out most are eye relief, light transmission and turret manipulation.
I found that I was doing the 'chicken neck' much more with the other scopes to get proper relief, whereas the Diamondback's eyebox was just easier for me to find rapidly, even at high magnifications. The clarity and light transmission of the glass were very good, and even when holding side-by-side with a Viper scope in the same magnification the difference are very small. The capped turrets are surprisingly pleasing. Rotation is smooth but tight, with lightly audible clicks and fine tangible detents with every 1/4 MOA turn. I boresighted with a laser at night under 2 minutes because throwing the scope up to check the point of aim, then turning the turrets just by feel was accurate and fine. They are slotted for a coin as well but really not needed at all. Once zeroed, they can be rezeroed so that adjustments in the field or at the range for known variables are easy to make and then return to zero.
If I were asked to pick the negative aspects of this scope, it would be that at 12x objects beyond 100 yards do come a little fuzzy. Also, the limitations of factory preset parallax at 100 yds is something I can't help but notice. If you want adjustable parallax, save up those pennies and get a Viper. Also most Vipers come with a sunshade, something you will be hard pressed to find to work with this Diamondback. But if value and budget are your concern, this scope still has plenty of shining features that will prove its worth in the field time and time again.
Another piece of advice I want to share is the inherent disadvantages of a BDC (Bullet Drop Compensation) reticle. The Vortex BDC reticle manual groups data in terms of rifle classes that are pretty generalized. For instance, if your caliber fits into Class A (High Power Big Game | Moderate Ranges) you would use 100 yard zero on main crosshair, the 3rd hashmark would apply to 400 yards, or 30 inches of drop. But for what grain bullet and what velocity? The bullet drop of a .308 win 150gr bullet and a 180gr bullet in the same gun will have different rates of drop and a BDC reticle doesn't account for this without the user doing multiple tests with different bullet weights and taking detailed notes. An MOA EBR reticle shows even subtensions in minutes of angle (or MRAD if you prefer mildots, guy in the back of class wearing a boonie hate) and I find it more advantageous for non-seasoned shooters to think in terms of what is bullet X doing at 415 yards in minutes of angle. Using any number of ballistic calculators available, you could determine to the fraction of an inch where that bullet will drop, and it is much easier to 'mind the gap' between 2 or 5 MOA dash increments and make a more precise shot. That may not matter much when you have a deer in your scope at 100-200 yard, but the difference exponentially grows at longer distances, and I share a belief that BDC reticles give novice shooter a false sense of confidence that can easily translate to bad call and a poor shot. If that error leads to a shot outside the vitals in a game animal, I can't help but wish that individual did their homework better. The V-Plex reticle is Vortex's take on the tradition duplex reticle and would better serve a shooter who is intimately familiar with the lead they are sending downrange than a novice leaning on the BDC without reading up. Just my 2 cents.
Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points
Claim to Fame: Diamondback riflescopes completely change the rules when it comes to “you get what you pay for.”
Target Market: Rifle owners, hunters, 100-300 yard multicaliber shooting
FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):
- Fully Multi-Coated - Increases light transmission with multiple anti-reflective coatings on all air-to-glass surfaces.
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Second Focal Plane Reticle - Scale of reticle maintains the same ideally-sized appearance. Listed reticle subtensions used for estimating range, holdover and wind drift correction are accurate at the highest magnification.
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Single-Piece 1" Tube - Maximizes alignment for improved accuracy and optimum visual performance, as well as ensures strength and waterproofness.
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Aircraft-Grade Aluminum - Constructed from a solid block of aircraft-grade aluminum for strength and rigidity.
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Waterproof O-ring - Seals prevent moisture, dust and debris from penetrating the riflescope for reliable performance in all environments.
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Fogproof - Argon gas purging prevents internal fogging over a wide range of temperatures.
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Shockproof - Rugged construction withstands recoil and impact.
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Hard Anodized Finish - Highly durable low-glare matte finish helps camouflage the shooter's position.
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Precision-Glide Erector System - Uses premium components in the zoom lens mechanism to ensure smooth magnification changes under the harshest conditions.
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Capped Reset Turrets - Allow re-indexing of the turret to zero after sighting in the riflescope. Caps provide external protection for turret.
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Precision-Glide Erector System - Uses premium components in the zoom lens mechanism to ensure smooth magnification changes under the harshest conditions.
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Fast Focus Eyepiece - Allows quick and easy reticle focusing.
What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?: Black matte finish, multiple magnification/objective sizes available.
What others are saying?: “This is the second Vortex product I've purchased. Why? Quality and Confidence. I love the quality of their optics. Clear glass, great light control, solid construction but lightweight delivery. I really like the Deadhold BDC reticle and how once I've got it sighted in. It's extremely accurate, regardless of the change in distance. My first time using the scope I made three adjustments with the clearly defined dials (no guessing in the field) and was dialed in on the bullseye. I also have complete confidence that should something happen to my scope, I will have no problems getting back outdoors and doing what I love. The only improvement I'd suggest is threading for a sun shade. But no question, I'm happily a Vortex customer for life!" Vortex Reviewer
Price Point:
I need it now! Availability: Readily available online at Brownells.
Our Rating:
+ Sleek, lightweight, perfect for mounting to a hunting rifle
+ Capped Turrets with Audible and Tangible windage and elevation adjustment clicks, very smooth and firm
+ Glass is extremely clear
+ You can beat the scope (against the concrete) but you won't beat that warrantee!
- BDC Reticle in MOA works for some as a quick reference for hunting, but can still cause false-confidence and poor shot placement due to caliber/velocity variances that have been averaged or generalized.
- No sunshade, but Vortex does have a Killflash / ARD out there that should work
- Object outlines get fuzzy when using 12x magnification
Score: 8.0 Great
