The new Vortex Razor HD 13-39x56mm, The Mini Razor

[Travis Bertrand]

A ton better. This scope outperforms it in every way.


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[Tahoe1305]

Concur. I really like mine. Only thing better IMO is swaro ATC. I haven’t looked thru new mini Kowa (guessing it will be better by a bit) but I preferred it to the old Kowa 55. I’m a minority here but will stand by it.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Concur. I really like mine. Only thing better IMO is swaro ATC. I haven’t looked thru new mini Kowa but I preferred it to the old Kowa 55. I’m a minority here but will stand by it.

I have an ATC, but have thought about picking up a mini razor for kids/ loaner spotter someday

 

[Tahoe1305]

I have an ATC, but have thought about picking up a mini razor for kids/ loaner spotter someday

Exactly why I have one.

It’s for the buddy/kid/etc that wants a closer look but not worth having another 65+ mm on board.

Not many hunts it will replace a full size spotter, but for weight and cost I can justify a solid backup/compliment.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Exactly why I have one.

It’s for the buddy/kid/etc that wants a closer look but not worth having another 65+ mm on board.

Not many hunts it will replace a full size spotter, but for weight and cost I can justify a solid backup/compliment.

You rocking a 65mm now or just the baby scopes?

 

[Tahoe1305]

You rocking a 65mm now or just the baby scopes?

So I snagged an older STM 65. It weighs 43oz if I recall. It’s my primary and can resolve a good amount more but only because it’s a solid 60x zoom (zoom is king always IMO).

I use the mini razor as described above. BUT.

I can’t get rid of my OG 16-48x65 razor. My model is just solid and hangs with the nicer glass better than it should. No it isn’t as good as swaro but for the $$ I can’t sell it.

 

[Hnthrdr]

So I snagged an older STM 65. It weighs 43oz if I recall. It’s my primary and can resolve a good amount more but only because it’s a solid 60x zoom (zoom is king always IMO).

I use the mini razor as described above. BUT.

I can’t get rid of my OG 16-48x65 razor. My model is just solid and hangs with the nicer glass better than it should. No it isn’t as good as swaro but for the $$ I can’t sell it.

Yeah I kind of regret selling my gen 1 since now I only have 85 gen 1 razor and an atc… 65 may be in the works sometime of a 77mm kowa but I fear they will get left at home a lot in favor of the atc….

 

[Tahoe1305]

Yeah I kind of regret selling my gen 1 since now I only have 85 gen 1 razor and an atc… 65 may be in the works sometime of a 77mm kowa but I fear they will get left at home a lot in favor of the atc….

Fwiw I compared a 85mm gen 1 to a 65. The 85mm I had wasn’t as strong. Using charts I could resolve the same element at distance and it frustrated me (was supposed to be 60x vs 48….but didn’t seem like it). I actually took it back and kept the 65mm. Again I think the one I have isn’t normal (maybe).

A good deal on a 77 is a great buy. But if you aren’t looking past a mile….may be tough to beat an ATC.

If I was shopping, I’d probably go mini razor and 77 and feel fairly well covered for ALL hunting I can imagine. (Plus a backup).

 

[bojangles808]

Pretty nice and easy to pack around. I'm not sure I'm a spotter guy but value/weight wise they are hard to beat

 

[deepandsteep]

Looked through the Vortex and Swaro mini spotters this week. The Swaro is better, but to be expected. It comes down to price/quality ratio. 3X plus for the swaro. But I gotta get one or the other. The weight difference between by swaro 80 is unreal. As a backpacker, gotta try it out.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Looked through the Vortex and Swaro mini spotters this week. The Swaro is better, but to be expected. It comes down to price/quality ratio. 3X plus for the swaro. But I gotta get one or the other. The weight difference between by swaro 80 is unreal. As a backpacker, gotta try it out.

The difference between the mini’s is less extreme than the 65’s obj imo…

 

[ForkyFantatic]

Thank you for the article. I am in the market for a new spotter, and like all western hunters, weight is a top factor, followed by price. For sub $1k, this seems like a no brainer. I will wait for any possible sales for Black Friday 2025 before I pull the trigger.

 

[Willie IV]

Thank you for the article. I am in the market for a new spotter, and like all western hunters, weight is a top factor, followed by price. For sub $1k, this seems like a no brainer. I will wait for any possible sales for Black Friday 2025 before I pull the trigger.

I second this. If you're a Scheel's Premier Card holder they have their 7 points promo plus $50 off a $500 purchase. This promo will probably make me pull the trigger tomorrow!

 

[nickyman22]

Just picked one up online to have as a backup/loaner, lightweight backpacking option, spotter to leave in the truck, or bring on travel hunts where I probably won't need a spotter but might want the option at some point. It won't replace my higher end options but seems like it has some solid use cases. Excited to try it out

 

[MTBagel]

PSA to those who have issues the the objective lens cap, the “monstrum pro series scope cap” on Amazon, size 63-66, fits and works great. Fractionally lighter too which I didn’t expect.

 

[4090Sharps]

PSA to those who have issues the the objective lens cap, the “monstrum pro series scope cap” on Amazon, size 63-66, fits and works great. Fractionally lighter too which I didn’t expect.View attachment 1052363

Thanks! I’m using a Vortex one at the moment but that looks like a better fit.

 

[Rackseekers]

Nope, zoom and focus feel about the same on mine.. if anything, the focus is maybe a little stiffer than the zoom.

I need to find a way to keep my twist-up eye cap from moving - I'd like it set to the middle "notch", but I have a magview on it and the weight of the magview rotates the eyecup up.

Try using a hair tie. Acts like a spacer but is also easily removeable if needed.

 

[cornfedkiller]

Try using a hair tie. Acts like a spacer but is also easily removeable if needed.

I have the opposite problem though. It rotates it outward (making the space bigger).

 

[Rackseekers]

Gotcha, just guessing ( not sure how its set up) but I wonder if you use the hair tie and set up the weight to where its setting the load of the adaptor and phone so it drives the eyepiece back in. (Adsuming off the right side) the Hairtie would act as a spacer and the weight would drive it into the closed position instead of pulling it out. Could be wrong, but makes sense on paper haha.