Vortex HD LHT

[Whiskey_Fish]

I solved the reticle bleed issue by taking out the battery. Good for about a quarter oz too.

 

[prm]

Leaving the battery out is brilliant. I wish I would have done just that on an older scope. In this case I’m not sure the reticle is up to the task at first light in the dark timber.

 

[DangerRanger]

Leaving the battery out is brilliant. I wish I would have done just that on an older scope. In this case I’m not sure the reticle is up to the task at first light in the dark timber.

Now this I find truly concerning as it’s the main point of why I want a SFP reticle in a hunting scope.

 

[AZ_Hunter_2000]

How is the reticle not up to low light situations? Too thin? Too light? Any size/thickness comparison to the HSR-4 from the previous model? Am asking since I've experienced no low-light shortcomings with that reticle.

 

[Bones]

A $1000 scope should work. But this is exactly why I don’t want illumination on my scopes. Just something else to worry about. With decent glass and a good reticle design I can aim in any +/- 30 min legal hunting situation. I applaud their effort, but they leaned more towards the longer range, higher end than what I was hoping for. 9x-10x, no illumination, no parallax, 36-40mm obj, good glass, great reticle, bomb proof. I get why they went the way they did, buzz worthy features, it’s what the rest of the market wants. Less is more to me.

I guess I feel the prior HD LH were basically what you want, unless you wanted an exposed elevation turret, though we can argue whether it is bombproof.

For me, this was a step in the right direction for what I was looking for, but am in agreement that I would prefer no illumination and as light as possible with 100% reliability of function

 

[prm]

Bones, I too think it is a step in the right direction. I‘m only suggesting a little more emphasis on lightweight (smaller obj., no parallax, no illumination), and that a few less x’s is okay with me. Bombproof applies to any hunting scope and whether this leans that way is an unknown to me.

 

[thinhorn_AK]

I solved the reticle bleed issue by taking out the battery. Good for about a quarter oz too.

so yours also has that same defect huh?

 

[prm]

How is the reticle not up to low light situations? Too thin? Too light? Any size/thickness comparison to the HSR-4 from the previous model? Am asking since I've experienced no low-light shortcomings with that reticle.

I don’t know if this reticle is good in low light or not without the illumination. It looks kind of thin but I’ll defer to those who actually have it and can try it out. The G4 reticle is pretty good in my experience.

 

[Whiskey_Fish]

so yours also has that same defect huh?

On the highest settings it bleeds some. But the highest settings are obnoxiously Bright in dusk/dawn situations. I think the issue is the brightness goes up too high. The lower settings seemed fine. I don’t really plan to use it and to be honest was being a little snarky. The reticle is a decent thickness for me. I’m pleased with it in the evening. I mounted it on my 308 just to get it out and had no issues. I only shot it out to 200 but before I mounted it I was doing some ranging estimations using some street signs at approximately 450-500 yards at dusk and it worked great.


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[bradb]

I got one in today and Yes it bleeds on a setting to bright to reasonably use in low light. So on daylight bright(looking out my window at noon) it would bleed if looking into the basement. If at a setting what I consider reasonable in a darkish room it was fine. Mind you this was a quick look at lunch, not getting much time at lunch during this shit working in the grocery business

 

[270quest]

Any more feedback on these - specifying the dialing and return to zero? Optically where doea

 

[mtncharlie]

I got one in the mail yesterday (3-15x42 MRAD). Same issue as others are reporting with illumination. I spoke with Vortex today and they stated its normal for the illumination of the center dot to randomly bleed throughout the reticle. I would expect this if is the power was really cranked up in the dark, but its visible on a lower setting during dusk. Probably going to be returning to Vortex for a refund

 

[fightthenoise]

Has anyone done a tracking test on these bad boys yet? I can deal with illumination issues. Probably leave the battery out anyway. If these things track reliably I'd be real interested

 

[Frogman77]

I’m in the camp where illumination is one function I have only used once in 25 years of hunting. I get the gripes if it’s something people use often. It isn’t a big deal for me.

been hunting small game with it just to get it out in the field and I love it so far.

I’ve ran mine on a 90lb scope tracking rig out to 10mils and it did perfectly fine. I will run it to 20 mils when snow melts in my area and I can set it up properly. That being said none of my rifles that this will go on will ever need to see more than 6 mils for hunting. If I do, it means I have to walk more than 1200 yards and I’m not always that motivated lol.

So far I’ve been really happy with mine.

 

[prm]

I agree that illumination is not a necessary feature. This thread has now gone in a way that highlights exactly why I don’t want illumination on my scopes. It adds weight, cost, and complexity for a feature that is simply not required for big game hunting. I like the idea of just leaving the battery out, but that only works if the scope has a reticle intended to function in low light without illumination. ...and you still paid for the illumination.

 

[RogerNH]

Illumination is not very high on my "must have" list but it's still annoying if Vortex can't get to work properly, especially for what this scope costs. Regardless, I'd leave the battery out and use as-is. If this scope can be proven to track reliably, I will most definitely buy one.

 

[handwerk]

It would be nice if they offered this with a normal hunting duplex or better yet a 4A.

 

[mtncharlie]

I typically don't use illumination, except for a couple times tree stand hunting in dark timber first and last light. Looking through the LHT at dusk with a dark background I think this reticle needs illumination. Just my opinion. It should be fine in open country with lighter colored terrain.

For the cost every feature should function flawlessly. Makes me second guess Vortex quality control and the internals they are using. It also bothers me that Vortex told me this is normal...

 

[Ryan Avery]

Has anyone done a tracking test on these bad boys yet? I can deal with illumination issues. Probably leave the battery out anyway. If these things track reliably I'd be real interested

I ran it up a Box to Bench tall target. Up to 25 MOA and back down and it tracked.

 

[Ryan Avery]

I just looked at my Kahles K525i and it bleeds a little into the numbers as well....