Vortex Razor HD LHT 4.5-22x50mm Q&A

[Formidilosus]

Once you drop your rifle you introduce an unknown variable and I would not take a shot.

It’s not any more of an unknown if you’ve tested your rifle systems, than the animal or environmental conditions. Way less actually.

The same reason if wind conditions are stronger than my comfort level I wouldn’t shoot.

But your comfort level is different than others with wind. Wouldn’t you say that there are different comfort levels with gear as well?

 

[mxgsfmdpx]

Then we- everyone I hunt with, and you- have very different experiences. I don’t think I’ve ever done a single backpack hunting trip in the mountains where at least one person didn’t have their rifle take a hard impact. That exact example was a real one from the last couple of years.






With most NF’s, most SWFA SS’s, some S&B’s, and some Bushnell LRHS/LRTS- absolutely. Not even a hesitation. The scope that was used in the real example has been dropped hundred of times from 3-7 feet. IF I had a chance to check zero I would, but I also wouldn’t feel unethical in the slightest taking that shot a hundred times over.

With the LHT- I would be certain that it wouldn’t be zeroed still.

Based on this info I’m going to have to check out. These threads obviously aren’t for me then. If you’re reccomending taking shots on animals after dropping rifles (user error) And then not checking for zero retention after (user error) then I have nothing left to say.

I’d love unbiased scope tests but these are clearly aren’t that. These are guys latching onto someone’s very poor hunting habits. Can’t get behind that. Sure you respect it. I’ll shut up now sorry.

 

[Formidilosus]

I’d love unbiased scope tests but these are clearly aren’t that.

What are you talking about? There is zero bias on my part. I’ll be doing the eval on Ryan’s NX8 next week. If it fails, it fails- I don’t care.

 

[Bubblehide]

Based on this info I’m going to have to check out. These threads obviously aren’t for me then. If you’re reccomending taking shots on animals after dropping rifles (user error) And then not checking for zero retention after (user error) then I have nothing left to say.

I’d love unbiased scope tests but these are clearly aren’t that. These are guys latching onto someone’s very poor hunting habits. Can’t get behind that. Sure you respect it. I’ll shut up now sorry.

Reading comprehension issue^

 

[JFK]

I think the real value of these types of tests, and the results being made public, is that it could maybe, and I mean MAYBE, embarrass scope makers enough that they address reliability instead of focusing on bells and whistles. I don’t think it’s an either/or scenario of checking or not checking your rifle. It’s smart to check your rifle before a hunt and during a hunt if something happens. I think most would agree with that. It’s also nice when you check it and nothing has shifted and you aren’t scratching your head as to why. It gives you confidence in your rifle and makes you accountable when you miss.

 

[cmahoney]

If it’s unethical to take a shot after falling or tipping over your rifle, then it’s equally unethical to hunt with a garbage scope that you can’t trust to hold a zero or track, no matter how good the warranty is.


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[id_jon]

I do not understand objecting to drop tests. If literally every optic in existence failed every drop test, then sure, object to it. But the fact that optics pass, and that drops happen in real life, it is a perfectly reasonable thing to test. Say you put your rifle, in a case, in the bed of your pickup and drive to your hunting area on a washboard dirt road, your 60lb pack falls on top of your cased rifle, does this not constitute an impact that would be somewhat similar to the impacts from the drop test? I personally have not yet fallen on my rifle in the field, or dropped it while hunting. You don't need to be some record breaking clutz for impacts to happen to your rifle.

 

[Fartrell Cluggins]

. If you’re reccomending taking shots on animals after dropping rifles (user error)

I’ll shut up now sorry.

These were his exact words:

"you slip and the rifle hits the ground"

That is not at all uncommon and it's very different from dropping a rifle. If you aren't going to read critically, I'd highly recommend the latter of your comments.

 

[CoStick]

It’s not any more of an unknown if you’ve tested your rifle systems, than the animal or environmental conditions. Way less actually.




But your comfort level is different than others with wind. Wouldn’t you say that there are different comfort levels with gear as well?

How do you become comfortable with dropping your rifle in an uncontrolled environment like the backcountry?

It’s not any more of an unknown if you’ve tested your rifle systems, than the animal or environmental conditions. Way less actually.




But your comfort level is different than others with wind. Wouldn’t you say that there are different comfort levels with gear as well?

the backcountry is an uncontrolled environment, so comfort levels with scope impacts would be hard to come by. My father in law fell and hit the rifle hard enough to crack the paint off of the Fieldcraft. I gave him my rifle so he didn’t miss a beat and went and checked zero.

The scope had held zero but I certainly wouldn’t be confident it would fine if the same thing happened again. You just don’t know.

 

[Ryan Avery]

So you’re going to shoot at animals after a hard knock (which honestly barely happens btw while hunting) because a stranger on the internet said a certain scope “doesn’t lose zero”? Wow.

So let’s walk through the scenario…

“Hey man, you’re scope just fell hard onto a rock!” “Let’s head back towards camp and make sure your still dialed in.”

“No I’m good! Some nameless, faceless, complete stranger who drops scopes on the internet told me this certain scope will be fine.” “Let’s go shoot at a living creature with it!”

I can’t understand how many of you think this is acceptable. Blowing my mind seeing all of this nonsense on here the last couple weeks on multiple threads.

I appreciate the unbiased info that’s being provided on scopes. Love this kind of stuff, but I’m going to have to check out of these if the aforementioned rhetoric keeps coming up.

I've done it more than once. Hiking in the dark night before opener. Rifle snaps off my gunbearer rolls a long ways down a hill smacks some rocks I'm guessing because it dented the scope and scratched the hell out of the stock. Shot a bull the next morning at 942. But I had dropped tested the hell out of this rifle and scope, didn't even think twice about the shot.


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[Trial153]

I dropped my bow a bunch of times , Rudimentary yes, but everything is marked, sight rest, cam position, peep sight and loop. Something doesn’t hold up to hard use…shit can it. I am not go 10k up a mountain to stick an arrow in a goat with gear I don’t trust.

I love threads like this. I don’t even rifle hunt but I appreciate the commitment that goes into forethought and preparation.

 

[MuleyFever]

With most NF’s, most SWFA SS’s, some S&B’s, and some Bushnell LRHS/LRTS- absolutely. Not even a hesitation. The scope that was used in the real example has been dropped hundred of times from 3-7 feet. IF I had a chance to check zero I would, but I also wouldn’t feel unethical in the slightest taking that shot a hundred times over.

With the LHT- I would be certain that it wouldn’t be zeroed still.

Can you give more detail on why you say some or most of those scopes? Do some SWFA, NF, etc use different internals that are more likely to fail?

 

[Afhunter1]

You know what I think is the most surprising is that all of these scope manufacturers have people that spend all day surfing the internet for posts like these. If I was a manufacturer of scopes and I saw a review like this I would jump in and try to fix the prob. Might even offer Form a job to help me get it right but that doesn’t happen. I guarantee that the higher ups in vortex’s QC dept have already seen this thread. They don’t care. They know their scopes fail and have no desire to fix it. The “educated” public is way to small to make a dent in profits. Unfortunately for us the “educated” public will prob never carry enough weight to alter how a company makes scopes.

I am a manufacturer in the plastics industry and have been in manufacturing for 21 years next week. Quality costs profit in most industries and the equilibrium in the scope world is skewed to the profits side for sure.

It’s almost laughable how many scopes fail this test and fail miserably.

 

[Forkieslayer]

I just want to say thanks for doing an honest review. It’s going to make me more aware of small drops my rifle may take.

 

[SDHNTR]

I've done it more than once. Hiking in the dark night before opener. Rifle snaps off my gunbearer rolls a long ways down a hill smacks some rocks I'm guessing because it dented the scope and scratched the hell out of the stock. Shot a bull the next morning at 942. But I had dropped tested the hell out of this rifle and scope, didn't even think twice about the shot.


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Swaro X5?

 

[SDHNTR]

You know what I think is the most surprising is that all of these scope manufacturers have people that spend all day surfing the internet for posts like these.

They do? I struggle to believe that. If they did, I think we would all have better and more reliable product options. I do agree with you that they don’t care, they don’t care enough to read stuff like this.

 

[Fartrell Cluggins]

They do? I struggle to believe that. If they did, I think we would all have better and more reliable product options. I do agree with you that they don’t care, they don’t care enough to read stuff like this.

Vortex has a rep that is very regular on this forum.

 

[ChrisAU]

They do? I struggle to believe that. If they did, I think we would all have better and more reliable product options. I do agree with you that they don’t care, they don’t care enough to read stuff like this.

They do, but we are the 1% of hunters. Way more Joe Schmos that go into a Sportsman’s Warehouse and pay full MSRP for whatever the guy behind the counter sells them as the best ever than guys that actually do any research for themselves.

 

[Ryan Avery]

Swaro X5?

Yes


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[Castle Rock]

Reading comprehension issue^

No, just a girly tantrum