Vortex Viper 2.5-10x44 vs Nightforce SHV 3-10x42

[Bergeron96]

I hunt for Hogs and Deer with most shots ranging from 15-200 yards, but would like to be able to dial to 500 if the occasion arises. Right now I have a Vortex Viper HS 2.5-10x44 with the BDC reticle. I really like this scope because it is compact and does really well in low light. But, I don’t love the BDC reticle and I’m not sure if the scope can accurately handle dialing. My dad has a Leupold VX5-HD 3-15x44 that I am not super impressed with in comparison to the Viper considering it is almost 3 times the price. And my last Leupold had a wondering zero so I kind of lost confidence in them.

I have heard lots of good things about the Nightforce SHV 3-10x42. It is just like my viper with capped turrets and no parallax adjustment which I do not want on my hunting scope.

Is it worth upgrading to the SHV for confidence in dialing? Does anyone have a good experience with dialing on the Viper? Or should I just learn to like the BDC reticle and keep practicing with it?

Any advice would be great, thank you!

 

[Timplant]

I LOVE my SHV. Not saying it’s the best or there isn’t better options, but it lives on my coyote gun and I got it for just over 600$ on a Black Friday deal 4 or 5 years ago and it does everything I want it to do perfectly.

 

[flyfisher117]

As a previous owner of a Viper HS I didn't trust it to hold zero in the field. I also do not like BDC reticle and won't use one on game animals.

As far as tracking i do a box test and a tall target test on every scope I purchase. If I had the coin for an Atacr or ZCO I'd still do both tests for complete confidence. It only costs you a little time and ammo. You can get fancy and buy pre-made tall targets. But a sheet of butcher paper and your best tape measure will net you the same results.

If you truly plan on taking 500 yard shots on game then the SHV is IMHO a no brainer over the HS. You need practice at that distance (and beyond) and a scope that is capable of dialing is just moh betta. You can get by dialing your HS to start. It is just not as nice as having the exposed turrets.

 

[doc holiday13]

I really wish we had an Optics forum here on Rokslide

 

[Bergeron96]

As a previous owner of a Viper HS I didn't trust it to hold zero in the field. I also do not like BDC reticle and won't use one on game animals.

As far as tracking i do a box test and a tall target test on every scope I purchase. If I had the coin for an Atacr or ZCO I'd still do both tests for complete confidence. It only costs you a little time and ammo. You can get fancy and buy pre-made tall targets. But a sheet of butcher paper and your best tape measure will net you the same results.

If you truly plan on taking 500 yard shots on game then the SHV is IMHO a no brainer over the HS. You need practice at that distance (and beyond) and a scope that is capable of dialing is just moh betta. You can get by dialing your HS to start. It is just not as nice as having the exposed turrets.

Thank you for confirming what I was thinking. I will probably put the viper on my muzzle loader and look for an SHV for my rifle.

 

[Bergeron96]

I LOVE my SHV. Not saying it’s the best or there isn’t better options, but it lives on my coyote gun and I got it for just over 600$ on a Black Friday deal 4 or 5 years ago and it does everything I want it to do perfectly.

Wow that is a great price. What reticle do you have?

 

[Timplant]

MOAR

 

[THvac]

I LOVE my SHV. Not saying it’s the best or there isn’t better options, but it lives on my coyote gun and I got it for just over 600$ on a Black Friday deal 4 or 5 years ago and it does everything I want it to do perfectly.

I got the nxs 5.5-22 for about 800

 

[Lando]

I'd get one of these 5 scopes before I would ever consider a Vortex or a Leupold if I wanted to dial reliably:

SWFA 3-9x42
Any Nightforce with dialable turrets with a reticle you can live with
Trijicon Tenmile or Credo depending on whether you want SFP or FFP
Maven RS1.2 2.5-15x44
Bushnell LRHS-2 4.5-18x44

Any of the above dial reliably, hold zero, return to zero and can be trusted.

 

[Beetroot]

I'm surprised you think the glass is better in the HST than the VX5.
I had an HST 4-16 and replaced it with a VX5 and the glass was a lot better in the VX5.

The 3-10 SHV glass is kinda terrible, if you don't like the VX5 I dnt think you'll like thr SHV.

 

[Johnwell]

I'm surprised you think the glass is better in the HST than the VX5.
I had an HST 4-16 and replaced it with a VX5 and the glass was a lot better in the VX5.

The 3-10 SHV glass is kinda terrible, if you don't like the VX5 I dnt think you'll like thr SHV.

It’s been a while since I looked through the vipers, but as I recall the 2.5-10 was significantly better than the 4-16. The 6-24 was somewhere between the two, but closer to the 2.5-10.

If I wanted repeatable dialing I wouldn’t be looking at vortex or leupold.

 

[_S_R_]

I wouldn’t discount Leupold VX5 or MK4 used

 

[Beetroot]

It’s been a while since I looked through the vipers, but as I recall the 2.5-10 was significantly better than the 4-16. The 6-24 was somewhere between the two, but closer to the 2.5-10.

If I wanted repeatable dialing I wouldn’t be looking at vortex or leupold.

I've never seen that 2.5-10x44, but I'd heard that the glass was generally not very well regarded.

The 2.5-10x32 however was meant to be the best in the PST G1 range. I've got one of these and think the glass is pretty darn good.

 

[Johnwell]

I've never seen that 2.5-10x44, but I'd heard that the glass was generally not very well regarded.

The 2.5-10x32 however was meant to be the best in the PST G1 range. I've got one of these and think the glass is pretty darn good.

Ah right, you are correct. Didn’t catch that the OP was using the x44 instead of the x32. Carry on.

 

[arlenter]

The viper PST (Gen 2) 2-10x32 would be an upgrade, for not much more. I think these are better than SHV in every way, except maybe durability?

You could also go straight up to a Nightforce, NXS 2.5-10 x 42mm

 

[_S_R_]

I hunt for Hogs and Deer with most shots ranging from 15-200 yards, but would like to be able to dial to 500 if the occasion arises. Right now I have a Vortex Viper HS 2.5-10x44 with the BDC reticle. I really like this scope because it is compact and does really well in low light. But, I don’t love the BDC reticle and I’m not sure if the scope can accurately handle dialing. My dad has a Leupold VX5-HD 3-15x44 that I am not super impressed with in comparison to the Viper considering it is almost 3 times the price. And my last Leupold had a wondering zero so I kind of lost confidence in them.

I have heard lots of good things about the Nightforce SHV 3-10x42. It is just like my viper with capped turrets and no parallax adjustment which I do not want on my hunting scope.

Is it worth upgrading to the SHV for confidence in dialing? Does anyone have a good experience with dialing on the Viper? Or should I just learn to like the BDC reticle and keep practicing with it?

Any advice would be great, thank you!

Why not use refurbished optic from AAoptic? They sell Razor LHT HD for 800$

 

[WormSportsman]

Have you bought from them personally? Never heard of them before?

 

[Brontosaurus]

Why not use refurbished optic from AAoptic? They sell Razor LHT HD for 800$

RZR LHT is known to be an unreliable aiming device

 

[_S_R_]

Have you bought from them personally? Never heard of them before?

Yes, multiple times. All refurbs carry vortex lifetime warranty no risk at all

 

[_S_R_]

RZR LHT is known to be an unreliable aiming device

All vortex are. Its very rare that vortex owner don’t use warranty at least once.