What’s better? Maven rs3.2 viper gen ll or vortex razor hd

[Peregrina]

What the best scope out of the maven rs3.2 5x30x59/vortex viper pst gen ll 5x25x50 or or vortex razor 4.5x22x50

 

[stilesg57]

Can't speak to the Maven but I have owned both those Vortexes. Sold each over the last couple years but currently thinking about getting another LHT for a 6.5 PRC field build.

The Viper PST had a little better eyebox than the Razor LHT, but the LHT had a thinner bezel occluding the view from behind it. Glass quality was a little better overall on the LHT, but the image was "cooler" in it's color profile; less CA at distance than the PST, but because of its color palette it stood out more to my eyes (if that makes sense). Less outer edge distortion as well, especially when off-center.

If it sounds like I'm building up the PST, I'm not: the LHT has an unbeatable trick up it's sleeve and that's its 22oz weight. Until the Viper HD 5-25 came out -- which is still like a quarter pound heavier -- there really wasn't anything within 6oz of the LHT that outperformed it, and most of those (Bushy LRHS, Burris XTR3) are either 5x erectors or top out at 18 power (or both). The LHT is still the lightest FFP scope that reliably tracks and is over 20 power that I'm aware of. Beyond that, the LHT somehow carries even lighter given how its weight is distributed compared to scopes like the PST. Hard to explain that effect, but it's real and noticeable in hand.

I think it comes down to how much you're hauling it around vs your budget. If you're not going to carry it much and/or it's for more of a target/varmit rifle, you can save some cash and get a better eyebox, a little more mag up top, and more positive turrets with the PST. But if you're carrying it, you're going to love the LHT for longer range or more precision field shooting.