Rifleman - Vortex Optics

The Rifle

Not long ago, I set out on a mission to build a thoroughly capable rifle for the purpose of long range shooting. After weeks of research I decided to go forward with the purchase of a Remington 700 SPS in .308 with the X-Mark trigger (breaks like glass!) and 26 inch barrel. For the purpose of not having an incapable rifle lying around the house while contemplating my build, I purchased a Burris Fullfield II with ballistic plex rectical. The Fullfield was mounted to the rifle atop a set of Millet rings and the factory original aluminum base plates, the rifle was than unceremoniously sighted at 100 yards. I than began to weigh my options.

The Stock

There are many stocks, in a wide range of prices, as I was out to build a capable rifle, as opposed to a 

fantastic state of the art tack driver, I set my ball park price range around 400 bucks or less. For some time I had been considering a Major Plaster styled "Ultimate Sniper" stock but having read the many positive reviews of the BlackHawk Knox Axiom I decided make a go of it instead, and in short, I was very pleased with my decision to do so.

The Optics

I soon got back in to reading up on scopes. As many well know there is more than enough information on the net in regards to this matter. Opinions are of course like... other things. There are abuncance of them.

While weighing up many of the options available by the usual suspects, I came upon a thread in a forum that read "vortex optics, thoughts and opinions".

Within this thread I came across the following.

•  "money’s worth"
•  "straight shooters""
•  "quality above others in their class""
•  "VIP warranty""

This sounded much like what I had been looking for, the best product possible at the best possible price. I am not the gear thrifty type, but I like to get my moneys worth. I visited the Vortex Optics website and began to weigh out the options. Ultimately it was the 30mm Vortex Viper 6.5-20x44 Mil-Dot and its various featurs that ultimately put the hook in me.

With features including.

• - Advanced fully multi-coated optics including XR anti-reflective coatings.
• - premium glass.
• - Precision-Force Spring System.
• - Precision-Glide Erector System.
• - Waterproof and fog proof with argon gas purging.
• - Solid one-piece aircraft-grade aluminum alloy.
• - Fast focus eyepiece.
• - Quick Reset Turrets.
• - MAG-view bar adjustment.
• - Lens covers.

The Viper is rated for long range, predator/varmint, tactical and target shooting. The specs of Viper where right in line for what I was looking for. "Ideal for tactical, long range, predator/varmint, and target applications" according to the Vortex optics website. I was sold.

Delivery...

The Vortex Viper arrived neatly packaged including VIP warranty card, lens cloth, and bikini style plastic lens covers.

The craftsmanship of the scope was nothing shy of incredible in every way. As soon as the dust caps came off I began to work the (incredibly well crafted) zero resetable knurled turrets. The markings where extremely clear and the feedback of the click through was both audible and tactile. As I began to work the fast focus eye piece, the viewMAG adjustment bar and parallax knob (everything was so smooth!) I realized that it was not humanly possible to get to the range quickly enough to satisfy my anticipation.

There was a short spell of "good weather" on the horizon so I went immediately out of my way to Gander Mountain and picked up a set of matte Leupold bases and 30mm Leupold (.900) height rings.

Mounting was straight forward and the task was accomplished with no considerable issues aside from that all this having been accomplished, I could not wait to head out to the range...

ON THE RANGE

I headed out to the range with my younger bother who had just recently returned from his second tour in Afghanistan. He rode along to help me spot… and to fill my head with what the British snipers have to say about the way to do, just about everything.

We unloaded the gear and set up to sight in at 100 yards less the comfort of a bench and the luxury of sandbags. We bore sighted the rifle and set about printing our first group.

The extreme precision of movement of the eye piece as I focused up and the incredibly crisp sight picture instantly brought back the feeling of anticipation. I threaded off the dust covers again taking note of the clear markings of the elevation knob and the horizontal hash marks. I was as ready as ever to see what this thing was capable of.

Eight rounds and five adjustments later it was time to start fine dialing. We printed a set of four or five groups before I decided to get incredibly serious. We had been adjusting exclusively off of my groupings being it that it was my rifle.

I decided that it was time for some wide rotation adjustments to see how true the groups would come out and come back in. I brought it out to right and fired two shots. I brought it the adjustment back left and fired two shots. I repeated this process several more times with picture perfect results! At this point I was feeling good, very very good, about my investment.

The most difficulty we had encountered thus far was getting a proper cheek weld on the stock with the mounts being .900 high and having not yet purchased the elevated raised cheek mount accessory from Blackhawk. So far, the Vortex Viper was performing exactly the way I had hoped it would.

Stepping up the level of seriousness, minus a bench and sandbags, I grabbed my drag bag, a cigarette and a coffee. I set about fiddling everything into place just the way I wanted it and got myself mentally prepared. We where dialed in well enough to put it to the test and had already run it through the motions but as the sun went down I needed to see what the best group possible looked like.

I got myself wrapped tight and steady and told my brother to hold the commentary. I put three rounds down range in less than a minute and placed a group that could be covered by a penny.

I can tell you that I have spent a good deal of time behind substantially more expensive rifles and substantially more expensive optics. What I can NOT tell you is that I have performed better or been more impressed with ANY anything more expensive.

All things considered, we had a great time sighting in the Viper. I have in all honesty never been as impressed with more expensive optics living up to (and in some cases NOT living up to) my expectations as I have been impressed by the Vortex Viper absolutely and totally surpassing them..