Sometimes it seems like looking for a needle in a haystack,good lite weight

[steve123]

If you are looking for the lightest weight combined with good IQ in a higher magnification then the Vortex Razor LHT 4.5-22 is it. It's around 21.5oz.

However it doesn't focus down to 10Y at 22x but you could get a decent view on lower magnification but maybe not quite at 10Y. I think it has 25Y minimum parallax.
It's not a great scope in turret feel but it tracks well.
Has daylight bright illume which besides the weight is another attribute I like.
Reticle okay but not my favorite type.

Used price it's worth having but not new retail because I don't feel it lives up the Razor level in quality.

 

[Advance]

The razor 4.5-22 LHT is a great lightweight optic that really does bridge the gap between hunting and tactical styles. It is well worth the price if you can grab one for around $900-1k. The glass quality is edged by its gen2 brethren, but it is very comparable at nearly half the weight and cost. Most eyes would probably have a hard time distinguishing between the two.

 

[Mr.H]

About three years ago, my local retailer let me take home the vortex 3–15 LHT to look through for the weekend. I returned it, I did not like how it focused for my eye. If you buy brand new, make sure your retailer will accept the return if you don’t like it.

 

[boscoebrea]

It seems like a great scope but used, it is $900+, so no, I want to stay $600 or so, new or used.
I look at Vortex scopes and become befuddled.I see so many used ones for sale,I do not know why. Maybe owners want to work their way up the ladder of Vortex scopes?

 

[Ezana4CE]

@boscoebrea Do your prefer dialing your turrets or holding over to compensate for projectile drop?

 

[boscoebrea]

I hold over when plinking or when I used to hunt. Now, with the Mil-dots, I use them when target shooting. It seems I have old-school scopes for "fun" shooting.
I shot so long with open sights that I got the knack for holding over; I did the instinctive shooting. It is called instinctive, but in reality, it is not.You have to shoot a whole lot of rounds to know where the bullets or pellets are going to hit. Nowadays, you can not afford to do it. Plus, you have many other ways to figure bullet placement out. Scopes were a luxury 40-30 years ago.
Now I am reminded of a dove, duck, or pheasant hunting; you lead the bird, and that becomes instinctive in the sense the holdovers are in your head

 

[mercado]

I can get a good deal on an Aztec Emerald 5.5-25x50, how good are they?

I really didn't like the 5.5x25 compared to the one x 18 power was way clear .

 

[boscoebrea]

Alright, I just won a bid on the Arken EPL-4-6-24X50. I ordered some Burris extra high mounts for it.I have a long neck

 

[Ezana4CE]

Alright, I just won a bid on the Arken EPL-4-6-24X50. I ordered some Burris extra high mounts for it.I have a long neck

Other than their weight members tend to speak highly of the brand. Congrats. I look forward to your assessment of your scope.

 

[steve123]

It seems like a great scope but used, it is $900+, so no, I want to stay $600 or so, new or used.
I look at Vortex scopes and become befuddled.I see so many used ones for sale,I do not know why. Maybe owners want to work their way up the ladder of Vortex scopes?

If nothing else Vortex has the best warranty of any company which is another reason I kept that LHT.

The less expensive Vortex scopes I haven't been impressed with, it's mostly the mushy turrets, then reticles, and IQ behind them. For example the turrets on my Helos G2's feel fantastic compared to the Strike Eagles I've fiddled with and even the Argos G2 feel better than the SE. BY feel I'm pointing to aspects like lash, click sound, line on housing lining up with turret lines, but distinctness of click more than anything.

Or you could compare a Cronus G2 turret to that LHT's turrets and the CG2 turrets feel like a $3000 plus scope vs the LHT a $500 scope. They're both $2000 retail scopes.

 

[boscoebrea]

Good to know.Fact is I was looking up all the Vortex scopes and came to the conclusion I would have to go from a Viper on up to get the better ones,I say that but the Diamondback got some good reviews. Thank you ,I will keep what you said in mind if I ever see a great deal on that Vortex scope.

 

[MongooseV8]

Other than their weight members tend to speak highly of the brand. Congrats. I look forward to your assessment of your scope.

The EPL4 is Arken's version of a lightweight scope. The 4-16x is advertised at 23.7oz I believe. Considering all the features packed inside and the cheap price it qualifies as kinda light weight imo. I think the 6-24x is likely a couple ounces heavier but still lighter than many other brands.

Now the SH4 and EP5 are like iron anvils weighing in at 36-39oz. I have a couple on varmint powder burners and welcome the extra weight to help spot hits/misses. I dont think I would ever put one on a pcp though.

 

[Mr.H]

Cyclops did a review on the GPO Centuri 4-16 recently. Sub 20 ounces. Good eye box. German glass. Current CEO of GPO came from Zeiss Optics, they know a thing or two about quality German glass. It checks a lot of your boxes, as it does mine! Probably my next scope to try.

 

[boscoebrea]

I was checking that brand out when I was looking for Binoculars,they have some good stuff.That compact scope is looking good.
Compacts are harder to make right,The price is not bad if that scope is that good.

 

[JungleShooter]

Compacts are harder to make right. The price is not bad if that scope is that good.

I have always been very excited for compact things: tiny stuff that almost performs just like something much bigger.

For example, in guns I only do bullpups and pistols....
In scopes, I have a diminutive Discovery 3-12x44 FFP and its twin version from US Optics.


However:
I have read — by one of the scope freaks on the Sniper's Hide — that compact scopes usually require more fine parallax adjustments (their depth of field is shallower).
And compact scopes usually have a smaller eye box.

➠ Both things are disadvantages in my book — both slow me down when a hurried shot is called for.

So, now I'm not simply looking for the shortest scope I can buy....
The Discovery and USO scopes aren't bad in those respects.


But for a scope optimized for hurried shots, I look for:
▪ full length (≠ compact)
▪ small objective diameter
▪ wide field of view
▪ low bottom end magnification


Just my 2c....

Matthias

 

[bchannell]

I'm with you on hard to find. Athlon Midas Tac 4-16X, it's only downside is it's not illuminated. It is one heck of a scope for sure, and a reasonable weight.