Vortex Viper HS LR 2.5-10x32 FFP XLR Reticle Review

Vortex Optics is known for their high quality products and VIP warranty package. With prices less than their competitors while still offering quality products makes them enticing to purchase. In this review, I am going to cover the pros and cons of this optic and my overall impression of it.

First impression- When I pulled the scope out of the box it felt very well built and nothing felt cheap. The weight is balanced out nicely whereas some optics are rear or front heavy. The finish is quality and can withstand minor abrasions.

Turrets- This scope has three turrets. The parallax adjustment turret has markings from 35yards to infinity. The markings are accurate until about 500yards and past. In all fairness, even your more well known optic companies still don't have parallax markings exactly 100% correct in relation to target distance. Which is why it's important to understand what correct parallax settings should look like.

The elevation turret has 86MOA of adjustment range. Which means 43MOA in either direction. Each rotational click is 1/4MOA of adjustment. The lines are easy to read, and the clicks are audible. The windage turret also has 86MOA adjustment range with 43MOA of adjustment in either direction. Same as the elevation turret, each rotational click is 1/4MOA of adjustment.

The turrets never slipped or ran away from me on my adjustments. However, I do wish the turrets were a little taller because with thicker gloves it would be hard to feel and see adjustment settings.

Magnification ring- The grooves on the ring are great for grip to rotate through the magnifications. The magnification numbers are easy to read and Vortex put their fiber optic view on their to make settings easier to make in darker conditions. The ring is a little more "stiff" in movement then I would personally like.

Eyepiece focus- Vortex claims their "fast focus" eyepeice on this scope. In short, it works just as the name says. It only takes a few seconds of adjustment to make that reticle nice and clear.

Objective lens- The 32mm objective lens does the job but I do wish it was a little bigger to allow more light into the optic in sun setting conditions.

Glass quality- I am impressed with the glass quality even at further distances. I could see mirage, wind changes, detail on terrain features, and when shooting 700yards the glass wasn't cloudy at all on full magnification!

XLR MOA Reticle- This is what you have been waiting for isn't it? In combination with first focal plane and the XLR reticle, makes for a great system to use! The grid style reticle at the bottom is much better for windage holds vs a standard mil dot because you aren't holding out in space.

With a 100yard zero, I used pure elevation and windage holds from 300yards to 500yards using an AR15 with 55gr FMJ's. Once past 500yards I had to dial elevation into the turret and continue using holds. The subtensions were right on the money.

What I didn't like is having to balance out the elevation turret with the elevation holds at the bottom of the reticle. The incriments are in 4MOA and the lines halfway between each 4MOA incriment is 2MOA. So instead of holding on pure lines and dots on the grid, I had to line it up in space at 700yards with the elevation turret topped out.

Now I will give Vortex props because pushing a standard 55gr FMJ bullet at 700yards isn't easy. If it was mounted on a .308win rifle I wouldn't have had to top out the elevation turret and use pure holds. Which would have made the 4MOA increments a lot less frustrating.

Pro's- Great optic, great price, very nice glass quality, turrets have audible clicks without unintentional slipping, balanced weight, and reticle subtensions are accurate. Fast focus works as advertised.

Con's- Turrets could be taller to allow more grip, reticle is hard to see at anything less than 4x magnification, smaller MOA incriments on the grid, bigger objective lens to allow more light for early morning and evening applications.

Overall I highly recommend this optic. I was pushing the limit of this optic with an AR15 shooting 700yards at a 11"x22" steel plate. With a much less elevation and windage affected cartridge, you could shoot 1000yards with this optic! There aren't many FFP scopes out there in it's price range with this quality.

Published by:

Adam Link

Instructor at AIM PRECISION, LLC

#vortexhslr #vortexoptics #xlrreticle