Table of Contents
Check out these top 3 Vortex rifle scopes that are reliable and high quality ones that you can buy under $500 –
#1 Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6×24 Scope AR-BDC SFP SE-1624-1
How’s the Scope?
Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6×24 Scope AR-BDC SFP SE-1624-1 is a close-to-medium range riflescope that can be used from point-blank to extended ranges for 3-Gun Stage shooting, coyote or game hunting, and many more similar shooting expeditions. This Vortex scope gives you both speed and versatility. If you are looking for a Low Power Variable AR scope within $500, Vortex SE-1624-1 Strike Eagle 1-6×24 AR-BDC SFP Scope is definitely the best Vortex scope you’ll find in the market. This Vortex Strike Eagle scope has true 1x power in the lower end and 6x magnification at the higher end. Therefore, the hunters and tactical shooters can acquire targets in close quarter shooting scenarios as well as at distance.
Who Should Buy?
- AR shooters for both hunting and tactical shooting in close-to-medium range shooting
- 3-Gun Stage shooters
- Coyote and other game hunters
| Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6×24 AR-BDC Scope SE-1624-1 SHOP NOW |
Highlights
- 6x Zoom Ratio
Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6×24 Scope AR-BDC SFP SE-1624-1 comes with 6x zoom ratio, providing you with both point-blank range shooting capability and engaging targets at medium-range distances. No matter whether you want to shoot targets in close quarters scenarios or at distance, this scope gives you a wider shooting range.
- High Quality, Fully Multi-Coated Lenses
High quality, multi-coating feature enhances light transmission through the 24mm objective lens, enabling you to get crisp, clear, and bright target images so that you can bring down the game or hit the target where you intend to. Also, you can get optimal low-light performance, which enables you to hunt coyotes or other animals in low light conditions.
- Glass-etched Reticle at Second Focal Plane
Vortex SE-1624-1 Strike Eagle 1-6×24 AR-BDC SFP Scope is equipped with glass-etched reticle, where the reticle is protected between two glass layers, providing users with optimum reliability as well as durability.
The AR-BDC reticle at Vortex SE-1624-1 has been located in the Second Focal Plane, which enables the hunter or tactical shooter to get the same ideally-sized appearance throughout the entire magnification range. Most important aspect here is that at the highest magnification, you’ll get accurate holdover, wind drift correction, and range estimation with the help of reticle subtensions.
- Capped Reset Turrets
Reset turrets are extremely helpful in the field as it allows re-indexing of turret to zero once the scope’s sighting is done. These reset turrets are capped, which provides external protection to turrets.
- Fast Focus Eyepiece
This features helps to focus reticle easily and quickly.
AR-BDC Reticle
AR-BDC (MOA) reticle can be used for versatile purposes. It helps in rapid shooting. By using popular loads such as .308/7.62mm and .223/5.56mm you can take aim and shoot rapidly from 20 yards to 600 yards distance. By using Precision BDC Technique, you can use the reticle with wide array of loads and firearms. |
This reticle comes with the unique design that consists of two components –
- Center crosshair helps in achieving good accuracy.
- For 5.56mm / .223 loads, you can get good accuracy in the 20-200 yards range with center crosshair.
- For 7.62mm / .308 loads, you can get good accuracy in the 20-150 yards range with center crosshair.
- Lower hashmarks provide standard bullet drops –
-
- 1st Hashmark –
- 300 yards for 5.56mm / .223 loads
- 230 yards for 7.62mm / .308 loads
- 2nd Hashmark –
- 400 yards for 5.56mm / .223 loads
- 330 yards for 7.62mm / .308 loads
- 3rd Hashmark
- 500 yards for 5.56mm / .223 loads
- 440 yards for 7.62mm / .308 loads
- 1st Hashmark –
-
- 4th Hashmark
- 600 yards for 5.56mm / .223 loads
- 570 yards for 7.62mm / .308 loads
- 4th Hashmark
| To Learn more about AR-BDC Reticle |
Specifications
| Specification | Vortex SE-1624-1 |
|---|---|
| Magnification | 1-6 x |
| Objective Lens Diameter | 24 mm |
| Eye Relief | 3.5 inches |
| Field of View | 116.5-19.2 feet/100 yards |
| Tube Size | 30 mm |
| Reticle | AR-BDC |
| Reticle Illumination | Yes |
| Focal Plane | Second Focal Plane |
| Scope Turret Adjustment | 1/2 MOA |
| Maximum Elevation Adjustment | 140 MOA |
| Maximum Windage Adjustment | 140 MOA |
| Parallax Setting | 100 yards |
| Length | 10.5 inches |
| Weight | 17.6 ounces |
#2 Vortex Diamondback Tactical 4-12×40 VMR-1 Scope DBK-10025
How’s the Scope?
Vortex Diamondback Tactical Riflescope DBK-10025 is one of the best Vortex scopes under-$500 scope. It’s a virtually indestructible riflescope that you can use with magnum recoil, suitable for both hunters and tactical shooters looking for precision. Fully multi-coated lens ensures that you get crisp, clear, and sharp image always. Vortex DBK-10025 comes with VMR-1 scope, located in Second Focal Plane, enabling medium-to-long-range hunters and tactical shooters to determine ranges, holdovers, windage corrections and moving target leads effectively.
Vortex Optics has incorporated exposed tactical turrets to dial elevation and windage so that you get bullet drop and wind drift compensation quickly and precisely at extended ranges. This scope also comes with zero-reset feature, helping shooters in re-indexing the zero reference marks on both the turrets after sight in is done. One of the most helpful features you’ll find in this scope is the fiber optic rotation indicators that are integrated in the turrets, giving shooters a visual cue of turret’s position.
Who Should Buy?
Vortex DBK-10025 Diamondback Tactical 4-12×40 VMR-1 SFP Scope is most suitable for shooters who need to dial regularly while shooting. You can buy this scope if you’re among the following shooters –
- Hunters who go beyond holdovers
- Target shooters
To make the adjustment easy for these hunters and target shooters, Vortex Optics has incorporated exposed target style turrets in this scope that come with big knurled knobs and nice clicks.
| Vortex Diamondback Tactical 4-12×40 VMR-1 Scope DBK-10025 SHOP NOW |
Highlights
- Exposed Tactical Turrets w/ Zero Reset
Vortex Diamondback Tactical 4-12×40 Scope DBK-10025 comes with exposed tactical turrets that features tactical windage and elevation turrets with Zero Reset. Vortex Optics has incorporated exposed tactical turrets to dial elevation and windage so that you get bullet drop and wind drift compensation quickly and precisely at extended ranges. This scope also comes with zero-reset feature, helping shooters in re-indexing the zero reference marks on both the turrets after sight in is done.
- High Quality, Fully Multi-Coated Lenses
High quality, multi-coating feature enhances light transmission through the 40mm objective lens, enabling you to get crisp, clear, and bright target images so that you can bring down the game or hit the target where you intend to. Also, you can get optimal low-light performance, which enables you to hunt deers, coyotes, hogs and many other small games in low light conditions at medium-to-long-range distances.
- Precision-Glide Erector System
Premium components are used in the zoom lens mechanism, ensuring smooth change of magnification even under harshest weather/field conditions.
- Magnification Rib
This rib is present on the magnification rib. This feature helps to change magnification quickly, which is especially helpful in the heat of action in the hunting or tactical shooting field.
- Fast Focus Eyepiece
This features helps to focus reticle easily and quickly.
- Fiber Optic Radius Bar
This is a patented feature of Vortex Optics. It helps in visually assisting tracking turret rotations.
- Reticle at Second Focal Plane
The VMR-1 reticle at Vortex SE-1624-1 has been located in the Second Focal Plane, which enables the hunter or tactical shooter to get the same ideally-sized appearance throughout the entire magnification range. Most important aspect here is that at the highest magnification, you’ll get accurate holdover, wind drift correction, and range estimation with the help of reticle subtensions.
VMR-1 Reticle
VMR-1 is a non-illuminated reticle, located at Second Focal Plane. This is designed for maximizing long distance shooting as well as ranging abilities. With VMR-1 reticle, you can determine ranges, holdovers, windage corrections and moving target leads effectively. MOA (Minute Of Angle) is an angular measurement that helps in estimating riflescopes’ range as well as correct for bullet trajectory drop. You can get a better idea of the inch measurement corresponding to MOA measurement in the following table – |
| MOA Measurement | Inch Measurement |
|---|---|
| 1 MOA | 1.05 inches at a 100 yards |
| 2.1 inches at 200 yards | |
| 3.15 inches at 300 yards, and so on |
Ranging
You can use VMR-1 reticle for accurate ranging by using a simple formula. However, in the first step, you have to know target’s or nearby object’s size in terms of inches. Now, place reticle on the target and read the spanned MOA numbers. To get accurate ranging, calculate exact MOA measurements and then use the formula –
[Target Size (Inches) x 95.5] / Measured MOAs = Range (Yards)
Elevation Holdovers
You can get bullet drop’s holdover correction rapidly by using VMR-1 reticle once you’ve calculated your distance from the target.
Windage and Moving Targets
Wind and moving target leads can be known effectively by using VMR-1 reticle. Center horizontal crosshair of the reticle can be used to calculate once dialing elevation come ups. The subtension marks on the crosshair (both horizontal and vertical) graduate in increments of 2 MOA.
Moving Lead Correction
Once you know important information such as distance in yards, speed of moving target, and total bullet flight time, you can easily estimate moving target leads.
| To Learn more about VMR-1 Reticle
|
Specifications
| Specification | Vortex DBK-10025 |
|---|---|
| Magnification | 4-12x |
| Objective Lens Diameter | 40 mm |
| Eye Relief | 3.9 inches |
| Field of View | 23.6-7.9 feet/100 yards |
| Tube Size | 1 Inch |
| Reticle | VMR-1 (MOA) |
| Reticle Illumination | No |
| Focal Plane | Second Focal Plane |
| Scope Turret Adjustment | 1/4 MOA |
| Maximum Elevation Adjustment | 70 MOA |
| Maximum Windage Adjustment | 70 MOA |
| Parallax Setting | 100 yards |
| Length | 14.2 inches |
| Weight | 16.2 ounces |
#3 Vortex Viper HS 2.5-10×44 Dead-Hold BDC Riflescope VHS-4303
How’s the Scope?
Vortex Viper HS 2.5-10×44 Dead-Hold BDC Riflescope VHS-4303 is one of the best and most versatile Vortex scopes in its class. It offers a wide array of features including 4x zoom ratio, advanced optical system, forgiving eye box, ultra-strong 30mm one-piece machined aluminum tube, Capped Reset Turrets, and many more. Vortex Optics has incorporated Dead-Hold BDC reticle with Vortex VHS-4303. Both hunters and tactical shooters have found this versatile scope best for their respective shooting genre, especially at varying ranges.
Who Should Buy?
Vortex VHS-4303 Viper HS 2.5-10×44 Dead-Hold BDC Riflescope is built for shooting and hunting at versatile ranges. This scope is most suitable for –
- Hunting
- Tactical Shooting
With 5x zoom factor factor, you can hunt or shoot targets in tactical shooting at medium to long range distance.
Highlights
High Quality, Fully Multi-Coated Lenses
High quality, multi-coating feature enhances light transmission through the 44mm objective lens, enabling you to get crisp, clear, and bright target images so that you can bring down the game or hit the target where you intend to. Also, you can get optimal low-light performance, which enables you to hunt deers, coyotes, hogs and many other small games in low light conditions at medium-to-long-range distances.
Reticle at Second Focal Plane
Dead-Hold BDC reticle at Vortex VHS-4303 is located in the Second Focal Plane, which enables the hunter or tactical shooter to get the same ideally-sized appearance throughout the entire magnification range. Most important aspect here is that at the highest magnification, you’ll get accurate holdover and windage corrections with the help of reticle subtensions.
Capped Reset Turrets
Hunters and tactical shooters can re-index turret to zero quickly after scope sighting without the use of any kind of tool. These turrets come with caps for providing external protection, thereby preventing them from any unwanted adjustment change in the field.
Precision-Force Spring System
In the erector-spring system, premium components are used for ensuring maximum repeatability as well as ease of adjustment.
Precision-Glide Erector System
In the zoom lens mechanism, premium components are used so that the shooters can change magnification even under harshest weather/field conditions.
MAG-View Fiber Optic
This system provides the hunters and shooters with a highly visible reference point so that it becomes easier for them to set magnification easily.
Fast Focus Eyepiece
This features helps to focus reticle easily and quickly.
| Vortex Viper HS 2.5-10×44 Dead-Hold BDC Riflescope VHS-4303 SHOP NOW |
Dead-Hold BDC Reticle
Dead-Hold BDC reticle at Vortex VHS-4303 comes with customized hashmark design, which helps hunters and tactical shooters in holdover and windage corrections. It is especially handy when holdover estimation becomes a problem at varying ranges for hunters/shooters. With this reticle, guesswork on bullet hold-over at long distances get minimized. Once you select an appropriate reticle hashmark, you’ll get a reliable bullet-drop reference at almost all long range distances. You’ll get reference marks in Dead-Hold BDC reticle for compensating bullet drift in windy conditions or long distances. Best aspect of this reticle is that you can use it with a wide array of firearms – rimfire rifles, high powered rifles, slug shotguns, and black powder rifles. |
| To Learn more about Dead-Hold BDC Reticle Download PDF NOW |
Specifications
| Specification | Vortex VHS-4303 |
|---|---|
| Magnification | 2.5-10x |
| Objective Lens Diameter | 44 mm |
| Eye Relief | 4.0 inches |
| Field of View | 47-10.9 feet/100 yards |
| Tube Size | 30 mm |
| Reticle | Dead-Hold BDC |
| Reticle Illumination | No |
| Focal Plane | Second Focal Plane |
| Scope Turret Adjustment | 1/4 MOA |
| Maximum Elevation Adjustment | 86 MOA |
| Maximum Windage Adjustment | 86 MOA |
| Parallax Setting | 100 yards |
| Length | 12 inches |
| Weight | 16.5 ounces |
| Vortex Viper HS 2.5-10×44 Dead-Hold BDC Riflescope VHS-4303 – Is any Offer Available?
|
Which Vortex Scope is Best for You?
Here’s a quick-view comparison for you to decide and buy –
| Specification | Vortex SE-1624-1 | Vortex DBK-10025 | Vortex VHS-4303 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Magnification | 1-6x | 4-12x | 2.5-10x |
| Objective Lens Diameter | 24 mm | 40 mm | 44 mm |
| Eye Relief | 3.5 inches | 3.9 inches | 4.0 inches |
| Field of View | 116.5-19.2 feet/100 yards | 23.6-7.9 feet/100 yards | 47-10.9 feet/100 yards |
| Tube Size | 30 mm | 1 Inch | 30 mm |
| Reticle | AR-BDC | VMR-1 (MOA) | Dead-Hold BDC |
| Reticle Illumination | Yes | No | No |
| Focal Plane | Second | Second | Second |
| Scope Turret Adjustment | 1/2 MOA | 1/4 MOA | 1/4 MOA |
| Maximum Elevation Adjustment | 140 MOA | 70 MOA | 86 MOA |
| Maximum Windage Adjustment | 140 MOA | 70 MOA | 86 MOA |
| Parallax Setting | 100 yards | 100 yards | 100 yards |
| Length | 10.5 inches | 14.2 inches | 12 inches |
| Weight | 17.6 ounces | 16.2 ounces | 16.5 ounces |
| Product URL | CLICK HERE | CLICK HERE | CLICK HERE |
VIEW ALL >
