New Product Highlight: Vortex Viper HD Scopes

Vortex Optics sells to everyone from the U.S. Army to birdwatchers, but make no mistake — they are a hunting company first and foremost.

After a string of military optics, AR-15 scopes, and pistol optics, Vortex is putting hunters front and center with a fresh overhaul of the Viper family of hunting scopes.

The new Viper HD line includes three magnification ranges, three reticles, and a slew of features that give hunters exactly what they need for a huge range of shooting conditions.

I sat down with the product development team and got range time with all three scopes to see what the buzz was all about.

First up is the Viper HD 2-10×42. This second-focal plane scope comes with a second focal plane Dead-Hold BDC reticle in MOA and capped turrets.

It’s a straightforward hunting scope that puts all your money into a crystal-clear optical system and durable materials; none of it gets wasted on features you don’t need. Got a lever gun, slug gun, or old-school .30-06? Then, this is calling your name.

I spent most of my time shooting the mid-range Viper HD 3-15×44 — easily the most versatile of the three. You can have it with an SFP Dead-Hold BDC reticle in MOA or the new VMR-3 reticle in MOA or MRAD.

Pick from capped or uncapped elevation turrets (all windage turrets are capped). Since you’re likely to dial elevation with this scope, Vortex includes the RevStop system that takes the guesswork out of setting and returning to zero. I made standing shots at 50 yards and supported shots out to 600 yards with this scope. There’s not much it can’t do.

The big dog of the lineup is the Viper HD 5-25×50. Reticle options include the SFP VMR-3 and the more technical first focal plane VMR-4 reticle. Both come in MOA or MRAD and use exposed elevation turrets and the RevStop system.

The reticle and magnification might make it a bit of a handful inside 100 yards, but it’s a cheat code at longer distances. If you hunt out west or dabble in long-range target shooting, look no further.

Vortex put an upgraded HD optical system that promises better color, clarity, and brightness in all the new scopes. All three use 30-millimeter tubes, adjustable parallax, and some form of illuminated reticle with 10 brightness settings and push-button activation.

Vortex Viper HD Rifle Scopes

$699

at OpticsPlanet

Prices accurate at time of writing

$699 at OpticsPlanet

• OpticsPlanet (See Price)
• Kygunco (See Price)

Prices accurate at time of writing

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For the Dead-Hold BDC and VMR-3 reticles, this comes in the form of an illuminated center dot. On the VMR-4 reticle, the whole tree lights up. Eye relief is 3.4 inches across the board and adjustments are made in 1/4 MOA or 0.1 MRAD.

Vortex lists an MSRP of $899.99 for the Viper HD 2-10×42 SFP, $699.99 to $1,049.99 for the Viper HD 3-15×44 SFP, and $1,299.99 to $1,399.99 for the Viper HD 5-25×50 SFP and FFP.

What do you think of the new Vortex Viper HD hunting scopes? Let us know below. If you need something to mount your next scope on, check out our guide to the best new hunting rifles.