New vortex StrikeEagle 1-6 sub $400

[mikeyd501]

Just take it for what it is which is a $300 magnified optic. In all honesty scopes at this level are what they are. Some will be better than others do to the quality of the components and assembly. You might get a diamond or a turd. I owned two Strike Eagles and Vortex mounts and sold all pretty quick. The more time I spent behind them the more frustrated I got and angry with myself for thinking they would be something other than what I really knew they would be. For me they just were not on par but for a guy with a budget they do have desired features and appeal. The Strike Eagle or the mounts would never sit on anything I would consider serious!

Yup gripes and not even close to anything Trijicon makes.

Just look at what you are spending and take it for what it is.

So what exactly made you buy 2 and then decide they were a no go for you? Did they not hold zero? Did the glass degrade or fall out? Please elaborate for us.

Mike

[crossgun]

Mike

I bought two because I had the chance to get them and was hopeful they would work out. The biggest issue was in the glass and eyepiece. I removed the rear, included, lens cap seeing they always get torn off in the heat of the game. For me to get clear focus at 50 yards the fast focus eye piece had to turned way out away from the body. There was a lot of play within the threads between the ocular eyepiece assembly and scope body. I mean a lot! This wiggle caused not only focus and optical issues with viewing it also effected the point of aim. As the eyepiece was moved back and forth the reticle would move 4-6" side to side and up and down at 50 which I can simply not except. Additionally when the reticle was illuminated it became soft and fuzzy and lacked its sharpness. The biggest deal breaker was the image was not clear edge to edge in fact the last 25% of the field of view lacked any definition compared to the center. Within the field of view the focus would come and go. If you focused the scope to be sharp around the reticle when viewing then areas around or outside the reticle like at the edges of a the target would be soft or out of focus. This is somewhat common in a lot of price point optics seeing attention and time is not given to quality of the lens grinding and the curvature of the lenses is not consistent.

Initially when I mounted it up and looked around the house and neighborhood it seemed OK but once I had it on the bench to zero the issues really showed. I am about really good glass these days and will not compromise on that. I found no reason at all to even open the box on the other seeing I knew what it really was. The issue I had with the mounts where the ring set did not match the tube diameter. When the scope was sitting in the rings there were noticeable gaps along the sides between the scope body and the outer edges of the rings. Not a fan of the tube being held in place from just the top and bottom of the ring set.

[mikeyd501]

Crossgun,
That you for your reply. I have seen none of those issues with my scope so far. Not saying it did not happen, just not with mine, thank goodness! I guess the issue I have with your statement is how you are relating price with quality. This is a somewhat untrue statement and in my opinion would lead some to think that all quality things should cost more when in reality better is better, it has nothing to do with price.

You can have a bad experience with a high end product. It is how the company handles the problem that sets them apart with the low cost providers, but they can't fix the problem if they don't know about it. I have seen very high end 1911 smiths send out a gun and the thumb safety falls off! Did they fix it, you bet. Another cuts in a dove tail and leaves the surface unfinished and installs the rear sight! I made them aware of the issue and they fixed the problem.

Did you not give the company a chance to fix their issue?

I have, as I'm sure you do, some high end glass. I have not had one that I would not use to do a course with or hunt with or defend my life with. One had to go back for some tweaking. I won't buy from any company that will not stand behind their product. I only own two Vortex products. I have had zero issues with them, but if I did they would go back until they were done right.

[crossgun]

Come on. You know to a large degree that price plays a roll and you usually get what you pay for. If you think that a Bushmaster is a better value than a Daniel Defense or BCM rifle or for that matter a Vortex Strike Eagle is on par with a Schmidt & Bender short dot or a Vortex Razor HD your mistaken. No way in hell can you expect Vortex to make the Strike Eagle for $300 as good as it does for $1400 with the Razor HD and that is what your implying. Price is quality especially if you understand what your paying for in glass. No reason to contact Vortex because I know they cant polish it enough to make it "right" or anything else other than what it is and I respect that as a consumer understand why they offer products at different price points. Guess the definition of right is where we differ.

Sure Vortex has their warranty and all they are going to do is give me another scope just like what I had. Their not going to take the time and fix a scope that cost them $50 to my liking and address the issues that more than likely exist in all of them. It is what it is and for many it will be fine but my comments and experience is accurate.

I dont own gear that I wouldnt take out the door either but it appears that my gear will differ from yours and thats fine. I decide what stays and what goes and it has nothing at all to do with what something cost.

[mikeyd501]

Sounds like your experience with the Strike Eagle is the first reported. I would have bought a lottery ticket!

PS My AR's are Noveske's or KAC's

[cabbynate]

I put a Strike Eagle on my KAC SR-15 E3 MOD 1. I went out and zeroed it this weekend. For me it will do what I want it to do. Give me magnification. I did not notice the the play in the ocular eyepiece but it is there. I'm no marksmen so I don't think it will make a difference to me. Rapid fire at 100 yards prone I was able to keep my shots in at 4MOA. More than good enough for me. I have a T-2 in a KAC mount to run the rifle most of the time. I'm good with the performance of the strike Eagle at the price point.

[sidewaysil80]

Does anyone have a Strike Eagle and a PST 1-4? I'm very curious to know how the glass quality/construction/illum./etc. differs between the two. I am not naive enough to think the cheaper Strike Eagle will out perform or be on par with the PST. However, I'm curious if the extra magnification is enough to compensate for whatever it comes up short with compared to the PST. Again, I'm looking for someone who HAS both and compared them side by side. Thank you!

-Tim Florio

[sean5063]

Here's a deal on one that expected to be in stock 10/15. Comes with :B&H Photo Gift Card $25.00*Smith Optics Aegis Arc Compact Protective Eyewear - Field Kit (Black)*($105.00*Value)

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/produc...24_ar_bdc.html

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[sean5063]

I've been holding out, hoping for some different reticle options.
How's the reticle working for those that own one?

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[mikeyd501]

Went out yesterday and zeroed it in. Reticle is super fast at 50 yds (multi target head shots). Was only able to stretch it out to 200 yard but was hitting 8" steel standing. off hand all day long. I did not experience and of the issues that crossgun spoke about. The elevation and windage is a little loose for my taste but once dialed in I don't think you will be touching them.

Overall I think it's a great optic period, and for the price, it's a home run.

M