Vortex PST 1-4 In Hand

**Belmont31R** · 01-08-11, 18:39

Originally Posted by shootist~

Similar situation here on illum. setting below #6 - except in very dim light. Also discussed in a prior long winded post.

I leveled the rifle in my cleaning cradle and then squared up the vertical crosshair to the exterior edge of a neighbor's house. (Did the same for the NF when it was mounted.)

Also pretty sure I solved why my illumination blinked off at the range on the first outing. The battery cap needed to be screwed completely down; not just snug against the gasket. Sample of one so I don't know if this is SOP or not.

One other thing I've come to realize (kind of a duh) - the center dot is 1 moa at 4x, which means it's 4 moa at 1x.

I use a square, and flip the side up to the flat spot on the bottom of the scope. Kinda hard to describe with out pics or vids but you can square the optic to the mount.

**shootist~** · 01-08-11, 22:54

Originally Posted by Belmont31R

I use a square, and flip the side up to the flat spot on the bottom of the scope. Kinda hard to describe with out pics or vids but you can square the optic to the mount.

Sounds like a good trick. I'll have to try it out next time I mount a scope.

I 'm trying to get a buddy to put a 4-16 PST on his precision bolt gun (so I can play with it). Maybe then.

**mpom** · 01-09-11, 17:21

Checked the level of scope by first leveling top of receiver rail, then laying level of elevation turret. was off, made adjustments, confirmed against windage turret, which was now vertical. Found a variance between flat underside of scope and elevation turret, so trusted turret. Hope I did the right thing.
Shootist was more accurate than me in describing illum; lowest 5 illum settings are there, but super dim. Not a major issue as #6 seems OK for general use. Tried a fresh battery with no difference.

Would like to have something between #6 and "night vision" settings though.
Will make it out to range next week.

MP

**shootist~** · 01-09-11, 23:06

Originally Posted by mpom

....... Not a major issue as #6 seems OK for general use. Tried a fresh battery with no difference.

Would like to have something between #6 and "night vision" settings though.
Will make it out to range next week.

MP

.

On the #5 (low light) setting with a Surefire G2 mounted instead of hand held (as I did the first go round), it works better. In ambient light the 5 setting is usable though still a hair on the dim side. Probably better still if poking around in a pitch black house with eyes already adjusted to the dark.

With weapon light switched on the reticle switches to black, which makes for a good white light sight picture. I would still like to see a setting between 5 and 6 though.

**FVC3** · 01-15-11, 07:00

OP, the lowest price I've seen is $400.00 - is the PST twice the scope (for the money) that the Millet DMS is? So far, I'm not seeing reports that would indicate the PST is that big an improvement.

**shootist~** · 01-15-11, 11:17

Absolutely. I don't have a Millet so I'm biased based on what I remember reading - the Millet being a low budget get-you- to-the-dance type optic.

If anything, when compared to a Mk 4 MR/T (1.5-5), the PST might be even be under priced. IMO the PST has a superior reticle VS the MR/T (especially at CQB ranges), plus true 1x capability.

I ran the PST fairly hard on 1 - 5 drills yesterday alongside an Aimpoint Micro. More on that later.

Who has the PST for $400?

Originally Posted by FVC3

OP, the lowest price I've seen is $400.00 - is the PST twice the scope (for the money) that the Millet DMS is? So far, I'm not seeing reports that would indicate the PST is that big an improvement.

**mpom** · 01-15-11, 12:37

Originally Posted by Fontaine

Any reports on battery life of illumination?

Called up Vortex and was told battery life is around 500 hours on "higher" illum settings and 2000 hours on "lower". Told I can expect around 1000 hours on settings 6/7. Not in the same class as my T1, but still decent.
Damn, $400 is GOOD. Thought I got a deal at $449, shipping included

Mark

**shootist~** · 01-15-11, 13:46

PST VS Micro - 10 Yd Drills:

Third outing with the PST yesterday - all spent doing 1-5 drills (3 IPSC targets; 10 Yds; 15 rounds per run). Ran it on two rifles and alongside an Aimpoint Micro with my timer.

I'm not new to Aimpoints, but this is my first Micro. The Micro was sighted in the day before.

Caveat: I'm left eye dominate and shoot right handed.

Shooting two eyes open, the PST at 1x was the clear winner at CQB distances *for me*. Times were close to even using both the PST and the Micro on a 16" N4 Light Basic with BC Comp. With the PST, almost all hits stayed in the A zone - with the Micro I drifted a lot of shots left into the C zone. I had to go back to shooting one-eyed to get comparable hits with the Aimpoint.

I burned over 300 rounds (~1/3 with the Micro), and think I got a pretty good feel on how well the PST works using 1x at close range. From a 3-Gun view, I think the PST 1-4 is an excellent choice for entry to mid-level use - especially for an optic at this price point. I'm equally sure it won't match up to a $2,000+ Swarovski Z6i.

The PST's illumination was daylight visible at the max setting of 10 and the sun was bright. Also low enough to be in my face. (Range faces South and visibility is never optimal at this time of year.) I don't have a feel for how the illumination would work had the sun been from behind.

The reticle is very fast, (whether illuminated or not) with the heavy outer circle just larger than the width of the lower A Zone. For "upper A Zone" hits it's just a matter of putting the center dot (4 MOA at 1x; & 1 MOA at 4x) on the top edge of the head.

Shooting one-eyed (but who cares), both optics gave near equal results for times and hits in the drills.

Before i moved the PST to the N4 I ran a few 1-5 drills with the SPRish build with a Rainer Extreme Comp on the end. Best times of the day, by over a half second. Heavy barrels and dedicated comps still work.