The Weaver 3-15 vs. The Vortex PST 4-16 And The 6-24 Review
If you are a seasoned shooter and you are looking to purchase a high end optic on a strict budget, there are a few options you may consider that won't compromise on the quality of your purchase. I am not a tactical shooter neither am i an expert in scopes but I have great experience in using optics for long distance spotting. I am a civil/structural engineer and I enjoy using scopes for determining alignments of high rise buildings, I find this more interesting than using the usual surveying scope on a total station. I also have a great interest in studying the stars and the moon. Based on what I know on the field, this is a great opportunity to convey my "wisdom" as precisely and objectively as I can on the matter.
I own both the Weaver Tactical 3-15 x 50mm Illuminated Long Range Scope and the Vortex Viper PST 4-16 x 50mm the later being a purchase I made based on the hype and anticipation behind its release. I got together with a friend who owns the more powerful Vortex Viper PST 6-24 x 50mm do a comparison and this was our determination:
Scopes | Ratings | Price |
|---|---|---|
$874.03 | ||
$699.00 | ||
$749.00 |
The prices of the scopes are varied and may differ based on the site or store they are bought from. For great deals and offers of these I suggest doing a thorough analysis of all vendors keeping in mind that amazon.com is likely to be your best option.
Vortex Viper PST 4-16 x 50mm
I bought this scope after the great hype that surrounded its release. It is a great option for a tactical shooter based on its incredible features and its amazing price well bellow the 1000 dollars mark. It's matching reticle and turret measurements enable a shooter to dial targets with relative ease and pace.
>>>View Vortex Viper PST 4-16 x 50mm Riflescope here<<<
Features
- Magnification: 4-16 times
- Objective Lens Diameter: 50 mm
- Eye Relief: 4.0 inches
- Field of View: 7.4-27.4 feet at 100 yards
- Tube Diameter: 30 mm
- Adjustment Graduation: 0.1 mrad
- Travel per Rotation: 5 mrad
- Max Adjustment: 21 mrad
- Parallax Setting: 50 yards to Infinity
- Overall Length: 13.7 inches
- Weight: 22.4 ounces
Vortex Viper PST 4-16 x 50mm Riflescope Video Review
Weaver Tactical 3-15 x 50mm
This scope came shortly after the release of the Vortex Viper PST 4-16 x 50mm and it offered very similar features and an alluring price tag to match. It is a great scope to buy when you are on a budget and definitely won't let you done as from my experience. The scope reticle does not match the turret and if not accounted for properly it could cause inaccuracies while shooting.
>>>View Weaver Tactical 3-15 x 50mm Illuminated Long Range Scope here<<<
Features
- Finish: Matte Black
- Magnification Range: 3-15 times
- Objective Lens Diameter: 50mm
- Tube Diameter: 30mm
- Eye Relief: 3.98 inches
- Click Value: 0.25 MOA
- Field of View: 6.8-33.9 feet at 100 yards
- Adjustment Range: 70 MOA
- Reticle: Mil-dot
- Focal Plane: First
- Weight: 27.5 ounces
- Overall Length: 13.5 inches
Vortex Viper PST 6-24 x 50mm
Simply put, this is a more powerful version of the Vortex Viper PST 4-16 x 50mm scope. It performs very well in low light conditions and displays clear images despite the magnification used.
>>>View Vortex Viper PST 6-24 x 50mm Riflescope here<<<
Features
- Magnification: 6-24 times
- Objective Lens Diameter: 50 mm
- Eye Relief: 4.0 inches
- Field of View: 5.1-17.8 feet at 100 yards
- Tube Diameter: 30 mm
- Adjustment Graduation: 1/4 MOA
- Travel per Rotation: 12 MOA
- Max Adjustment: 65 MOA
- Parallax Setting: 50 yards to Infinity
- Overall Length: 15.5 inches
- Weight: 23.4 ounces
Vortex Viper PST 6-24 x 50mm Riflescope Video Review
Comparison Results
My friends and I did the tracking and adjustment accuracy of each scope and found the Vortex Viper scopes to be excellent while the Weaver scope was off by a small margin which I considered to be insignificant. The reticles of the scopes were also made in a way that didn't interfere with the shooter's accuracy. The general feel of the scopes is based entirely on the material used and the finish. The Vortex Viper scopes are made of aluminum while the Weaver scope is made of stainless steel giving it a sturdy and more stout feel. Since I have had the scopes for just a short while, I only hope that they remain as intact as they currently are.
An optics test reveals that the Vortex Viper PST 6-24 x 50mm scope is the superior one of the three however, in comparison to high end optics that cost quite a lot of money, the Weaver Tactical 3-15 x 50mm scope is barely inferior. It may be attributed to its quality of glass that, quite frankly, could pass for more than double the cost of the scope itself. As a bit of a surprise though, the Vortex Viper PST 4-16 x 50mm scope performed poorly than expected. In conditions of low light, it could not resolve as much as it related scopes in terms of make and price. The glass quality used on this scope in unimpressive and it makes me feel like this little difference makes all the difference.
When it comes to the PST's, the main differences are the magnification, field of view, and obviously the length and weight.
Customer Reviews
From various websites and forums the average ratings seem to favor the Vortex Viper PST 6-24 x 50mm since the scope has a high number of reviews but still maintains a good rating. According to some customers, it was important that the eye relief was suitable for their use which the Vortex Viper PST 4-16 x 50mm scope together with its powerful relative the Vortex Viper PST 6-24 x 50mm seemed to address. On the PST's the ring that is used to adjust the magnification is usually stiff and sometimes requires an extra extender lever just to make it easier to use.
Many customers point out that the Weaver Tactical 3-15 x 50mm scope is quite sturdy and is "built like a truck", a sentiment is share. The PST's almost seem fragile and since I have not had the scopes for a long time, I can only hope that they remain as intact as they currently are.
Conclusion
All these three scopes are great considering that they can be bought at prices well bellow the 1000 dollars mark. The products' websites are the best options since you are able to get a decent warranty in case you need it. However, based on the number of times I have checked the prices, it is more expensive on the official product websites. I have been impressed with all these scopes and I hope that from all reviews, the manufactures may consider making improvements.
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