Thought it would be fun to get y'alls take.

Change my mind: The Vortex Viper PST Gen II is the best scope under $900. Specifically, the Viper PST Gen II 3-15x44 FFP in MRAD.

The glass is outstanding, great reticle, illuminated reticle, 28oz, and the 3-15x44 is a great all-around magnification and bell size. Whether hunting or shooting steel out to 1,000 yards, I think this is the best scope for under $900.

Not to mention, it can be found on sale for less than $800. The only thing that could make this scope better, in my opinion, is a lockable turret. I've hunted with it for multiple seasons and it's got dinged up, held zero, and given me zero issues thus far.

What are your thoughts? Do you have a favorite scope under $900?

Do you dial it a lot, or do you set it and forget it? I own a couple of GenII Razors but no PST's. A couple of friends have them and for at least one of them, it doesn't always track true.

The one I have looked through the glass was pretty good. Depends on usage though....I've got no use for a FFP hunting scope, my eyes can't see the crosshairs on low power and low light.

My current favorite is a Razor LHT 3-15x44...save 10ish oz and is a whole lotta scope for $900ish on the used market. It's about all I have on my non-thermal hunting guns at this point.

Vortex is NEVER the best answer. Unless of course your life is boring and you want your equipment to break down. And you like the hassle of boxing it up, and shipping it to them.

Under $900?

Burris XTR II, or XTR III
Bushnell LRHS
(Sale price) SS 5-20X HD

Same features, and has a zero stop, (not on the SS) and far less likely to break down.

Put another one or two hundred on that $900 and it's a Night Force SHV F-1 4-16X

F-ed up tracking the last time one was on my range this year.

I member.

I like mine. Not a ton of use yet but no complaints. Never thought I would like an illuminated reticle. Being FFP I ran into what Judd mentioned opening morning with a group of hogs. Was a no go without the illumination and an easy shot with. Feel like the glass is better than the SS 5-20.

That said I don’t and will never put it through what some do.

I think at the Vortex is a good option at that price point.
The Trijicon also now that’s it’s price has dropped is good in that range

https://www.eurooptic.com/Trijicon-...-Dot-Red-Green-Illumination-30mm-Sa.aspx

Also Athlon Aeres II HD can be had at that price point is good as well.

I really like the Burris XTR III but now that they have added Illumination they are not available at sub 1000.00 any longer

You saw what you saw because you wanted to see that. That was a calculator problem and if you remember, those binos went back to the mothership for replacement.

As you see Vortex not being the answer, I too on 30 ounce scopes...wasted weight on a hunting rig.

Athlon Midas hd is tough to beat if you don’t need illumination

following for a rimfire

For under $900 it’s not the best deal available but Euro Optic has them for less than $700 for the 5-20 and under $600 for the 3-15, at that price they can’t be beat.

Yes they have had some reliability issues but they have sold a ton and it should do everything you need it to do for you average to above average shooter.

Buzz, check out the Athlon Midas TAC HD mentioned above. I like mine better than the Viper PST I had, PLUS, I know you like the floating dot reticles.

I second one of JGs options, the Bushnell LRHS. Great scope that can be had for under 900.

Good options for sure. However, at least with my eyes, the glass on the Vortex Viper PST Gen II is much better. Also, I haven't had any issues with the Vortex tracking. Maybe I've had good like, but I haven't had issues with Vortex products.

Does anyone else have experience with both the Burris and Vortex regarding glass quality? Also interested to hear if anyone else has had issues with the Vortex Viper PST tracking consistently.

Great call on the Night Force. I need to look into that scope.

No tracking problems (or any others) on my gen I Viper PST. It has over 3,000 rounds under it.

Absolutely not. A scope is no good if it breaks, and it most likely will. I too, would rather have a Burris XTR, having owned both.

There are no brands of scopes that don't break.

No big revelation there. In your opinion, which brands of scopes break less frequently than others?

I don't need Night Force, but most would put this brand at the top of the list. For my needs, Leupolds have served me well. Never had one "break" and I'm currently hunting with three VX5-HD's. Also two Burris products I've put through some rough use for years with no issues.

There is a brand I count on breaking, because I have seen a pile of them break.

There is a brand I have never seen break, don't know anyone that's broken one, and own three scopes from them. That's for good reason. I'm not easy on them, and I haven't broken any.

The chitty brand, I've owned two and both have broken. One is broken for the second time, and needs ro be send in AGAIN.

Yes, you do. I had a NF parallax quit on me. NF factory took wonderful care of me.

I’ve actually sent more NF back to the factory than I have Vortex scopes…but I don’t buy the junk Vortex. Funny thing, I’ve owned way more Vortex than I have NF too.

Replaced twice before I got one that is only 'decent'.

Maybe their 'Razor' line is better....IDK, but I won't have another Vortex.

Pretty good difference between Gen 1 and 2 in quality imo

Nonsense. I've sent a couple nf back. Not saying they are a bad scope but $6000 in two overweight tubes with a 100% failure rate was enough. Now own a few Vortex and have for years, they have worked everytime and what i will continue to spend my money on in the future unless they give me a reason to look at something else.

Didn't read the other responses.

It's not close to the best scope under $900. I bought one. Dial didn't work. I had to return it and bought an SWFA HD 5-20. I kept that scope for years - it had better optics, more reliable tracking, and zero quality issues. No idea why I ever bought the Vortex to begin with.

The SS 5-20 while very dated is still one of the most reliable scopes out there. I think a guy with a NF and a guy with a SS could sword fight with them then go back to shooting.

At their discontinued close out price there’s not a better value buy today. Similar to when the DMR II closed out at $750, although side by side I like the SS better.