Vortex Viper PST Gen II 5-25×50 Review

Last updated on March 5th, 2024

It’s coming up to almost 12 months with the Vortex Viper PST Gen II 5-25×50 FFP (first focal plane) and time to look back how the scope has performed.

Vortex

The manufacturer of the PST Gen II Vortex Optics, have a huge cult following around the world and are known for making optics to suit all budgets.

The company has been around since 2002 and is based out of the US. The biggest draw card to this optics company for a lot of people is their lifetime ‘VIP’ warranty on all products. Vortex replace their products no matter what happens to it during its lifetime. This includes house fires, accidentally driving over it, dog eating it.. There is comfort knowing that if something breaks or it accidentally gets dropped, it’s going to be replaced. Having owned a variety of different Vortex scopes, spotting scopes and range finders over the years, they haven’t once let me down. So, when it was time to start looking for a long range, precision shooting optic to replace the Vortex Viper HST, the Vortex Viper PST Gen II was on the watch list.

Construction

The first thing that stands out when handling the scope is how solid it is. This thing is a beast and weighs in at 880 grams. The Vortex Viper PST Gen II features a single piece 30mm tube which is made from aircraft grade aluminum. The overall fit and finish is excellent, and the scope feels very sturdy.

The scope is waterproofed and purged with Argon to ensure there won’t be any fog inside when using it in varying conditions. This feature is comforting to know that in rail, hail or shine the scope will still perform. Having used it frequently over the last 12 months, hauling it all over the country it has taken plenty of abuse being loaded in and out of cases and still tracks and holds zero perfectly.

Turrets

The turrets on the Vortex Viper PST Gen II are tactical exposed style turrets. The turret numbers are easy to read and have the perfect amount of tension when dialling windage and elevation. The turrents give confidence when taking the PST out in the field knowing that the turrets wont easily move from being bumped or rubbing against equipment whilst slung.

The scope includes a zero stop, for returning your rifle back to its original zero after dialling up to reach longer distances. The zero-stop feature has come to be an important feature in long range shooting. For many shooters, it is a must have for long-range shooting and hunting.

Reticle

Vortex offers two variants of the reticle in MOA and MRAD. Both come with an illuminated reticle feature, which has adjustable brightness settings. The illuminated reticle rarely gets a workout, but those times at the range in the late afternoon or on the side of a mountain as the sun is setting, it’s a fantastic feature to be able to switch on. The illumination dial is located near the parallax adjustment on the left side of the scope.

The EBR-2C reticle in the Viper PST Gen II is a very versatile reticle. The significant hash marks in the reticle are aimed at supporting the long-distance shooter. Coming from a simpler reticle in the HST, there was some hesitation on how target acquisition would be affected from a busier reticle.

This however was not an issue as the clarity of the glass combined with the very defined reticle markings made target identification a breeze. Being able to trust the optics tracking and know that it can take a hit out in the field are massive positives for the optic.

Weight

The weight could be on the heavy side for a hunting firearm, but if you are looking at making long range shots on game, you will need clear glass and a durable optics for the job.

However, for a long range target rifle weight isn’t going to be an issue if the rifle is only being carried from the car to the rifle range.

Conclusion

I have used the Vortex Viper PST Gen II extensively over the last 12 months and it has been flawless. This has been for both hunting and long-range shooting applications. It has been exposed to a variety of weather conditions and been hauled across the country, and its stood up to every challenge I’ve thrown at it. The optic is a great choice for the long-range shooter/hunter and provides excellent value for money.

Pros

• Reliable
• Clear
• Built for precision shooting
• Tactical
• Great reticles

Cons

• If its out of your price range, you can save hundreds off discounted showroom models at EuroOptic.

Vortex Viper PST Gen II 5-25×50

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