Vortex Diamondback vs. Vortex Crossfire II

I am curious as well, I picked up a Mueller 3x9 and I am not impressed. I looked at a Vortex cross fire 2 and liked it.

I just got the diamondback HP 4-16. It is an awesome scope, it replaced a bsa sweet 22 on my target 22lr. Man that is a huge difference in quality. It has a side focus which I like much more for bench/target work. It has excellent eye relief and a great eye box. I don't have to move my face forward when zoomed in at 16x, stays in the same place no matter what zoom level. It is very clear and a crisp reticle.

Crossfire is made in China and QC can be spotty. Diamondback is made in the Philippines and has a little better glass.

FWIW, I talked to vortex about the 2 scopes about 2 months back. Usually when the update a scope line it gets a lot better, and the crossfire had been updated a lot more recently than the diamonback. The vortex rep said that in terms of clarity they are about the same, but that the cf2 has a bluish tint and does not represent colors as accurately. And that there was some more distortion at the edges.

AO is all right for range work. I'm not sold on it 100%, but it is nice in certain situations. particularly close range. (25-50 yds on a .22) It really works more like a focus than anything else.

Crossfire is made in China and QC can be spotty. Diamondback is made in the Philippines and has a little better glass.

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yup go diamondback if you can afford it.

I've sent two CrossfireII scopes back for replacement, just got the second one back a couple of weeks ago, still new in the box. (6x~18x by 44)

My plan is to sell it while the box is sealed and wash my hands of them. Maybe it depends on what you're putting it on but I can tell you they don't like big bore recoil. Luckily they come with a "no questions asked lifetime guarantee".

I too am done with Vortex. I've already sent 3 back, and as of today, I have a 4th and 5th that's going back in a few days. I feel like they're working on getting the bugs out of them, as they are improving.

I do however think that their spotting scopes are pretty decent for the money, but I don't care for their glasses either though.

I'm going back to my trusty Leupold's. I never had problems like this with my Leupold's, outside of when I carelessly break one, or a seal letting go after a couple decades of reliable service.

GS

Never had a problem with any of my vortex stuff and i have 5 of them right now. Everything from a spitfire 1x prismatic to a 4.5-27 razor.

I would recommend the diamondback hp with the paralax adjustment on the side of the scope AO optics drive me insane because you cannot adjust your paralax without coming off the gun.



On another note to the guy that said they wont hold up to big bore guns can you tell us what optic you had and what gun you had it on?

Vortex crossfire II 6-18X by 44 mounted first on a 7.62x54r PSL. Held up for about the first hour of a range session before the groups started getting squirrelly. I replaced it with a Millett TRS-1 (which is still on the rifle) and returned it to Vortex after I tried it on another rifle I knew was tight. I normally only use Burris X-treme rings on my scopes, the Mauser started with something else I had handy.

The replacement scope arrived in a timely manner, less than 10 days IIRC. I have no qualms with their customer service.

The replacement scope was then mounted on a 98 Mauser chambered in 7.62x54r. I couldn't get the scope to hold position long enough to get a zero. I'd think I was close when the holes in the target were in the general area and set the rifle aside to adjust the recording equipment (high speed photography) and when the rifle was put back on the rest and fired the group would have shifted 6" down or left.

Perhaps the replacement scopes are return refurbs? They come sealed like new.

I replaced the Vortex with another Millett TRS1, and had the gun grouping tight within 5 shots. It wears the Millett permanently now too. I moved this scope onto another 7.62x54r project I'm currently building and had the same experience so I sent it back to Vortex and again, received a replacement very quickly.

Rather than try it out I think it's time to cut my losses (in time & ammo if noting else) and move the new scope on to someone that will appreciate it more than I.

You can see the first Vortex being fired here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E4NQzjuyQ2w

and it's replacement being fired here:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uNy_Rh8oqu4

Both videos have follow-ups showing the Milletts as well.

Vet,
You can read about these scopes til the cows come home, trust the Diamondback, it'll get you there and back home. I'm not a guru on these scopes, I sell them, and their binos, trust me, they are fine quality glass! I've had older Redfield 3X9, Simmons 6X18, and now the Vortex Viper 6X24X50, hands down, the Viper wins all bets. This Viper is the clearest scope I've ever looked through, the HD coatings do make a difference in object clarity and color contrast, when looking long range, 200 to 400 yards. I am very impressed with their line of scopes, I was able to get mine, a $485.00 scope for $300.00 OTD, once at the range, the side adjusted parallax made my mind up as getting what I wanted. You'll hear all sorts of blather about yada yada scope VS yada yada +, try one out and see for yourself, only you will know!

I like the Vipers myself. Have 3 PSTs and a base Viper 3-9x40 I just bought for my GF's 7mm. Also have a set of Diamondback 10x42 binos. Love them all and have had zero issues with any of them.

A buddy of mine had a Crossfire II 3-12x50AO on an M1A that he used to shoot a Magpul Dynamics DMR class last summer. Won a Magpul STR carbine stock on the last day, in an impromptu holdover-ranging contest. It's worked well enough for him. He did have to send it back last spring when the reticle broke, but they had a new one out to him within a week. No issues since, but he swapped it onto his hunting rifle last fall, and has been peering enviously at my 2.5-10x32 FFP PST lately...