Sighting in a 308

[BrokenolMarine]

I went down to the rifle range to check the scope on a 308 I had purchased a number of years ago and never shot as I found out I didn't need it for the intended purchase. Miss T had been told when she drove out to Oklahoma from Virginia to look at the top three or four properties on the prospective list that there were a few feral hogs that came through the farm here when she asked. When we got serious about the property I had started looking. I found the rifle in a gun shop in the outlying city and when we put the contract on the house, I bought the rifle. Turns out, NO hogs in the area in some time, the seller had assumed the husband of the lady checking out the property would WANT there to be hogs on the property. He had advertised the property as a prime hunting location, posting pictures of all his deer.

The coyote and feral dog problem had increased and the 308 would increase the range, so I took 'er down and checked the scope at 80 yards. With the Vortex Viper scope on the AR10, I figured it was a good starting point. I fired a three shot group and... not a single shot on the cardboard, let alone on the target. Hmmm? Odd. I knew the ammo was good, I had shot very tight groups with the M1A and iron sights.

Moved to 50 yards and tried again. Same results. Three shot group, not a single shot on the cardboard. I was stunned. This was a top brand AR, and I had cleaned and lubed the gun PRIOR to taking it to the range. I moved to 25 yards and shot offhand at the target. Still no hits using the scope. Set up for boar, it had metallic sights offset at 45 degrees in case a boar came charging from the brush. I tilted the gun and used those. Three shots.... in the black. No more shooting for the day. At more than $1.25 a round, I had my answer for now.

I ordered a laser bore sighting cartridge for 308 and waited. It arrived while I had a house filled with family for the holidays so I put the kit in the gunsmith's box and waited some more. I got 'er out today and checked the bore sight on the scope. It was a foot low at 20 yards, sighting down the dark hallway in the house to check the scope. When I went to adjust the elevation, the elevation adjustment on the scope didn't work. All the other adjustments worked as they should, but this one was defective. I bought the rifle used, and the scope was already mounted... so I sent an mail to Vortex Optics this morning to see about getting the scope repaired.

This is the Vortex Viper 2.5 x 10 x 32 Tactical Precision Scope with an illuminated reticle. Retail on the scope is $1,000. (I see them on sale on line for $800) They have an unconditional lifetime warranty, but I bought the rifle used with the scope mounted on it, so the scope was acquired use. I told them that in the request... I didn't try and BS them. Still, if I have to pay $200 for repairs I come out way ahead. Hopefully Vortex can repair the scope for me.

https://vortexoptics.com/vortex-viper-p ... -EBR-1~MOA

I'll keep you posted on the outcome.

[Mags]

I have a Vortex StrikeFire Red Dot. The rubber adjustment push buttons were too stiff to use. I had written a review about that. Vortex contacted me and had me send it to them. Free shipping both directions. A week later I had it back. No charge for replacing the push button module on the side of the red dot. I'd like to think you get similar good treatment.

[JEBar]

I'll keep you posted on the outcome.

please do

[Hatchdog]

The Vortex lifetime warranty is transferable so you should be fine. I have had two warranty claims with Vortex (both binoculars) and they took great care of me. The last one which was in 2025 involved a pair of binoculars that were no longer repairable so they sent me a brand new pair. Great service for sure.

[rickhem]

I've not had experience with Vortex specifically, and I do own their scopes, but have had similar situations with Nikon, Bushnell, and even a Tasco dot sight many years ago. The Tasco was repaired, and the other two were replaced with items currently in their line-ups. I think you'll come out with something that you'll be happy with.
Good luck, and let us know how it goes.

[BrokenolMarine]

Boom! Got an email today, ON a Sunday. Please send the scope in for repair. Find the form and the mailing label attached. The VIP Warranty has you covered. Expect an eight to ten day turn around. BooYah.
She's boxed up and ready to roll out to the post office in the morning. We'll see what we find.

My other Vortex scopes are excellent. Paired with the Ruger American, the 556 turned in a tight little group when I sighted that one in a couple months ago. She was ready when needed and did her job on a running target at 70 yards. I'm just tuning up the 308 for that extra power and range.

[BigAl52]

Good to hear BOM. I want a 4x12x40 AO to put on a Ruger 10/22. Gonna order one when I get back from Texas USA

[BrokenolMarine]

Good to hear BOM. I want a 4x12x40 AO to put on a Ruger 10/22. Gonna order one when I get back from Texas USA

Yup. When I told Miss Tina about the Email, she said exactly what I was thinking. "Well, you know what brand scope to buy the next time you need to add one to the stable."

[BrokenolMarine]

The tracking shows the Scope arrived at Vortex this morning. We are on the way to a functional Viper. Can't wait to get 'er sighted in and shooting again.

[BrokenolMarine]

I heard back from Vortex Today. They said they were sorry, but my Vortex Viper 2.5 x 10 x 30 Gen Tactical Precision Scope Gen 1 could not be repaired.

Sadly, the Gen 1 Vortex Viper was no longer in stock as it had been discontinued, so they could not replace the scope under their VIP warranty.

However, they could upgrade my Vortex Viper Gen 1, with the Vortex Viper Gen 2 2 x 10 x 30 TSP if that would be acceptable. They included a link and suggested I take a look at the scope and see if that might work for me. I clicked on the link and looked. I carefully considered the upgraded Gen 2 version for a long while... a minute or maybe ninety seconds, then sent a quick reply.

Yes, I think that should work just fine.
Within two minutes, I got a reply saying that they would get 'er packed up and shipped out and I should get tracking soon.
Go Vortex.



Nice to see there are companies that stand behind their products.
I have a couple other Vortex scopes and they work great.
Can't wait to mount this one.

[Hatchdog]

Another feather in the Vortex cap!

[BrokenolMarine]

Been a while, but like the Leather Project, Weather had delayed everything. The ice and snow had covered the range, and Miss T didn't want me on the range then, and after the melt off, it was muddy. We had a week of 70 Degree weather so I was able to get out to the range. My first attempt at sighting in the AR10 didn't go so well. I had purchased that Laser Bore Sighter, but it did well inside, but was useless on the range in bright sunlight. Maybe the two sets of included batteries were old.

I couldn't get on the backer to see where I was shooting and was having a bad arthritis day, so I packed the gear away and waited. In preparation to test the rifle if I couldn't bring it on target, I took a SIG Red Dot with me today, and got set. We have a pair of bathroom overhauls in progress, so I had a 4x8 sheet of cardboard on hand. I put the sighting target at the bottom of that sheet and squeezed off a couple rounds. I started about 30 yards back.

Way High and Right. Started walking in the scope in. When I got close, I moved back to 50, then 75. I moved off the sighting target as my aiming point to a black marker dot, aim small, shoot small. Got 'em Tighter. Moved back to the target, and Fired three shots. First was in tight. Pulled the second. (By this time I was hurting... ) Deeeep Breath, let it out and relaxed, squeezed that third shot and Boom.... in there. Done for the day. With practice, LATER, this could be a real shooter. I'm satisfied. The good thing is, I'll have rapid second shots on a running target, or pairs of invaders to the coop.

The New GEN II Vortex Viper mounted:

The Gen II Viper.jpg

The target - two in the center, the first and third shots. That low shot at six was a called pulled shot.

75 yards.jpg

A close up view of the two in there... not a bad group at 75 yards... for a new platform with a new scope.

target close up.jpg

I put the SIG Red Dot back on the Classic Marlin for Miss T. It was her Dad's 30-30, she or my daughter may use it for Deer this November. I'll get it sighted in with a quality deer load. For now, I'll clean up the AR and load up a Mag with 10 rounds or so, and stage it handy, along side the shotgun stoked with slugs. A choice.

[rickhem]

Glad to see you have everything all set up now. I'm a fan of that PEPR mount too, and have two of them on AR15 platform uppers, mine are the 30mm ones with the poly inserts.
Once the weather moves more towards springtime, and you get more trigger time with your new rifle, I'm sure you'll enjoy it even more.