Vortex Scopes Explained (2026): Every Riflescope Line From Triumph to Razor

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Vortex sells more riflescope lines than most shooters can name, and the names don’t tell you much. Is a Venom better than a Diamondback, and why does one Razor list at $2,399.99 and another at $4,799.99? This is the whole range of Vortex scopes explained line by line, from the Triumph HD at the bottom to the AMG at the top.

I pulled every current model from Vortex’s own riflescope menus, 46 products in 15 lines, and checked the list price, focal plane, tube and turrets on each one. Then I priced one model from every line at our dealers, because the street price on Vortex rifle scopes runs far below the sticker. I’ve mounted most of these on my own rifles over the years, so you’ll get my take too.

Last updated October 16, 2026

Table of Contents

The 2026 Vortex Scope Lineup at a Glance

The Vortex scope lineup runs fifteen lines deep, from a $149.99 Triumph HD to a $6,399.99 AMG, and only the Razor HD Gen III and AMG are first focal plane across the board. Every line sits on one table below, cheapest list price first.

Line	Magnifications	Plane	Tube	Vortex list price	Street, one model
Triumph HD	3-9x	SFP	1-inch	$149.99	about $100
Crossfire HD	1-4x, 1.5-5.5x, 2-7x, 3-9x, 4-12x, 6-18x	SFP	1-inch, 30mm	$229.99 to $429.99	about $180
Crossfire II	2-7x, 3-12x	SFP	30mm	$279.99 to $419.99	about $250
Diamondback	1.75-5x, 2-7x, 3-9x, 3.5-10x, 4-12x	SFP	1-inch	$339.99 to $429.99	about $260
Diamondback Tactical	4-12x, 4-16x, 6-24x	FFP/SFP	1-inch, 30mm	$449.99 to $649.99	about $340
Venom	1-6x, 3-15x, 5-25x	FFP/SFP	30mm, 34mm	$449.99 to $699.99	about $420
Strike Eagle	1-10x, 1-8x, 3-18x, 5-25x	FFP/SFP	30mm, 34mm	$559.99 to $1,149.99	about $450
Viper	6.5-20x	SFP	30mm	$699.99	about $500
Viper HD	2-10x, 3-15x, 5-25x	FFP/SFP	30mm	$899.99 to $1,399.99	about $750
Viper PST Gen II	1-6x, 2-10x, 3-15x, 5-25x	FFP/SFP	30mm	$899.99 to $1,349.99	about $900
Razor HD LHT	3-15x, 4.5-22x	FFP/SFP	30mm	$1,899.99 to $2,199.99	about $1,270
Razor HD Gen II	1-6x, 4.5-27x	FFP/SFP	30mm, 34mm	$2,399.99 to $4,499.99	about $2,380
Razor HD Gen III	1-10x, 4-24x, 6-36x	FFP	34mm	$3,999.99 to $4,799.99	about $2,120
AMG	1-10x	FFP	34mm	$6,399.99	about $3,400
Golden Eagle HD	15-60x	SFP	30mm	$2,799.99	about $1,690

Street prices are the lowest new prices on the cards further down, one model per line, and they change daily. The list prices come straight off each model page on vortexoptics.com.

Quick Answer: Which Vortex Scope Line Fits Your Rifle

Buy a Crossfire HD or Diamondback for a deer rifle, a Strike Eagle for an AR, a Venom or Diamondback Tactical for a first long-range build, a Viper HD for western hunting, and a Razor when the rifle earns it. Those five calls cover most buyers.

• Deer rifle on a budget: Crossfire HD 3-9x40 at about $180, or the Triumph HD at about $100 if every dollar counts.
• Better glass for hunting: Diamondback 4-12x40 at about $260, light at 14.2 ounces.
• AR-15 LPVO: Strike Eagle 1-8x24 or 1-10x24; the FFP 1-8 is about $450.
• First long-range scope: Diamondback Tactical 4-16x44 FFP at about $340 or Venom 5-25x56 at about $420.
• Western hunting with a dial: Viper HD 3-15x44 at about $750 or the Razor HD LHT 4.5-22x50 at about $1,270.
• PRS and serious precision: Razor HD Gen III or Gen II 4.5-27x56, from about $2,380 on the Gen II card.

How the Vortex Scope Tiers Work

Vortex scope tiers follow the glass Vortex names on each product page: HD on the entry Triumph and Crossfire, XD on Diamondback, Venom and the PST, HD again on Viper HD, and APO glass on every Razor. The gas fill, tube and turrets climb with it.

The naming trips people up, because “HD” shows up at both ends. On a Crossfire HD it is the entry glass. On a Viper HD it is a full step above the Diamondback and Venom. Vortex calls the Razor glass an apochromatic, or APO, system and adds its XR Plus coatings, which is the tell that you’ve reached the top tier.

Gas fill is the other quiet marker. The Diamondback, Viper, Viper HD, PST, Razor LHT, Razor Gen III, Golden Eagle and AMG list argon purging. The Diamondback Tactical, Venom and Strike Eagle list nitrogen. Both keep a scope from fogging inside, so read it as a marker of the line, not a reason to buy.

Tier	Lines	Glass Vortex names	Turrets	Planes
Entry	Triumph HD, Crossfire HD, Crossfire II	HD or SD	Capped	SFP only
Value hunting	Diamondback	XD, argon	Capped	SFP only
Value precision	Diamondback Tactical, Venom, Strike Eagle	XD on most, nitrogen	Exposed on the long-range models	Both
Mid tier	Viper, Viper HD, Viper PST Gen II	XD or HD, argon	Capped or exposed	Both
Premium	Razor HD LHT, Razor HD Gen II, Razor HD Gen III, Golden Eagle HD	APO with XR Plus	Capped on the LPVOs, exposed on the rest	Both
Top	AMG	APO with XR Plus	Dual Zero, capped	FFP

How to Read a Vortex Model Name

A Vortex name gives you the line, the zoom range and the objective size, in that order. A Viper HD 3-15x44 zooms from 3x to 15x behind a 44mm front lens. FFP after the size means first focal plane. No suffix means second focal plane, and only the Venom 1-6x24 SFP spells it out.

The reticle name tells you the rest. AR-BDC3, Dead-Hold BDC and V-Plex are holdover or plain hunting reticles. EBR, VMR and XLR are mil or MOA trees for dialing and holding. Most of the trees come in MOA or MRAD versions, so match the reticle to the turrets you want and check it on the dealer listing before you pay.

What Changed in the Vortex Lineup

The biggest change is at the bottom: Vortex’s Crossfire menu now lists six Crossfire HD scopes, and the old Crossfire II survives only as the Hog Hunter and a crossbow kit. Most “best Vortex scope” lists still haven’t caught up.

At the other end of the Viper family, the PST Gen II 5-25x50 FFP has dropped out of the Viper menu. Its page is still up at $1,499.99, but it offers no configuration you can add to a cart. The newer Viper HD 5-25x50 FFP lists at $1,399.99, and the PST Gen II 5-25x50 stays on the menu only in its second focal plane form.

Two lines most shoppers miss: the Triumph HD 3-9x40 below the Crossfire, which ships with 1-inch rings, and the AMG 1-10x24 above the Razor. You’ll also find pages on Vortex’s site for names like Copperhead, Dakota, Iron Peak, Stonerun and Viper HS that don’t appear in its riflescope family menus, so I left them out of this guide.

Vortex Triumph HD: The Under $100 Starter

The Triumph HD 3-9x40 is the cheapest riflescope on Vortex’s menu, a $149.99 list price second focal plane hunting scope that comes with its own 1-inch rings. The lowest new price we found is about $100.

It is one model, one reticle: the Dead-Hold BDC on a 1-inch tube with capped turrets, at 16.5 ounces. For a .22, a youth rifle or a truck gun, I can’t argue with it. I put one on a single-shot .243 for my nephew and it held zero through a whole season of bouncing around a deer stand.

What you give up is glass and adjustment feel compared with a Crossfire HD. If the rifle is going to hunt every fall, spend the extra and buy the Crossfire.

Vortex Crossfire HD and Crossfire II

The Crossfire HD is now Vortex’s main entry line: six second focal plane scopes from a 1-4x24 to a 6-18x50, all with capped turrets, listed from $229.99 to $429.99. The 3-9x40 is the one most people should buy.

The 3-9x40 comes in five reticles, including a Straight-Wall BDC and a Muzzleloader BDC, which tells you exactly who Vortex built it for: the guy with a .350 Legend and a deer tag. Most sizes ride a 1-inch tube; the 1-4x24 and 6-18x50 use 30mm. Dealers have the 3-9x40 from about $180 on the card below.

I ran a Crossfire HD 3-9x40 on a .308 bolt gun for two seasons. The glass is fine until the last ten minutes of legal light, the capped turrets moved the group where I asked, and it never lost zero.

Crossfire II: Hog Hunter and Crossbow

Two Crossfire II models are still on the menu. The Hog Hunter 3-12x56 lists at $419.99 with a 30mm tube, adjustable parallax and the illuminated V-Brite reticle, and weighs 27.9 ounces. The 2-7x32 Crossbow kit lists at $279.99 with red and green illumination. The Hog Hunter card starts at about $250.

Vortex Diamondback

The Diamondback is the light, capped-turret hunting line: five second focal plane scopes on 1-inch tubes, $339.99 to $429.99 at list, with XD glass and argon purging. It is the step up from Crossfire that I’d make first.

Sizes run from a 1.75-5x32 for brush guns to a 3.5-10x50 for low light, plus a 2-7x35 rimfire. The 4-12x40 weighs 14.2 ounces and the 1.75-5x32 only 13.0 ounces, so these suit a light rifle you carry all day.

My Diamondback 4-12x40 sits on a .270 and has done for four seasons. It is noticeably brighter than the Crossfire at dawn, and the Dead-Hold BDC is right at 12x with my 130 grain load out to 400 yards. It sells for about $260 new.

Vortex Diamondback Tactical

The Diamondback Tactical is the cheapest way into first focal plane Vortex glass: a 4-16x44 FFP and 6-24x50 FFP with exposed turrets and EBR-2C reticles, plus a 4-12x40 second focal plane model. The 4-16x44 FFP sells for about $340.

List prices run $449.99 to $649.99. Both FFP models use a 30mm tube and come in MOA or MRAD; the 4-16x44 weighs 23.1 ounces and the 6-24x50 24.6 ounces. The 4-12x40 keeps a 1-inch tube and a VMR-1 reticle.

I’d put the 4-16x44 on a .223 trainer or a first 6.5 Creedmoor without a second thought. It dials, it returns, and the mil reticle teaches you to hold for wind. There’s no illumination and no zero stop, and at this price I don’t miss them.

Vortex Venom

The Venom is Vortex’s budget long-range line: a 3-15x44 FFP and 5-25x56 FFP on 34mm tubes with EBR-7C reticles, plus a 1-6x24 second focal plane LPVO, $449.99 to $699.99 at list. The 5-25x56 goes for about $420 new.

The 34mm tube is the reason to buy one over a Diamondback Tactical. Vortex lists 85 MOA of elevation and 25 MOA per turn on the MOA Venom 5-25x56, against 65 MOA and 15 MOA on the Diamondback Tactical 6-24x50. The trade is weight: the Venom is 35.0 ounces to the Diamondback’s 24.6 ounces.

The Venom 1-6x24 is the odd one out, a second focal plane LPVO with an illuminated AR-BDC3. It lists at $449.99, below the Strike Eagle 1-8x24 SFP at $559.99.

Vortex Strike Eagle

The Strike Eagle is the AR line: 1-8x24 and 1-10x24 LPVOs plus a 3-18x44 and 5-25x56 FFP, every model illuminated, $559.99 to $1,149.99 at list. We tested all five in our Vortex Strike Eagle review.

The 1-8x24 comes in both planes: the second focal plane AR-BDC3 at $559.99 list and 17.4 ounces, and the first focal plane EBR-8 at $699.99 and 23.9 ounces. The 1-10x24 FFP lists at $999.99 and is the one with motion activation and a ten minute auto shut-off.

If you’re torn between the two 1-8s, our first vs second focal plane guide puts real numbers on what the plane does to your holds. The 1-8x24 FFP card starts at about $450.

Vortex Viper and Viper HD

The Viper HD is the current heart of the Viper family: five models from a 2-10x42 to a 5-25x50 FFP on 30mm tubes, with HD glass, argon purging and illumination, $899.99 to $1,399.99 at list. The 3-15x44 sells for about $750.

The exposed-turret versions carry RevStop, and Vortex lists the travel with it installed: 47 MOA on the 3-15x44 VMR-3 and both 5-25x50s. The capped 2-10x42 and 3-15x44 BDC models are the walk-in-and-hold hunting choices.

For a western elk rifle the 3-15x44 VMR-3 is the one I’d buy. It weighs 22.5 ounces, dials cleanly and is bright enough at last light that I’ve never wished for more.

The Viper HD 5-25x50 FFP lists at $1,399.99 and sells for about $1,000. It is the Viper to buy for a dedicated long-range rifle now that the PST Gen II 5-25x50 FFP is off the menu.

Viper 6.5-20x50

The plain Viper 6.5-20x50 is the last of the original Vipers on the menu, a $699.99 second focal plane target scope with capped turrets, a 30mm tube and a Dead-Hold BDC or Mil Dot reticle. Dealers have it from about $500.

Vortex Viper PST Gen II

The Viper PST Gen II is Vortex’s tactical mid tier: five models from a 1-6x24 to a 5-25x50, XD glass with XR coatings, illumination, and the RZR Zero stop on the exposed-turret scopes, $899.99 to $1,349.99 at list. The 3-15x44 FFP goes for about $900.

Vortex describes the RZR Zero System this way: it “allows fast, sure return to the original zero point” when you have dialed several turns of elevation. That zero stop and a fully exposed windage turret are what set a PST apart from a Viper HD.

First focal plane PSTs on the menu today are the 2-10x32 at $1,129.99 and the 3-15x44 at $1,349.99. The 1-6x24, the 3-15x44 EBR-4 and the 5-25x50 are second focal plane.

Vortex Razor HD LHT

The Razor HD LHT is the light hunting Razor: APO glass on a 30mm tube in a 3-15x42, a 3-15x50 and a 4.5-22x50 FFP, each around 19 to 22 ounces, $1,899.99 to $2,199.99 at list. The 4.5-22x50 sells for about $1,270.

Weight is the whole point. The 4.5-22x50 FFP is 21.7 ounces, about half the 48.5 ounces of the Razor HD Gen II 4.5-27x56. All three carry a locking exposed elevation turret and a capped windage knob, the right setup for a sheep or elk rifle.

I’d take an LHT over any Viper for a mountain rifle that I carry five miles before I shoot. The glass is a clear step brighter in timber, and it doesn’t tip the rifle over on the pack.

Vortex Razor HD Gen II and Gen II-E

Two Razor HD Gen II scopes are still on the menu: the Gen II-E 1-6x24, a second focal plane LPVO at $2,399.99 list, and the Gen II 4.5-27x56 FFP, a 34mm precision scope from $3,999.99. The 4.5-27x56 card starts at about $2,380.

The 4.5-27x56 comes with EBR-7C or Horus reticles; the Horus H59 and Tremor3 versions list at $4,499.99. At 48.5 ounces it belongs on a bench or barricade rifle, not a hunting rifle.

The Gen II-E 1-6x24 runs about $1,270. Next to the newer Gen III 1-10x24 it has less zoom but a bold second focal plane reticle that reads at 1x without the illumination on.

Vortex Razor HD Gen III

The Razor HD Gen III is Vortex’s first focal plane flagship family: a 1-10x24, a 4-24x44 and a 6-36x56, all on 34mm tubes with APO glass and locking side illumination, $3,999.99 to $4,799.99 at list. The 1-10x24 goes for about $2,120.

The 4-24x44 and 6-36x56 use Vortex’s L-Tec+ zero system. The 6-36x56 is the PRS scope at 45.1 ounces, while the 4-24x44 cuts that to 32.3 ounces for a rifle you still want to carry. The 1-10x24 weighs 21.5 ounces and is one of the picks in our AR-15 LPVO roundup.

Is the Gen III worth the jump from a Viper? On a match rifle, yes. On a deer rifle, no. Put the money in an LHT instead.

Vortex AMG: The Top of the Range

The AMG 1-10x24 FFP is the most expensive scope Vortex lists at $6,399.99, and the only riflescope page I checked that names where it’s made: “Made in USA with US and Global Parts.” Dealers have it from about $3,400.

It weighs 18.8 ounces, lighter than the Razor HD Gen III 1-10x24 at 21.5 ounces, and its Dual Zero turrets let you “Switch zeros for suppressed, unsuppressed, long- or short-range loads.” The reticle is the EBR-9 in MRAD on a 34mm tube.

For almost every AR owner the Razor Gen III or a Strike Eagle does the job. The AMG is for the shooter who runs a suppressed and unsuppressed setup on one carbine and wants to switch between two zeros without touching a screwdriver.

Vortex Golden Eagle HD

The Golden Eagle HD 15-60x52 is a benchrest and F-Class scope, not a hunting one: a $2,799.99 second focal plane scope with tall exposed turrets and what Vortex calls “Extremely Fine Second Focal Plane Reticles.” Dealers start it at about $1,690.

It starts at 15x, which makes it useless for anything that moves, and it weighs 29.7 ounces. On a bench gun shooting groups at 600 yards, that fine reticle and 60x top end are exactly what you want.

Focal Plane, Tube and Turrets by Line

Second focal plane is the only choice below the Diamondback Tactical, first focal plane arrives with the Diamondback Tactical, Venom and Strike Eagle, and 34mm tubes start at the Venom. This is the whole vortex scope lineup by the features that change how you shoot.

Line	Focal plane	Tube	Turret styles Vortex lists	Zero stop
Triumph HD	SFP	1-inch	Capped	Not listed
Crossfire HD	SFP	1-inch, 30mm	Capped	Not listed
Crossfire II	SFP	30mm	Capped	Not listed
Diamondback	SFP	1-inch	Capped	Not listed
Diamondback Tactical	FFP and SFP	1-inch, 30mm	Exposed	Not listed
Venom	FFP and SFP	30mm, 34mm	Capped; Exposed; Exposed Elevation Capped Windage	Not listed
Strike Eagle	FFP and SFP	30mm, 34mm	Capped; Exposed; Exposed Elevation Capped Windage	Not listed
Viper	SFP	30mm	Capped	Not listed
Viper HD	FFP and SFP	30mm	Capped; Exposed Elevation Capped Windage	RevStop on exposed models
Viper PST Gen II	FFP and SFP	30mm	Capped; Exposed	RZR Zero
Razor HD LHT	FFP and SFP	30mm	Exposed Elevation Capped Windage	RevStop
Razor HD Gen II	FFP and SFP	30mm, 34mm	Capped; Exposed Locking	Not listed
Razor HD Gen III	FFP	34mm	Capped; Elevation: Locking Exposed, Windage: Capped; Exposed Locking	L-Tec+ on 4-24 and 6-36
AMG	FFP	34mm	Dual Zero, Capped	Dual Zero
Golden Eagle HD	SFP	30mm	Exposed	Not listed

Not sure which plane you need? Our focal plane guide settles it for LPVOs, hunting and long range, and the MOA vs MRAD guide explains the turret units every exposed Vortex turret comes in.

Vortex Diamondback vs Crossfire

In the Vortex Diamondback vs Crossfire choice, the Diamondback wins on glass, weight and argon purging, and the Crossfire HD wins on price and reticle choice. On the same 3-9x40 size the Diamondback lists $90 more.

3-9x40	Crossfire HD	Diamondback
Vortex list price	$259.99	$349.99
Glass Vortex names	HD	XD
Gas fill	Not listed	Argon
Weight	16.2 ounces	14.5 ounces
Reticles on the 3-9x40	5	2

If the rifle is a once-a-year deer gun, the Crossfire HD is enough scope. If you hunt the last light of the day, the Diamondback earns its premium.

Vortex Razor vs Viper

Vortex Razor vs Viper comes down to glass: every Razor lists APO glass and XR Plus coatings, the Viper HD and PST use HD or XD glass, and the cheapest Razor lists at $1,899.99 to the Viper HD’s $899.99. The Viper is the better value; the Razor is the better scope.

In the field the difference shows at the edges of the day and at the top of the zoom range. For most hunting inside 500 yards a Viper HD is all the scope you need. For a match rifle, or a mountain rifle where every ounce counts, the Razor LHT or Gen III earns it. Our Vortex vs Nightforce page puts the top Razor against the top Nightforce if you want to step outside Vortex.

The VIP Warranty: What It Covers on Every Line

Every Vortex scope in this guide, from the Triumph HD to the AMG, carries the same VIP Warranty, which Vortex sells as unlimited, unconditional and lifetime coverage for damaged or defective products. That is the same promise on a $149.99 scope and a $6,399.99 one.

In Vortex’s words: “It doesn’t matter how it happened, whose fault it was, or where you purchased it.” It will repair or replace the product at no charge. The exclusions are short: “The VIP Warranty does not cover loss, theft, deliberate damage, or cosmetic damage that does not hinder the performance of the product.”

That warranty is why budget Vortex rifle scopes are a safe buy in a way a no-name scope isn’t. It doesn’t make a Crossfire track like a Razor, but it does mean a dropped scope gets fixed.

Which Vortex Scope Should You Buy

Pick by the rifle and the distance, not the badge: Crossfire or Diamondback for deer, Strike Eagle for an AR, Diamondback Tactical or Venom for precision, Viper HD or LHT for mountains, Razor Gen III for matches. By job, it looks like this.

• Whitetail inside 200 yards: Crossfire HD 3-9x40 or Diamondback 3-9x40. See our scopes under $500 for more.
• AR-15 carbine: Strike Eagle 1-8x24 or 1-10x24, or the Razor HD Gen III 1-10x24 if money is no object. Compare them in our LPVO rankings.
• First precision rifle: Diamondback Tactical 4-16x44 FFP, then a Venom 5-25x56 when you need more dial.
• PRS and steel matches: Razor HD Gen III 6-36x56 or Gen II 4.5-27x56; our PRS scope picks rank them against other makers.
• Western big game: Viper HD 3-15x44 or Razor HD LHT 4.5-22x50.
• Benchrest and F-Class: Golden Eagle HD 15-60x52.

Shopping outside Vortex too? Our best rifle scopes and Vortex vs Leupold comparison cover the rest of the market, and our Nightforce NX8 review shows what the next step up costs. Once it arrives, put it in good scope rings and follow our sight-in steps.

Vortex scopes are only part of the catalog. For rings, mounts and red dots, the Vortex brand page lists the parts and accessories.

FAQ: Vortex Scopes

Short answers to the questions we get most about the Vortex range.