You and Rex do the best optics reviews. Thanks

Excellent walk-through and compare of the two optics. Thank you for putting in the time and sharing your thoughts.

Thanks for the Review again, I'm getting an IOR now!

What you say on 13:30 is ABSOLUTELY right....I never thought of it that way, but you're right. Nice review, thanks

Yet another delightful review.

Bye the way thanks for the review bloody brilliant have mentioned it to others

Thanks for these great reviews Richard I am using all Vortex PST scopes at the moment (great scopes) with a 6-24 PST for my savage 223 varmint rifle and had been thinking of stepping up to the Razor....now I rather like the IOR scopes although they may be hard to find in NZ. Keep up the good work cheers.

Wow you did a wonderful reveiw here great information thanks

Voice is spot on, David Gilmour Great review and band 😉 thank you

Richard im just loving these reviews, very informative and very in depth im learning quite a fair bit from all the range of scopes you have, keep up the good work mate...regards from australia!!

Fantastic review

Hi Richard, excellent review once again. i have been waiting for this review as you emailed me letting me know its coming to make considerations for my next purchase. Your comments on the open center ret had thrown me off but i can confirm that the EBR-1C MRAD ret has a full cross thru the center so this may help for other people watching your video and be put off initially as i was. I agree a floating dot is always nicer but i think the full cross might be worth a go. Once again keep up the great reviews, they are a valuable tool on making expensive decision. I have pointed many people to your channel that ask me about scopes and have much positive feedback..cheers rob.v

Thanks mate, helped me to decide between the two for my new 6.5 Tikka T3x CTR. Wish the IOR was cheaper here stateside though, as I do like the compactness. Cheers

Amazing review!!!

Excellent review, Richard ! Like all of your reviews. I have the Razor 4.5-27x56 and love mine. The combination of build quality, excellent glass, features, and warranty put it at the top of its class for me. It's not perfect and is very heavy but it's an impressive Beast. It is more of a Beast than the Night Force Beast, imo. I had decided to go with a US Optics scope because I wanted what I thought was the best constructed scope in the world but changed my mind and got the Vortex, instead, after seeing how many long range shooters prefer it in the States.

Great review. Thanks.

This review is the tits! Before I saw this, I was so bent on the Vortex, now Your review has told me some important stuff I never heard before. Thanks for that. Cheers Mate!!

I did not realize yall are allowed to own suppressors in the UK. Just found your channel and like it.

I love my IOR Recon. Absolutely love it. Started as my precision optic, started using it for hunting goats in the hills, and eventually will move it to my dream-build magnum. Because I can't afford another $4k optic :')

just found your channel, great videos.

great review

Loved that review. Thanks for that! Strange about the price differences between UK and USA. So glad You explained the Vortex's -NO CLICK- on the zero adjustment. One reviewer said he did NOT like that. But of course, You clarify that without the clicks, You can get the VORTEX absolutely spot on. Now ... I wish You could throw Leupold's Mark 4 ERT 6.5-20 x 50 in the comparison. Any opinions. In the USA, it is priced the same as the Vortex. CHEERS!!

Excellent review! Thank you ! Wish the IOR scopes were cheaper in the US

Great review.

Richard, thanks for an excellent review of both scopes. The Vortex is impressive, but I will always lean to the scopes with German glass. As you know, once you experience German glass from Schott, you'll never want anything else IMHO. The Recon rocks !!

The open center in the Vortex reticle is only .06 mil or .25 MOA , which isn't big, and the more you use it then the more you will like it. I used the 1C and then got the 2C and started using it and it really grew on me. At 100 yards I can drop a 3/8" dot in there and be very precise in my aiming. Nothing blocking the small target. You can easily aim on bullet holes. Also with the whole reticle illuminating it allows you to find it easy in darker areas.

Great review, thanks. I'm looking at either the Vortex or the NXS Nightforce. My local RFD tried to move me away from Vortex from his friend's experience but I wonder if that wasn't an HD2. Interesting to see you saying you hold the Vortex easily above the Nightforce.

Thanks for the review Richard. I am 100% happy with my IOR Recon. The glass is incredible. I wonder, which make was is on the cap and the rubber eyepiece? And I think you should write ALL details of which items seen on camera in the video description. It saves time for us and you. Thanks for the info that Tier 1 has 40mm scope rings with a level. I'm looking for it. I notice that IOR now makes 40mm scope rings with 40 MOA built in (sadly without a level). Do you have an opinion about them? I think I'll have to buy a Spuhr mount to get the level AND the MOA. Should have done it from the beginning and saved money... Keep up the good work! 👍🏻👍🏻 Liked and subscribed.

I just purchased the Gen2 Razor reticle is now fixed.

Love your reviews, god job! I really hope you do a review on the new IOR Lutaz

Hey Richard thanks for the videos, I really like your reviews they are very informational. I'm curious to what you would put on a sako M10 I have recently bought one in .338 lapua. I'm having lots of trouble figuring out what scope to go with, I have a price range of $4,000.

Love your reviews and your vast experience. I'm trying to decide between the Recon, Steiner M5xi MSRv2 and the PM II P4F. I've never used any of them, which one would you prefer?

people like different things. Some people want a thick reticle, some want a dot, thin reticle etc. I love the reticle on this Vortex. It doesn't block my view of the target.

The Vortex is by far the most common at PRS matches among finalists . It's only downside is the WEIGHT. The EBR-7C reticle corrects a lot of the weak points mentioned. Great videos as usual.

@richardutting Have you had the chance to get behind the Minox or Tangent Theta scopes? I previously owned a S&B PM ll 5-25x which I traded for my current Nightforce Beast. Really looking for a new option but have not had the privilege of sitting behind some of the top tier European brands like Minox, IOR or Tangent. (Side note: Glass on Beast is vastly superior to other Nightforce lines). If you have a preference for any particular scope in terms of glass quality (regardless of price), would love to hear your thoughts.

The Recon is €1046 cheaper then the Vortex in Netherlands. Thnx for the review nice one!

Hey Richard, great video! Have a question to the IOR's. Is the Recon,Crusader or Lutaz painted or Anodized? can't find any info regarding that. How is the finish holding up long term vice on your IOR's? thanks and cheers

So what I'm getting from this halfway through is the Vortex is a extremely durable scope with bright picture and "just works". A scope that you can grab and quickly and precisely hit a target vs a compact light extremely fidgety scope that gets a slightly more fine image after minutes of flopping your arms around your rifle to get to all the turrets and dials turned juuuussssttttt right only to have to repeat when engaging the next target. Now for some that might not be a problem if your target shooting at a set range or lining up one single shot as you could set it up exactly perfect. Now I haven't had my hands on either yet to form my own opinion but they both seem great but in their own way. Personally it sounds like I'd prefer the Vortex for my applications but I wouldnt rule the other one out. Plus having a durable scope that you can use like it's meant to be used and not worrying about breaking it because you can get a factory new one with one email as many times as you want in your life gives me peace of mind and I wish every company was the way Vortex is. Other companies it feels like buying a $350,000 Hennessey Venom for street fun and not getting car insurance.

have you tried out the Falcon line of scopes? i understand they are no where near either of these or other tier 1 scopes but they are very good for the price that I have seen and they are a UK company so here in the states many have not heard of them but I have one and i do like it. wondering if you know about them and if they have improved their line as i've had my falcon menace ffp 5-25 scope for a few years now. again, they are a budget scope and nothing in the class of ior at all. just wondering your thoughts if you have tried them.

I'm honestly surprised you didn't get the Razor HD in the MRAD Reticle instead of the MOA reticle. Even just from comparing the two side-by-side on their website, I can easily tell that I dislike the MOA ret while I like the MRAD ret.

I have the 3.5-18 and a Gen 1 Razor right now...Im skipping the Gen2 and getting the Crusader here soon!

Good look at both scopes do you have any experience with the Minox 5-25-56 tactical scopes?

Have seen the sig Sauer scopes? Wondering if u could do a review on the tango6 5-30x56 around same price point as the vortex was wondering if the glass was any better "tier 1"

Hi Richard, Awesome Review sir. If the Focus/Parallax knob refocuses very quickly at different distances , it sounds like the IOR would be better for measuring distance by how focus the target looks. If I were to mark the front focus dial with a very fine and silver/white colored sharpie, could I get the focus to fit my eye and thus giving me a very close ball park to call to the target distance. Thank you for your time with us.

could you please tell me what rifle the recon is mounted on? I'd like to get one just like it.

How about a lightweight stalking scope review...... maybe the IOR Valdada Trident 1.5-8 x 26 ??

Hello someone may have already mentioned it , that the IOR scope comes in either MIL or MOA have a look at there site as mentioned in a U.S. forum they say only in MOA cheers

What is that stock on the Tikka? I am looking for exactly this kind of stock.

I must say that my experience with the Vortex 4,5-27 differs a lot from your very positive appraisal of that scope. I used this scope for 2 years in practical rifle competition - firing a couple of thousand rounds - returned the scope - then fired a thousand rounds more - before returning the second scope as well. Bottom line; This scope does not track well, which gave me huge problems in keeping this scope zeroed. I have been shooting practical rifle competition for 30 years or so - running Schmidt & Benders, Leupolds and Zeiss. I have never returned a scope before I bought the Vortex. In my experience, this scope is significantly over priced; You just can’t compare it with the “Alfa scopes” as you call them. The Vortex looks great - sexy design - great rets - well designed turrets. However, this is a clear case where you should be careful not to “judge the book by its cover” - as the inside of this scope does not live up to the sexy looks... Vortex is great at marketing and probably has the best warranty in the industry (the so called VIP), which you will need when you have to return the scope....

great review. but i just wonder, what kind of scope rings do you have on that vortex?

How do you feel about the recon vs the Iormx-7?

What is the price?

Richard, I have recently discovered your channel and have become a big fan!!! I have a Tikka M595 Master Sporter in .308 I purchased some years ago, and I'm looking to replace the factory chassis with one of the new modular chassis. I've come across several that appeal to me but, to be honest I'm not sure if they will fit. one that I like in particular is the MDT LSS chassis. every site that I have look at its say's it will Fit Tikka T3. as I'm not familiar with the newer models could you provide some insight as to are the two models barreled action and chassis of Tikka's are interchangeable. From your videos you seem to have quite a collection of Tikka's. if not, could you recommend a similar viable substitute? Now that I have retired, I have joined a competition shooting club.

+Richard Utting I have been looking at these two for quite sometime. I finally received my rifle I ordered that will receive one of these two. I have always been a open sight, red dot guy. This will be my first scoped rifle and venture into longer range shooting 800 to 850 yards. So this brings me to a question. For someone learning "first scope", in your opinion do I go with fussy or non fussy? I can see benefits both ways. Just would like your opinion. Great reviews! Loving your style and effort to explain!

Fantastic review as always, full of useful information. I have the IOR Terminator but am looking for another, this time in FFP to match my preference, do you have any preference between the Recon and Crusader? Do you feel the extra 5.8-40 magnification is beneficial with the larger 56mm objective, or do you feel there is any loss image wise that would make you lean towards the 4-27? I tend to prefer the higher magnification as long as the image is still there but for me in Canada the difference between these 2 is $600. Thank you for your very well thought out reviews.

have you done any other comparison reviews on say, nightforce, steiner, kahles, etc?? thx

Nice video Richard. I was wondering how does the warranty on the IOR compare with Vortex?

Great review! That .204 is beautiful man! Have you done any tracking test? Or could you get any video looking through the glass? I can't find an IOR to look through where I live and I definitely would like to get behind a scope before I spend $3,600.

Richard, have you noticed a difference in clarity the Vortex has when the side parallax adjustment is dialed to the exact yardage of your target ? In all other scopes I have owned in the past, the parallax adjustment covered a wide range near their adjusted setting with little difference in clarity. The exact range of the parallax adjustment makes a big difference with my personal 4.5-27x56 Razor HD in regards to the clarity of its image. I just wondered if it made a difference with yours and if it was the same deal with your IOR ?

Currently run the razor 4.5-27 wish the IOR came in MOA

Hi great review. With the IOR though do you not find that centre dot to be massive? I had a look through my buddy's 4-28 and found the dot to block out most of the small targets. Bear in mind my 3-20 pm2 with P4F ret is still lovely and fine at top mag that's the one thing which turned me off the IOR

How do you find the Accuracy International magazine on your Tikka? Does it have a longer internal length than the Factory magazine? I'd like to shoot some 75gr bullets in my Tikka 223, but the magazine is pretty restrictive on seating depth

Richard a review of the Valdada Recon on a vendors website reports thread damage from the grub screws on the ZeroStop. Have you experienced anything like this in your Valdad experiences? TIA, Will

hi Richard love the video,iam a big fan of the IORs but being in Australia it is almost impossible to get your hands on them.In England who do you go through to buy them.

How has the recon held up after a few years of use? Any issues?

is that a 35mm tube on the vortex? the reason I ask .......are the rings! I have a razor HD with a 35mm tube and could only find 4-bolt rings for it from millet! I have this on my scar 17, and that 308 round is so much concussion, I would just feel more secure with those heavier rings! so if you could send me a link on those, thanks!

do vortex HD AMG pls also!

Nice. What kind of rifles are You using? What do You recommended for beginner. 600-800 metres?

Richard why don't you check out March Scopes? Be keen to hear your thoughts on them. Give them an email.

Check out the Vortex Razor HD AMG vs the gen2. AMG is 100% made in the USA at the Vortex factory.

What action is the Vortex sitting on?

In the states vortex is 2500 the IOR is 3000

Ive had a Recon now for a couple of weeks and somewhere around 500 shots. If I said I didnt have just a little tinge of buyers remorse, I'd be lying. First off, the glass, field of view, construction, controls, are all "Alpha". Pleased as punch. Now, what I think needs some improvement and in no particular order. 1) The eye relief is a little on the short side, not too terribly short but noticeable. They could do better. 2) 50mm objective at high mag may be fine in good light but, at first and last light, its noticeably darker than other 30 and 34 mm tubed 56mm objectives. This scopes would be much better served with a larger objective. Strike two! 3) my biggest gripe is the reticle is too heavy and the floating dog is too big. Period. At the upper end the dot is annoyingly large for any type of precision work. Why manufacturers don't use a chevron instead of the dot is beyond me. It seems obvious, the more you zoom in, the more precise the aiming point becomes. Lastly, the cats out of the bag here in the states. They're not the bargain they once used to be. To be fair, the current exchange rate is part of the reason, of course supply and demand the other. Recons are now going for around $3000, with the Crusader and Terminator around $3500+, when you can find one. Definitely "Alpha" pricing. Not saying they're not worth it, just saying, not the screaming value they used to be. If I could do it over again, I'd wait for them to fix the reticle, it's something you notice every time you pick it up. The search continues.

The scope is the weak link in the chain. It is what will make or break the whole setup. You're better off putting a Schmidt & Bender on a slingshot than putting an NCstar on a Ruger Precision Rifle.

I can get the Vortex Razor here for USD 2160! The IOR is about 2995! That's an USD 825 difference! That's a lot of 'cheddar.' ;-)

There is a lot of work in this review. Thanks for taking the time and making the effort...so we dont

IOR VALDADA ALL DAY.

You talk about the reticles alot, why not spend an extra minute and show them through the camera???? Good review. Thank you.

Is vortex as good as nightforce?

Front focus is an absolute NO for me. Try shooting varmints at varying ranges from a prone position and you will hate that front focus ring. All my scopes are now side focus. I have switched to first focal plane scopes and I agree, they are great. The Vortex EBR-2C reticle works great for varmints and windy conditions.

I was lead to believe that Vortex made their own glass in Wisconsin?

i am shore the IOR is a good scope, and you said it was not as hevy as the Vortex but you need to look at what the Vortex was made for, long range tactical shooting, it was not made to carry on a hunting trip, and if you want a liter tactical scope look at the Vortex razor hd amg.

your comparing a 56mm (vortex) to the 50 mm ior try comparing apples to apples next time

And both are playing catch up to S&B PM II High Power line.

How would a chap like me get a tikka stock like that