Vortex Viper PST 1-4×24 Review [Hands on]

vortex viper pst 1 4x24

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The Vortex Viper PST is a Low Power Variable Optic (LPVO), which just means that it is a scope that provides some magnification levels that aren’t very high. A lot of shooters consider it for 3-gun competitions and hunting, but does it live up to the hype?

If you’re going to be the winner of the next 3-gun, you will need a scope that won’t break the rules for optics of the contest you are entering. If you’re a hunter, you’ll need a quality scope with high reliability that works in varying conditions and doesn’t lose zero.

Let’s see if the Vortex Viper PST 1-4 24 fits the bill.

Review Summary

In case you’re short on time: Yes, a Vortex Viper PST 1-4x is an impressive optic that goes from a true 1x up to a magnification setting of 4x. It will mount well onto your rifle or other firearm, and help you quickly search out your target as well as any other scope out there.

At 1x, the Vortex Viper PST 1-4 24 scope functions much like a red dot, just not quite as well since you won’t have unlimited eye relief, but at 4x you’ll be able to hit targets you wouldn’t have a chance of hitting with a red dot. This is the great thing about low power variable optics; they can serve the function of a red dot sight in a pinch, but they also function as a regular scope.

We’re going to take a look at the quality of the Vortex Viper PST 1-4x and do a comparison with some other scopes out there so you can pick which option is best for your budget. We won’t be discussing the razor in this review.

Our Review of The Vortex Viper PST 1-4x24

vortex viper pst 1-4x24

What Is It Designed to Do?

The Vortex Viper PST 1-4 24 is designed to give you a quality shooting experience at close to mid-range. Its features are all pointed towards short distances. With a wide field of view, it’s designed to be a flexible optic that you can use for home defense, or for shots up to 200 yards. 

Is It Good? Why?

In my opinion, it’s very good at what it does. It has multiple brightness controls to be better in low light, and a separate illumination turret for easy controls. It does well with all the basics; you get .5 MOA windage and elevation turret adjustments, which is plenty precise for the distances you’ll be shooting.

You’ve got an aircraft-grade aluminum tube, which gives it plenty of strength, and the objective lens is good glass with extra low dispersion, which gives you a great picture with plenty of contrast. Reviews are overwhelmingly positive, and my experience has been the same.

If you want to pick up the Vortex Viper PST 1-4, you can head to Optics Planet or Amazon. 

Vortex Optics Viper PST

Vortex Optics Viper PST 1-4x24

The price of Vortex Optics Viper PST Gen I 1-4x24 varies, so check the latest price at

What’s In the Package

It doesn’t come with scope rings or screws, but it will come with a CR2032 battery for the illumination. It also comes with a lens cloth and brass shims if needed with your mounts. The Vortex Viper PST should be easy to mount on most guns except scout rifles, but if you’re not sure if it's compatible with your gun, you can always get more information on the Vortex Viper PST site.

It does not come with lens covers.

Design and Features

Illumination

To be as useful as possible in all situations, a scope needs to have a way to change the power setting, and the Viper has that in spades. It has a dedicated turret knob for illumination, and multiple brightness settings to match your shooting situation.

The image quality and clarity are great and the glass is well-made. The glass has scratch resistance and can take a little bit of abuse. The Viper features tactical turrets that allow you to quickly make adjustments for elevation and windage and put your target in focus in all lighting conditions.

Adjustment and Magnification

Once it’s on your gun, the Viper gives you a lot of different adjustment options. You can adjust the focus of the eyepiece, and further up the tube you can adjust for elevation and windage with those knobs. The elevation turret ring is responsive and quick if there are elevation changes between targets.

The magnification range tops out at 4x and the magnification ring is well-designed to get you from one end of the range to the other without difficulty. This type of scope is not designed for long distance shooting, so you won’t see features like a first focal plane reticle on here. You will need an allen wrench to reset the turrets.

There's no throw lever on the magnification range, but the turrets respond well and have audible and tactile clicks. The turrets are strong and should be just as good as most turrets on any other riflescope.

Reticle and Overall Performance

The reticle on the Viper is either basic or complicated depending on where you’re coming from. If you’re used to just a 2 MOA dot, then the crosshair on the Viper will seem like a lot of information, but if you’re used to the ACSS reticle, for example, this one will seem quite minimalist.

If you’re using an AR-15 variant with .223 or 5.56 ammunition, then the recoil from your gun will not be a problem for this scope. The 1-4 24 should even hold up to the more powerful recoil of a .308 or similar cartridge, but it designed to be a piece of gear for a smaller round.

Vortex customer service is good, and they honor their VIP warranty if you need a replacement Vortex PST 1-4 24. The weight is right at 1 pound, and the price is very reasonable for the features you get. 

Pros and Cons

Pros:

  • The 1-4 24 uses argon gas to protect from fogging
  • Quick to search out targets
  • Great for all shooting under 200 yards
  • Doesn’t take much time to re-zero at different distances

Cons:

  • 4x magnification is fairly low
  • TMCQ MOA reticle may not be what you want
  • Some shooters may want more eye relief

If you're in the United States and are ready to pick up a Vortex Viper PST 1-4, you can head to Amazon or Optics Planet to do so.

Alternatives

PRODUCT

DETAILS

Products

BEST FOR SHOOTING

Eotech Vudu 1-6x24 Rifle Scope

Eotech Vudu 1-6x24

Eotech Vudu 1-6x24 Rifle Scope

  • Magnification: 1 - 6 x
  • Eye Relief:80 - 100 mm
  • Weight:19.75 oz
BEST FOR Hunting

Primary Arms 1-4x24mm Rifle Scope

Primary Arms 1-4x24mm

Primary Arms 1-4x24mm Rifle Scope

  • Magnification: 1 - 4 x
  • Eye Relief:3.5 in
  • Weight:17 oz
BEST FOR SHOOTING

Trijicon AccuPoint 1-4 Riflescope

Trijicon AccuPoint 1-4

Trijicon AccuPoint 1-4 Riflescope

  • Magnification: 1 - 4 x
  • Eye Relief:3.2 in
  • Weight:14.4 oz

1. Eotech Vudu 1-6x24mm Riflescope

vortex viper pst 1 4

This scope is in an entirely different class from the Viper PST 1-4 riflescope. You get amazing image quality, a fogproof design, a magnification ring that takes you to 6x, and most notably, a first focal plane (FFP) reticle scope. The PST reticle is on the second focal plane, which is much more common at this range. You’ll pay much more money for this, but the added value may be worth it.

You can also get an MRAD reticle instead of an MOA reticle if you want. MRAD can be better at adjusting your shots at close range, especially when you are limited on time (like in a 3-gun competition).

Eotech Vudu 1-6x24 Rifle Scope

Eotech Vudu 1-6x24 Rifle Scope

The price of Eotech Vudu 1-6x24 Rifle Scope varies, so check the latest price at

2. Primary Arms 1-4x24mm Riflescope

vortex pst 1-4x

This optic is a great budget option if you still want quality, but haven’t found something affordable in your search yet. This fits in the LPVO type of optic, and has a one-piece tube construction. This one can actually be great for hunting, since you have the magnifications you need for close-range, small game. It would not be recommended to put this on a rifle that shoots rounds big enough for big game, however.

Primary Arms 1-4x24

Primary Arms 1-4x24mm Rifle Scope

The price of Primary Arms 1-4x24mm Rifle Scope varies, so check the latest price at

3. Trijicon AccuPoint 1-4x24mm Riflescope

Trijicon AccuPoint 1-4

The Trijicon is kind of a middle ground between the Viper and the Vudu. Trijicon uses a combination of a fiber optic line with Tritium to create illumination without a battery. Very few riflescope brands use a fiber optic line this way. The Trijicon is also really light, which makes it great for a rifle shooter who is trying to keep his guns as nimble as possible.

The battery-free illuminated reticle allows a rifle shooter to get on target quickly once the sight is at zero. Trijicons numerous reticle options allow you to pick the one that works best for your rifle, your target, and at what distance you plan to zero. The Accupoint gets to zero quickly and easily.

I'm partial to Trijicon, but it's hard to justify the price tag unless you are already a serious competitor in 3-guns, and since I'm not, something more affordable would make sense for me personally.

Trijicon AccuPoint 1-4

Trijicon AccuPoint 1-4 Riflescope

The price of Trijicon AccuPoint 1-4 Riflescope varies, so check the latest price at

Conclusion and Summary

The Viper is a great rifle scope, and can be used for virtually any purpose as long as you’re not trying to shoot beyond 200 yards. If you want to look at some other scopes, we would recommend the alternatives we have listed here.

Have you used the Viper scope? What has been your experience? What gun have you put this optic on? Let us know in the comments.

Check out our guide on best vortex scopes if you are looking for more scopes by the same manufacturer. And if you are looking for different scopes with same magnification them must check out our guide on best 1-4x scopes, and trijicon accupower 1-4x24mm review.

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