Anytime anyone suggests something is “The Best” I always raise an eyebrow. There are so many variables and specifics that need to be addressed in order for a statement like this to be “true”. The truth is that it’s my opinion that the Vortex Diamondback 4-12×40 is the best rifle scope for under $200 but I will do my best to explain why I think it is.
Pros and Cons
After a year of use I have been able to get a firm grasp of what I like about the Diamondback while also providing some minor criticisms.
PROS:
Fantastic Clarity and Brightness: Something you may not have considered if you haven’t used many scopes is your ability to see clearly through your optics. This is huge especially when hunting and shooting in lower light conditions. What is great about the Diamondback is that it is probably as bright and clear as my more expensive Leupold scopes.
If you want a good visual experience through your scope, you want to look for quality glass that has coatings to improve light transmission and prevent reflection and glare. The Diamondback crushes it in this category.
Vortex Diamondback Fast Focus
Fast Focus Eyepiece Works Great: Some scopes will not provide sharp focus of the reticle and the target at the same time forcing you to choose one or the other. I have been very impressed with the Diamondback fast focus eye piece which allows a quick and easy reticle focusing without blurring the target.
Great Field of View (FOV): FOV is measured in feet at 100 yards and is amount of view you see through your scope from right to left at that distance. FOV is a function of the shape and contouring of the glass inside the scope rather than the size of the objective lens.
Having a large FOV is very helpful when spotting game or targets through your scope, this is another area that the Diamondback excels especially when compared to the slightly more expensive Nikon Pro Staff 4-12×40 that has a FOV of 7.3′ at 12X while the Diamondback has 11.3′ at 12X. The comparison is even better at 4X magnification, 23.6′ with the Nikon verses 32.4′ with the Diamondback.
Very Affordable Long Range Optic: Normally when you start reaching a 12X magnification the price goes up pretty quickly. The Diamondback provides a very reasonably priced entry point into long range shooting for those that want to reach out and touch something.
Versatile: In addition to being a great option for long range shooting, it also works great for hunting with its high brightness, large FOV and low weight. The matte-finish also reduces the amount glare and reflection that may scare wild game.
Holds Up to The Recoil: It can be very frustrating when your scope loses its zero from doing nothing but firing the rifle! I have put nearly 500 rounds through my AR .308 with no noticeable shift in the zero. I have also had a few rough handling experiences (oops) that also had no noticeable effect.
Vortex Diamondback with turrets removed.
Easy to Adjust: Sometimes I have found myself using gear with so many options it can be difficult making the adjustments I’m looking for. The Diamondback is very simple to make adjustments on and comes with a well written manual that is easy to follow. I also like the feel of each click, no ambiguity when you make adjustments while zeroing your rifle.
Durable: This might be the most overlooked and important feature to look for in a scope. Your optics play an obvious important role when shooting, but what good is it if isn’t robust and dependable? When you go hunting you want gear that will hold up well with all the bumps and bangs along the way and not lose zero. The Vortex Diamondback is built rock solid (see features section below) and has a reputation for longevity.
Fog Proof/Waterproof: Chances are you will find yourself hunting or shooting in unfavorable weather. When it’s cold and raining you can easily have fog cover your optics. The Diamondback is made waterproof and is filled with argon gas to prevent fogging from originating on the inside of the scope.
Light Weight: Even though this scope offers 12X magnification it is only 14.6 oz! Normally larger magnification translates to a heavier scope but Vortex keeps the Diamondback under a pound.
VIP Warranty and Amazing Customer Service: More details on this below, but Vortex has the best warranty in the business by repairing or replacing your gear for free even if you broke it! Huge selling point.
The BDC Reticle: BDC stands for Bullet Drop Compensator and is ideal for long range hunting or shooting since it is easy to look at without distracting from the target. Some BDC reticles out there are very “busy” and tend to over complicate things while covering too much of the target! I have the Dead-Hold BDC reticle on my Vortex Diamondback which gives the reference marks that are needed and helpful.
Matte-finish: In addition to looking great the Diamondback’s matte-finish is exactly what you want for hunting, using shiny gear is a great way to signal danger to that huge Buck you’re after.
CONS:
Somewhat Short Eye Relief: 3.1 – 3.4 inches might be on the short side for eye relief for some shooters, however I have found it pretty ideal for my AR rifles with a picatinny rail where I can adjust as needed. Keep this in mind for non-AR rifles.
Eye Alignment is Critical: In order to keep the image sharp with no loss of field of view, your eye needs to be aligned just right. Although not difficult to achieve I thought it was worth noting. This is a common issue for most scopes at the highest magnification.
Some Glare at Full Magnification: The scope at 12X magnification sometimes has a little issue with glare compared to higher end scopes with better lens coatings. This was only noticeable when the sun was lower on the horizon, it wasn’t bad, but noticeable at times.
Price & Where to Buy
As the title of this article would imply, the scope is typically sold for $199 or less. I purchased mine from Amazon with my Prime account since they have fast shipping and a good return policy. I also really like Brownell’s since they often provide free shipping on orders over $99.
Vortex Name and Warranty
If you already know about the Vortex VIP warranty skip ahead, if you don’t, let me stress how awesome it is.
This is the statement directly from Vortex:
VIP stands for a Very Important Promise to you, our customer. We will repair or replace your Vortex product in the event it becomes damaged or defective—at no charge to you. If we cannot repair your product, we will replace it with a product in perfect working order of equal or better physical condition.
You see, it doesn’t matter how it happened, whose fault it was, or where you purchased it. You can count on the VIP Warranty for all Vortex Optics riflescopes, prism scopes, red dots, rangefinders, binoculars, spotting scopes, tripods, and monoculars.
- Unlimited Lifetime Warranty
- Fully transferable
- No warranty card to fill out
- No receipt needed to hang on to
If you ever have a problem, no matter the cause, we promise to take care of you.
How awesome is that?! I challenge you to find a better warranty out there. I have never needed to take advantage of it however I know many people who have and Vortex always follows through with their promises.
How I Mounted My Vortex Diamondback 4-12×40 Dead-Hold BDC
Always remember that without a properly fitted connection your scope can be useless. A lot of the time the weakest link in a shooting system is the base and rings of the optics.
Since I built my AR .308 with Aero Precision parts I decided on the matching Aero Precision Ultralight 1″ Scope Mount using good ol’ Amazon prime. It was easy to mount, inexpensive, and looks great but most importantly it has been a rock solid mount without any issues.
With the AR picatinny rail it was easy to position the scope where I wanted it. I loosely mounted it in one position then held the rifle in the firing position. It was initially too far forward so I slid it back to where my cheek was at a comfortable position on the stock while the eye relief was at the right distance. Done.
The Competing Scopes
Before I settled on the Vortex Diamondback, I did consider a few other options in the same price range. All of the ones listed below are fantastic optics and I would still recommend them, however I just found the Diamondback to be the best bang for the buck.
Leupold VX-1 3-9x40mm
The XV-1 is a great low cost hunting scope however I wanted something with a little more magnification and it seemed that the Diamondback had the upper hand for the cost. If you’re only looking for a hunting scope, this might be your best bet. See the latest price and more reviews here.
Nikon P-223 BDC 600
Vortex Optics Crossfire II 3-9×40
The Diamondback series has better glass and higher magnification, however the Crossfire is still a great option and Vortex still covers them with their incredible warranty. See the latest price and more reviews here.
More About the Diamondback 4-12×40 Features
Part of what sets this scope apart from others is all the amazing features packed in with the low price tag attached. Let’s further break down the features of the Vortex Diamondback -12×40 BDC.
Fully Multi-Coated Lenses: What does that mean and why is that any good you ask? Often times the glass on a scope will have a thin anti-reflective coating on one or more of the lens surfaces, fully multi-coated lenses are typical of high-end optics. Manufacturers will apply thin chemical coatings on lens surfaces to reduce reflective loss and improve the amount of light traveling through the optic. Translation: better image quality!
Rock Solid Construction: When you have a poor quality scope it is not uncommon to lose your zero after several shots or even a small bump on the bench. Not this scope. The Diamondback is made from a strong single piece aluminum tube which improves optical alignments and therefor overall accuracy.
It is filled with Argon (an inert gas) which prevents the lenses from fogging in a wide temperature range. It also uses O-ring seals to keep it waterproof for when the weather is not cooperating on your hunt or day at the range.
Capped Reset Turrets: What I like about the Diamondback is that you can re-index the turrets to zero after sighting in the rifle scope. This allows easy adjustment for shots while making sure you bring your elevation and windage back to your zero position.
Second Focal Plane Reticle (SFP): The main difference between a First Focal Plane (FFP) and SFP is that a SFP reticle will appear to be the same size regardless of magnification. With a FFP reticle, the size of the reticle will appear to change as the scope’s magnification is changed. I typically prefer a FFP reticle however just about every decent scope in this price range will be SFP.
Conclusion
Hopefully by now I have at least convinced you that the Vortex Diamondback 4-12×40 is a great value offering high end features at a low price. I think it very versatile and the VIP warranty with Vortex is a huge selling point. I purchased this scope with my own hard earned dollars and it has exceeded my expectations.
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