Vortex Razor HD Gen II 4.5–27×56 Review - Elite Long-Range Performance
Whether you're just getting into shooting targets or have been for a few years, getting the best rifle scope is at the top of all shooters' minds, whether it be the value they are looking for or absolute performance. Look no further, the Vortex Razor 4.5-27x56 has arrived (a few years ago).
Quick look
One of the best performing scopes on today's market and certaining one of the best selling scopes as well is definitely the Vortex Razor HD Gen II 4.5-27x56. Offering class-leading Glass quality with their HD optical system, XR plus lens coatings & fully multi-coated lenses for light transmission, Armortek lens coating for protection against scratches and dirt and an extremely reliable & durable finish, this unit is tough as nails and as precise as a laser. With exposed locking turrets, simply pull up to adjust and listen to and feel those extremely tactile clicks, leaving no doubt about your adjustment. This feature offers an impressive 33 MRAD of elevation adjustment and 14 MRAD of windage adjustment.
Reticle
The first focal plane (FFP) design ensures the reticle’s subtensions stay accurate at every magnification. Because the reticle scales with the scope’s zoom, 1 mrad at 4.5× is identical in value to 1 mrad at 27×. This consistency removes uncertainty and helps maintain precise shot placement.
Complementing this, the Christmas-tree–style layout provides clearly numbered elevation and windage references, making rapid adjustments easy. Elevation and wind calls can be made simultaneously without confusion. For instance, if your shot requires a 3-mrad holdover and a 1-mrad wind hold, you simply drop to the 3-mrad elevation mark and move across to the corresponding 1-mrad wind mark.
Adjustment and Field of View
The Vortex Razor 4.5–27×56 gives you a really useful spread of magnification. At 4.5×, you’ve got a wide field of view that makes it easy to pick up targets or scan an area, and at 27×, you get a much tighter, more detailed sight picture for precise long-range work. The field of view goes from 25.3 feet at 100 yards down to 4.4 feet at max power.
In terms of adjustments, the scope provides plenty of travel-33 mrad of elevation and 14 mrad of windage, click moving your impact by 0.1 mrad (roughly 1 cm at 100 m). In real shooting terms, if you’re taking a 300-metre shot that needs 1 mrad of elevation and a 0.5 mrad wind correction, you’d simply dial 10 clicks for elevation and 5 for wind, or just hold using the matching marks in the reticle. It’s straightforward, predictable, and makes consistent long-range holdovers easy.
Specificiations
Magnification: 4.5-27x
Objective Lens Diameter: 56 mm
Focal Plane: First Focal Plane
Reticle: EBR-7C (MRAD)
Eye Relief: 3.7"
Field of View: 25.3' - 4.4' @ 100 yds
Turret Style: Exposed Locking
Tube Size: 34mm
Adjustment Graduation: .1 MRAD
Travel Per Rotation: 10 MRAD
Max Elevation Adjustment: 33 MRAD
Max Windage Adjustment: 14 MRAD
Parallax Setting: 32 yds. - ∞
Length: 14.4"
Weight: 48.5 oz
What's in the box?
• L-Tec Tool
• 4" sunshade
• 2mm Hex Wrench
• CR2032 Battery
• Lens Cloth
COST - £2809.99
Honest opinion
This scope is a powerhouse when it comes to optical quality, usability and sheer build quality. This scope feels sturdy enough that you could use it for a hammer on a work site and then shoot groups in your afternoon, it's that good. It is a little heavy, but for a long-range target scope, there is nothing wrong with a bit of weight. It could hamper hunting use, however long range target is the bread and butter for this scope, if you need the best scope money (most of your money) can buy, look no further than this razor scope, you would struggle to find a better scope in this class, and as a bonus, this scope is covered under vortex's Very Important Promise (VIP) warranty for life so if this scope becomes faulty or you even drop the rifle and crack the scope, it is covered under the warranty for repair/replacement. With all these features, what is left to look at?