Overview
Product Description
The Vortex Optics Sonora 4-12×44 Second Focal Plane Riflescope with Dead-Hold BDC Reticle is an excellent choice for hunters and shooters looking for a versatile and dependable riflescope. This top-notch riflescope features a single-piece, aircraft-grade aluminum tube that offers a wide range of adjustments suitable for different shooting applications.
Key Features
The Dead-Hold BDC reticle is perfect for shooting at varying ranges where estimating hold-over is a concern. Fully multi-coated lenses on all air-to-glass surfaces increase light transmission, making this riflescope ideal for low-light conditions. The locking diopter eyepiece is an excellent addition that allows shooters to set and lock their eyepiece setting accurately. The hard anodized finish provides a low-glare matte surface that helps to camouflage the shooter’s position. The Sonora riflescope is O-ring sealed and nitrogen purged, which ensures that it provides water and fog-proof performance.
I purchased this riflescope on Black Friday, and I was initially planning to buy the Crossfire. However, I decided to take a chance on the Sonora, and it’s an excellent scope. It’s simple yet highly usable. I have some tips for anyone planning to mount this on an AR platform, AR-10 or AR-15, to get the high mount. The medium mount I bought fitted, but the scope was too low for my line of sight, and I had to return them for the high ones.
For those looking for under $200 scopes, the Sonora 4-12×44 second focal plane riflescope with Dead-Hold BDC Reticle is the best of the best. Its image is bright and clearer than other scopes in this price range, and the eye relief is as advertised in the specs. It is entirely usable at the maximum power level. The focusability is also excellent for older shooters who have trouble seeing past the end of the barrel. At 12X, I can easily get dime-size groups at 100 yards.
In conclusion, the Vortex Optics Sonora 4-12×44 Second Focal Plane Riflescope with Dead-Hold BDC Reticle is a perfect choice for anyone looking for a versatile, dependable, and easy-to-use riflescope.
Design and Construction
Aircraft-Grade Aluminum Tube
The Vortex Optics Sonora 4-12×44 Second Focal Plane Riflescope is designed to last with its aircraft-grade aluminum tube. The single-piece construction is robust and durable, able to withstand recoil and impact. The 1-inch tube also offers a versatile blend of adjustment, which makes it ideal for various shooting applications.
Locking Diopter Eyepiece
One of the best features of this riflescope is the locking diopter eyepiece. It allows the shooter to set and lock the eyepiece setting once for their eye and forget it. This is particularly useful for hunters and shooters who wear glasses as it provides a customized viewing experience. The focusability for older folks who have trouble seeing past the end of the barrel is also excellent.
Hard Anodized Finish
The hard anodized finish of the Vortex Optics Sonora 4-12×44 riflescope provides a low-glare matte surface that helps camouflage the shooter’s position. The rugged construction makes it ideal for hunting in adverse weather conditions. The finish is not only visually appealing, but it also protects the scope’s exterior from scratches and dings.
Water and Fogproof Performance
The Sonora is o-ring sealed and nitrogen purged, delivering water and fogproof performance. This ensures that the scope remains in top shape even in harsh environments, such as rain or fog. These features help to ensure that the user can rely on the scope to perform in any situation, without worrying about it getting damaged.
Rugged Construction
The Vortex Optics Sonora riflescope is built to last with its rugged construction. It can withstand the harsh conditions of hunting and shooting, and still provide excellent performance. The fully multi-coated lenses increase light transmission with multiple anti-reflective coatings on all air-to-glass surfaces. As a result, the Sonora delivers bright, clear, and crisp images that enable shooters to hit their targets accurately.
Overall, the Vortex Optics Sonora 4-12×44 Second Focal Plane Riflescope is an excellent choice for hunters and shooters who want a reliable, durable, and high-quality riflescope. Its features such as the aircraft-grade aluminum tube, locking diopter eyepiece, hard anodized finish, water and fogproof performance, and rugged construction make it stand out from other scopes in its category.
Optics and Performance
Dead-Hold BDC Reticle
One of the standout features of the Vortex Optics Sonora 4-12×44 Second Focal Plane Riflescope is the Dead-Hold BDC Reticle. The reticle is designed for hunters and shooters who require accurate hold-over estimation at varying ranges. This feature comes in handy for those who need to shoot at a distance and require precise accuracy. The reticle does not distract the shooter from the target and provides a clear view of the target even in low light conditions.
Fully Multi-Coated Lenses
The fully multi-coated lenses of the Vortex Sonora riflescope enhance image brightness, clarity, and contrast while minimizing glare. Multiple anti-reflective coatings on all air-to-glass surfaces improve light transmission, providing a clearer image. The lens’ coating enhances the image quality even in demanding weather conditions. With the help of the coatings, the Sonora riflescope can provide precise visual clarity in any weather condition.
In conclusion, the Vortex Optics Sonora 4-12×44 Second Focal Plane Riflescope is an excellent choice for hunters and shooters who want a scope that provides accurate performance in any weather. The Dead-Hold BDC Reticle is great for shooting at varying ranges where hold-over estimation is a concern. The fully multi-coated lenses increase light transmission and help optimize image brightness and clarity. So, if you’re looking for a reliable and durable riflescope with excellent optics and performance, the Vortex Optics Sonora 4-12×44 Second Focal Plane Riflescope is a great choice.
Customer Reviews
Good Deal & Fast Shipping
When I purchased the Vortex Optics Sonora 4-12×44 Second Focal Plane Riflescope – Dead-Hold BDC Reticle, I was pleasantly surprised by the deal I got. The scope was reasonably priced at $149, and the shipping was fast. Living in Oregon, I’m a 67-year-old woodsman and hunter, and this was my first Vortex purchase. I must admit I was impressed by its construction and adjustability for a wide variety of shooting applications.
Accurate and Looks Great
I installed the scope on my Savage 17HMR, tried it out, and I must say the turrets are easy to turn by hand, although they don’t make the clicking sound you get with other scopes. The glass is clear, and the reticle is Dead-Hold BDC, which is great for hunting and shooting at varying ranges where estimating hold-over is a concern. It looks great on my rifle and gives me an accurate aim.
Great Value for the Price
Compared to optics from Burris and Nikon, the Vortex Optics Sonora 4-12×44 Second Focal Plane Riflescope – Dead-Hold BDC Reticle is a great value for the price. At under $200, it is one of the best scopes in this price range. The eye relief is excellent, and I appreciate the focusability feature for older folks who have difficulty seeing beyond the end of the barrel.
Perfect for Varying Ranges
I must commend the Vortex Optics Sonora 4-12×44 Second Focal Plane Riflescope – Dead-Hold BDC Reticle for its versatility, making it perfect for varying ranges. The BDC reticle helps in estimating the hold-over for long-range shooting, while the adjustability is impressive, making it usable at max power level. I’ve had great success with dime-size groups at 100 yards using this scope.
Excellent Eye Relief
I’m delighted with the eye relief on the Vortex Optics Sonora 4-12×44 Second Focal Plane Riflescope – Dead-Hold BDC Reticle. It is completely usable at max power level, making it perfect for long-range shooting. The reticle is also Dead-Hold BDC, and the adjustability is fantastic, making it ideal for hunting and shooting at varying ranges.
Overall Customer Satisfaction
I’m thoroughly satisfied with my purchase of the Vortex Optics Sonora 4-12×44 Second Focal Plane Riflescope – Dead-Hold BDC Reticle. It is ruggedly constructed and can withstand recoil and impact, making it durable and long-lasting. The fully multi-coated lenses increase light transmission with multiple anti-reflective coatings on all air-to-glass surfaces, which is impressive for a scope in its price range. The locking diopter eyepiece allows the shooter to set and lock the eyepiece setting once for their eye and forget it, which is a convenient feature. Finally, the hard anodized finish provides a low-glare matte surface and helps camouflage the shooter’s position, making it perfect for hunting and tactical situations.
Pros and Cons
Pros
When I was in the market for a new riflescope, the Vortex Optics Sonora 4-12×44 Second Focal Plane Riflescope caught my attention. After purchasing it on a Black Friday sale, I was pleasantly surprised by the quality of this scope. The accurate and clear sight picture impressed me, making it easy to hit targets at varying ranges. The Dead-Hold BDC reticle made aiming simple, especially when estimating hold-over was a concern. The fully multi-coated lenses increased light transmission, allowing me to see more clearly in low-light conditions.
The Sonora’s construction is also impressive. The single piece, 1-inch, aircraft-grade aluminum tube provides a versatile blend of adjustment for a wide variety of shooting applications. The locking diopter eyepiece was also a game-changer, allowing me to set and lock the eyepiece setting once for my eye and forget it. The hard anodized finish provides a low-glare matte surface, which helps camouflage the shooter’s position. O-ring sealed and nitrogen purged, the Sonora delivers water and fogproof performance.
Cons
The only issue I had with the Vortex Optics Sonora Riflescope was that the medium mount I purchased was not suitable for my AR-10 and was too low for my line of sight. I had to exchange them for the high ones, making the overall cost a bit more expensive. However, this was a minor issue that was easily resolved.
Overall, the Vortex Optics Sonora 4-12×44 Second Focal Plane Riflescope with the Dead-Hold BDC Reticle is an excellent choice for anyone looking for an affordable and high-quality riflescope. Its construction and performance stand out from other scopes in its price range. I highly recommend this scope to anyone looking to enhance their shooting experience.
Vortex Optics Sonora 4-12×44 Second Focal Plane Riflescope – Dead-Hold BDC Reticle Review
As an avid hunter and shooter, I am always on the lookout for a rifle scope that can help me hone my skills and improve my accuracy. The Vortex Optics Sonora 4-12×44 Second Focal Plane Riflescope with Dead-Hold BDC Reticle caught my eye, and I decided to give it a try.
Product Description
The Vortex Optics Sonora 4-12×44 Second Focal Plane Riflescope features a one-piece, aircraft-grade aluminum tube that provides a versatile range of adjustment for a wide variety of shooting applications. The Dead-Hold BDC reticle is perfect for hunting and shooting at varying ranges where estimating hold-over is a concern. The fully multi-coated lenses increase light transmission, and the locking diopter eyepiece allows you to set and lock the eyepiece setting for your eye and forget it.
My Experience
After installing the scope on my rifle, I was impressed with the clear and bright image the scope provides. The turrets are easy to turn by hand, although they do not make the normal clicking sound you get with other scopes. The hard anodized finish provides a low-glare matte surface and helps camouflage your position.
Reviews
Other users have reported that this scope is a “good deal with fast shipping”, “nice”, and “perfect”. One user said “Es una mira para rifle me gusto y el servicio fue excelente estoy satisfecho era lo que yo quería”, while another said “installed the scope on a Savage 17HMR and then tried it out. The scope has great eye relief and the turrets are easy to turn by hand.”
Should You Buy It?
Overall, the Vortex Optics Sonora 4-12×44 Second Focal Plane Riflescope with Dead-Hold BDC Reticle is a good choice for any hunter who hunts under 300 yards. While the glass may not be as good quality as some competing brands, the Vortex warranty ensures that the scope is a smart investment.
