Choosing a riflescope can often be a daunting task. So let us make it easy by checking out Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8×24 Review. The firearms market has a variety of scopes and rifles. So, to maximize your experience and make the best out of your money, it is important to choose the perfect riflescope. Over the years, Vortex has been paving its path in this industry. What started off as a small husband-wife entrepreneurial due has now become a company of over 200 employees. All of them working together to produce the best quality products for their customers.
Vortex has always been loyal to its customers and kept up to its promise of offering the best quality and best service. Vortex came out with the new Stike Eagle line, the line comprises of two models: Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6 and Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8. Both the variants have some great features. Vortex has succeeded in producing great products, one after the other. In this scope, we will talk about the Vortex Strike eagle 1-8×24 mm riflescope.
Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8×24 Review
The Strike eagle 1-8 has it’s own advantages and disadvantages. Further in this review, we will examine these features,
Optics
Over the years, Vortex optics has produced some of the best glass quality optics in the market. Keeping that in mind, the strike eagle rates a little lower than the other scopes in comparison. Although, there is not anything gravely wrong with the scope, the scope does have some warping and blurring at higher magnification.
Nonetheless, let’s get into the features of this scope. The scope has a fairly exceptional glass quality, apart from the slight warping mentioned above. One thing that every shooter wants to have in a good target shooting riflescope is edge to edge clarity. Vortex optics have delivered to this want and fulfilled it.
The strike eagle has really good, precise and clear edge to edge clarity. Sometimes, devices with illuminated and etched reticles like the strike eagle have a little tint to the glass. This may not be a hindarance but you don’t expect to get tinted glass at the prices you pay. The Vortex Strike Eagle has almost no tint whatsoever. That means, clear image all the way.
The scope has a BDC2 reticle etched in the Second Focal Plane (SFP). This means that the reticle will stay focused and will not change through different levels of magnification. This is particularly great for target shooters as their aim will not be disturbed. The BDC reticle glass quality is good and easy yo use from 0 to 600 yards and 0 – 700 yards probably.
The reticle inside the strike eagle 1-8 is about 30% larger than the Vortex 1-6 strike eagle. Although the field of view isn’t very wide, over a 100 yards. he BDC2 reticle is not very precise in long range shooting because it is meant to be upclose. When you are further away, you are using the very fine hashes on the BDC.
It is an illuminated reticle and has 11 illumination settings. At lower brightness settings, the reticle is black in colour and at higher settings it is orange. The reticle is not specifically daylight bright but it does it’s job really well. The reticle in itself isn’t crazy bright but nevertheless, it’s good and the bright orange colour really helps levate it’s performance. The half horseshoe on the top in the BDC reticle, helps draw in your eye to you aim.
The scope comes with a generous eye relief of 3.5 inches. This is sufficient for you to keep both your eyes open and take aim at 1x zoom. Otherwise, on a whole, the optics of this scope are pretty decent.
Magnification & Range
One of the issues we’ve already seen in the optics is the slight glass warping and fuzziness. This also stretches out in the magnification of the scope. The Vortex Strike Eagle is a 1x to 8x magnification riflescope. The magnification is perfect for short to medium range shooting.
The glass clarity throughout magnifications is pretty consistent, except in 7x and 8x. There is a little glass degradation in these magnifications but you still get a clear enough image to take easy shots up to 550 yards and beyond. You can easily stretch it out to 700 yards. The scope zeroes in at 50 yards. The field of view is 116.5′ – 14.4′. The parallax setting is also at a 100 yards.
The strike eagle has an impressing ability to hold zero under normal conditions but also in rough conditions. Even after several drop tests, the device has managed to hold zero with little to none minute changes in other settings as well.
You can get consistent performance at 550 yards bu just using the drop compensator on the reticle. Inside of 250 yards, there is absolutely no compensation. This means, you are just using the centre dot which is a center 1 MOA dot. As I said before, it is not the most accurate reticle but it delivers. This scope does qualify as tactical and is great for close target shooting and hunting.
Adjustments
In the realm of adjustments, Vortex optics have made a mark for themselves with their easy to access and durable settings. Like most other Vortex riflescopes, all the turrets in this Vortex strike eagle 1-8 are capped. Capped turrets are liked y many because of their ease and the assurance that once you see them, they won’t move. Basically, you see them and forget about them.
The adjustment graduation is 1/2 MOA. Both windage and elevation adjustments are at 100 MOA. Near the windage and elevation setting you have an extra compartment. In this extra compartment you keep another battery. So, when you are on field and your battery runs out, you don’t have anything to worry about. You already have a back up! You have two batteries on the scope, at all times.
The battery life at maximum brightness is around 20 to 25 hours. The body os the scope has ‘up – down’ and ‘left – right’ marked on the side of the body. This particularly convenient when you’re looking through the eye piece and want to make some quick changes. The throw lever from 1-8 is 180 degrees, fairly standard but with the included throw lever, it really helps. The throw lever movements are smooth. LPVOs usually do pretty well but have a little warping on the sides but the Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8×24 does well and is easy to transition.
User Friendliness
The Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8×24 is a tactical, close range shooting scope. The device has a 30 mm tube which is made out of aircraft grade aluminium. It is nitrogen purged and has O ring seals. The lenses are multi coated and so is the body. The body os the scope is anodized and fully multicoates. This makes the device durable, water proof, fog proof and shock proof. Vortex optics are known for coming out with some of the most durable scopes. Their products usually survive and withstand some of the toughest and harshest torture tests and still manage to hold zero.
The scope retails for something around $500 dollars on amazon. This product is deently expensive but still ranks in the lower price range. For the price of the scope and the features that you are getting, it seems to be a fair deal. It weighs 16.5 oz. For some shooters this may be a little bulky after pairing it with a suitable mount and rings. Although, for seasoned shooters this may not be much of a problem.
The strike eagle vortex has clear glass etched with the AR BDC2 reticle. This is in the second focal plane. The reticle on this device along, is not the best you would find on the market. There are certainly better reticles available but it is an upgrade from the Vortex Gen I scopes. The glass is durable but has some of its shortcoming that I described earlier in this review. The optic is a 1-8x magnification scope. Evidently, this is not a true 1x scope but it does not disappoint.
On lower magnification the scope has some of the sharpest and clearest picture qualities. But on higher magnification, the picture does get a little distorted. The scope is fit for low light conditions because of the 11 setting illumination. The objective lens is of 24 mm, which is pretty decent for a device of this stature. Although the reticle illumination is really good, some users may find it to be too bright in daylight settings. But the variable illumination gives you the option of regulating how much brightness you actually need.
The adjustments on this scope are as per the Vortex optics tsnadards. They are tactical and highly durable. I think I have established that Vortex has some of the best adjustments in the market over several reviews. Lastly, let’s not forget the Vortex optics’ VIP warranty. Every shooter wants a warranty like this one on their scopes.
The VIP warranty, essentially, covers damages and if need be also replaces the product. What is so interesting about this, you may ask, this warranty is an unlimited lifetime warranty. So at any point of time if there is something wrong what your optic, all you have to do is contact them. This warranty is also transferable, so you don’t have to worry about it if you are selling the scope.
Compatibility
The Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8 is compatible with most AR rifles, 3 guns and shotguns. You can mount it using Vortex mounts or whatever else you are comfortable with. Cantilever type mount can be used for this scope. Mounting the scope is pretty easy. Once you’re locked in, it’s showtime!
Pros
Cons
FAQs
What focal plane is the Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8 IN?
The Vortex Strike Eagle is in the second focal plane (SFP).
What battery does the Vortex Optics Strike Eagle use?
The Strike Eagle 1-8 uses a CR2032 lithium battery.
Does the scope come with mounts included?
No, the product does not come with mounts. You can purchase a mount for it from amazon or from the vortex website. Do check this amazing video if you need help in mounting your scope.
Conclusion
The Vortex Strike Eagle 1-8 is easy and intuitive to point and shoot. Through the course of this review, we saw the good parts and the bad parts of this scope. Although the device has some drawbacks, for this price point, it has a lot of good features to offer. User experience depends on how you configure the device to your preferences and how you use it. This may not be the best Vortex Optics but it certainly ranks high up there. Do check out our review on Vortex Sparc, what an amazing sight. The eye relief, range, reticle and glass are all superb. You have got yourself a pretty sweet deal!