The New Vortex/Cabela's Intrepid Series of Optics
Vortex Optics announced the company was working with outdoor retailer Cabela’s on a new product line called the Intrepid Optics Series. The new line consists of three products currently: a rifle scope, a spotting scope and a binocular.
Intrepid Rifle Scope
This scope is a variable power optic with a fairly wide range: 4.5-22x with a 50mm objective lens. The scope has many of the features one would expect from a good quality hunting optic including a sealed and argon purged body to help prevent fogging and water intrusion. The body is machined from a single piece of aluminum and has a 30mm tube diameter.
Vortex uses multi coated lenses and applies a proprietary anti-reflecting coat. The uses a hashmark style, MOA based reticle. These scopes are available in the Cabela’s stores and online. It looks like the online price is $799.99.
Intrepid Spotting Scope
To go with the rifle scope above, Cabela’s and Vortex are also offering a 20-60x spotting scope. This spotter uses an 80mm objective lens and has the same multi coating applied to the lenses. The exterior of the scope has a rubber coating. As with the rifle scope, this is available in stores and online. It carries a MSRP of $799.99.
Intrepid Binocular
The Intrepid Binocular follows the same general build as the previously described optics: multi coated lenses, sealed body, etc. The binoculars offer a fixed 10x magnification (42mm objective). The price will also sound familiar: $799.99.
An advocate of gun proliferation zones, Richard is a long time shooter, former cop and internet entrepreneur. Among the many places he calls home is http://www.gunsholstersandgear.com/.
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Who cares where it's made? Today's mid priced scopes (no matter where they are made) are just as good, if not better, than 99% of premium glass over 10 or 15 years old. This seems like a good deal to me and I even like the reticle. Even in second focal plane this seems like a nice scope for a magnum class rifle (like the 700 Sendero in .264 I just picked up for near nothing) and at $800 you aren't carrying 3 house payments on top of your rig.
I still have faith in Cabela's brand products. If I was going to buy a Vortek scope the challenge would be not buying a choice Nikon or Leupold instead, even if it is a bit more dinero. I recently bought two of their budget scopes, both intended for lever action rifles; one for a Marlin 1894 .44 Mag and another for a same brand .45-70. Both scopes look good, and shoot even better. When I consider that the .44 Mag will most likely be used under 100 yards, and the .45-70 under 150, I think they will do the assigned jobs well. Both scopes mounted easily. I used Warne quick detach bases and rings on the .44 Mag as I also want to use it with factory equivalent semi-jacketed 240 grain HP or SP loads on hogs, and with a previously mounted Lyman tang sight for lead bullet .45 Colt equivalent loads for Cowboy Action Shooting. That's a serious amount of multi-tasking for one little lever gun, but I really like the Marlin and have it in a seriously stout lock box in the back of my van, with a much used Ruger New Model Super Blackhawk in the same caliber with a cartridge belt and KA-BAR knife to keep it company. There is a used Marlin in the same caliber in great shape at a very good price a local gun shop, and I think I'll go down and buy it. The only thing that will change my mind is the possibility of finding a Marlin 1894 Cowboy in the same caliber with the longer barrel and Ballard cut rifling. The trick will be deciding to set the rifle up the same as the other, quick detach scope and all, or making it "scope dedicated" for nailing Central California hogs at slightly longer range. California mule deer are usually longer range challenges, which I usually deal with using a recently acquired Savage 7mm Mag or my much used battery of Winchester/Remington/1903 Springfield rifles in .30-06. Some things are so good at what they do, that they become almost eternal, and the .30-06 is a prime example of that, as is the .44 Magnum.