In the world of low power variable optics (LPVO), there are countless choices for whatever budget you’re working with. I have tried out other options before but have never tried a higher-end LPVO for an extended period of time. After a lot of debating, I decided to purchase a short AR10 and needed an optic for the gun that would suit its overall size and caliber. I ended up going with the Vortex Razor HD Gen II-E 1-6×24 over other options for a number of reasons. After having a number of range sessions with the optic, let’s jump into my initial impressions of the Razor.

Specs

The Razor HD Gen II-E 1-6×24 I bought has the VMR-2 (MRAD) Reticle in it since that’s what I prefer as adjustments. The optic has a 30mm tube and weighs in at 21.5 ounces which isn’t light for a 1-6 power but it’s not a bad weight in my eyes. The Razor 1-6×24 is an absolute tank and the extra weight is reassuring to me rather than a negative feature. Overall length is just over 10 inches and has a height of 1.8 inches. The eye relief is right around 3-4 inches which makes it a good fit for any AR-style rifle or AR pistol. I was happy to see the Razor 1-6×24 has an illuminated reticle with 11 brightness settings and an off position between each setting.

The illumination turret also locks so you can’t turn the dot off under hard use. The lock setting is really nice when using your gun in drills or courses. A common issue people have with LPVOs is the fact they aren’t typically a true 1x. I usually prefer running a red dot over an LPVO but while the Razor HD Gen II – E may not be a true 1x, to me it’s nearly identical to traditional 1x red dot.

Finish and Pricing

Some unique things about the Razor line are their hard anodizing finish that has a brown to plum coloring to it. The guys at vortex say the coloring protects the scope from scratches and damage while being a finish that can help camouflage the shooter’s position. They say this coating is actually harder to see in the dark than traditional black scopes. The MSRP on the Razor Gen II-E 1-6×24 is $1,999.99.

Range Sessions

The first thing I immediately noticed was the clarity of the glass. When researching different scopes, I often saw people talking about how clear the Razor’s glass is over competitors and honestly, they weren’t wrong. Whether it’s on 1x or zoomed into 6x, the glass is crystal clear compared to other options on the market. I decided to zero my scope at 100 yards and out of my short 308 AR I had .75 inch groups that were basically one large hole. Once zeroed, I decided to put the gun through a few different 3-gun style drills shooting at different ranges to test out the scope.

With most entry level scopes, there is often a learning curve when using LPVOs for the first time. When I compared the Razor HD to the Vortex Strike Eagle, the different in glass quality is astounding. It shouldn’t be such a surprise in the difference of glass quality between the two but the price difference does explain why the two scopes are so different. The glass clarity in the Razor makes it look like the shooter is looking naturally at the target rather than through a scope. After 1,200 rounds and a couple long range trips, I have come to really enjoy shooting with the Razor and it has rapidly become a favorite optic of mine at the range.

My Overall Initial Thoughts

So far, the Razor HD Gen II-E 1-6×24 is one of the best LVPOs I have used out of the dozen manufacturers I have tried out. It may not be the lightest option compared to other systems but it’s one of the clearest on the market. The Razor has some of the best light collection I have seen so far. I really love how small the outline of the scope body is when shooting with both eyes open on 1x. There’s little to no outline shadow when shooting with both eyes open. Typically there is a good amount of outline shadow of the scope body when shooting both eyes open.

With the Razor, there’s practically no outline shadow and it’s much easier to pick up the reticle and get rounds on target faster.  My biggest complaint with the scope is the overall weight but as I said earlier, it’s not a bad weight, instead it feels like it’s just a solid optic. If you’re looking for a high quality LPVO and you are looking to spend around $1,400, I would without doubt take a look at the Razor HD. The overall quality and clarity of the scope is impressive and the lifetime warranty from Vortex is another big plus for me.

I plan on continuing my testing and will do a 6 month follow up when I have more time through it. So far though, it has been performing flawlessly and I would highly recommend it.

Let me know what your favorite LPVO optic is in the comments below. If you have a question about optics or anything in general, feel free to contact me on my Instagram @fridgeoperator. Stay safe out there!

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