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When I came upon I’d be climbing the Canadian Rockies for elk with shot alternatives starting from spitting distance to 500 yards, I knew I wished to hunt with a scope that balanced weight and magnification vary. A hefty 25x50mm riflescope could be too cumbersome, however I additionally wished extra energy than a easy 3-9x40mm presents. I ended up selecting the Vortex Razor LHT 3-15x42mm, which I mounted on my .300 Win. Mag. I then carried it for 42 miles and used it to shoot a bull deep within the backcountry. After placing the scope by its paces within the discipline and on the vary, listed here are my ideas.
- Magnification: 3 to fifteen energy
- Objective Diameter: 42 mm
- Available in Mil or MOA
- Reticle: HSR-5i
- Second focal aircraft
- Eye Relief: 4.1 to three.8 inches
- Capped windage and locking elevation turret
- Tube Size: 30 mm
- Adjustment: .10 mil
- Parallax: 20 yards to infinity
- Max Windage Adjustment: 23 mils
- Max Elevation Adjustment: 23 mils
- Travel Per Rotation: 6 mils
- Length: 13.3 inches
- Weight: 19.1 ounces
- Field of View: 35.3-7.0 ft/100 yds
RevStop Zero System
The zero cease is tremendous straightforward to put in. Start by zeroing your rifle. Then take away the elevation turret cap. Drop in your RevStop and rotate it till it stops. Put the turret again on with it aligned to zero and tighten the screw. Now you’ll be able to dial your elevation for lengthy pictures and simply return your scope to zero. An essential observe is that the RevStop doesn’t cease at zero. It bodily stops .5 mil under the zero, permitting you to dial for nearer pictures.
Reticle
The 3-15×42 LHT is a second-focal aircraft scope and it comes with the HSR-5i reticle, which has a .1 mil or .35 MOA middle dot and subtensions each .5 mil or 2 MOA. If you like a primary focal aircraft scope and Christmas tree reticle, the Razor HD LHT 4.5-22×50 has the XLR-2 reticle.
Read Next: How to Use Mil and MOA Reticles for Long Range Accuracy
Turrets
The elevation turret is locking with 6 mils of adjustment per rotation and 23 complete mils of adjustment. The 3-15×42 has a capped windage turret and adjustable illumination that activates with a push of a button. Another good function is that LHT scopes with mil turrets have parallax adjustment in meters.
Testing the Razor HD LHT within the Field
Of the three Razor HD LHT fashions, the one which greatest match my wants was the 3-15×42. It’s the lightest and has reticle for near medium-range taking pictures. I mounted it on a Tikka T3X Lite, in .300 Win. Mag. with Vortex Precision Rings, and the full rifle weight got here to about 8 kilos. I hiked with that rifle in steep and rugged terrain for ten days, and I by no means felt weighed down. I appreciated the beneficiant 4-inch eye aid on that mild magnum rifle.
I used the Razor LHT in darkish timber, clear cuts, above timberline, in rain, freezing rain, vivid solar, and low mild. The mild gathering in low-light circumstances was good, particularly on condition that we’re speaking a couple of scope with a 30mm tube and 42mm goal. One morning simply after dawn, we known as a bull into the timber. I had the scope on the bull a number of occasions because it looked for the supply of the calling. This was tremendous thick timber, and the unit we had been looking required six or extra factors on one aspect. The bull by no means got here right into a spot the place we may rely factors, however every time I checked out him by the scope, the picture was lots vivid to rely factors—if there weren’t obstructions.
The Razor line of scopes, binoculars, and recognizing scopes are identified for good glass. It’s not Zeiss or Swarovski glass, however it’s actually good. The identical goes for the Razor LHT. I used to be proud of the edge-to-edge readability, no points with fog, and the flexibility to see loads of element at 500 yards with the 15-power scope.
It’s laborious to discover a scope with daylight-bright illumination, however the Razor LHT’s middle dot is vivid sufficient to see at midday on a sunny day. It’s not crimson dot vivid, however it rivals the illumination on the Razor 1-6.
I used to be totally ready to shoot 500 yards and, on a number of events, dialed my scope with 1 to three mils of elevation in anticipation for an extended shot. But I ended up taking pictures an elk at 20 yards with the scope set to three.5 energy. I adopted it up with a fast insurance coverage shot with the bull on the run. The reticle design was nice for these quick, off-hand pictures. It was intuitive to middle the vitals and put the dot the place I wished the bullet to go.
One of probably the most spectacular issues in regards to the LHT was that I knocked it laborious whereas climbing (falling laborious a number of occasions instantly onto the optic) however after I bought residence the rifle was nonetheless zeroed.
The energy adjustment on the LHT was clean however stiff. I’d advocate outfitting it with a throw lever. I additionally discovered the turrets lacked the exact and tactile clicks I’m used to feeling on scopes just like the Razor HD Gen III 6-36×56.
What Razor HD LHT Does Best
The Razor HD LHT 3-15×42 is right for hunters who want a flexible, mild scope they’ll dial for elevation. You can use it within the timber for whitetails or on a sheep hunt. The increased magnification 4.5-22×50 is correct at residence on a long-range rifle, precision rimfire, or benchrest air rifle.
What the Razor HD LHT Does Worst
The elevation adjustment isn’t crisp, and the clicks really feel mushy. The stiff energy ring means you don’t have to fret about by chance switching energy, however it additionally means you’ll be able to’t easily regulate the facility with out breaking your taking pictures place.
Final Thoughts
The Razor HD LHT blends options of precision riflescopes and lightweight looking scopes into an excellent hybrid. It weighs 1.2 kilos, but has the magnification and options you may want for longer pictures.