Founded in 2002, Vortex Optics has quickly grown and become a trusted name in the industry, employing more than 300 people. They now offer a host of gear, including rifle scopes, rangefinders, binoculars, tripods, spotting scopes, and more.
Originally, the company started out offering binoculars to bird-watching enthusiasts. Soon, hunters began coming to them for the binoculars. One thing led to another, and other products began to blossom. The quality of their products is always evolving; as they gain experience, they tinker with and tweak their designs in a quest to make their products the best that they can be.
I’ve used their products for several years now and can testify that Vortex produces good gear. Since I’m on a soap box, I’ll take a moment to say that their binoculars are seriously great tools.
Enough about that, though. Let’s get into the meat and potatoes of the article: the Vortex Crossfire II 4-12x44mm rifle scope.
Vortex Crossfire II 4-12x44mm scope
A couple of years back, my wife bought me a Ruger American Predator rifle chambered in 6.5 Creedmoor. This particular rifle came as a package deal with a scope from Ruger. It would be my first exposure to Vortex Optics and would mark the beginning of a wonderful relationship with the company.
Considering that the Crossfire II is one of their lower-priced scopes, it performs way above its price point. This scope is proof that we don’t have to fork over a wheelbarrow full of money to get a solid performer.
Specs
The Vortex Crossfire II 4-12x44mm is 13.15 inches in length, which is comparable to most other scopes in this category. The tube size is one inch, with a 44mm objective lens. That size objective lens allows in a good bit of light during low light conditions without being excessively huge.
The weight of the scope is 15.6 ounces; it’s solid, but not excessively heavy.
Adjustments are in 1/4-MOA graduations, which means 1/4-inch at 100 yards. The windage and elevation adjustments are a maximum of 50 MOA (or 50 inches), which is a generous amount and should be sufficient for any realistic distances encountered.
At 100 yards, the field of view on the 4x setting is 24.7 feet. At the 12x setting, it is 8.4 feet. A 12x scope allows shooters to reach out many hundreds of yards.
Eye relief for the scope is 3.9 inches, which is generous and forgiving when mounting the scope on the rifle. It really allows fast target acquisition in the field too.
One piece of aircraft-grade aluminum is used in the construction of the scope’s tube. It is waterproof, shockproof, and fogproof as well.
The Crossfire II comes with a matte black finish. As the photos show, I gave my scope (and the rifle) a rattle can paint job to help it blend in better. The color I went with is Flat Dark Earth.
Reticle
The reticle on the Vortex Crossfire II is a duplex that also features hash marks. Three hash marks offer alternate aiming points for elevation. Also, three hash marks on each side assist with holding off for windage. These hash marks are a nice detail on Vortex’s part and can be a real aid to shooters who are working at extended distances.
The first hash mark down on the vertical post for elevation is at 1.5 MOA at 100 yards. The next one down is at 4.5 MOA, with the third and last one being at 7.5 MOA. That gives a few hold-overs, which should suffice out to several hundred yards.
Although not illuminated, this reticle is fairly easy to see in low light.
This is a second focal plane scope, so the reticle will not change size with different magnifications.
Lenses
The clarity of the Crossfire’s lenses surprised me. While it’s not the highest-end scope that I’ve ever used, it certainly offers very good clarity. Thus far, I’ve not noticed any scratches or other issues despite having used this scope for a few years now.
Turrets
Threaded caps cover the turrets. Each turret has numbered graduations so scope settings can be recorded for various ranges. That comes in handy for those who like to be able to dial in scope settings for different ranges.
I like the fact that there are audible and tactile clicks when adjusting the scope settings, which positively lets you know that you’ve made a change in the setting.
At The Range
All of the above information really doesn’t do much for us if the product doesn’t perform on the range. So…how did the Crossfire II do in actual use?
I’m happy to report that it passed with flying colors. As mentioned, the glass is very clear, which helps to get a good sight picture on the target. The scope has held its zero over the long haul as well, so the internals are good.
Some scope companies make cheap scopes with sub-par internals that won’t hold a zero. Sometimes, when adjusting the point of impact for bullets, the internal adjustments break or wear out quickly. Such has not been the case with the Crossfire II.
The first shots I ever took with this rifle and scope combo were at 200 yards. I normally do not take my first shots at such long range, but this rifle was already sighted in by the gun shop’s owner (he had taken it hunting before my purchase). He told me that it was dead on at 200 yards, so I decided to take him up on that and see for myself. He wasn’t lying.
With Hornady American Whitetail 129-grain ammunition, I shot a 1 1/8-inch group at 200 yards. That was my very first group with this rifle. To say I was impressed is an understatement. This was standard hunting ammunition with an off-the-shelf rifle and a scope that was not exactly high-end. That equates to slightly over .5 MOA. Add to that the fact that my eyes aren’t as good as they used to be, and the accuracy is startling.
The rifle and scope have been through a couple of Pennsylvania deer hunting seasons, and they are none the worse for wear. No fogging of the scope, no loss of zero, and nothing negative to say at all. Fall and Winter weather in Pennsylvania is not exactly hospitable. Temperatures can range from 70 degrees down to the teens, depending on the mood of Mother Nature in the Fall. And things degrade from that point, often involving freezing rain and/or snow.
Warranty
These days, it seems that every company has some sort of warranty on their products. The funny thing about warranties is that some of them sound good on paper, but in practice, they’re mediocre at best. Trying to get some of those companies to stand behind their products can be an exercise in frustration.
I can personally tell you that this is not the case with Vortex. A couple of years ago, I had an issue with one of their scopes. Upon contacting the company, they bent over backward to help me. The person I spoke to on the phone was extremely friendly and helpful. In a couple of days, a brand new scope arrived at my house with instructions to place the old scope in the box and return it to Vortex (they paid all the postage). That was it — I immediately received a new scope.
To be honest, I was flabbergasted; they didn’t give me a hard time at all. They simply asked me to describe the problem I was having, and then took my mailing information, and profusely apologized for the problem I was having. I’ve never had experience with a company that was so easy to deal with! When they say their company has a no-questions-asked policy with their warranty, they’re not kidding. If broken, they will fix or replace it. Period.
Final Thoughts
So far, the scope has taken everything that we’ve thrown at it. I say “we” because my kids have used it for hunting and at the range on top of what I’ve put the rifle and scope through. It’s absorbed all of that and replied, “Please, sir, may I have another?”
The adjustments are positive, audible, and tactile, as well as being repeatable while holding a consistent zero. From that aspect, I really can’t ask for more.
At the range or in the woods, the lenses give a clear, bright image. That’s important whether you’re hunting, sniping, or just plain old target shooting.
And now for the final, best part: the Vortex Crossfire II retails for $169.99 as I type this. For that price, this scope should not be as good as it is. But it is that good, and it proves, once again, there are some superb deals out there to be had. Yes, you should run out and buy this scope right now. And no, the company did not pay me to say that – I just enjoy seeing people get a good deal now and then.
