pmcimagazine . com
OPTICS : VORTEX
LVPO : VORTEX GEN III RAZOR 1-10X24
THE AR-15 PLATFORM IS UNDOUBTEDLY ONE OF THE MOST VERSATILE MODERN COMBAT RIFLE PLATFORMS IN THE WORLD FOR SHORT TO MEDIUM RANGES . WITH THAT COMES THE NEED FOR AN OPTIC THAT CAN EASILY HANDLE BOTH CLOSE QUARTER COMBAT ( CQB ) AND MID-RANGE WORK WITH LITTLE TO NO DOWN TIME IN ADJUSTING FIRE . SPEED ENGAGING A TARGET LIES SECOND ONLY TO THE ABILITY TO CLEARLY IDENTIFY WHAT IS AND IS NOT A THREAT TO BEGIN WITH . IT IS IN THIS REALM OF COMBAT DISTANCE AND SPECIFIC NEED IN WHICH THE LOW POWER VARIABLE OPTIC AKA LPVO REIGNS AS KING ! - TS
While red dots are fast , they are limited by which the naked eye can see . They mostly lack proper reticles in which distance , leads and hold overs may be acquired . Additionally , the ability to see specific details about the target at mid-range distances is paramount . While bulky precision optics can quickly weigh down combat rifles and limit mobility , the LPVO can still offer a wide field of visibility up close and with the flick of a dial , zoom in to provide the necessary details to determine if a shot should be made . This visibility must be available in a wide range of lighting situations to ensure pinpoint accurate shots .
Over the years , I have tried offerings from dozens of top name brands in the LPVO category and in the Spring of 2015 , I finally went full time with the Vortex Razor Gen II 1-6x24 FFP on my “ go to ” AR-15 for training and teaching . The rocksolid , compact construction along with the First Focal Plane illuminated reticle allowed for fast handling and quick sight acquisition . It quickly proved to be an optic I would have confidently taken to any situation I faced during my days as a SWAT operator .
With about a decade of hard use on my S & W M & P V-Tacs edition AR-15 , I decided in March of 2020 to build a new rifle from the ground up with our Swanson Training Group theme . I teamed up with some of the best names in the industry from RISE Armament , BCM , Ballistic Advantage and cap it all off with a special Cerakote finish from the wizard himself , Tucker Doyon of Savage Cerakote . When the project was wrapped up , it ran like a high-end performance machine . All it needed then was quality glass that would handle the wide range of distances and positions in which I teach students in our Urban Rifle courses .
Fortunately , just two months prior to completion of the project , Vortex Optics had announced the release of their Gen III version of the well proven Razor LPVO while I was attending SHOT SHOW in Las Vegas that January . As I read online about the new 1-10x24 mm variant , I grew more and more excited to give one a try . I reached out to Reuben
8