Vortex Razor HD LHT 3-15×42 is quite similar to the Razor HD LHT 3-15x50mm riflescope. Why did Vortex make two of the same scope then? Why is it cheaper than the 3-15×50? Should you take this over the 3-15×50? So many questions are unanswered.
Not for long, why? Because I am here. In this Vortex Razor HD LHT 3-15×42 review, you will find out all the necessary information about this scope. I will also help you decide, which Vortex Razor HD LHT you should buy! Without further ado, let’s jump straight into it.
Vortex Razor HD LHT 3-15X42: Outlooks
Specifications | Magnification: 3 – 15x; Objective Lens: 42 mm; Eye Relief: 3.8 Inches; Tube Diameter: 30 mm; Linear FOV @1000 yds: 24.6 – 6.3 ft; Length: 13.3 Inches; Weight: 19 Oz.
Build Quality
Razor HD LHT 3-15×42 uses the same aircraft-grade aluminum housing. One of the strongest materials for riflescopes out there. Even a $3000 scope uses this aluminum. There are zero complaints from me about the build quality. You will find a ton of reviewers and users agreeing with me here too.
To make the scope 100% waterproof, Vortex sealed all of the holes of this scope with O-ring sealings. It’s a unique type of sealing. It’s quite expensive too. That’s why budget scopes tend to sleep on this.
The inside of the housing is argon purged. Another expensive material. Argon purging is better than nitrogen purging. Both of them eliminate moisture from the inside and prevent the scope from fogging. Argon does a better job at this.
Optics Quality
Vortex used some of the best HD lenses on the market. They are APO-corrected as well. It’s an advanced mechanism that index-matches the lenses and corrects the color across the entire visual spectrum.
To dumb it down, so that people like me can understand, this scope is more color-accurate and produces high-contrast pictures. Most of the scopes priced similarly don’t have this feature. If you want the most color-accurate experience, you know which one to go for.
The lenses of this scope are XR™ Plus Fully Multi-Coated. It’s a special sort of coating. It eliminates all of the glare and strain from the lenses. This coating is applied to the inside of the lenses.
To protect the outside of the lens, Vortex used ArmoreTek lens coating. It’s an anti-scratch coating that increases the defensive capability of the scope. The objective lens diameter is smaller than the bigger HD LHT. Instead of a 50mm objective lens, you will get a 42mm objective lens with this version. 42mm is not small. It’s enough to transmit plenty of light. As the inside of the scope is top-notch, the performance of this scope is also top-notch.
Magnification
Like the bigger one, this one also has a max of 15x magnification. It’s enough for big-game hunting and medium-range target practice. The lenses here have edge-to-edge clarity. Eliminating all distortion from the scope.
You guys already know how annoying distortions are. If you have motion sickness, you don’t need to worry. You won’t notice any motion blur while zooming in with this scope.
Reticle
The reticle here is different than the 3-15×50 version. It’s quite different. Besides the illuminated red dot, the reticles have no similarities whatsoever. HSR-5i is an MOA reticle. It has more vertical and horizontal lines than the G4i BDC (MRAD) reticle.
If you ask my opinion (which is why you are here), the HSR-5i is the better one. It offers more information. You can use those to your benefit.
Turrets
The turrets are capped. Zeroing the scope is a bit of a hassle. You will need to remove the turret cap, then place the zero stop ring, align the line, and place the cap again. You can’t change the zero on the fly. But you do have side parallax adjustment. That’s good. The magnification ring and reticle focus ring are also durable.
Pros
- Excellent build quality.
- Superb lens quality.
- Lightweight.
- A bright and clear vision.
- Argon purged & O-ring sealed.
- Scratch-proof lens.
- Water and fogproof.
Cons
- Zeroing the scope is hard.
- The reticle is on the second focal plane.
Vortex Razor HD LHT 3-15X42 Review Summary
The price difference is the key here. If you can’t spend the extra money, Razor HD LHT 3-15×42 is the same riflescope. You will just miss a bit of an objective lens. But it’s lighter than the 3-15×50. For me, this is the better deal. If the extra 8mm objective lens diameter is a must for you, take the 3-15x50mm version.
I tried my best to answer all of the questions from earlier. I hope you know which one is best for you now. If you don’t, not an issue. The comment section is open. Ask what’s bothering you, and I will try to do my best. Thanks for spending a bit of time with me. I highly appreciate it. I hope you come back to read more of my reviews.
Hi, I’m Brent Hansford. A writer turned hunter & now sharing my love for the sport through writing. As I practically breathe weapons, I firmly believe I’m capable of providing you with new knowledge about firearms and hunting. My mission is to help more people get better at hunting & master the weapons. Let me help with unleashing the beast within you!
