Strike Eagle vs Challenger 5-25×56

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The Vortex Strike Eagle 5-25×56 is one of the top-rated long-range scopes under $1000 (MSRP over $1250 but with a street price of around $700). In the five to six years since its release, optical manufacturing technology has advanced as fast as prices have dropped. How does a Vortex scope released in 2020 compare to a modern budget scope like the new $199 Monstrum Challenger?

The Monstrum ships with more accessories than the Vortex, including its own set of high-height rings. But lacks a sun shade included with the Vortex. The Strike Eagle also comes with a throw lever but the Challenger comes with a built-in fin on the magnification ring so it doesn’t need one.

Holding them both in the hand, I noticed the Challenger was a 6-7oz heavier. The turrets of the Strike Eagle looked slightly better milled and its numbers precisely lined up with the scope’s reference marks, whilst the Challenger did not (a blunder common in budget scopes). The Strike Eagle had the better build quality of the two.

Looking through the glass, I immediately noticed more chromatic aberration in the Challenger. This was disappointing after testing Monstrum’s ED-glass LPVOs last year. The Challenger also showed softened focus around the edges of the scope view, even at its lowest magnification. Both scopes had similar eye relief and eye box.

At the gun range, the Strike Eagle was a bit brighter and noticeably sharper, with less chromatic aberration than the Challenger which showed purple fringing even at 5x. Both scopes showed good color rendition and the ability to see details in low light at 25x. The Strike Eagle resolved resolution lines 3-4 steps smaller than the Challenger.

One other key difference for me was in each scope’s reticle design. The Strike Eagle was better suited for precision target shooting with finer stadia lines and a floating dot-point. The Challenger had a bold central cross as its aimpoint which was visible even at lower magnification, making it a much faster to aim tactical or hunting scope. Overall the Strike Eagle was the better scope. Factoring in the price, the Challenger at 1/3 the price was the better value.

BUY

Monstrum Challenger on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4gSoS7J

Vortex Strike Eagle on Amazon: https://amzn.to/4gA4Ejq

RESOLUTION

Monstrum Challenger: Group -1 / Element 2

Vortex Strike Eagle: Group -1 / Element 6

SPECS

STRIKE EAGLECHALLENGER
Magnification 5-25x
Objective Lens: 56 mm
Tube Diameter: 34 mm
Focal Plane: First
Reticle: EBR-7C (MOA)
Illumination: red
Eye Relief: 3.7″
FOV @ 100 Yards: 24.0-5.2
Parallax: 15 yrds-Infinity
Elevation Adj: 110 MOA
Windage Adj: 78 MOA
Per Click: 1/4 MOA
Per Rotation: 25 MOA
Length: 14.6 in
Weight: 30.4 oz
Magnification: 5-25x
Objective Lens: 56 mm
Tube Diameter: 30mm
Focal Plane: First
Reticle: CM4 MOA, MM4 MIL
Illumination: red
Eye Relief: 3.5-4 in
FOV @ 100 Yards: 25.3-5.06 ft
Parallax: 25 yrds-Infinity
Elevation Adj: 45 MOA
Windage Ad: 45 MOA
Per Click: 1/4 MOA
Per Rotation: 20 MOA
Length: 14 in
Weight: 37 oz

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Tom "Moondog" DelMundo is a former NYC Creative Director.

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