Some scopes are specialized, while others are as adaptable as their wielders. The Viper PST 6-24x scope is one such optic, featuring an excellent variable magnification system and some of the best lenses on the market. We’ll review this scope so you can know if it’s worth your time and money.
Vortex Viper PST 6-24×50 Overview 
The Viper PST 6-24×50 scope features one of the most versatile magnification ranges on the market; it’s suitable both for traditional hunting engagement ranges and for long-distance target hitting befitting a sniper rifle. Part of this versatility comes from the quality lenses that comprise its optical system.
The fact that the reticle (which comes in two styles) can be illuminated is a nice bonus. The rest of the scope demonstrates Vortex’s signature attention to detail and commitment to innovation: a durable, weatherproof frame, excellent adjustment turrets that are sensitive and easy to zero stop, and plenty of mounting options.
Let’s examine this Viper PST scope in greater detail below.
Features:
- 6-24x magnification
- MOA or MRAD FFP reticle
- The reticle can be illuminated
- Zero-stop adjustment turrets
Reticle Type and Magnification Settings 
The Viper PST comes with a specialized EBR-2C reticle. EBR stands for Enhanced Battle Reticle, which essentially denotes that there are special ranging holdover points at the bottom of the reticle’s crosshairs. These are somewhat comparable to the holdover points you can find on bullet drop compensation reticles, though these are slightly different and proprietary to Vortex.
You can also choose the reticle in either MOA or MRAD formats. Both of these acronyms refer to the type of holdover points you’ll find on the crosshairs. Most people prefer MOA due to its ubiquity across the rifle scope market and its ease of use (lots of people think MOA reticles are easier to calculate with). But the choice is ultimately up to you and doesn’t affect the rest of the scope.
Either type of reticle can be illuminated, the various brightness settings of which are adjusted by a small turret located just after the ocular lens.
The Viper PST can magnify between 6x and 24x power, affording great versatility across its effective range. The reticle is located on the first focal plane, which is a suitable choice considering how drastically different these magnification powers can seem. You swap between the zoom levels with an adjustment ring positioned after the ocular lens.
The lenses are also great, in part due to their special glass design, which uses a special type of material to improve color fidelity and resolution. Put simply, images will be clearer and have better color contrast, allowing you to more easily pick out your target from the underbrush.
Eye relief is excellent at the lower magnification end (4.0 inches) and gets a bit tight at the higher end (around 2.5 inches).
Ideal Range
Because of its generous range of magnification levels, the Viper PST is a suitable rifle scope for a broad selection of events or hunting trips. The lower end of its magnification levels (6x to 11x or so) will be great for hunting targets below 1000 yards, or for tracking moving targets during a hunt.
But the higher end of the magnification levels is great for hitting more distant targets, particularly those that are either stationary or aren’t moving very much all. Of course, your field of view will be significantly limited all the way at 24x power, but this is usually appropriate when hunting animals that necessitate you keep such a vast distance between you.
The higher magnification powers are suitable for rifles that can land shots past 1000 yards, possibly up to 1500 yards or more. Keep in mind, of course, that the actual effective range of a rifle scope is in part derived from the caliber of bullet used and the type of rifle it is attached to.
For other long-range scopes, see our Vortex Viper 6.5-20×50 review and our Bushnell Engage 6-24×50 review.
Windage/Elevation/Parallax 
The Viper PST features a phenomenal set of adjustment turrets, including one for parallax. All three turrets are located at about the midpoint of the scope and feature easy to rotate designs that allow you to quickly adjust for a follow-up shot. Each turret provides tactile feedback as you shift them from side to side.
Even better is the Customizable Rotational Stop design integrated into each turret. This is basically a more advanced zero stop functionality that uses a precision spring system to quickly zero the turrets and ensure repeat performance even after heavy use.
All in all, we are very impressed with the performance and reliability of these adjustment turrets. Few turrets are as precise and satisfying to hear click than the Viper PST’s.
Mounting Options
This scope’s mounting options are varied, but it somewhat depends on what you plan to use the scope for. It measures in at 21.6 ounces, making it a little heavy for rifles that are primarily going to operate within 1000 yards. This also prevents it from being easily combined with a rail mount, which adds more weight.
On the other hand, since it’s so heavy already, some riflemen will no doubt want to pair it with a rail mounting system and attach it to a heavier duty platform. This is certainly a viable option and perhaps the smarter one. Its greater-than-average weight might make installing rings a bit more difficult than you might initially expect.
If you do decide to go with rings, pick up a set that is 30mm at minimum. These will be very tight, though, so 31mm or so may be better for your build.
If you are interested to read more of our articles you can check our full reviews on Bushnell Banner 3-9×40 or Trijicon Accupower 1-8×28.
Durability/Weatherproofing
The Viper PST keeps pace with many other rifle scopes in this range with a precision machine frame that comes from a single block of aircraft-grade aluminum. This keeps the scope durable even under heavy damage or use. It has, of course, been sealed to allow for waterproof and fog-proof performance. Overall, it’s about what we’d expect from Vortex or any other notable scope manufacturer. 
Best for Heavier Rifles
This scope is best for heavier weapons that don’t mind a scope with a little extra weight. It’s not cumbersome, necessarily, but it will feel a little off-putting on lighter weapon platforms. We also think that its excellent versatility, provided both by its wonderful adjustment turrets and its wide range of magnification settings, make this a good choice for powerful rifles that can be used either for taking down shorter-range game or for hitting distant targets alike.
You can even use the scope to accompany you on a target shooting competition that pushes the effective range of your platform to the limit. If you do decide to use a rail system to mount this scope, you can swap it between different rifles at your leisure.
Drawbacks
There are a few drawbacks to the scope like we’ve already mentioned. The weight is a bit much for some, although many of the added ounces come from the additional turrets implemented into its frame.
We also think that the adjustment dial for the illumination settings of the reticle is a bit oddly positioned; it sticks out a diagonal angle in a place you don’t expect. Still, once you get used to this, it’s probably not going to be much of a big deal for you.
Concluding our Vortex Viper 6-24×50 Review
Overall, we feel that the Viper PST 6-24×50 scope is another excellent example of Vortex’s signature quality. The lenses, turrets, and overall construction leave nothing to be desired, even if the excess of features makes it a little heavy. Pair this with a rifle worthy of its power and you won’t be disappointed.
If you are interested in our other reviews have a look at SWFA SS 10×42 or Leupold VX-3i 3.5-10×40.
Mike Fellon was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. He inherited his hunting passions after his father John – he was fascinated by his stories, hearing how much attention, focus, dedication and patience he invested in shooting every animal. When he was old enough, his father first allowed him to shoot some cans and bottles with his shotgun, and then took him hunting – it was love at first sight. Mike has never stopped pursuing his hobby ever since.