Clear glass and decent build quality, but falls short - Vortex Diamondback Rimfire 2-7x35mm 1in Tube Second Focal Plane Rifle Scope

The scope is clear and bright, but the ocular lens (rear eyepiece) is way too big for a little rimfire scope. It makes it tough to mount as low as I prefer.

The finish looks nice, but it scratches way too easy. I mounted this scope and a Leupold Freedom rimfire scope on different rifles on the same day. I used Warne steel rimfire rings. The rings are excellent, but really tight and kind of snap around the scope tube. The Vortex scope finish easily scratched. The Leupold was fine. I do like the turrets on the scope. The markings are small and hard to read for my old, tired eyes. The new Leupold Freedom turrets are super easy to read and can be easily adjusted without using a penny for the turret slot.

I think the biggest disappointment was how unforgiving the eye relief is. On low power (2-3) it isn't bad and fairly easy to get on sight quickly. On higher power (5-7) the focus "box" is so small it was really "winky" and hard to keep the sight picture. That might be fine if you are only shooting at targets in either a sitting or prone position, but I mounted it on the new Tikka rimfire and I intend to use it for hunting...

I may have to put it on a different rifle and purchase another Leupold to use instead. The Vortex warranty is as good as it gets. The glass is clear and the scope is generally well made, but not what I expected from Vortex based on the other Vortex scopes I have purchased. They are Viper and Razor models, so probably different manufacturers altogether. I wish there were still manufacturers out there making truly excellent scopes for rimfire rifles in hunting power ranges.