Vortex is an American company, but where are Vortex scopes made? I wasn’t sure, so I dug into the issue and got the answers straight from the horse’s mouth in Barneveld, Wisconsin:
Vortex themselves.
More specifically Mike in customer service, who was more than happy to answer my questions.
According to Mike from Vortex Optics, Vortex produces riflescopes in the USA, Japan, the Philippines, and China. Let’s break it down by product line.
Razor HD AMG
Vortex optics builds one scope in America, the Vortex Razor HD AMG (AMG meaning American Made Glass).
The Vortex Razor HD AMG is 6-24×50 first focal plane beast of a long-range riflescope that is machined from a single block of aircraft-grade aluminum and then assembled with literal laser precision at the Vortex facility in Wisconsin.
Razor
The rest of the Razor line is made in Japan at a partner facility.
Razors are the top-line scope in the Vortex optics line-up, and Japan has a reputation for producing quality glass.
A reputation that is reflected in the final product. Leupold rifle scopes are also known for their high quality rifle scopes.
Viper
Viper riflescopes are a mid-level offering from Vortex.
These sleek and durable Vortex scopes come from a place not known for optics, the Philippines, along with the Diamondback 4-12×40 riflescope.
Early on there were some quality control issues at the plant, so Vortex optics brought in supervisors and engineers from Japan to ensure that the products are built to standard.
A caveat to this is that the Viper red-dot, and most of the other Vortex red-dot sights, are not made in the Philippines but rather our next stop, China.
Made in China, But the Good Made in China
A product bearing the label “Made in China” can conjure mixed emotions in some people. With Vortex scopes, they should be good ones. Like the Philippines, Japanese engineers and optics experts supervise and staff the Vortex scopes production facilities in China to verify adherence to Vortex’s high standards.
The bulk of Vortex’s rifle scopes production occurs in China. This includes the Diamondback Tactical FFP (First Focal Plane), Strike Eagle, and Crossfire rifle scopes product lines. Asia seems to be the place for optics. In fact, Bushnell gets theirs from South Korea.
Speaking of Bushnell, I wrote a review on the Bushnell 1-4×24 AR Optics Riflescope.
Conclusion
So, they got fancy factories, but can I trust where Vortex scopes are made and to stand behind their optics if something goes wrong?
In short, yes. All of these Vortex scopes and the entire product catalog are backed up by the Vortex warranty “If you ever have a problem, no matter the cause we promise to take care of you.” They are a company that believes in their product, and from personal experience, it shows.
That said, what are your thoughts on Vortex Optics? Let me know in the comments below. Also, check out my Best Holographic Sights Guide.
FAQ
Out of all the Vortex scopes, the only one built in the USA is the Vortex Razor HD AMG 6-24×50.
The Razor lineup (with the exception of the HD AMG) is produced in Japan.
The Diamondback 4-12×40 scope is built in the Philippines. All other Diamondback Vortex scopes are manufactured in China under the supervision of Japanese optics experts and engineers.
Viper scopes are built in the Philippines at the same factory as the Diamondback 4-12×40.
My comment ….Leupold …made in ….UNITED STATES OF ….
A m e r I c a …NUFF SAID …well not ….screw CHINA….now nuff said
I agree with you Jim! Just bought my first Leupold scope and excited to get to the range with it.
Hey man ..my wife pussy is china made
Not all Leupolds are made in America. I believe it is only the Gold Ring series.
They are made in the US. Many have imported Japanese glass
Every last one of them…..made here in the USA.
Google “Leupold Knock Offs”
i double down on f china
Agree 100%. I mostly buy Leupold, but will buy made in Japan, Europe, and evens the Philippines; but never China. I hate this crap designed in the USA -disabled American Veteran company… and then find out made in China. What American patriot would get rich off production in China while transferring the technical edge to the CCP?
Mark, I looked in to one of those vet own company a few months ago selling red dots. Did a google map look up for the address that is posted on their site. It was a Subway at a mall.
I agree, & I’ll be that guy to say – Vortex is the MOST overpriced junk made, it’s one thing to only be able to afford china stuff for $600.00, it’s another to pay 2-6X that much for vortex crap made in the same place like razor shit which the only difference is japasian-plasticglass……lol.
Who can I contact with a problem with my Vortex viper scope
Call VORTEX they will take care of the optics that’s their promise
Made in China , stays in China! Next question??
This is why I buy Leupold now. My understanding is that the glass for most lines comes from Japan, but the rest of the riflescope is made in the USA. Without spending $3,500, I can get a riflescope that mostly made in the USA, supporting American workers. And their warranty is, of course, second to none. You call ’em, they say send it to us, and they send it back ready to rock. Sometimes you even get a brand-new riflescope as an upgrade. *That* is warranty service.
“Made in China, stays in China”…I like that! I think I’ll use it. 🙂 And if it’s my money that I’m spending, I will do my best to buy American.
I’ll stick with the Leupold Mark 4’s for as long as they keep selling ’em. They work, they’re solid, and they’re made here.
I respect that sentiment, but also remember that many companies that make products in China and elsewhere also employ American workers (myself included).
Well, they should employ more American workers and less slave-sweatshop labor in China, by moving that production back over here. I guess you’re one of the fortunate ones whose decent-paying manufacturing job didn’t get shipped overseas; I know far too many people who weren’t so fortunate. Plus, Red China is not exactly our friend. So, yeah, “made in China, stays in China” if it’s my money I’m spending and I can buy American.
We need to vote more with our wallets that way. My cell phone is actually USA-made. Yes, you read that right. It cost more than the Red China-made ones, but I get American quality and ensure American workers get paid. I also have much better assurance that there aren’t backdoors planted into the hardware.
Which phone do you have for it to be made in the USA??
Purism Librem 5 USA, and yep, they are available.
So bummed to learn my new Vortex Scope made in China.
What vortex do you have mine was made in the phillipines but it is a viper though
Because I’m like just about everyone my money don’t grow on trees but I am fortunate enuff to have vortex viper 2.5-10-44 made in the phillipines so far it’s been a super great rifle scope it’s built like a tank I do believe
Vortex has a rifle scope for every hunter on any budget
Where is the venom made
Vortex a so-called American conpany outsources it’s production to 3rd world sweat shops and still charges premium prices? Meanwhile Leupold, Redfield, Weaver, Burris, etc. are trying to remain competitive.
The Chinese can build quality products. They do have a space program. They also pride themselves on selling their junk to fat, lazy, stupid, instant gratification seeking Americans. There’s a reason there are a couple of supercarriers doing figure 8s in the South China Sea and it’s not because the Chinese are our good BFFs.
I couldn’t have said that better.
The Redfield brand got sold last year to Academy Sports, and now the current line of Redfield riflescopes are made in China. The Leupold-made ones, specifically the Revolution line, are the USA-made, quality ones.
Note that Burris offshores a lot of its riflescope production to sweatshops, too. So does Weaver. So, be careful of them as well if you buy from them.
At least Zeiss has the decency to have their so-called “less expensive” line made in Japan, and they’re A.) a friend, and B.) make very high quality stuff.
Shame about Vortex. I had hoped they would stay primarily American.
Amen. God bless you. I wish more people understood that.
It’s not that the Chinese can’t make quality products. Why give your money to them?Spend your hard earned dollars in the USA!
I wish I wouldn’t have read this. Now I have to spend twice as much to ethical.
I have several vortex products, and they are top notch and much less expensive. I never had any problem with any of them. Even mounted on a .458 socom.
I live in Wisconsin and do my business in Wisconsin – But only with USA made products (or at least with friends of the US)
Just remember that every dollar we send to china, they will use it to build up their military. Their goal is to wipe out the USA. Covid 19 from china wiped out over a million Americans without firing a single shot. They also decimated our strong economy and supply chain. I would hope every U.S. company would remove their manufacturing out of china and move it back to the USA. Vote with your dollar and your words!!!
At least the XM157 scope that tops the new XM5 military rifle is made in the USA with all American parts….by VORTEX.
I am from Wisconsin, and I was excited to learn about Vortex as they are made in Wisconsin. Then, I found this link when I was trying to find “where in Wisconsin” they are made. Yes, it’s nice that “one” of Vortex’s scopes is made in Wisconsin, but I will not buy Vortex unless they pull production from China. But, there are so many people who keep themselves in the dark, uneducated, about what they buy, or simply don’t care, that I will make a difference. Irregardless, Vortex lost my business before it began by having anything made in China.
You can’t make money as a consumer; money is made by producers.
If you don’t produce it here you can’t control its placement in the supply chain.
Our reliance on others is our weak link.
This is a problem that can’t be fixed overnight and can’t be fixed at all if you never start fixing.
The founding fathers understood this and warned us about it. History is a good place to look for solutions to our future. Wake Up!
All of this hullaballoo over where your scope is made, while you drive cars with parts made in Mexico, hardly a friend of the USA, or elsewhere. Your TV is not made here, in fact most likely, except for one poster the phone or computer you used to post your comments was also made in China or somewhere else. We live in a global economy so get over it. Most of us have a limited amount of money to spend, and we want the best quality we can get for the money. If I can buy a xyz scope for $200 that offers the same quality as one from abc company for $400 I will buy the scope for $200 and take the leftover $200 and spend it right here in the USA on more products and services which put money into our economy.
If you have unlimited resources you can choose to spend more money than I can, and that is your right and privelege, but that does not make you morally superior to me because I can’t do the same.
Please don’t bash those of us who choose to buy scopes we can afford so that we can spend more time pursuing our outdoor passions.
Thanks
The problem is not that PRC are bad, but rather that American engineers and American gun culture is being leverage for “gain of function” improvements to PRC martial products.
http://www.ambgun.com/verboten/gain-of-function