Tag Archives: 6-36×56

Vector Optics Continental 6-36X56

August 9, 2025Optics, Product review34mm, 6-36x56, continental, riflescope, scope, vector continental, vector opticscoldboremiracle

Intro

Without a doubt the US sport optics market has been inundated over the last decade, with a plethora of manufacturers and importers. One of the many companies doing an impressive job at it is Vector Optics. I have had an opportunity to review a couple of the optics now, and I’ve been impressed. So today I bring you a fresh look at another riflescope, the Vector Optics Continental 6-36×56.

The Continental 6-36×56 Rifle Scope

Like the rest of the Continental strain, this one uses a 34mm main tube. The large 56mm objective lens is the standard for long-range precision optics. And the Continental comes with other features that have become the gold standard for precision shooting optics. Exposed adjustable turrets with 10 MRAD per turn, adjustable side focus/parallax, an illuminated milling reticle and more.

Specifications

Magnification	6-36x
Objective Lens Dia	56 mm
Focal Plane	First Focal Plane
Eye Relief	100 mm / 4.0 in
Lens Coating	Fully Multi-coated
Linear Field of View @ 100 yd	21.6 – 3.6 ft @ 100 yards
Linear Field of View @ 100 m	7.2 – 1.2 m @ 100 meters
Angular Field of View °	4.13 – 0.69 °
Reticle	VEC-MBR2

Tube Dia	34 mm
Side Focus	15 yards to Infinity
Click Value	1/10 MIL
Turret Function	Zero Stop, Turret Lock
Elevation Adjustment Range	≥ 31 MIL
Windage Adjustment Range	≥ 18 MIL
Diopter Compensation	-3 to +2
Illumination Setting	11 brightness settings, On/Off between each
Battery Type	CR2032
Waterproof	IP67
Fogproof	Nitrogen Filled
Shockproof	1000 G
Housing Material	6061-T6 Aluminum Alloy
Finish	Matte Black
Length	404 mm / 15.9 in
Weight	861 g / 30.4 oz
Items in the Package	User Manual, Plastic Wrench, Cleaning Cloth, Sunshade, Flip-up Caps, Spare Turret, 34mm Picatinny Rings, etc.

desert tech, srs m2, vector optics, continental 6-36x56, prs, competition, snipers hide cup, — after many months of hard use and even some competition, the Continental continues to perform

Also like other Continental scopes, this one comes with some added value items as well. Things like a sun shade and Vector 34mm rings. While based on the price I suspect they are fairly simple rings, but they are perfectly suitable for this scope, and don’t look like the cheap throwaway option often included. The packaging also is high quality, giving a great impression.

Vector optics, continental 2-12x44, riflescope, rings,

Another nice thing included with the scope is an extra elevation turret. The second turret doesn’t include the zero stop feature, which allows a full sweep of the erector.

Vector optics, continental 2-12x44, riflescope, turret, — the **Continental 2-12×44** uses the same turret system

Mounting the Continental 6-36

I chose to mount the Vector Continental in an Area 419 scope mount. Not that the rings weren’t suitable, I just like the Area 419 mount significantly more. With a snug fit, the Continental was then attached to my Desert Tech SRS M2. A rifle I use quite frequently.

Adjusting the mounting location to set the proper eye relief, gave a nice comfortable fit and clear image. I adjusted the diopter at the rear to get the best image of the reticle, and also added the sun shade. This is something I often do if for nothing else, to keep things away from the lenses of my scopes.

Zeroing the Scope and Zero-Stop function

My Desert Tech SRS M2 rifle has a 30 MOA cant built into the picatinny rail, this is by design to allow zeroing the scope closer to its mechanical zero. This required me to dial the elevation turret below its centerline.

the zero-stop system is easy to set and robust in design

The zero-stop feature is built into the elevation turret. It uses an indexable stop that also actuates an indicator pin on the top of the turret. When the turret is rotated past its first rotation (10 MRAD), a red pin pops up on the top of the turret. And when it is rotated past the second rotation (20 MRAD) the pin pops up a bit further exposing a silver ring under the red. This allows both a visual and tactile indication of which rotation of the scope you are on.

Since I had to zero the scope below its factory zero-stop setting, this required me to dial back the zero-stop. This is done by removing the elevation turret, and underneath there is a small pin that you push in, and then rotate against the indicated direction approximately the distance you need.

I could then boresight the scope and rifle per my traditional practice, prior to taking the rifle to the range for zeroing. Once the rifle was zeroed, I could reset the zero-stop feature. By again removing the turret, and rotating the inner ring (in the indicated direction) until the pin pops into its stop hole. And then set the turret back on the scope lining it up with zero.

Shooting with the Continental 6-36

I use my SRS for quite a bit of shooting, which makes it very familiar to me. Shooting the rifle with this Vector Optics scope would be an exercise in repetition. I’ve run a variety of very nice scopes on this rifle, so seeing how the Vector stood-in would be a good comparison.

My first shooting experience with this scope was shooting paper targets at a mere one-hundred yards. The impressively bright image through the scope made for some very easy shooting. Using the fine points of the reticle was great for precise placement of shots.

vector optics, continental, 6-36x56, long-range riflescope, ffp, mil, mrad, illumination — initiating the reticle illumination shows that only part of the reticle is illuminated. This helps avoid having too much light when looking into darkness

The majority of my shooting takes place in open country at high altitude in the Rocky Mountains. I do a lot of varmint hunting and long-range shooting, which would also make an excellent task to test the legs of this scope.

One of the benefits of using this rifle, is that I have some very established drop data. This allows close evaluation of the scope compared to others I’ve also used.

**this rifle** and scope combination is great for shooting from my **Two Vets Tripod**

Optical Clarity

Vector Optics uses Schott lenses from Germany, which is likely responsible for the impressive clarity. Looking at small animals and other details even at long-distances gave very definitive identification. As well as spotting impacts, things like dirt flying and bullet splash were quickly identified through the scope.

desert tech, srs m2, vectore optics, continental 6-36x56, prs, competition, snipers hide cup, — I recently used the **Continental 6-36** on my **Desert Tech SRS M2** chambered in 6GT for the Snipers Hide Cup match

Across the broad magnification range, the scope kept its clean image. As is typical, at maximum magnification the brightness of the scope is reduced somewhat. I have experienced this phenomenon with almost every scope I’ve used, it’s normal and simply something to be aware of. The beauty of these higher magnification scopes is that if you run them at slightly less than maximum power, they look fantastic and still have adequate zoom.

vector optics, continental, 6-36x56, long-range riflescope, ffp, mil, — the magnification adjustment ring is smooth, with a 180 degree turn

I also noticed another anomaly that I have seen on some scopes; When using a canted scope base for long-range shooting, the scope’s erector is typically moved closer to its limit of travel. At the low end of the magnification spectrum, this can sometimes result in a crescent shaped shadow appearing along the top of the image. So far as I can tell it has no effect on performance, and isn’t visible when you zoom the scope in even a little bit.

vector optics, continental, 6-36x56, long-range riflescope, ffp, mil, mrad, — installing the CR2032 lithium battery

Parallax Adjustment

Removing parallax from the image is done using the side focus turret. It is labeled for various distances and as usual they are more of a guide than an exact amount. I did notice that parallax balance was easy to achieve at nearly any distance I tried. This is an important feature for any rifle scope used for long-range shooting, if you are curious about why you should read all you need to know about parallax.

Turret Function & Tracking

One of my favorite features of the Continental scopes is the turrets. The turrets have ten MRAD of elevation per rotation, and are labeled with whole and 1/10 graduations. The turrets are locked using a push/pull feature, when pushed down they snap into a locked position. Pulling them up unlocked them allowing adjustments to be made.

Once the zero-stop feature had been engaged, the turret has a hard stop at zero. This allows you to dial your scope back to zero without even looking at it. The audible clicks also allow you to make small adjustments by simply feeling each click or hearing them.

After zeroing my rifle and setting the zero-stop, I found the Continental still had a total of nearly two-and-a-half turns of elevation. That is 28.5 MRAD of elevation, which is plenty for most long-range shooting scenarios. This is also in part because of my 30 MOA canted scope base.

Testing the values of the turret clicks closely matched the amounts measured with the reticle. Additionally, the known shooting DOPE for the cartridges I was shooting matched up in the Continental.

Reticle

Speaking on the reticle; the VEC-MBR2 reticle has a great deal of features. It uses what many have called a Christmas tree shape, because of the familiar shape of the holdover grid. While I am not as big a fan as other of this type of reticle, I can surely see its utility. With the ability to quickly hold-over your target, or measure corrections easily, this reticle gives you options. With a ranging bracket and several open spots with tiny center-dots it gives you precision where you want it.

Pros and Cons

There is a lot to like about this scope. If the bright imagery and clarity aren’t enough to get you excited, then robust turrets and their function should. This scope envelops most if not all of the popular features for long-range shooting and it still comes in well under the $1000 price point. With great included accessories and all these features the Vector Continental 6-36×56 is a great deal. And they come with a great repair or replace warranty that matches the standard for quality optics.

vector optics, continental, 6-36x56, long-range riflescope, ffp, mil, mrad, Desert Tech, SRS M2, anechoic, anechox 35 suppressor, — besides the Continental scope, this rifle incorporates an Anechoic 35 suppressor, and **Atlas Bipod**

If there is a downside to these scopes, I suppose many would say it is it’s source. As Americans we like to buy products from our fellow compatriots, or at a minimum from our friendly allies. Vector Optics come from China, which might be reason enough not to buy them for some. If you don’t mind the spawn-point, you will find an affordable option with excellent performance. After months of use and comparing the scope to others like Kahles and Nightforce, the optical quality isn’t quite as good. But that is no surprise considering those optics cost four or five times more.

vector optics, continental, 6-36x56, long-range riflescope, ffp, mil, mrad, Desert Tech, SRS M2,

Concluding Thoughts

I have been very happy with this line of riflescopes, and I expect to keep them busy for years to come. It is very impressive how much value you get from these scopes, and it definitely has shown how the Asian optics manufacturers have upped their game. Had I not known where these scopes came from, and if they’d had the branding of a European scope, I might have believed they came from Germany or something. So if you have filet mignon taste, but a bowl of rice budget, you might find these scopes fit right into your shooting plans.

-CBM

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Vortex Optics Gen III Razor 6-36×56

June 22, 2025Optics, Product review6-36x56, gen III, gen III Razor, vortex optics, vortex Razorcoldboremiracle

Introduction

It would be hard to have a conversation about modern sport and shooting optics without mentioning Vortex Optics. Few companies have done more to bring the features shooters want at a reasonable cost than the folks at Vortex. I remember when I was much younger, getting my first Vortex PST riflescope with a serial number of 000004. My experience with that scope and many others since have solidified my opinion of the product line. Today we are taking a look at a new to me rifle scope from company, the Vortex Optics Gen III Razor 6-36×56.

Vortex Optics, Razor Gen III, gen III, Vortex Razor, 6-36x56, Desert Tech, SRS M2, 338LM, Two vets Tripod, — the **Desert Tech SRS M2** and Gen III Razor mounted on the **Two Vets No Name V2 Tripod**

With a wide variety of optics from inexpensive scopes made in China to top notch scopes made in Japan, there is something for everyone. The extremely successful line of Vortex Razors has long held the standard as the most desireable Vortex optic to have. I’ve used the Gen I, Gen II and now the Gen III scopes, and I’m excited to share my results.

The Third Generation Razor

The evolution of the Razor line has brought a great deal of advancement. Whether it be the reticle options or the mechanical features, Vortex has put their best options into the Razor line. Built on a robust 34mm tube, the Razor 6-36 boasts a massive erector assembly with a first focal plane EBR-7D reticle.

Ten MRAD per revolution of the turrets gives the Gen II Razor quite the spread with maximum elevation travel of 36 MRAD. The locking turrets have a very interesting zeroing feature that makes for quick and precise zeroing of the turret without the disassembly typically needed. Standard features like illuminated reticle and a side focus/parallax adjustment round out the operation of the Razor.

To increase value, there are other included accessories as well like the typical sunshade, Defender rubberized flip-caps and an aluminum throw-lever. And of course the tools you’ll need to adjust and zero the scope.

Specifications

Vortex Optics Gen III Razor 6-36×56
Length	15.3 Inches
Weight	45.1 Ounces
Power Magnification	6-36 X
Tube Diameter	34 Millimeter
Objective lens Diameter	56 Millimeter
Reticle Focal Plane	1st Focal Plane
Turret Click Value	1/10 Milradian
Turret Travel per Rotation	10 Milradian
Total Turret Travel	36.1 Milradian
Eye Relief	3.5 Inches
Reticle	EBR-7D MRAD Glass Etched Reticle
Lenses	XR Coated HD lenses
Battery	Lithium CR2032 cell

On the Range

For testing the Razor Gen III, I would mount it to a Desert Tech SRS M2. The SRS does particularly well in the heavy hitting 338LM, and if the Razor could perform well with a heavy hitter it would certainly do for my day to day shooting.

Mounting

To mount the big Razor, I would use a set of Vortex 34mm rings, just to keep things uniform. Setting the rings on the 30 MOA tapered rail of the SRS would give me the ability to get better use of the Razor’s 36 MRAD of travel.

After leveling the scope, I torqued the screws down to ensure a solid connection. I then pulled the bolt from the rifle so I could boresight the rifle using my toolless method. With the rifle and scope ready for the range, I grabbed some 338 ammo and my Athlon Velocity Pro Chronograph and headed to the range.

Zeroing

The first shot from the rifle was on paper as I expected, but would require refinement. This is where the Gen III turrets would come in very handy. In the tops of each turret there is a finger adjustable sub-turret, basically a turret within a turret. With the simple loosening of a single screw, you can unslave the inner turret from the main outer turret. With clear graduations marked on the end, you can adjust the exact amount needed to zero the rifle. All this while the main turret stays locked on zero.

Both the elevation and windage turret have a push/pull locking feature. This is a tried and true feature for many manufacturers, and it works well here too.

After zeroing the scope, I fired a few shots to confirm zero. I aimed at the bullet hole from my first shot, and to my great satisfaction, the hole only slightly opened after my second shot. With zero confirmed I figured I would attach the throw-lever to assist in switching back and forth while viewing targets.

Optical Clarity

With the scope mounted and zeroed, I started paying great attention to what I was seeing downrange. It didn’t take long to really appreciate the optical clarity of the Gen III Razor. Using 36X for shooting groups at 100 yards almost seems like cheating, picking which side of a bullet hole I was going to aim at. This of course after adjusting the diopter at the rear of the occular housing.

the EBR-7D reticle, hard to do scope images justice through pictures

Picking out distant objects also assured me of the detail visible through the Razor. The fine points of the EBR-7D reticle allowed very precise measurements and placement on target. This was even more appreciable because of the accuracy of the SRS, making tiny differences apparent on paper. Looking at equipment in the distance you could see details like flaws in paint and textures in welds from great distances.

One thing that was really impressive was how clear the razor was even at max power. Most scopes, even those in the top end of quality suffer varying amounts when they are at maximum magnification. The Razor seemed to be less affected by this phenomenon, as even at max-power it provided a great image.

Pros and Cons

There were only a few things I found that I disliked about the Gen III Razor. First off, it does feel a bit heavy. But that’s a very subjective, this could be seen a good thing for competitors that like adding weight. Ten ounces heavier than some of its competitors.

My one gripe about the turrets was the push/pull locking feature. The click isn’t quite as definite as I would have preferred, certainly not a deal breaker but worth noting.

On the positive side, the Razor is a beast of a scope. It has amazing power and feels like you could drive nails with it. The image and clarity are outstanding, making long-range engagements easier. The turrets are precise and reliable making corrections perfectly, as well as with the reticle. It does all this for less than some of its close competitors like the Nightforce ATACR 7-35 and the Kahles K328i.

Report Card

Optical Performance (A)– the edge to edge clarity at all power settings was beautiful, the bright clear image was sharp at every power setting.

Turret Execution (B+)– very large and strong turrets with positive and audible clicks, very defined for accurate corrections, and bonus points for the zeroing feature.

Reticle (A)– I’ve always liked the EBR reticles, and this one is a perfect blend of versatility without being too obtrusive.

Durability (A)– This scope feels like it’s overbuilt, and made to last like a tank.

Accuracy (A)– Click values and reticle movement are on point, allowing for perfect corrections

Value (A)-With a street price around $2999, the Razor offers comparable performance to the ATACR 7-35 and K328i for significantly less.

Final Thoughts

I’ve always liked the Vortex Optics brand, and the Gen III Razor only gives me more reason to like them. The Razor 6-36×56 might not be what most consider an entry level scope, but it gives a shooter nearly everything you could ask for and at a reasonable price. Whether it be for a PRS competition rifle, or for a police sniper rifle, the Gen III Razor gives the steady and accurate performance you seek.