Vortex Diamondback 4-12X40 Review – A 2022 Guide

The Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40 is a great scope to add to your rifle for short and medium-range shots, especially for the money. It has top clarity, a durable design, and sufficient magnification to allow for medium-range shots.

And with Vortex’s lifetime warranty, you don’t have to worry about spending money on a product you will eventually have to replace. Vortex will replace the Diamondback 4-12x40 riflescope if it breaks or is defective.

So let’s see what else the Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40 has to offer!

IMAGEPRODUCT
  • Precision glide erector system for easy transition
  • SFP dead-hold BDC reticle & 60 MOA W/E travel
  • Capped reset turrets and fast focus eyepiece
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Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40

Pros

  • Affordable for budget shoppers
  • Magnification
  • Large field of view
  • Lightweight and durable

Cons

  • Limited reticle option

Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40 Specs

  • Eye Relief: 3.1 to 3.4 inches

  • Adjustment Options: ¼ MOA per click

  • Parallax: 100 yards

  • Windage: 60 MOA

  • Elevation: 60 MOA

  • Type of Reticle: Dead-Hold BDC reticle

  • Magnification: 4-12x

  • Focal Plane: Second Focal Plane

  • Objective Lens: 40mm

  • Field of View: 11.3 to 32.4 linear feet at 100 yards

Pros

The following are some pros:

Large Field of View

The Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40 has a wide field of view at 100 yards. This means you can clearly see your target with a wide linear view, allowing you to track the target if it moves without lowering your magnification. This ultimately helps you take a clearer and more precise shot, whether your target is on the move or standing still.

Magnification

The standard magnification of the scope is 4x, so you immediately start out seeing your target magnified 4x. This standard magnification means you may not have to make any adjustments to the magnification of your scope, especially if you are taking a short-range shot.

If you need to take a longer shot, the magnification goes up to 12x, allowing you to take a longer shot. The magnification of the scope is ideal for medium-range distances.

Lightweight and Durable

The Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40 is made of durable aircraft-grade aluminum and weighs a lightweight 14.6 ounces. It is shock-proof, waterproof, and fog-proof. It comes with removable lens covers that you can place on the ocular and objective lenses to keep them clean and protected while the scope is not in use.

Affordable

It’s hard to beat the price of the Vortex Diamondback 4 12x60, which is what gives this riflescope an edge over much of the competition, especially for the features and the warranty you get from Vortex.

For less than $200, you get a riflescope with great magnification, a durable design, and precise MOA adjustability for windage and elevation.

Cons

However, it comes with some drawbacks, including:

Limited Reticle Option

Some similar models of Vortex riflescopes give you the option to choose the Vortex reticle you want the scope to have. The Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40 only comes in the Dead-Hold BDC reticle.

The downside to this reticle is that it has no illumination capabilities and is not ideal in low light. The lenses have coatings to help with clarity and light correction if there are low light conditions, but it is not the reticle you would want to use if you plan to be shooting in dark conditions like dawn or dusk.

The good news about the Dead-Hold BDC reticle is that it is extremely precise and easy to calculate MOA adjustments, thanks to the hash marks included on the windage and elevation lines.

Best Uses For the Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40

The Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40 is best used for hunting and target practice from short to medium-range distances.

How Does Magnification Play a Role in Using the Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40?

The standard magnification of the Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40 is 4x and has a maximum magnification at 12x power. The 4x standard magnification makes it easy to make short-range shots without any modifications when looking through the scope. The 12x magnification allows you to take longer shots, preferably medium-range shots around 250 yards at the most.

What is Yardage and How Does it Play a Role in Using the Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40?

The Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40 can make adjustments for windage and elevation in ¼ of a minute of angle increments.

A minute of angle is 1/60th of a degree, and every minute of angle is equivalent to a one-inch difference in distance between two points for every 100 yards.

When adjusting for windage and elevation, the Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40 can adjust up to 60 MOA, giving you a wide range of adjustments you can make to windage and elevation when taking longer shots.

The ¼ MOA adjustment clicks on the windage and elevation dials mean that you can dial in your shot as precisely as possible. When making adjustments to windage and elevation, you may not need to make a full 1 MOA adjustment, so the ¼ MOA per click means you can dial in the exact windage and elevation adjustment you need to make for the distance of the shot you’re taking.

Is the Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40 Hard to Use?

The Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40 is an easy scope to use on your rifle. The most difficult part of the riflescope will be if you use it during low light conditions because it has no illumination capabilities or red dot reticle. The controls, adjustments, and magnification make the Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40 easy to use.

Is the Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40 Compatible With Any Rifle?

Yes, you can mount the Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40 on any rifle or shotgun. Just make sure you have the right mount and rings on your rifle to securely attach the Diamondback 4-12x40.

What Do I Need to Know About Mounting the Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40?

The Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40 will require a set of one-inch mounting rings to attach to any rifle you are mounting it to. When attaching the Diamondback 4-12x40 to the mount, make sure you use the lowest setting possible on the mounting rings to get the most accurate view and a solid shooting position when you take your shot.

What Makes the Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40 Stand Out From the Competition?

Between the price, features, quality, and warranty, the Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40 is arguably the best riflescope you can add to your rifle for short to medium-range purposes.

It’s a top-quality riflescope to add to your rifle, coming in around $200 or less, and it gives you the clearest view through the scope. With a Dead-Hold BDC reticle, you can precisely dial in your shot at short to medium-range distances.

Conclusion

If you consider adding a top-quality riflescope with exceptional clarity and strong magnification, we recommend buying the Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40. It provides a crystal-clear vision through the lens of the scope, with the Dead-Hold BDC reticle showing you exactly where to take your shot. For the money and the features, it is a great riflescope to add to any rifle.

People Also Ask

Still have questions you need to be answered before making your purchase? Review the answers below to some of the more commonly asked questions.

What Kind of Warranty Does the Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40 Come With?

Vortex offers a lifetime warranty on all of its products, including the Diamondback 4-12x40. The Vortex lifetime warranty ensures that you will get a full repair to your riflescope or a full replacement if it becomes inoperable due to damage or a defect.

How Much Does the Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40 Weigh?

The Diamondback 4-12x40weighs 14.6 ounces, which won’t weigh down your rifle, especially if you mount the scope onto a lightweight rimfire rifle.

Can You Use Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40 in Low Light?

It is not recommended to use the Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40 in low light simply because there are no illumination capabilities in the reticle.

The Vortex Diamondback 4 12x60 comes with a Dead-Hold BDC reticle with no red dot or brightness illumination. However, the lenses of the Diamondback riflescope have a coating that helps improve the clarity in low light while looking through the lens; however, there are no brightness options in the scope.

How Long Does the Battery Last on the Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40?

The battery life of the Vortex Diamondback 4-12x40 is listed as 150 hours.



Michael Lutes

Michael Lutes is the managing editor and owner at Gun Mann. He is a veteran, gun enthusiast, 3 gun competitor, and 2a advocate. Mike has a passion for innovation and education across the industry to create great content, training, and insights from the best and brightest.