Vortex is not gonna match the quality of the Leupold either mechanically or optically. I love the Leupold 2-7 and have several of them. Nice wide FOV at lower power and all the magnification needed for most any hunting use on the upper end.
On the 1" riser I guess it depends on how ya mounted it. The AR absolutely requires a tall mounted scope. For that I use special AR type rings/base that attaches to the rail and gives proper sight picture. I got mine on the cheap at Amazon and all of them are performing just fine.
Here is a google link to a search for them. The kind showing when the link opens is similar to what I have. I think I paid maybe $50 or so, maybe a bit less, maybe a bit more.
https://www.google.com/search?q=ar+scope+mount+rings&rlz=1C1VSNC_enUS946US947&oq=AR+scope+base%2Frings&aqs=chrome.1.69i57j0i22i30.8816j1j15&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8I have one home defense AR set up with a Bushnell AR scope that is a 1-4 and I like it. Super wide FOV for up close and 4X is all the magnification I could ever use from my home.
My Remington R15 in .223 is set up as a varmint/target gun at the moment. I have a 6-24 power Athlon brand scope on it I got from Camera Land. I'm playing around with it when I have the time to see just how accurate it really is. When I'm done playing in that way it will likely get the Bushnell AR scope in 3-12 power back on it.
I honestly have no particular use for this rifle and so it's just kind of a toy to play with and figure out what I will eventually do with it. It has been mounted with one of my Aimpoint dot sights for home defense in the past, who knows it might do such duty again some day.
For the use you plan to put it to I'd say that Leupold 2-7 is all ya need unless you plan to pop coyotes or such out beyond 400 yards. For that something like the 3-12 my Remington R15 normally wears would be ideal.
Here is the last of these bases I bought. I have it on one of my ARs and have another as a spare for when I scope another one. Price is less than $30
https://www.amazon.com/Monstrum-Offset-Cantilever-Scope-Diameter/dp/B06X9GNNR1/ref=sr_1_4?keywords=best-ar-scope-mount&qid=1641771835&sr=8-4