Vortex Venom Purple Dot Sight Evaluate

A Mid-priced Worth vs Efficiency Contender

Vortex makes a big selection of optics for capturing lovers. Additionally they provide attire and coaching. This text covers one product particularly – the Vortex Venom crimson dot.

A associated however separate future publish will cowl the mounting and zeroing of a miniaturized crimson dot sight and the MRDS that served for instance the method is only one of many comparable examples. Particularly, it was one in every of three small variations bought by Vortex, cataloged as Razors, Vipers, and Venoms.

The Venom can be discovered at Cabela’s and at Optics Planet. Examine costs earlier than shopping for.

The venture concerned the latter and the job was just about problem free, however the sight itself took second billing to its set up. Given the passable end result, the Venom appeared deserving of a more in-depth look.

Vortex Optics

As I’ve famous throughout earlier posts, Vortex has change into a serious optics participant. They market an intensive line of optics to incorporate binoculars, scopes, and dot-sights, and many others. These days, a plethora of so-called “crimson dot sights” are generally mounted to AR-type carbines and even small pistols.

I’ve reviewed a few of their different merchandise as nicely. See my opinions of the Vortex Diamondback Tactical and the Vortex Strike Eagle scopes.

Vortex was on this early and their ever-evolving line of dot-sights is now comprised of each closed and open-emitter designs. The previous, that includes entrance and rear lenses, are good matches for carbines, whereas the comparatively tiny open emitters are extra appropriate for handguns. Of word, Vortex’s miniaturized choices have persevered regardless of an more and more crowded market. 

Vortex Venom Overview

One function I proceed to understand is Vortex’s packaging. The pertinent specs are listed on the field for straightforward reference (illustrated right here through the pictures). The froth-lined field consists of the sight, a separate QD Picatinny base, three mounting screws, a torx-tipped Allen wrench, a dual-ended screwdriver (for sight changes and the battery cap), a CR 1632 battery, and a rubber protecting cap – every part wanted for a kitchen desk set up besides a tube of thread-sealant. A transparent set of instructions and lens material are additionally included.

The Venom’s housing is machined from aluminum, and its glass lens surfaces are multi-coated. This therapy helps stop scratching and likewise improves gentle transmission. Subject of view is beneficiant given the sight’s small dimension, but it surely’s giant sufficient to allow a top-loading battery – a function that avoids the effort of sight elimination and re-zeroing endemic to ultra-low underside battery designs.

The lid is slotted to match the Vortex instrument or any comparable merchandise. The battery is rated to final 150 hours on the dot’s brightest setting, but it surely’s supposedly good for 3000 hours on nonetheless helpful decrease settings. Battery life is additional prolonged by the sight’s auto-shutoff function.

The Venom’s is bought in two reticle sizes: a comparatively high-quality 3-moa crimson dot, and 6-moa model extra appropriate for quick handgun work. Two arrowed rubber push-pads on the sight’s left facet regulate the dot’s depth, together with a couple of further settings choices.

The sight is zeroed through a pair of small elevation and windage dials, recessed and slotted for a small flat-tipped screwdriver or the Vortex instrument. The adjustment screws are surrounded by unnumbered reference scales nevertheless, the graduations correspond with distinct 1-moa clicks. To keep away from confusion, the radial scales are accompanied by directional arrows with “UP” and “R” cues.

Complete vary of adjustment is 130-moa for elevation and 100-moa for windage, sufficient to accommodate most mounting techniques. FYI, one “minute-of-angle” is 1/60^th of a level, which works out to roughly one inch at 100 yards (really, 1.047”).

Talking of mounts, among the smallest MRDS models can create sighting-in complications on account of their locking screws. The Viper is such an instance. It sits decrease than the Venom and might be a greater match for some pistol sights if co-witnessing is a precedence. Nevertheless, like another completive choices, the Viper’s dials are locked through two small setscrews on the rear of its housing.

With optics-ready slides now the fad, it’s doable they might be inaccessible if the MRDS is in shut proximity to a rear sight. The Venom’s deck is .080” taller however the changes are accessible – and its housing is thick sufficient for a top-loading battery. It’s rear floor additionally shows two vertical white stripes that might function a makeshift rear sight if full co-witnessing isn’t doable.

The Venoms ship with a protecting rubber cowl and are marketed as waterproof. For additional reassurance, they’re lined by Vortex’s lifetime guarantee.

Powering It Up

After unscrewing the battery cap with the Vortex instrument, I rigorously put in its included battery (numbers up). Changing the cap appeared easy sufficient, however that step turned out to be fairly fiddly. With the cap lastly secured, in accordance with the directions, a press of both rubber button ought to activate the dot. Certain sufficient, the reticle got here to life. Thus far, so good…

Reticle

The Venom reviewed right here is their 3-moa model. A optimistic first take, I discovered the dot was vivid sufficient on the highest setting to be helpful in vivid noon daylight, even towards white targets. If mounted on a rifle I’d personally want a finer 2-moa dot, however this one appeared “proper” atop its host; a Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 9mm pistol.

Settings

In all, there are ten brightness settings (non-night imaginative and prescient). Two modes are additionally accessible: “auto” and “guide.”

The Venom could be turned off by urgent and holding the “down” pad for five seconds.

If set to “auto” the reticle will routinely alter to ambient gentle situations. To achieve this function, press and maintain the “up” arrow till the dot flashes thrice. In “auto,” the sight may even shut off at 14 hours if undisturbed.

To have interaction the “guide” setting, press and maintain the identical “up” pad till the dot blinks twice. There’s no auto-shutoff function on this mode however, as I found, it’s value understanding for optimum leads to dim gentle.

Movement Options

No instant-on for the Venoms: As an alternative, per above, it’s designed to modify off, if in “auto”, after sitting idle for 14 hours. A easy press of both pad will reenergize the dot to an depth ruled by an auto sensor situated on the housing’s rear. In “guide,” the sight will keep on except shut off through the “down” pad.

Mounting

There isn’t any one-size-fits-all MRDS “footprint”, however some manufacturers do share the identical patterns. The Venom makes use of the favored Physician Optic and Burris Quick-fire format. The included Picatinny rail mounting plate is machined accordingly – if it’s wanted.

Since this unit was destined for an “optics prepared” pistol slide, the answer was a proprietary Springfield Armory adapter plate (another techniques direct mount to slides). As famous above, the particular set up and zeroing course of might be lined via a separate publish. For now, the quick story is, it was problem free.

As for the pistol, it’s honest to fee SA’s polymer-framed XDs as among the many top-selling hi-cap striker-fired firearms. The Venom neatly occupied the relieved slide of the XD-M and, as a bonus, it sat low sufficient to co-witness with its iron sights.

The answer for conventionally stocked firearms geared up with Picatinny-type bases is the included Vortex mount. It’s sits low sufficient to supply a cheek-weld for 3-gun shotguns, a lot of standard rifles, some pistol-caliber carbines, and correctly geared up revolvers. Nevertheless it’s too low for AR-15s.

The repair for flat-top ARs is a excessive mount. The Vortex QD model elevates the reticle to supply a BUIS co-witness within the decrease 1/3 of the Venom’s area of view. Different choices embrace a strong riser and 45-degree offset mount. 

Sighting-in

Zero was completed by keying the sight to “guide” and dimming it to realize high-quality dot. Thanks to a couple ammo-saving pre-fire mounting tips (lined individually) sighting-in was a cinch at 25 yards. The changes tracked as marketed and, as a result of MOA is an angular measurement, at this widespread handgun distance, every click on translated to solely 1 / 4 inch. However there was a bumpy begin.

Upon the primary shot the reticle disappeared. Turned out the battery cowl was now not current! Good factor I used to be standing on a naked floor. Miraculously, the cap didn’t fly to locations unknown in the course of the energetic biking of the XD’s slide. Anticipating the more serious, I shortly discovered it close to my ft and declared a time-out for a autopsy examination.

A lot for “securing” the cap. It took a couple of makes an attempt however, after holding my mouth excellent, the quilt lastly threaded on correctly. A couple of extra apply installations nailed the method. No additional points after that, but it surely’s actually one thing value noting.

As talked about in earlier posts, I usually embrace monitoring checks with rifle scope opinions, however dot sights are totally different breeds. Like most different shooters, as soon as I’ve established zero, the turrets usually stay undisturbed. On this case the changes appeared optimistic, and no zero shifts have been encountered. Switching to auto-mode, the dot additionally coped nicely with the out of doors vary’s lighting situations.

Final Feedback

A couple of on-line dings pertained to the extreme brightness of the Venom’s reticle throughout low-light looking situations. Because it was deer season, I stepped into the woods on my property at sundown to see what would transpire. And, sure, within the waning minutes of authorized time, 20 minutes after sunset, it was too vivid – in “auto” mode.

However a easy change to “guide” permitted dimming of the dot to a helpful depth in thick cowl, all through the length of the authorized 30-minute post-sundown interval. The flaring related to “auto” additionally disappeared to supply an intuitive aiming system.

The Venom can be discovered at Cabela’s and at Optics Planet. Examine costs earlier than shopping for.

This explicit Venom and XD-M pistol belong to my son. He bought it primarily based on good outcomes with two different Venoms mounted to an AR-15 (with a QD riser), and an S&W Efficiency Middle Mannequin 686 .357 revolver (utilizing the usual Vortex base).

Final 12 months, on the final day of our deer season, he took a bonus doe with the revolver within the few remaining minutes of night gentle. He reported no points and mentioned the important thing to such use is the bottom “guide” reticle setting (I discovered this out after the actual fact). His Venom’s have been trouble-free – to incorporate their battery caps – though they’ve obtained complaints from another homeowners.

Concerning reticle uniformity, a little bit of flare could be a problem with MRDS sights on account of their intrinsic design. For starters the emitter’s “dot” is mirrored onto the rear-facing lens floor. And missing a spotlight function, its readability could be dependent the acuity of its person’s imaginative and prescient. The easy generic MRDS answer for my outdated eyes is an easy set of OTC studying glasses (donned for the above low-light check).

Is the Venom Price It?

Produced within the Philippines, for many people, its $350 retail worth (nearer to $250 road worth) strikes an affordable stability of options vs price. These on the cusp of great social enterprise will most likely lean in direction of the Razor, itself made to compete with different benchmark MRDS merchandise like these from Trijicon.

If the dot performs as marketed, as soon as zeroed, the capturing course of is easy: Put dot on track, squeeze set off.