Vortex Spitfire 3x Microreview

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OldGravy

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Rating - 100%
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Location
Lower Mainland, BC
Not sure if anyone else has picked one of these up, but I bought one yesterday for use on an M14 for service / CQB conditions matches and general plinking.

I was looking for an optic for my rifle that would allow me to get a little magnification but not break the bank. I figured I'd give it a shot since:

- It has an integral mount, unlike the Leupy or Vortex scopes I was considering previously which would require rings, plus it can be mounted at two heights above your rail;
- It's a prism scope so my eyes won't hate it;
- Cost;
- It's set-and-forget once you zero with preset hashmarks in the reticule for distance shots so I can't fsck it up by fiddling with it;
- Dual (R/G) illumination;
- It doesn't weigh a metric f*ckton.

Cons:

- The reticule is built for the 5.56 55gr projectile, so it won't be suuuuper accurate for my milsurp 7.62x51. But it should be close enough out to 500y!
- Eye relief is only 2.8" which is... not as great as I'd like.

Things I Noticed:

- The reticule is more delicate than I was expecting. Jury's out on how it'll work in fast-acquisition situations. Guess that's what the illumination is for.
- Glass seems pretty good but I have not even mounted it yet to really check it out outside.

It doesn't seem like a bad choice for a service-type optic. I think the cost could help get less-experienced shooters (like myself) out to more events because we're not looking at a grand to get some kind of magnification, so the barrier to entry is lower.

Overall: Thumbs up.
 
great review I'm thinking about picking one up for my ar, 2.8 inch eye relief is great have u tried the agog ta31 lol
 
i got an agog ta33 on my tavor now i need an optic for my ar and I'm trying to resist buying another acog the vortex seems like a good choice without breaking the bank
 
I got one myself. Will also give you guys some feedback. So far I like everything. Clear glass. Eye relieve is not optimal but not bad. Not expensive. Reticule is good and clear. Illumination for fast target acquisition is almost a must at closer ranges.
Solid mounting. Focus eye piece.

Now I need to find out if the calibration for the bullet drop is working as advertised. Need to find out if it keeps zero etc...

Stay tuned.





Hash marks
- 100/200m zero
- 300m
- 400m
- 500m


Cheers.
 
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I spent most of a tradeshow playing with one of these and really liked it. Not sure what I'd use the offset picatinny rail for, and I'd definitely remove the rear flip up cap for shooting.

But damn sharp glass and a solid reticle. I like that the lowest level of brightness isn't overpowering, but that the max would still give you some colour on a sunny day.
 
I picked one of these up recently as well. For the price , the glass is great as well as the features. Only down side for me is I don't like the sight picture when it is mounted to my ar with an a2 front sight. So I will stick with a red dot and find another rifle for the spitfire to call home.

Tavor or maybe.....
 
Ok I went to the range and zeroed my vortex Spitfire 3X

Clicks are positive and true. Did keep zero after a 200 rounds session. Shot it up to 100 meters only. So I can't tell about the balistic hash marks yet. Will do that later.
Illumination is ok at 3-4 settings. Max power makes a little hollow in low light conditions. Outside it's perfect.

I like the red better. Green is not bad but I am not tracking it as fast. Might be me but heh.

Mounted on my C8 clone.



Grouping at 50 meters withe the 400 meters hash mark.


I think it's great little optic for what you pay no doubts.

Thank Darren. ;)
 
TV-PressPass said:
Great photos! The more I look at these, the more I think I want one.

Vortex makes a killflash for these eh? I wonder how that would affect the view through one.
Click to expand...

Yes in my list.

Oh one point. You kind of see the A2 front post a little too much. More then a C79. It can be annoying but will not block your POA/target view.
 
Cpt.Flan said:
Ok I went to the range and zeroed my vortex Spitfire 3X

Clicks are positive and true. Did keep zero after a 200 rounds session. Shot it up to 100 meters only. So I can't tell about the balistic hash marks yet. Will do that later.
Illumination is ok at 3-4 settings. Max power makes a little hollow in low light conditions. Outside it's perfect.

I like the red better. Green is not bad but I am not tracking it as fast. Might be me but heh.

Mounted on my C8 clone.



Grouping at 50 meters withe the 400 meters hash mark.


I think it's great little optic for what you pay no doubts.

Thank Darren. ;)
Click to expand...

Hi - just found this older thread. Would love to see your pics, if you still have them.

Still like the optic? Would I be crazy to think about using one on a "tacticool" 22 for now, maybe a real black rifle later?
 
I have been looking at one of these too lately as well as the Burris AR-332. The Burris is larger, heavier, less battery life but a more "robust" reticle. Burris also has $100 rebate right now so it might be a toss-up.
 
saskcop said:
I have been looking at one of these too lately as well as the Burris AR-332. The Burris is larger, heavier, less battery life but a more "robust" reticle. Burris also has $100 rebate right now so it might be a toss-up.
Click to expand...

Apparently Cabelas sells both the Burris and a rebranded Burris but with their own name on it for significantly less money. Might be worth checking out.
 
I just got my spitfire 3x, I like the build quality! The reticle makes sense to me as well. I mounted it on my MR1 and I'm looking forward to some range time to get it zeroed. I removed the riser, and it sits nicely at the rear of my rails while clearing the rear iron sight by less than a millimeter.

syczq9c.jpg
 
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