Hey shooters! Welcome to my Vortex Venom red dot review 2024.
I will not bore you with the benefits of a red dot. You have come here to look for one; you already know them. But, choosing the right red dot is not that easy; there are a variety of options in the market that might confuse you.
I will solve a little bit of your problem by giving you a detailed review of the very popular Vortex Venom.
I have hand-tested all Vortex optics, and Vortex Venom is my favorite of the lot.
I have added my experience with the research of my dedicated team of gun enthusiasts.
Let’s get started.
Vortex Venom Red Dot: Specifications
How Does It Work?
Activation and Deactivation
For activating the red dot, press either the Up or Down button for a few seconds, and it will be on. And, for turning the optic off, press the down button for 5 seconds.
Brightness Adjustment
The Vortex Venom has manual and auto-brightness adjustments. For activating the auto-adjustment, press the Up arrow and hold it until the dot flashes thrice. And to start the manual adjustment, press the Up arrow and hold it until the dot flashes twice.
Windage and Elevation Adjustment
The Vortex Venom has easily accessible windage and elevation dials that you need to turn up/down or left/right. Arrows are placed to indicate all the directions.
Vortex Venom Red Dot: Features
In the paragraphs below, I will analyze in detail all the Vortex Venom red dot sight features.
1. Durability and Toughness
When I say Vortex Venom is a durable red dot sight, I don’t mean that it is the most durable option you will ever have.
Of course, you cannot expect Venom to have the durability that high-end optics like Trijicon RMR or an Aimpoint optic offer because you are also not paying that price. But, Vortex Venom is extremely durable for the price you pay for it.
Let’s see what Vortex has done to make the Venom durable.
Aluminum Housing
The Venom has a 6061 T6 Aerospace Aluminum housing which gives the optic enough tensile strength.
Waterproof
Trijicon has also made the optic waterproof. Waterproof optics prevent moisture from damaging the internal electronics and give them a longer lifespan. However, Trijicon doesn’t mention the exact waterproof rating of the Venom.
Shockproof
Moreover, the Vortex Venom is shockproof, allowing it to withstand recoil; mine has survived 1000 rounds.
Multi-coated Lens
Another thing added to the Vortex Venom for durability is its multi-coated lens. It has an anti-reflective coating that reduces the glare and gives a clear sight picture.
It also has ArmorTek abrasion-resistant coating that protects the lens from scratches and other elements.
Recessed Controls
The windage and elevation controls on the Venom are flushed with its body. It might seem like a small detail, but these recessed turrets prevent any accidental changes in the zero if you bump your optic somewhere.
2. Reliability
It Holds Zero
One factor in gauging the reliability of any optic is how well and long it holds zero. I have completed 1000 rounds with my Vortex Venom, and it still holds zero.
One Venom user mentioned:
“I have been using this for almost every competition I enter now, and I have shot over 1000 rounds with it. Zero is still holding and did not have to adjust it since I first zeroed it.”
Bright Red Dot
The Vortex Venom has a bright red dot. It is very much visible in the sun. You don’t have to worry about it washing out on a bright sunny day.
I was apprehensive about using it on the auto-adjust mode, but the auto-adjustment works well. The dot is clear and visible. It adjusted quickly and appropriately to the ambient light.
Another thing that helps to get a clear dot is the 10 brightness adjustments. You have a brightness setting in whichever lighting you go.
Lifetime Warranty
The Vortex Venom comes with a VIP warranty of the Vortex. Under this warranty, you get your optic repaired or even replaced in case of any damage to it.
You will not have to pay any money, not even for shipping. You know a product is reliable when the manufacturer backs it up with this kind of warranty.
Great Customer Service
With the warranty, they also have very quick customer service. I have lost my tool twice, and Vortex sent it to me within a few days.
3. Speed and Accuracy
The Vortex Venom is an open reflex sight. The advantage of an open sight over a closed emitter sight is that it gives a bigger window with a wider field of view.
The Vortex Venom excels in this category; it has a wide window with expanded corners, giving a wider field of view than other open reflex sights such as the Vortex Viper. So, with Venom, you will have no problem finding the dot.
Another thing that makes the Venom reliable is that the lens hood is very slim, and when you look through it, you can focus on the target without any obstruction by the frame.
You get speed and accuracy with an optic with a wider sight picture and the least distraction.
The visible, bright red dot also helps you to get the speed and accuracy.
One user mentioned:
“I’m a pretty solid pistol shooter, but once I got used to using this red dot, my accuracy and speed improved! I feel like I’m cheating now because accurate hits are so easy!”
4. Brightness Adjustment
The Vortex Venom has both manual and automatic brightness adjustment options. You have 10 brightness settings to choose from, making your dot compatible with the lighting condition.
The auto-adjustment feature is very beneficial if you are shooting in a place where you have to move indoors to outdoors or vice versa constantly. It will also give you a great full-day experience at the range as you have brightness options from dawn to dusk.
The auto-brightness also helps you in shooting if you are a newbie and not equipped with the adjustment buttons. Leaving on auto will help you get the perfect brightness.
No Night Vision
Many red dot sights have brightness adjustments compatible with being used under night vision. One example would be the 507c which has 2 settings for night vision.
Unfortunately, the Vortex Venom doesn’t have night vision compatibility. And if you put it to the lowest brightness settings, it is too bright to be used with night vision.
5. Battery Life
The Vortex Venom red dot scope has 150 hours of battery life at the highest settings and 30,000 hours when you put it to the lowest. The actual battery life, the battery life you have when you put it on a mid-setting, will be somewhere between these two values.
If we take an average of the two extreme values, we get 15,000 hours of battery life.
It means your optic will run for more than 1 year if you put it on a mid-setting.
This battery life is less compared to other similar-priced optics, such as the Holosun 507c, which has 50,000 hours of battery life. One reason for that could be the absence of the Shake Awake in the Vortex Venom.
The Shake Awake automatically turns off the optic when it’s still and turns it back on when it senses any movement. This feature helps to preserve the battery and gives a longer run time to most Holosun optics.
However, the Vortex Venom does have an auto-off feature. The auto-off turns the Venom off after 14 hours when it is in auto-mode.
But, it doesn’t turn it back on with movement like the Shake Awake.
6. Convenient Battery Change
One of Vortex Venom’s most amazing features is the top-loading battery compartment.
With the top-loading compartment, you can change the battery of your red dot without removing it from the gun. Contrary to this, when the battery compartment is underneath the optic, you must remove it, reattach and re-zero it.
The Vortex Venom battery sits on the top of the optic and saves you from all this hassle. This feature is absent in the Vortex Viper and makes it less user-friendly.
However, one thing that can cause slight inconvenience is that the Vortex Venom uses the CR1632 battery, which is less common than the CR2032 battery.
7. Dot Size
A red dot comes in various dot sizes. And there is an ongoing debate about which dot size is the best.
But, what dot size is perfect for you depends on what you will use it for and also your preferences as a shooter. Some would prefer a larger dot like the 6 or 7 Moa, and others would go for a smaller 2 or 3 Moa.
Fortunately, you get the best of both worlds with the Vortex Venom; Vortex offers it in 3 and 6 Moa dot sizes.
So, get a 3 Moa dot if you want to use your Vortex Venom with a rifle for taking long-distance shots. A smaller dot size is perfect for this use because it doesn’t cover too much area on target and gives the pinpoint accuracy you need to hit targets at larger distances.
Contrary to this, a bigger 6 Moa will be perfect for shooting targets up close and bigger. It usually happens in a close combat situation where you need speed more than accuracy. So, a bigger dot will give the speed you need to hit targets by quickly picking the dot.
8. Easy to Carry
Despite having a metal body, the Vortex Venom is still lightweight; it weighs less than half of the Sig Romeo 5, which stands at 5.1 ounces.
The Venom also has a very compact design; it is more compact than the Holosun 510C, Trijicon SRO, and the Leupold Delta Pro.
Its lightweight and compact design make it very easy to carry.
You can throw it in your backpack and easily carry it to the range or for defense.
9. Easy to Zero
The Vortex Venom has 130 Moa maximum elevation adjustments and 100 Moa maximum windage adjustments. These adjustments are enough for achieving shooting accuracy.
The knobs themselves are quick and easy to adjust. It took me 5-10 minutes to get my red dot zeroed.
Also, the tools you need for making these adjustments come in the box. So, you don’t have to look for tools for zeroing your optic.
10. Easy to Install
The Vortex Venom red dot scope is very easy to install. Firstly, it comes with a Picatinny rail, saving you from additional expenses.
It also comes with a riser mount for using it with a rifle. Moreover, it comes with the tools you need to mount this optic.
11. Easy Brightness Adjustment
For manual brightness adjustment, there are two buttons conveniently placed on the left side of the optic—the up arrow for increasing and the down arrow for decreasing the brightness.
12. Compatible With Various Platforms
Thanks to the two dot size options, you can use the Vortex Venom for different purposes. Also, the Venom can withstand recoil, so you can use it with different platforms.
Get the Vortex Venom 3 moa red dot sight if you want to put your red dot on a rifle. Usually, with rifles, we shoot targets that are smaller in size and at a distance. A 3 Moa is a smaller dot that doesn’t cover the target. So, it gives you the pinpoint accuracy you need for hitting targets at a distance.
Get the 6 Moa version if you put your Venom on a handgun. Usually, with handguns, you shoot targets that are up close and big. And where you have to focus on getting to the target faster and not care much about accuracy. So, a 6 Moa dot is ideal for such scenarios.
13. Value For Money
At the time of writing this review, you will get the Vortex Venom for about 230 dollars. The Vortex Venom is durable, user-friendly, and reliable. Its bright dot and wide field of view get you to the target fast.
So, with a red dot that is fast, reliable, and convenient, you get the quality that you are paying for.
One user mentioned:
“At half the price of a “military grade” red dot, these are a real bargain.”
What Is It Used For?
Defense
The Vortex Venom is great for personal and home defense. It has 10 brightness settings to work in different light conditions. Also, thanks to the wide and no-frame obstruction glass, you get to the dot quickly. Also, the brightness on this optic is easy-to-adjust. So, in a quick combat situation, this optic will work perfectly.
Competition
In competition, you need to pick the dot quickly. The Vortex Venom has a 6 Moa dot that is clear and bright, and a wide field of view that allows you to pick the dot very quickly. All this makes it ideal for competition.
Range
With its lightweight and compact design, the Vortex Venom is easy to carry to the range. Also, it has an auto-feature that will allow you to automatically adjust your brightness level for a whole day at the range. Moreover, the Venom has a battery life of more than 1 year at mid-setting, so you don’t have to worry about the battery dying at the range.
What Comes In The Box?
- Picatinny mount
- Riser mount
- T-15 Torx wrench
- Mounting screws
- Screwdriver
- Rain cover
- Lens cloth
- CR 1632 battery
What You Won’t Like About This Optic?
One complaint that people constantly make about this optic is that its battery cover is hard to operate.
Another thing that is not great about this optic is that the battery life is less than other optics. A Shake Awake or a Solar panel would have given us much more extended battery life like the Holosun optics.
Vortex Venom Alternatives
1. Vortex Viper
The first alternative to the Vortex Venom is a red dot from the same company: the Vortex Viper. The Viper is not just from the same brand but also a similar-priced optic.
Both the optics have similar durability and battery life. If we compare the Venom with the Viper, the former has a top-battery compartment that is missing in the latter. So, replacing batteries is easier on Venom than the Viper.
Also, the Vortex Venom is offered in two dot sizes: a 3 and a 6 Moa, while the Viper comes only in a bigger 6 Moa dot. One thing that is better in Viper is that it sits lower than Venom, allowing you to reach the target faster.
2. Holosun 507c
Another alternative to the Vortex Venom will be the Holosun 507c. Vortex Venom and 507c are reliable optics and hold zero for a long time.
However, the 507c has 50,000 hours of battery compared to the 30,000 hours of Venom. But, Vortex Venom is less expensive than the 507c.
Vortex Venom Pros and Cons
Pros
- Waterproof and shockproof
- Multiple brightness settings
- Holds zero
- Dot visibility in the sun
- Wide field of view
- Good battery life
- Easy battery replacement
- Easy to adjust zero
Cons
- Hard to operate battery cover
- No shake awake
- Side-mounted controls are not ideal for a holster
EndNote
The Vortex Venom is a durable optic; it has Aluminum housing and multi-coated lenses. It is also waterproof and shockproof.
It holds zero for a long time and has a visible, bright red dot that does not wash out in the sun. And all this is backed up by Vortex’s lifetime warranty.
It has a wide field of view and a frame that doesn’t obstruct your view. These two features together give you speed and accuracy.
Moreover, the Vortex Venom has 10 brightness settings for different lighting conditions. Also, it has manual and automatic adjustments.
It has 1 year of battery life if you use your optic at a mid-setting and a top-loading battery compartment for convenient battery change.
And, Vortex offers the Venom in 2 dot sizes: a 3 and 6 Moa.
Lastly, you get all these amazing features and quality at a very affordable price.
FAQS
Is the Vortex Venom waterproof?
Yes, the Vortex Venom is waterproof. But, Vortex doesn’t mention its exact waterproof rating.
Where is the Vortex Venom made?
Philippines
Does the Vortex Venom have auto-shutoff?
Yes, the Vortex Venom does have an auto-shutoff that turns the optic off after 14 hours when it is in auto-mode. But, the Venom is not a motion-activated optic which means it doesn’t turn on when it senses movement. You must press the buttons to activate it.
What footprint does the Vortex Venom use?
The Vortex Venom footprint is compatible with the Docter/Noblex standard optics.
Is Vortex Venom better than Vortex Viper?
The Vortex Venom and Viper have similar durability and battery life. The Venom is better because it has the top-loading battery compartment, which makes replacing the batteries easier than the Viper, which has its battery compartment underneath.
Also, the Vortex Venom comes in two dot sizes, while the Viper comes in only one. However, the Vortex Viper sits lower on the gun than the venom, allowing you to reach the target faster than the Venom.
