Adam Scepaniak 06.06.24
Vortex Optics has been overhauling their pistol pink dot lineup for just a few years now, and impressively so, would possibly I add. The primary on this new line was the Defender-CCW. Small in footprint for all of our micro-compact carry weapons, it was a direct hit amongst shooters and hid carry lovers. Subsequent, got here the Defender-ST. A extra full-size pink dot aptly meant for all of our full-size handguns. The following logical step could be one thing even greater. That’s the place we discover ourselves at present. Vortex Optics has introduced their latest micro pink dot within the Defender-XL just a few days in the past that’s match for shotguns, rifles, and our extra-large handguns. So, in at present’s AllOutdoor Assessment, we’re going to try the Vortex Optics Defender-XL 5 MOA Micro Purple Dot to see the way it performs out within the discipline. Let’s dive in!
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Specs – Vortex Optics Defender-XL 5 MOA Micro Purple Dot
The Vortex Optics Defender-XL 5 MOA Micro Purple Dot has an MSRP of $599.99 in both of its two dot sizes: 5 MOA or 8 MOA. To permit for widespread adoption throughout a number of platforms, the Vortex Optics Defender-XL has a Leupold DeltaPoint® Professional mounting footprint. The remainder of the specs for the Defender-XL 5 MOA Micro Purple Dot may be learn beneath as introduced by Vortex Optics:
- Magnification: 1x
- Reticle: 5 MOA Dot
- Adjustment Commencement: 1 MOA
- Parallax Setting: Parallax Free
- Max Windage Adjustment: 115 MOA
- Max Elevation Adjustment: 120 MOA
Other than its widespread mounting footprint and a number of dot sizes, you additionally get a hefty battery life that final 25,000 hours. There may be additionally a movement activation function paired with a 10-minute shut-off to make sure the battery life lasts even longer. So, even if you happen to flip this pink dot on from the second you’re taking it out of the field, it can final you an extremely very long time.
- Dot Shade: Vivid Purple
- Battery Runtime: 25,000 Hours
- Mounting Footprint: DeltaPoint® Professional
- Mount Kind: Picatinny
- Eye Reduction: Limitless
- Size: 2.03″
- Weight: 1.93 Oz
The Defender-XL, as you would think about, has the most important window but of any of the Defender pink dots at 25.5mm x 23.3mm (width x top). This beneficiant window dimension additionally touts Quick-Rack™ Texturing if you wish to rack the slide of your handgun off of the entrance fringe of the window. Moreover, there’s a protecting ShockShield™ to make sure that the pink dot all the time outlives any abuse we topic the pink dot to.
- Window Dimension (Width x Top): 25.5mm x 23.3mm
- Massive Onerous Coated Aspherical Lens: Massive Distortion Free Sight Image
- Movement Activation With 10 minute Auto-Shutoff: Routinely prompts with movement whereas 10 minute auto-shutoff saves battery life
- ShockShield™: Polymer insert absorbs shock to the 7075 aluminum physique defending it for on a regular basis abuse
- Quick-Rack™ Texturing: Aggressive texturing on face of optic for racking slide off any floor
An excellent angst that many pink dot house owners share is having to vary the battery figuring out it includes re-zeroing the pink dot as soon as once more (if the battery is saved beneath). With the Defender-XL, you might have a top-loading battery so you’ll be able to swap out the battery with ease. Moreover, Vortex Optics has a novel dual-locking system to make sure your battery by no means by accident comes out, will get dislodged, or loses contact; thus, an inconsistent show of your pink dot.
- High Mount Battery: Simple battery change with out having to rezero your optic
- 10 Daylight Vivid Brightness Settings: 10 Daylight Vivid Brightness Settings
- Parallax Free: All pink dot and holographic sights will exhibit some small quantity of parallax. Matching present business observe, this small quantity could be thought-about “parallax free” and can make a negligible distinction in efficiency.
- Limitless Eye Reduction: Non-critical eye reduction for fast goal acquisition
Another properties that we come to count on from all pink dots available on the market at present are waterproofing and fogproof attributes which Vortex Optics delivers on with the Defender-XL. Certainly one of its extra area of interest traits is its night-vision compatibility. Whereas I’m not a night-vision goon, I admire that Vortex Optics has considered it and supplied that trait on this pink dot.
- Evening-Imaginative and prescient Compatibility: The bottom 2 settings are night-vision suitable.
- Waterproof: O-ring seals stop moisture, mud and particles from penetrating for dependable efficiency in all environments.
- Fogproof: Designed to face up to a variety of temperatures.
- Low-Glare Matte Black Anodized: Corrosion and put on resistant anodization gives low-glare matte floor and helps camouflage the shooter’s place.
- Single-Piece Chassis: Compact and light-weight.
Barneveld, Wisconsin – Responding to the calls for of significant rivals, Vortex® is happy to introduce a pink dot that units a better customary for velocity and accuracy in aggressive taking pictures. Understanding the important function of fast goal engagement and adaptability in dynamic taking pictures environments, the Defender-XL™ is a brand new software for shooters aiming to dominate the competitors.
The ultra-wide sight window of the Defender-XL™ considerably enhances the sector of view. This significant function means quicker velocity to focus on, faster and extra correct follow-up photographs. It additionally allows larger versatility in unconventional taking pictures positions, making certain rivals can adapt swiftly in dynamic situations.
Vortex VIP Guarantee – Vortex Optics Defender-XL 5 MOA Micro Purple Dot
Within the uncommon occasion that your micro pink dot ought to ever require service, guarantee, or substitute of any type, Vortex Optics has set the bar for customer support. The Vortex VIP Guarantee that covers all of their optics additionally covers your Defender-XL as a limiteless lifetime guarantee that’s absolutely transferable to future house owners of merchandise and no receipt is required. So, whether or not you reward one thing to a pal or move it all the way down to a member of the family, the following proprietor in line continues to be coated. Whether or not this micro pink dot takes a tumble out of a treestand, or down the facet of a mountain path.
What’s within the Field? – Vortex Optics Defender-XL 5 MOA Micro Purple Dot
One of many many favourite issues that I like about Vortex is that they freely inform you “what’s within the field” earlier than you dive in on a purchase order. You realize what to anticipate, what you’re getting, what instruments you do/don’t have to mount one thing; all of these issues. It’s a peace of thoughts and useful side of the optic buying course of. For this assessment, I mounted the Defender-XL despatched out to us on a Springfield Armory Echelon. Between what Springfield provides with their pistol and what Vortex provides you, I didn’t want to purchase any extra instruments or screws.
Included within the Field
- Glock MOS Adapter Plate
- Picatinny Rail Mount
- Rubber Cowl
- Lens Fabric
- Battery
- Customized Device
- 5 Units of Widespread Mounting Screws
Subject Use – Vortex Optics Defender-XL 5 MOA Micro Purple Dot
So, how did the Vortex Optics Defender-XL 5 MOA micro pink dot carry out out within the discipline?… I made a decision to run the Defender-XL on a Springfield Armory Echelon pistol in considered one of their new OD Inexperienced Cerakote colorways. The Echelon is an excellent pistol for mounting optics to as a result of it doesn’t require dreaded adapter plates forcing you to stack tolerances (including increasingly more wiggle room which slowly accumulates to much less accuracy being exuded by your given handgun).
The Springfield Armory Echelon has their swiss cheese slide and arbitrary peg-and-post system to mount optics instantly, and with all the included screws that include your Vortex Optics Defender-XL, I had all the pieces I wanted to “join the dot.” I didn’t even want a Torx wrench of any type as a result of Vortex provides a Torx key that may tighten down the pink dot, open the battery hatch, and regulate for windage and elevation – an all-in-one software.
As soon as the pink dot was mounted appropriately to me Echelon slide, I bought an excellent check of the pink dot as a result of it was both blindingly vivid exterior on this vary day, or a may would move by and it might be downright gloomy. All through the intermittent trade of searing solar and passing marshmallow clouds, I may persistently have a crisp pink dot image. It’s troublesome to get a number of fields-of-view in focus on the similar time so my images don’t do it justice, however the pink dot seemed resoundingly clear.
To check the sturdiness of this pink dot, I did like several crazed idiot on the web and I jacked it towards a hay rack repeatedly till I used to be tired of my futile makes an attempt at dislodging it. The Defender-XL is as strong and powerful as its title infers. Other than once I assessment merchandise, I’m not an “abusive product proprietor.” I’ll grip the entrance of my slide and do press checks very often, however I’m not a kind of we’re going to try to destroy this product YouTube personalities. So, the Defender-XL will get flying stars for its sturdiness compared to different pink dots available on the market the place I’d by no means dream of making an attempt to take away the paint off of my hay rack.
Whereas taking pictures this pink dot on the Echelon, I discovered it simple to sight in… it maintained a relentless zero (even with all of my vary shenanigans)… and as Vortex advertises, this pink dot has a really beneficiant window if you’re operating this on a bigger platform like a shotgun or rifle (it solely makes life that a lot simpler on a handgun).
Last Ideas – Vortex Optics Defender-XL 5 MOA Micro Purple Dot
So, what are my closing ideas on the Vortex Optics Defender-XL 5 MOA micro pink dot?… General, this massive micro pink dot performs as marketed, after which some. You’ve got the heft of a robust, sturdy pink dot that’s not sooo massive that it has some obscure, arbitrary footprint. The Defender-XL additionally checks each different field you would consider: night-vision suitable, fogproof, waterproof, top-load battery, all of the screws and instruments you’ll ever want, a well-maintained zero as soon as established, and cheap at $599 for what Vortex is providing to the market. If you would like a bigger pink dot in your shotguns, carbines, rifles, or competition-style handguns, the Vortex Optics Defender-XL will serve you properly.
In closing, I wish to say thanks to Vortex Optics for permitting AllOutdoor and myself the chance to check out their Vortex Optics Defender-XL 5 MOA micro pink dot. That’s enormously appreciated. Additionally, we want to know what all of you guys and gals suppose? Do you imagine that the Vortex Optics Defender-XL 5 MOA micro pink dot is one thing price spending your cash on? Would you’re taking one with you looking? Shoot a league or competitors? Probably deploy it for EDC (on a regular basis carry)? As all the time, tell us your entire ideas about Vortex Optics and the Defender-XL 5 MOA micro pink dot in the Feedback beneath! We all the time admire your suggestions.
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