Vortex Optics Venom 6 MOA Red Dot Sight
Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2019 6:03 am
I got a new Vortex Venom and mounted it on my everyday carry firearm. I bought it, along with the Viper/Venom Kimber Fixed Sight Mount, from Evolution Gun Works (EGW). I took it to the range for the first test fire and had to use all the elevation available on the Venom's adjustment knob to get the point of impact where it would group in the bulls eye at 7 yards. At first that fact had me concerned but it does, in fact, hit the bulls eye dead center. The red dot was easy to see for my old eyes and improved my ability to shoot tight groups in low light situations. When I finished shooting I noticed the mounting screws had loosened. The instructions said to tighten to 10 in. pounds and there was no need to apply Loctite. Well I applied blue Loctite and returned to the range the next day to see if that fixed the problem. I put the Kimber through 50 rounds of 45 ACP with no loosening of the mounting screws or any other issues. The sights were still hitting dead center of the bulls eye so I'm pretty satisfied.
The only cons I have about this red dot sighting system are (1) the red dot is on all the time unless you let the weapon lay dormant for 14 hours. Only then does the Venom turn itself off saving battery life. Personally, I don't ever sit dormant for 14 hours so I guess the battery will eventually run dead. The jury is still out on that because I simply turn the Venom off whenever I go to bed. My Kimber has tritium front sights that I can co-witness if necessary. They are not the suppressor height sights I would like but I can see them well enough if i'm pushed into needing to deploy my gun in a hurry. And (2) the lens is constantly getting smudge marks on it from my body. I use a Alien Gear IWB holster set up at four o'clock. When I lean back in my truck or in a chair the lens contacts my body and gets smudged. The smudge causes the red dot to appear flared with rays emanating from the 6 MOA dot. I have learned to wear a nylon undershirt that prevents the smudging but I just think the shroud could do a better job of protecting the lens.
Bottom line is that the Vortex Venom is still new to me and needs more time for me to make up my mind about whether or not I will continue to use it. But, so far I really like it. Besides, I just sprung for a Sig Sauer P229 Legion RX with Romeo 1 red dot. I'll post a review whenever I get around to it.
The only cons I have about this red dot sighting system are (1) the red dot is on all the time unless you let the weapon lay dormant for 14 hours. Only then does the Venom turn itself off saving battery life. Personally, I don't ever sit dormant for 14 hours so I guess the battery will eventually run dead. The jury is still out on that because I simply turn the Venom off whenever I go to bed. My Kimber has tritium front sights that I can co-witness if necessary. They are not the suppressor height sights I would like but I can see them well enough if i'm pushed into needing to deploy my gun in a hurry. And (2) the lens is constantly getting smudge marks on it from my body. I use a Alien Gear IWB holster set up at four o'clock. When I lean back in my truck or in a chair the lens contacts my body and gets smudged. The smudge causes the red dot to appear flared with rays emanating from the 6 MOA dot. I have learned to wear a nylon undershirt that prevents the smudging but I just think the shroud could do a better job of protecting the lens.
Bottom line is that the Vortex Venom is still new to me and needs more time for me to make up my mind about whether or not I will continue to use it. But, so far I really like it. Besides, I just sprung for a Sig Sauer P229 Legion RX with Romeo 1 red dot. I'll post a review whenever I get around to it.