Vortex Strikefire 2 Review – Quick Response Sight and Accurate 

Accuracy and rapid response are supposed to be the primary functions of the best reflex sight. But, at the same time, what’s also equally important is a durable optic that can withstand the rough conditions of shooting or hunting without producing disappointing results. This is what brings into focus the Vortex Strikefire 2 review.

A high-quality and affordable optic like this is suitable for shotguns, carbines, and rifles. The current model is what sets the benchmark for all the optics present in this range or category. So let’s find out how amazing the thing is and what are its major setbacks.

Vortex Strikefire 2 Review – First Impression

The Vortex Optics Strikefire II Red Dot Sight is one of the best mid-range optics. Now, indeed, you won’t find any advanced or added-value features on the thing. Even so, the basics do offer a certain level of brilliance.

The optic is incredibly convenient to use, impressively precise, and surprisingly durable. It’s a red dot model with a magnification range of 1x. The objective lens is 30mm. You get 2 dot color options; one is the green/red reticle while the other is only red. The former you can select as per your choice. As for the latter, it simplifies the design.

But let me tell you that both are good to go in the night. Meaning their compatibility with the lowest light settings is pretty remarkable.

Moving on to the design of the reflex sight, it weighs only 7.2 ounces. But the lightweight optic does add a little bulk on your weapon. The length is 5.5 inches by the way. I found the black finish of the Vortex Strikefire 2 to be quite strong. The gear is even scratch-resistant and shock-proof.

You can get the 2x doubler as well if you like. This connects to the durable, light optic very easily. Also included are torque wrench, CR2 battery, lens cloth, and 2 flip-up covers for the lens.

You might also like to know that it’s a waterproof reflex sight. But not the submersible kind. So don’t even think about swimming with it. Along the same lines, the optic has been nitrogen-purged. This brings into the picture excellent fog-proof abilities. And lastly, the adjustment range is 100 MOA with half MOA clicks.

Pros:

• Lightweight design.
• Mid-range price and high-end performance.
• Cantilever structure enables quick target acquisition and co-witness sighting.
• Sighting in adjustment features hold true, no matter heavy usage or the time.
• Brightness adjustment and dot color options included.

Cons:

• Front lens reflects light from certain angles.
• Placement of on/off switch is not convenient if you’re left-handed.

Vortex Strikefire 2 Review – Detailed View

Vortex Strikefire 2 is an Upgraded Version of Vortex Strikefire 1

The Vortex Optics Strikefire II Red Dot Sight fixes the most frustrating drawback of its Strikefire 1 counterpart. And that is the poor placement of the controls. In the older sibling, accidentally turning on the optic’s red dot is quite easy. And so is wasting battery life.

When that red dot is not on the right side at the time of sliding the sight in and out of the gun case or when the car is moving, what happens is the Strikefire 1 unintentionally powers on. But, fortunately enough, this particular issue isn’t a part of the Strikefire 2. And that’s because the controls have been positioned to the body’s rear region from its left side.

You would also find immense relief in knowing that the recent model doesn’t have the dim green dot of the older one. So you can expect the dot to not get washed out easily even on the brightest days.

With so many improvements, it’s no surprise that the Vortex Optics Strikefire II Red Dot Sight ranks as one of the top models with many positive reviews.

The Breakdown of the Vortex Strikefire 2 Review

It’s important for me to compare the Vortex Strikefire 2 Red Dot Sight with other similarly priced models. This way you’ll have a better understanding of what the optic has to offer and what areas it lacks in.

The 2 red dot sights I’m using for comparison are as follows:

1. Sig Sauer SOR52001 Romeo5 1x20mm Red Dot Sight
2. Vortex Optics SPARC Red Dot Sight

These are also very popular in the same price range. So I can use them to make the Vortex Strikefire II look better or equally competitive.

But before comparing any feature, it’s time to get to know what the Vortex Strikefire 2 has to offer. The optic features an objective lens of 30mm. The reflex sight’s 4-MOA red dot is equipped with 10 settings for brightness. And out of these 10, 2 are compatible with night vision.

The bigger size MOA is very useful for quicker target acquisition during short range. As for the smaller one, it’s an ideal option for your longer-range strikes. More on this below!

As you already know by now, the Vortex Optics Strikefire II Red Dot Sight provides you with 2 options:

• Single Red Dot

It doesn’t washout even when the light settings are at their brightest.

• Red and Green Dot

As expected, you can change from red to green. However, in this case, the dot isn’t as bright. Even so, the minimal washout is not a concern in most scenarios.

Does the Strikefire 2 have the same dimmer green dot problem as its older sibling, the Strikefire 1? I have already talked about this earlier. And the answer, to my surprise, is NO. Vortex Optics somehow managed to correct the issue. Meaning you can see very clearly the optic’s green dot. No matter the condition of the outdoor environment!

But I would also like to add here that, for bright settings, it’s just wise to make sure you have access to the red dot. It is bright red, after all.

Dot Crispness and Glass

Worse than the Vortex SPARC sight but better than the Sig Sauer sight.

Now it’s time for the comparison to begin. Let’s use the Vortex SPARC and Sig Sauer Romeo5 to the advantage of the Vortex Strikefire 2.

The SPARC model’s glass is slightly clearer with a crisper dot and less tint. The dot size, in this case, is 2 MOA. And the color is only red.

As for the Romeo5, the darker glass with a blue tint darkens the view. The Strikefire 2 glass is much clearer in comparison to Sig Sauer. The former also offers less sun glare. Along with bigger 4-MOA dot and bigger 30mm objective lens!

The 4 MOA option on the Strikefire II Red Dot Sight is better when it comes to quick target acquisition. It’s just that the green helps in acquiring targets faster during low-light settings or foliage. However, the 4 MOA is not so great when long-range shots are involved.

All the 3 models are packed with 10 different settings for brightness. 2 of which are compatible with night vision, which is also the same.

Battery Life

Allow me to bring to your attention that the Vortex Strikefire 2 is not a suitable choice if home defense is a part of the deal. In that department, the optic lacks much-needed durability and reliability.

Keeping that in mind, if you have a big budget, then it’s better to choose EOTech, Aimpoint, or Trijicon. Out of these 3 brands, Aimpoint offers quite a few affordable red dot reflex sights for home defense purposes.

Since I’ve got that cleared out, let’s talk about the batteries now. As far as using a hunting or range gun is concerned, you don’t have to take into consideration the reliability of batteries. Nevertheless, low consumption of battery is a factor many users like to give importance to.

In that case, here’s a comparison table that might help:

When it comes to finding replacements, AAA batteries are the most common. And that’s what appeals to the majority about the Vortex Optics Strikefire II Red Dot Sight. But it’s impossible for the Strikefire 2, or the SPARC as a matter of fact, to compete with the 50,000-hour capacity of the Romeo5 battery life.

As for the automatic on/off feature, it’s not so important if home defense is not the purpose.

Strikefire 2 Cantilever Mount

Did you know that Vortex Optics provides the cantilever mount with the Strikefire II Red Dot Sight? This ring mount makes way, quite literally, for adding more gear like a magnifier to the rail.

But, quite unfortunately, the cantilever mount is not durable. This means you cannot expect it to withstand heavy recoil rifles. In that case, I would strongly advise you to buy a superior quality mount.

Parallax Error

In every Vortex Strikefire 2 review, you’ll notice how the reviewer talks about the minimal parallax error. The thing about reflex sights is that they’re supposed to weaken parallax errors. The result of which is quick target acquisition and fast draw shots.

The parallax error of the Strikefire 2 is relatively larger than most high-quality models. But, given the price of this particular optic, you get to fire comparatively more accurate shots without a cheek weld.

However, if parallax error is your priority, you’d be better off with holographic sights. These employ a completely different technology to minimize parallax error even further.

Weight and Size

Needless to say, the Vortex Optics Strikefire II Red Dot Sight is slightly bulky and heavy. But only when compared to other optic models! Here’s what the comparison looks like:

Please note that the Vortex SPARC Red Dot Sight is specifically created for only the AR platform. And it’s because of that the height of the optic prevents you from mounting it low on rifles. Like CZ Scorpion EVO.

Durability and Warranty

One is moderate and the other superb. The latter being the warranty part.

You should know that the Strikefire 2 is a long-lasting and tough reflex sight. But it’s not a good fit for home-defense applications. The optic is more suited for occupational purposes instead. So if serious use is involved, you should consider choosing a red dot on the higher end.

But taking everything into account, the durability factor is not disappointing. That’s for sure. Only for the sake of comparison, the Sig Sauer Romeo5 is a much more durable reflex sight. No wonder Vortex Optics has such an amazing warranty plan. It helps in mitigating potential issues.

As you can see, the Sig Sauer Romeo5 Red Dot Sight offers only a 5-year warranty on the electronics. And maybe that’s because this particular model is more durable than the other two.

So YOU have to decide what’s better. Is it having access to a lifetime warranty just in case? Or simply trusting customer reviews that your reflex sight will last for years to come without posing any problems? Whatever puts your mind more at ease is the right answer here.

The End

The Vortex Optics Strikefire II Red Dot Sight is certainly worth every dollar you spend on it. And just by the way, you don’t have to shell out big bucks. The optic is a very affordable option in the current market.

The easy adjustments, accuracy, brightness settings, and parallax-free characteristics make a huge impact here. Along with the waterproof, fog-proof, and shockproof properties!

The design of the reflex sight is lightweight and sleek. So it doesn’t add too much bulk when it comes to mounting the thing on your weapon of choice.

Speaking of mounting, the optic comes with a cantilever mount for co-witnessed, rapid target acquisition. So don’t even think about choosing another reflex sight. Why spend more money unnecessarily, right?

Strikefire 2 is one of the best optics in the mid-range category. One that achieves every objective you might have in mind.