In this Vortex Venom review guide, let's check out its specs and build quality to see if it's worth the money to buy this red dot optic for handguns or for offset backup.
I have used many open emitter red dot sights on the marketing from cheap to expensive products. Trijicon RMR will always be my go to product, but it doesn't mean everyone is going to buy them when they are first getting into guns.
The Vortex Venom offers consumer a budget option to get started, and here is what to expect when you pick one up.
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Overall Impression
The Vortex Venom red dot sight is a great entry-level optic for the price before you jump into something more expensive.
The window size is very slim, and the lens hood almost felt invisible when aiming with both eyes open. With the right grip and good handgun draw presentation, this red dot sight is fast to acquire.
The optic footprint is Docter/Noblex.
It will not fit on popular RMSc, RMS, RMRcc or RMR plates.
Pros:
- Offers 6 MOA size for shooters with astigmatism
- Very slim lens frame for reduced view obstruction
- Top battery loading access
- Ships with a M1913 picatinny rail mount for long guns
Cons:
- Not for duty use, but it's okay since it's not built for that
Core Specs
- Magnification - 1X
- Reticle - 6 MOA or 3 MOA
- Adjustment - 1 MOA / Click
- Footprint - Docter/Noblex mounting standard
- Brightness settings - 10 DL&2 NV (Features Lockout Mode)
- Lens Coating - ArmorTek
- Construction - 6061 T6 housing + Anodized
- Submersion - IP67
- Body Dimension -1.6" X 0.98" X 0.95"
- Window Size - 0.58" X 0.77"
- Weight - 1 oz
- Battery - CR1632
- Battery Life - Up to 3000 hours
Unboxing
You get:
- Vortex Venom red dot sight
- Manual
- Rubber lens cover
- 2 sets of mounting screws
- 2 screw sets
- Cleaning cloth
- Red dot sight mount
- 1 CR2032 battery
- Allen key
Vortex Venom Review - First Impression
The Vortex Venom red dot sight is small and lightweight! The lens hood is very thin and has a two-piece design, unlike sights like the fully forged Trijicon RMR.
The Good
- The battery compartment is located on the top for easy access and sight removal isn't required for a battery swap.
- Right out of the box, it looks and feels very solid and has tight tolerance.
The Bad
- It's solid quality for range use, but NOT for hard duty use.
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Core Features
Window Size
I know what you're already thinking!
- How big is the sight picture window?
- Can I find my dot easily?
- Is this sight going to make sight acquisition even harder than regular-size pistol red dots?
The window size is similar to a Leupold DeltaPoint with an enlarged width dimension : 0.58" X 0.77"
Very noticeable bluish lens tint. Not a big deal if using it outdoors in better lighting conditions
The Vortex Venom red dot lens hood is super slim, and when aiming with both eyes open while focused on the target plane, all you see is a bright dot without really noticing the lens frame around the dot.
Above is the best we can replicate with a camera what your eyes will see, but seeing it with your eyes make a big difference.
Shooters with good pistol draw presentations can pick up the red dot fairly easily and shoot from one stage to another fast.
Venom's most noticeable feature is the reduced lens frame view obstruction.
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Reticle
The Vortex Venom red dot sight offers 3 MOA dot or the 6 MOA dot.
The large 6 MOA is recommended for pistol use for competition, range use, plinking and even for defensive use.
The bigger the dot, the faster you can pick it up, with much less starburst for shooters with astigmatism
If you're new to red dot sights, please check out our beginner red dot sight guide. Everything from A - Z covered
When I mounted the Vortex Venom red dot sight on the FN 509 LS Edge, I was blown away by the really rapid target acquisition.
The pistol's grip angle matters a lot more than most people realize.
Try a different size grip panel tonight and see the difference yourself!
It perfectly aligns the dot when you bring it up in front of your eyes, and consistent draw presentation, even if you're cross-eye dominant help a lot.
If you still can't find the red dot, please check out a couple of tips we've listed to help you find the dot on the pistol easier.
It's also worth noting that this Vortex sight has fully multi-coated lenses manufactured by ArmorTek. That provides you with reduced glare and great light transmission.
What's more, thanks to precise dot intensity controls, you can adjust it to your needs perfectly and get on the target fast. Such a daylight-bright red dot is more effective than many other similar dot sights.
Battery Life
It takes a CR1632 battery to power the sight, and it lasts about 3000 hours.
The user can change the battery from the top just like the Trijicon SRO.
Most quality optics with a lot of thought put behind the design will feature things like this to optimize performance and user experience, and the Vortex Venom definitely has that.
In fact, Vortex Optics came out with this design way before the Trijicon ones did. (Use the provided Allen key to open).
Construction
The body of the Vortex Venom red dot sight is a much more streamlined version of the Leupold DeltaPoint Pro minus the lens hood protection.
The body is made of 6061 T6 aerospace aluminum, and it's durable for normal use and can be used on shotguns.
As far as holding zero goes, the sight holds zero and has tight tolerance when mounted on guns.
Overall it's a good quality construction.
At the bottom, there are mounting lug cutouts to secure the optic offered by various optic plates, which is a really nice feature.
Adjustment
1 MOA / Click is all you get with this red dot sight.
It provides plenty of adjustment click range (130 MOA for elevation and 100 MOA for windage) for what it is designed for - CQB
The elevation and windage adjustment knobs are recessed to prevent accidental adjustment.
The turret directions reference the point of aim down range instead of the reticle point of aim. If you want to know which way to dial the turret, we have a full guide on our website you can check out.
The only downside is that the click adjustment doesn't give noticeable feedback, so you really have to pay attention when you dial them.
Mounting Footprint
The footprint of the Vortex Venom shares compatibility with Docter/Noblex standard optics, so it can be mounted on those guns as well.
Most optic-ready pistols come with mounting plates for the Vortex Venom, and there are aftermarket mounts available to go on carbines, shotguns and PCCs.
Eye Box and Eye Relief
Just like all the other red dots, this optic has unlimited eye relief. It facilitates rapid target acquisition, as it allows for shooting with both eyes open without focusing on the right head placement.
I was also surprised to notice that despite not being a reflex sight, this optic's eye box offers an amazingly wide field of view, making it possible to line up my iron sights and reach my target fast.
Where To Buy This Vortex Venom Red Dot Sight
If you're looking for a budget-friendly mini red dot for fast target acquisition with great customer service and warranty, Vortex Venom has got you covered.
Its super lightweight design makes it a great optic for entry-level red dot shooting on the range.
However, if you want an optic that you can trust with your life, this Vortex Venom red dot sight is not the best choice on a truck gun or home defense carbine. Nonetheless, Vortex is currently developing more durable options to inspire other manufacturers to enhance their products.
Vortex Venom Red Dot Sight (6 MOA) - FAQ
Does this Vortex Venom red dot sight has an auto-brightness feature?
Yes, it has advanced brightness settings, including an auto-mode, allowing you to adjust the dot intensity with an ambient light sensor.
Does it have good windage and elevation adjustment settings?
Yes, its windage and elevation adjustments work super smoothly and allow you to get a clear sight picture easily.
Does it have a shake-awake feature?
No, unfortunately, even though many other red dot sights have it, this optic doesn't.
How does Vortex Venom differ from Vortex Viper?
The most obvious difference is that Vortex Viper is a bit smaller and sleeker than the Venom. It's worth mentioning that for this reason, the battery compartment in Vortex Viper is a bit harder to operate, and it may take you longer to change the batteries there.
Are the lenses fully multi-coated?
Yes, and such coating helps to minimize glare and maximize light transmission.
Is this red dot sight parallax-free?
Yes, it's parallax-free, so you won't have to deal with any distortion in this matter.
