Vortex Spitfire AR 1X Prism Scope ReviewSure red dots are all the rage, however until you have peered through a prismatic red dot or optic, you have not enjoyed the in focus crystal clear huge field of view that prismatics deliver. Let me give you a couple of reasons you should consider the new for 2016 Vortex Spitfire AR 1X Prism Scope. As a brand ambassador for Opticsplanet.com, they were nice enough to supply this optic for review.
THREE REASONS TO OWN A PRISM OPTIC
Your Eyes will Thank You - A huge benefit is that as eyes age, the more you will appreciate how an adjustable ocular will tune up that old eyesight to deliver a crisp in-focus image downrange. Many people benefit from the ocular tuning focus of a standard scope to make the target and reticle look nice and sharp, but that feature also extends to unmagnified prismatic optics such as the Vortex Spitfire AR 1X Prism Scope. The downside it that you cannot use a magnifier with prismatic optics… well you can but it is a nightmare.
The Reticle is Etched - One huge benefit to this design is that the reticle can actually be etched (black) so even if the illumination is off or the batteries are dead, the shooter still has a black reticle to use. Because of the etching, the reticle no longer has that splashy red dot effect. Instead the shooter is greeted with a sharp and crisp well lit reticle regardless of illumination setting. The Vortex Spitfire AR 1X Prism Scope has a dot and double circle for very fast target acquisition. In the case of the Vortex Spitfire AR 1X Prism Scope, the shooter has the choice of an unilluminated black reticle or red or green illuminated reticle.
Enhanced Reticle Beyond a Dot - Since the reticle is etched it can be anything and the manufacturer is not stuck with just a dot. Though red dots are all the rage, experienced shooters will quickly admit that more visible and visually larger reticles will put shots on target faster. The circle/donut and dot reticle has become known as one of the faster reticles since the human eye picks up the reticle faster. Vortex has expanded this popular reticle design with a double donut reticle and dot design which they have called the DRT (Dual Ring Tactical) reticle. I am not sure that the reticle is a lot faster than a single donut, but the Vortex Spitfire AR 1X Prism Scope reticle does seem faster to me - it sure is easy to pick up with the eye. In this case, extra donuts can make you faster.
EXTRA FEATURES OF THE VORTEX SPITFIRE GEN 2
This new Vortex Spitfire AR 1X Prism Scope is more of a new optic than just an updated old version. Vortex still offers the first generation 2032 wafer battery powered model in 1X and 3X for the moment. Just like the first model, on the this new model shooters can select from un-illuminated black or red or green illuminated reticles with just the push of a button and the same awesome double donut dot reticle is still there. All the windage and elevation knobs feature waterproof caps and the ocular/focus can be adjusted and the optic includes an integrated high quality picatinny AR sight height base.
This newest Vortex Spitfire AR 1X Prism Scope improves the features of the previous Vortex Prism models with a little better field of view, a little more eye relief, slightly smaller size, forward mounted controls instead of a rotary switch, features ½ MOA adjustments instead of 1 MOA adjustments, and is powered by a single AAA battery. There is also an extra 55gr 5.56 round BDC turret included which can be swapped with the MOA elevation turret to provide fast precision longer range shots out to 700-yards. The new Vortex Spitfire AR 1X Prism Scope also has a $349 MSRP which is $50 less than the previous model. Optics Planet street price is around $250, which is a great deal for this quality of optic. The only potential downside is that the new Vortex Spitfire AR 1X Prism Scope is fixed at a lower ⅓ co-witness height, versus the older model which allowed for a riser to be removed for an absolute co-witness mount.
FINAL THOUGHTS
The Vortex Spitfire AR 1X Prism Scope was mounted and tested on both a IWI X95 5.56 rifle and an Aero Precision based AR15 pistol. Notably this optic performed outstanding. Now that I am [cough] middle-aged, my eyes appreciate being able to tweak the focus just a tad for a crystal clear image. This feature alone would drive me to replace every red dot I own. The additional features also add up to a more useable red dot such as readily available AAA power, a reticle which does not even need power, the fast DRT reticle design, increased field of view, and the included BDC turret all add up to a really nice package that is tough to beat for $250. From my perspective prism based optics are THE way to go with red dots. Of course if you use code "MAJOR5" you can get 5% off your entire OpticsPlanet.com order of anything Optics Planet sells.
SPECS
OPTICAL FEATURES
- Fully Multi-CoatedMultiple anti-reflective coatings on all air-to-glass surfaces increase light transmission.
- Prism-Based DesignDelivers sharp optics and allows for unique reticle designs that are visible with or without illumination.
- Brightness SettingsProvides 12 variable illumination settings—adjusts for use in very dim to very bright lighting conditions.
CONSTRUCTION FEATURES
- Single-Piece ChassisCompact and lightweight.
- Nitrogen GasNitrogen gas purging with o-rings-seals delivers fogproof, waterproof performance.
- WaterproofO-ring seals prevent moisture, dust and debris from penetrating for reliable performance in all environments.
- ShockproofRugged construction withstands recoil and impact.
- Hard Anodized FinishHighly durable low-glare matte finish.
- Operating TemperatureRated from -22 degrees to +122 degrees Fahrenheit.
CONVENIENCE FEATURES
- Comes mounted at a lower 1/3 co-witness height of 40.4 mm from the optic center to base surface.
- Provides five levels of brightness intensity with red and green illumination settings.
- Red/Green Reticle OptionAllows shooters a choice of dot color.
- Battery Life14-hour auto-shutdown feature maximizes battery life. Typical battery life is 250 hours at maximum brightness and 3,000 hours at minimum brightness setting.
- Magnification1 x
- Objective Lens Diameter25 mm
- Eye Relief3.8 inches
- Field of View79 feet/100 yards
- Adjustment Graduation1/2 MOA
- Max Elevation Adjustment120 MOA
- Max Windage Adjustment120 MOA
- Parallax SettingParallax Free
- Length4.3 inches
- Weight11.2 ounces
- MSRP - $349.99
SOURCES
Vortex Spitfire AR Prism Sight: http://bit.ly/2cgs38V
Vortex at OpticsPlanet: http://bit.ly/2c3HhkA
OpticsPlanet: http://bit.ly/2bXQ8B2
Use code "MAJOR5" for 5% off your entire OpticsPlanet.com order
Vortex Optics - http://www.vortexoptics.com