The most rugged, budget friendly red dot option - Vortex Venom Review

What is the best pistol red dot on a budget in the Docter/Noblex pattern footprint?
Vortex Venom Full Review: https://crackshot.tv/vortex-venom-pistol-red-dot-review/
Product Link: https://www.amazon.com/Vortex-Optics-Venom-Red-Sight/dp/B00S2P2J90/ref=sr_1_2?crid=2FDR5KVGY70H4&keywords=vortex+venom&qid=1689912497&sprefix=vortex+venom%252Caps%252C149&sr=8-2&_encoding=UTF8&tag=crackshot00-20&linkCode=ur2&linkId=2819fbcf48ff5b10e586cb61e61fda3c&camp=1789&creative=9325

In our opinion the Vortex venom is the best. In this review video, we'll cover all the features of the Vortex Venom and show how it compares against other more modern red dot sights, like the Holosun 507c.

So let's talk about this classic red dot. We'll start with the least important feature, aesthetics.

First impressions, the branding is a bit loud for my taste. I'm not a big fan of having a billboard on my optic. The aesthetics truthfully are the least important quality about a red dot, but it is the thing you typically notice when evaluating a product. The branding is just a little bit loud for my taste.

I think the thing I love most about this optic is the wide window, which is why I have it mounted on my competition gun. The glass is quite clear and it makes for a very nice sight picture ideal for competitive shooting. The wide window also makes it easy to track the dot between shots and while transitioning between targets.

The 3MOA dot is crisp and bright. I actually have very little trouble with it and despite some red dots being difficult to use because I have an astigmatism. On some red dots I'll see almost like a dash instead of a dot, on the venom I see a dot. It just works well with my eyes.

As far as build quality goes the optic feels durable and sturdy. I have had this for well over a year and a half and haven't had any issues with mine yet. It's lasted longer than many of the other brand red dots I've tried in terms of longevity from just shooting, although I've never used it for every day carry.

The design and controls on the venom are simple. The push buttons are high quality and the dials for windage and elevation are tactile.

The battery cap being located on the top is great and super convenient, this is extra important because of one of the only cons and gripes I have with this red dot which I'll go into in a moment.

The profile of the optic is also fairly low, which is important if you have it mounted using an adapter plate like I have on my Canik. On a pistol it makes a lot of sense to keep the height over bore as small as possible since you're typically shooting at very short ranges compared to a rifle and you don't have to contend with a stock.

The dot is also one of the few dots that i know of that comes out of box with a weaver / pic mount which is a consideration if you're trying to mount this to something with a rail.

The price point is great. At under $250, the venom is a good value, and I occassionally see it go on sale for under $200 even.

Overall I really like this red dot and I don't have a lot of complaints about it.

Now let's talk about the cons. My main issue with the venom, and where it honestly shows its age versus more modern red dots, is the lack of shake awake feature. The venom like many other dots will turn off automatically via a timer. This is problematic as the battery life isn't that great on these. Vortex rates them between 150 hours on highest setting up to 3k hours on lowest brightness. I've found that if I don't explicitly turn the red dot off, after a few months and a few range trips I have to replace the battery, more often than any other optic that I own.

Not having a shake awake feature is a deal breaker for me in regards to considering it for every day carry mainly because of the risk that the battery may be dead in the unfortunate event that I would ever have to use the firearm in a self defense situation.

That said, the optic is great for range use and certainly a good option for competitive shooting given its durability, which is why I run it regularly on my competition gun.

Overall the vortex venom is a solid choice, you could do much worse at the price point. If you're looking for an optic for competitive shooting under $250 this is a good option. If you're looking for an optic for every day carry with this same price point, you may want to give holosun a look.

There are tons of red dot options out there with more coming out every year. If you're interested, check out some of my other videos for more detailed reviews on other products.