Vortex Viper enclosed dot

[mwbenelli1996]

Anybody here using the Vortex viper enclosed dot on their shotguns? Trying to decide between it and a FF3

 

[REN]

Anybody here using the Vortex venom enclosed dot on their shotguns? Trying to decide between it and a FF3

I have one on order for a new build Im working on. I have a few buddies that run them as well.

Pros -
it will sit lower on the gun then the FF3
Its enclosed so you dont have to worry about rain or moisture getting on the emitter and creating a starbust on the screen
Doesnt require a mount so thats one less point of failure
Comes in a green dot option if that interests you
Seems very well built and due to enclosed design and intergrated mount, it has less points of failure in the event of dropping it

Cons
Its more expensive, however when you add in a mount for the FF3 its close to the same
FF3 has been around a lot longer and has a lot of support
FF3 IMO has a little better controls and where they are located on the site
FF3 will give you a better FOV because its not enclosed

Both warranties are great. IF I were getting a new sight today I would lean more toward the enclosed options personally just for the protection against rain and moisture

Can't go wrong with either though IMO. Ive run the FF3 for YEARS and have run the FF4 for the past 3 years with no issues.

 

[mwbenelli1996]

I have one on order for a new build Im working on. I have a few buddies that run them as well.

Pros -
it will sit lower on the gun then the FF3
Its enclosed so you dont have to worry about rain or moisture getting on the emitter and creating a starbust on the screen
Doesnt require a mount so thats one less point of failure
Comes in a green dot option if that interests you
Seems very well built and due to enclosed design and intergrated mount, it has less points of failure in the event of dropping it

Cons
Its more expensive, however when you add in a mount for the FF3 its close to the same
FF3 has been around a lot longer and has a lot of support
FF3 IMO has a little better controls and where they are located on the site
FF3 will give you a better FOV because its not enclosed

Both warranties are great. IF I were getting a new sight today I would lean more toward the enclosed options personally just for the protection against rain and moisture

Can't go wrong with either though IMO. Ive run the FF3 for YEARS and have run the FF4 for the past 3 years with no issues.

Thanks for the reply Ren. I was thinking the enclosed has more of a "universal" so if I get it and don't like it can swap to a ff3 specific mount. Gonna clarify that with the gunsmith before I drill and tap my m2 though

 

[REN]

Thanks for the reply Ren. I was thinking the enclosed has more of a "universal" so if I get it and don't like it can swap to a ff3 specific mount. Gonna clarify that with the gunsmith before I drill and tap my m2 though

Well I also was assuming you were talking about the one that has the mount integrated in it. After reading your post again you may be talking about their new one that's just the enclosed sight.

If that's the case then a lot of my reply applies minus it sitting lower on the gun and price. I still really like the new enclosed options over all and like you said if you wanna switch you can just throw it on a pistol or AR instead

 

[mwbenelli1996]

Well I also was assuming you were talking about the one that has the mount integrated in it. After reading your post again you may be talking about their new one that's just the enclosed sight.

If that's the case then a lot of my reply applies minus it sitting lower on the gun and price. I still really like the new enclosed options over all and like you said if you wanna switch you can just throw it on a pistol or AR instead

Yeah, I was getting the venom and the viper mixed up lol, I edited. But if you think highly of the venom enclosed I may give it a look. Meadow creek has it for 169.99

 

[REN]

Yeah, I was getting the venom and the viper mixed up lol, I edited. But if you think highly of the venom enclosed I may give it a look. Meadow creek has it for 169.99

IF my gun receiver was an option for the viper (integrated mount) I would go that route just so it would sit as low as possible and I didnt then have to buy a sumtoy or meadow creek mount on top of the sight. Viper has more than double the battery life at 50k vs 20k on the venom.

Only issue with the venom is it just came out this year so there is not a ton of field time on it shotgun wise, not saying there will be issues but at least with the viper you kinda know what your getting at this point. Down side on the venom is there is not putting it on a pistol or other gun down the road unless its another shotgun, you are pretty much limited to just that and you are limited to shotguns it will fit on. If thats a concern then go with the venom and a mount for it.

 

[mwbenelli1996]

IF my gun receiver was an option for the viper (integrated mount) I would go that route just so it would sit as low as possible and I didnt then have to buy a sumtoy or meadow creek mount on top of the sight. Viper has more than double the battery life at 50k vs 20k on the venom.

Only issue with the venom is it just came out this year so there is not a ton of field time on it shotgun wise, not saying there will be issues but at least with the viper you kinda know what your getting at this point. Down side on the venom is there is not putting it on a pistol or other gun down the road unless its another shotgun, you are pretty much limited to just that and you are limited to shotguns it will fit on. If thats a concern then go with the venom and a mount for it.

Definitely going with either the viper or the ff3, just bc as said you know what you're getting.

 

[marty d]

I went with the Defender enclosed CCW (because I got a great deal on it from GovX and I can always put it on a pistol or other weapon). Love it. You won't go wrong with an automatic closed site.

 

[REN]

again IF you were in the market for a shotgun sight and you didnt mind the somewhat reduced FOV vs a traditional red dot design then enclosed is 100% the way to go. Totally eliminates the issues with water, dust, or debris getting on the inside of the sight or on the emitter. Is more robustly built and you can even dunk the thing in water and still be able to see the dot just fine!

Nothing at all wrong with the traditional options like the FF, Ive used one for many many years with only once or twice water being an issue but there is always a chance it could be an issue.

 

[Coker]

MWB,
I use the Vortex Viper on my Beretta A300 and love it. As Ren has stated, it sits low on the gun which allows a better cheek to stock contact and its enclosed so you dont have to worry about moisture. I do like the dimming options and motion detection on/off option (although I don't use it). After using it this year on a few hunts, the only thing I don't like about it is the control buttons are a bit small for my large hands. Other than that, I would highly recommend it

 

[CritterGitter]

Burris > vortex

 

[REN]

Burris > vortex

Would love to hear your reasoning comparing apples to apples. I'm not vortex fan at all in the scope area but their red dots are pretty good imo.

 

[CritterGitter]

Would love to hear your reasoning comparing apples to apples. I'm not vortex fan at all in the scope area but their red dots are pretty good imo.

I became a huge burris fan years back when I found out how completely effortless the warranty was. They will warranty a scope you broke even if you bought it used. I have 3 ff3s on different shotguns. Ive mounted them every way known to man and the rib mount fits my bill. The dot on my main gun ive had on for 4 years now and not a lick of trouble. I never thought I would like the rib mount but the sight farther away from me is way better. I shoot with both eyes open. And dont have to worry about losing zero when you take the barrel off. Oh and about the warranty. I bought a used busted ff3 online for 50 bucks, and then mailed it to them when i got it . They sent me a sealed one new in box. No questions asked

 

[CritterGitter]

I will say I have not ever owned a vortex , and doubt I ever will. Just my hard headed opinion lol . Meadowcreek on the right , warne i think on the 870 youth

 

[megalomaniac]

I never thought I would like the rib mount but the sight farther away from me is way better. I shoot with both eyes open. And dont have to worry about losing zero when you take the barrel off.

I worry about this every time I break my 870 down for deep cleaning.

 

[marty d]

I will say I have not ever owned a vortex , and doubt I ever will. Just my hard headed opinion lol . Meadowcreek on the right , warne i think on the 870 youth

Burris makes good stuff no doubt but as far as warranty goes I have never seen any company that has any better warranty then Vortex. It may be the same as Burris but no questions asked is pretty good. When it comes down to the brass tacks it is what you like or what is cost effective for you. There are a lot of good optics out there and some junk. So far every Vortex I own has been great and I don't think you would be disappointed with one if you ever tried them.