Finding a sight that works in a wide range of environmental conditions and across different guns is a tall order. Yet, Vortex has served up the perfect solution in the Vortex Venom 1x26.5mm red dot sight.
To determine whether this scope is for you, check out the in-depth review below.
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Vortex Venom 1x26.5mm
Pros
Cons
Vortex Venom 1x26.5mm Specs
Eye Relief: Mount your Venom sight wherever you need on your firearm with the Vortex Venom's unlimited eye relief
Adjustment Options: This red dot sight is considered "parallax-free," and has a max elevation adjustment of 130 Minutes of Angle (MOA), and windage adjustment up to 100 MOA
Type of Reticle: 3 MOA Dot
Image of Reticle:
Magnification: 1x
Focal Plane: N/A
Objective Lens: 26.5mm
Field of View: Wide
Pros
The Vortex Venom 1x26.5mm is an incredible piece of hardware, ideal for use on a wide variety of weapons and almost any outdoor conditions. The 3 MOA dot reticle is guaranteed to paint your targets in nearly any weather and any light, making this a highly dependable, flexible sight.
Battery Life
In terms of power, you can expect two different outcomes. When maxing out the settings, you can bet on this scope lasting up to 150 hours. If you'd rather conserve and can do well without using it at the highest settings, count on the maximum battery life of 30,000 hours (just shy of 3.5 years).
Weight
The Vortex Venom 1X26.5mm is surprisingly low-profile and doesn't take up too much real estate or weight on the gun (it only weighs a bit more than 1 oz). Its sleekness is a significant component of the ergonomics and personalization options, especially combined with all the adjustment toggles' positioning.
Lens
No matter your chosen settings, the wide multi-coated lens provides excellent visual clarity. It's anti-reflective, ensuring the optimal vision of your target.
Plus, Vortex integrated their Armor Tech into the lens design. This guarantees the highest level of protection from impact or abrasions from various debris, keeping your lens in top shape at all times.
Parallax Free
One of the most significant selling points of this Vortex Venom sight is that it's "parallax-free." Now, the manufacturers, themselves, acknowledge that there's really no such thing as a sight that is completely rid of parallax.
So, why does Vortex continue with this claim? Although this red dot is not entirely parallax-free, there is so little that it maintains the highest possible level of accuracy with such low parallax that it's almost non-existent.
Versatility
To top it all off, the Venom is remarkably versatile. It can be used with several types of weapons, including:
- Pistols
- Automatic rifles (ARs)
- Shotguns
Cons
This scope comes with many great features. Though we can't complain too much about its downfalls, we have encountered a couple of changes we would like to see. Here is what we feel could use some improvement.
Indicators
Note that the Venom doesn't have any noticeable audible or tactile clicks or other such indicators when adjusting the windage and elevation. This isn't a significant drawback at all, but it's important to keep in mind, as this can raise concerns about the tightness of the adjustment.
Light Settings
Despite the wide range of brightness levels to choose from, the Venom doesn't go low enough for night vision. Again, this may not be a significant disadvantage if night vision isn't something you need or regularly use.
Toward this point, some may feel that it's far too bright in low-light or night settings. Admittedly, it can almost completely wash out the view in the viewing window. This makes it difficult to see nearly anything through the sight and dramatically reduces your accuracy.
Best Uses for the Vortex Venom 1x26.5mm
As mentioned earlier, the Venom red dot is an amazingly versatile sight that can be used on a wide variety of guns and for all sorts of environmental conditions and targets. Below are some of the most common uses of this hardware.
Hunting
Many have attested to the Venom's reliability when hunting both turkeys and other types of predators. In these circumstances, people have used this scope on different firearms ranging from shotguns to revolvers.
Note that the Vortex, like most red dots, is designed to be zeroed at 25 yards. You can also get up to 50 or even 100 yards, and still experience almost flawless precision.
Competition
Because the Venom is so easy to use - thanks to the quick-access toggles and wide array of customization options - countless people have recommended it for competitive shooting.
The automatic brightness mode is also a huge help in competitive settings. You won't have to worry about optimizing your sight to the lighting conditions at all. The sensor will adjust to the ambient light and provide the perfect brightness for your performance.
Is the Vortex Venom 1X26.5mm Hard to Use?
With controls such as dot intensity and manual or auto-brightness, this scope is easy to customize to your liking. Its set up makes it practical to maneuver without affecting accuracy.
You hardly have to move a muscle when adjusting the windage, elevation, or brightness. The ergonomic ease of use will enhance your speed when shooting, helping you get your shots out quickly without sacrificing precision.
Is the Vortex Venom 1x26.5mm Compatible With Any Rifle?
Vortex recommends that this micro-red dot be used with pistols, ARs, and shotguns. Further, you can use it with either automatic or manual weapons.
Many people are a bit skeptical of the Venom and similar sights for use with manual firearms. This is specifically related to concerns about the potential recoil the gun can produce. Some gunmen worry that the lightweight, sleek design is an indicator of fragility.
Rest assured that the Venom will hold its own, even with a powerful recoil.
What Do I Need to Know About Mounting the Vortex Venom 1x26.5mm?
Mounting the Vortex Venom red dot sight is very easy and requires minimal effort and few materials. You don't need to modify your gun, but Vortex does recommend an optional riser mount for AR-15s.
What you'll need:
- Compatible mounting plate
- 1/16" hex key
- Loctite glue (or similar product)
Installation may vary slightly depending on your gun, but generally, you can follow these instructions:
- Attach the included low rail mount to the Venom.
- Secure the Venom onto the base rail.
- Confirm that the clamp is down and secured around the base.
- Press the Venom down and forward toward the muzzle.
- Screw the base clamp tightly.
What Makes the Vortex Venom 1x26.5mm Stand Out from the Competition?
One unique attribute of the Venom sight is how remarkably easy it is to use. Vortex thought of everything with this design, from the toggles' accessibility to the eventual battery replacement.
Most other sights house the controls directly behind the lens, whereas the Venom has them on the side. This is a huge relief for shooters with relatively large fingers. You can comfortably adjust the settings as needed without having to clumsily fumble and squeeze your fingers into that tight space behind the viewing window.
Plus, it can be tedious to detach and reinstall your sight every time you need to change the battery. This will be more of a concern for those using it at the highest settings, as you'll need to change it every 6-7 days.
The flexible compatibility and personalization options make it clear that the Venom was made specifically for your comfort, speed, and precision while shooting almost any gun you can get your hands on.
Comparison Overview
The Venom is undoubtedly one of Vortex's best red dots. Yet, how does it stand up to other leading models on the market?
Vortex Venom vs Viper
The Venom has a significantly lower profile than the Viper and is available in both 3 and 6 MOAs. The Viper, on the other hand, is designed only as a 6 MOA. The Venom runs on a slightly less common battery than the Viper, the CR-1632 (as opposed to the CR-2032).
Burris Fastfire 3 vs Vortex Venom
These have several common features, including the windage and elevation adjustments, and top-loading battery, specifically. They also have a comparable footprint. Yet, the Venom has a much longer battery life (30,000 vs. 5,000) and a wider field of view.
Vortex Venom vs RMR
One of the biggest differences between these two is the MOA. The Venom is available with both the 3 and 6 MOAs, while the RMR has only a 6.5 MOA. Plus, the RMR is also night vision compatible, while the Venom is not.
Vortex Venom 3 MOA vs 6 MOA
The MOA you choose depends on the type of shooting you're planning on doing. The 3 MOA is far more superior for precision in long-range shooting, and will cover slightly more than 1.5" at 50 yards. On the other hand, the 6 MOA will cover a bit more than 3".
Vortex Venom Problems
This sight, like all red dots, may not appear as a distinct dot to people with astigmatism. This can really interfere with your shooting, but thankfully, it can easily be corrected by wearing glasses.
Secondly, this sight does not perform well at close distances. This is normal for a red dot sight, as this is not what they are designed to do. For the best performance, use it only at the recommended yardage of 25 yards or more.
Conclusion
The Vortex Venom is one of the best red dot sights available. It is an incredible value and offers the utmost flexibility in personalization, functionality, and firearm compatibility.
Whether you're shooting competitively or hunting with a revolver, AR, or shotgun, the Vortex Venom 1x26.5mm is the perfect choice for you.
People Also Ask
Most people are concerned with only a few key characteristics of the Venom sight before purchasing. Since you can always trust Vortex products' quality, it's understandable that you may just want to verify these specific details.
Some of the most common points of interest that shooters have about the Vortex Venom 1x26.5mm red dot sight are below.
What Kind of Warranty Does the Vortex Venom 1X26.5mm Come With?
Vortex offers its 100% VIP satisfaction guarantee with the Venom red dot sight. If you are not happy with your purchase, you can either replace it or return it for a full refund. In addition to this, Vortex offers a lifetime warranty on their products and will replace or repair your item without questioning how the damage was caused.
How Much Does the Vortex Venom 1X26.5mm Weigh?
This red dot sight weighs 1.1 oz.
Can You Use Vortex Venom 1X26.5mm in Low Light?
A few of the lowest of the 10 Vortex Venom red dot brightness settings are designed for low light usage.
What is the Vortex Venom Battery Life Like?
On its lowest settings, this red dot sight can last up to 30,000 hours. Using it consistently at the highest settings will reduce that battery life to about 150 hours.
