Vortex Crossfire II Red Dot — 2 MOA

Leave the solar panel off and what remains is a rifle-height reflex sight that does the job for less money. Fifty thousand hours is a shade under six years of being left switched on permanently, and motion activation means you never actually do that — the sight wakes when the gun moves and shuts down ten minutes after it stops. For most players a cell change becomes an annual ritual at worst.

The dot is 2 MOA, which on a rifle is the useful size: fine enough to hold on a head-sized target across a field, still thick enough to pick up instantly when you come round a corner. Ten brightness levels cover full glare down to the two night-vision settings at the bottom of the range. Adjustment is in half-MOA clicks with 22.5 MOA per turret rotation and 100 MOA available in each direction, so it will zero on almost anything you can mount it to.

It weighs 4.37oz and runs 2.60in long — a tenth of an ounce lighter than the solar version, which is the only physical difference you can measure between them. The decision between the two comes down to whether you would rather save the money now or stop thinking about batteries forever. Both carry the same unconditional lifetime warranty, which on a sight at this price is the part worth reading twice.

Specifications

Good to know

What am I giving up against the solar model? Only the panel and the longer stated run time. Glass, dot size, turret travel, mount and warranty are the same, and this one is a tenth of an ounce lighter.

Is it night-vision compatible? The two lowest of the ten brightness settings are intended for use behind night vision. The upper settings are far too bright for a tube.

What does the lifetime warranty actually cover? Vortex operate it as unlimited and unconditional, not registration-dependent and not limited to manufacturing faults. If you break it, they deal with it.