A red dot sight is without a doubt one of the best non-magnified replacements for iron sights that can be had. By eliminating the need to align both the front and rear sights as is necessary with iron sights, the red dot style optic allows for more intuitive use that is well suited for all skill levels of shooter. Less experienced people tend to find that there is less of a learning curve when using a red dot to aim, and experienced shooters usually report faster target acquisition and the ability to maintain better situational awareness. The main limitation of red dot sights is, of course, that they lack magnification. Depending on your intended use, you may prefer something with variable magnification, but for close quarters, red dot sights are very effective.
Vortex Optics offers a number of different Red Dot sights with different intended uses. The Strikefire II is a compact and lightweight option that is very rugged, reliable, and easy to use. It is available with either a daylight red or red/green switchable reticle, both of which are 4 MOA dots. There are 10 brightness settings which are controlled by a simple rear-facing two button system located on the left side of the tube. The buttons are large enough to use with light gloves on, and provide enough tactical feedback to tell when they are depressed. The lowest two brightness settings are suitable for use with night vision, and the sight returns to the last setting used when turned back on.
The sight is powered by a single CR2 battery. As is the case with any battery powered optic with variable settings, battery life depends on the brightness setting used. The Vortex user manual for the StrikeFire II states that the battery life for the red/green switchable model as between 300 and 6000 hours and 400 and 7000 hours for the daylight red dot.
The sight comes with front and rear flip-up lens covers and a cantilever mount. The lens covers are simple and easy to operate even when wearing gloves. The cantilever mount is a single ring that fits picatinny or weaver rails and elevates the center of the optic 40mm above the mounting surface. Due to the small overall size of the optic there is really only room for a single ring, but the mount is very secure and there were no issues with stability or security during testing.
The total weight of the sight is 7.2 oz, and it is 5.6″ long. It has a 30mm tube, which helps with both field of view and light transmission. As with all Vortex products that we have tested, lens clarity is excellent.
The Strikefire II has a MSRP of $239.99 and comes with the excellent lifetime warranty that Vortex gives for all of their products. As far as red dot sights go, this is a solid choice from an excellent manufacturer.