The Vortex Venom is a quality high performing Micro Red Dot Sight (MRDS). We will review all the details to help you with your optic decision, providing you with everything you need to know about this reflex sight.
In this review of the Venom red dot sight, we will take a look at the features and technical specifications as well as what other red dot sight owners had to say about this MRDS.
Additionally, we will get into some frequently asked questions and look at some consumer reviews for this red dot sight.
Bottom Line Up Front
The Vortex Optics Venom Red Dot Sight is a quality reflex sight in a small, rugged form factor.
This sight’s lightweight easy to access battery and controls, along with a proven ability to maintain accuracy under rigorous conditions, make the sight suitable for numerous pistol, shotgun, and rifle applications.
The Vortex Venom is sure to meet the expectations of all levels of hunters, target shooters, or gun enthusiasts.
Vortex Venom Red Dot Sight Review
Let’s start by detailing the best features of this optic and everything you get when you purchase this red dot sight. Also, we will review some technical specifications of this popular red dot sight.
Design
This micro red dot sight features a single piece rugged aluminum housing that provides a lightweight, low profile weighing in at a mere 1.1 oz. The frame is finished with low glare matte hard coat anodization.
The weight of this reflex sight is perfect in handgun applications but also works great for those looking to use it for their shotgun or rifle rigs when hunting or shooting. The matte finish aids in signature reduction for when camouflage is essential.
The Vortex Venom Red Dot Sight has a wide field of view (FOV) with a great lens edge to lens edge resolution. Like all red dot and holographic sights, you can expect a nominal amount of parallax, which we would consider parallax free.
The sight uses o-ring seals to achieve a waterproof rating. Shooting optics with a waterproof rating are prone to a longer lifespan, as moisture and dust are kept from damaging internal electronics and fogged up lenses.
The low profile combined with a wide FOV and unlimited eye relief allows for rapid target acquisition while still maintaining an unobstructed view of the target.
Operation
Mounting this red dot sight is achieved with the supplied low rail mount for a Weaver/Picatinny rail interface system. You can purchase other mount risers to achieve the right height for your specific applications.
A single CR1632 battery powers the Vortex Optics Venom Red Dot Sight. You can expect around 150 hours of operations at the highest settings. Set at the lowest brightness setting, a shooter may get approximately 30,000 hours of operation.
A great design feature is an easy access top-load battery compartment. The top-load battery design makes switching out batteries fast even in a pinch. You will not have to re-zero after changing the battery either.
The Vortex Venom red dot sight has ten reticle brightness settings that can be set manually or placed on auto mode. There are plenty of reticle brightness settings on this sight to paint your target in almost any light conditions.
Reticle
The Vortex Venom comes in two reticle size options. Model VMD-3103 with a single 3 Minute of Angle (MOA) red dot reticle great for added precision for intermediate distance shots.
The sight also comes in a single 6 MOA red dot reticle, Model VMD-3106 for rapid dot acquisition in close quarters situations.
Other Features
The Venom Red Dot Sight (VMD-3103) features adjustable windage and elevation knobs that yield 1 MOA of adjustment for each click. The max adjustments are 130 MOA maximum elevation and 100 MOA maximum windage. The adjustment knobs are easy to access.
The lenses of this reflex sight have anti-reflective coatings on all air-to-glass surfaces with a 1x magnification. The coating reduces glare that allows for a sharp, clear sight picture.
This optic also includes the Vortex Optics abrasion-resistant coating ArmorTek, which protects exterior lenses from scratches, oil, and dirt.
What is Included
- Vortex Optics Venom Red Dot Sight (VMD-3103)
- Weaver / Picatinny mount
- T-15 Torx wrench
- Rain cover
- Lens cloth
- Mounting screws
- CR 1632 battery
- Screwdriver
Common Questions
What’s the difference between the Vortex Viper and Vortex Venom?
The Vortex Venom is slightly larger than the Vortex Viper. With the Viper, you will have to remove the optic to change the battery. Additionally, the Venom comes in two dot size options, while the Viper is only available with a 6 MOA dot reticle.
Is the Vortex Venom waterproof?
Vortex states that the optic is waterproof but does not provide any specifics such as an Ingress Protection (IP) rating or equivalent.
Customer Feedback
The Vortex Venom has earned strong reviews from shooters and gun enthusiasts.
What shooters liked about this sight:
Weight: At only 1.1 oz, this is one of the lightest MRDS options available, making it perfect for handgun use.
Battery Access: The top-load battery design is a standout feature that eliminates the need to re-zero after battery changes.
Versatility: Available in 3 MOA and 6 MOA options to suit different shooting needs.
