Vortex Optics is gradually claiming the spot of the most popular weapon accessory brand as it keeps putting out its best products in the market to suit the needs of shooters from every sphere.
To put more light on the red dot sights specifically designed to take the strong hit of shotguns and rifles, Vortex Optics has successfully put out two most amazing sights. They are the Sparc II and StrikeFire II red dot sights.
These sights are the upgraded versions of their fellow sights such as Sparc AR, and Crossfire designed to glide smoothly on the platform of AR rifles. To put up with the most notorious weapon in the market, the AR-15s, their features need to be top-notch and without any errors.
That’s why, we are here to compare two of the baddest sights of Vortex Optics. We will go through all the features both Sparc 2 and StrikeFire 2 have to offer. And then we will compare the different qualities of both sights to find out which one works better.
Sparc 2/ StrikeFire 2 – Outlooks
Sparc II/ StrikeFire II – Specs
| Specs | Sparc II | StrikeFire II |
|---|---|---|
| Magnification | 1X | 1X |
| Objective Lens | 22mm | 30mm |
| Reticle | 2 MOA | 4 MOA |
| Illumination Color | Red | Red/Green |
| Brightness Settings | 10 | 10 |
| Battery | CR2032 | CR2 |
| Mount | Multi-Height Mount | Cantilever Ring Mount |
| Eye Relief | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Adjustment Graduation | 1 MOA | 0.5 MOA |
| Travel Per Rotation | 45 MOA | 25 MOA |
| Max W/E Adjustments | 90 MOA | 100 MOA |
| Parallax | Free | Free |
| Waterproof | ✔ | ✔ |
| Weight | 5.9 oz | 7.2 oz |
| Dimension | 5.76×4.6×2.6 in | 7.5×3.25×6.5 in |
Sparc 2 vs StrikeFire 2 – Differences
From the specification of the red dot sight, we can see that the Vortex StrikeFire II vs Sparc II battle has some good comparable functions to list out.
- They both come with different mounts that can be adjusted to be compatible with rifles and shotguns.
- Both the sights have different dot sizes and the StrikeFire sight comes with more illumination colors than the Sparc sight.
- The sights use separate battery types and so have a massive difference in the runtime department.
- When it comes to the turret adjustments, both the sights have contrasting click values and control knobs.
- Although the Sparc 2 and StrikeFire 2 red dot sights are rugged and strong, their weight range is something to consider before concluding.
Who Will Win? Sparc Or StrikeFire
Now it’s time to hold each of the differences between the sights and scrutinize every detail to reach the verdict on which sight will win this competition.
Mount
We will be comparing the Vortex Sparc 2 mounting options with the StrikeFire 2 one and find out which mounting style is more versatile.
Sparc II: The Vortex Sparc 2 red dot sight includes a multi-height mounting system that lets you adjust the mounting height to your desired positions. Mostly this mount works great in achieving both absolute and lower ⅓ co-witness with the iron sights of AR-15 rifles. This sight also mounts on any Picatinny or Weaver bases giving compatibility for a wide range of firearms.
When it comes to adjusting the Vortex Sparc 2 with a magnifier, the Vortex Micro3x magnifier works better than any other.
- Anti-reflective coatings on all air-to-glass surfaces provide increased light transmission for greater clarity and low-light performance. The V3XM offers a wider field of view, better eye relief, a brighter image, and a more true color tone.
StrikeFire II: On the other hand, the StrikeFire II has a cantilever ring mount that creates a lower ⅓ co-witness on an AR platform allowing you to position the optic bore center 40mm above the base surface. Similar to the Sparc 2 sight, this red dot also easily attaches to any rifles or shotguns with the Picatinny or Weaver rails.
Besides, this sight accommodates well with the VMX-3T Magnifiers. However, we would recommend not to use the Vortex Sparc II with VMX-3T magnifier for issues with sufficient eye relief.
- The VMX-3T does not require any special sight-in. The dot centering screws can be used to help center your red dot image in the VMX-3T's field of view.
All in all, both the sights come with versatile and easy-to-attach mounting systems. Still, the Sparc 2 gives more options with its multi-height mount.
Reticle & Lens Quality
The reticles and lens quality are two very important aspects of a red dot sight to get high-quality target visibility.
Sprac 2: With the Vortex Sparc II red dot sight you are getting a 2 MOA reticle and a 22mm fully multi-coated lens that has 10 brightness settings with night vision compatibility. This is perfectly suited for any long-distance targeting.
StrikeFire 2: In the StrikeFire II sight there is a 4 MOA reticle that has two illumination colors red and green. The red dot works great in the daylight and the green dot lets you use it during low light settings. Similar to the Sparc sight it also has 10 brightness levels with two night vision settings. The 30mm multi-coated lens gives a clear visibility of the target in a wide view.
Because of the extra green dot option and better lens clarity, the StrikeFire II remains a better choice in this round.
- Rear facing power controls with only two buttons offer simplicity in use and adjustment of the 10 brightness levels available.
Battery
The battery quality and shelf life will provide us with another good point to consider in making the decision.
Sparc II: This red dot sight uses a very popular CR2032 lithium battery for powering it up. You are getting up to 300 hours of battery life with the highest brightness setting on for continuous use. Also, the battery will last up to 6,000 continuous hours when the sight is at the lowest brightness level.
StrikeFire II: Whereas, the StrikeFire II uses a CR2 battery which has a better shelf life than the CR2032 battery. This battery will give you a total of 80,000 hours of runtime for continuous use when you set the brightness level at 6.
In case of battery life, the Vortex Sparc II has a disappointing result so we would suggest choosing the StrikeFire II sight for better battery life.
Turret Adjustments
In the Vortex StrikeFire vs Sparc battle, we will next look at the turret adjustments and their controlling quality.
Sparc 2: The Sparc 2 sight has a 1 MOA adjustment graduation where you get a maximum of 90 MOA windage and elevation adjustments to compensate for wind drift and holdover. The turret caps keep its dials intact and allow you to easily make adjustments.
StrikeFire 2: StrikeFire 2 red dot sight comes with turrets that have 0.5 audible click values along with a maximum of 100 MOA windage and elevation adjustments which is a little bit higher than the Sparc sight. Unlike the Sparc sight, its turret dials have covers that you need to take out to make necessary adjustments. However, the 0.5 MOA rotation gives more secure control of the dials than the 1 MOA value.
Since you will have better control over the windage and elevation adjustments in the StrikeFire II sight, it will make a better option.
- Fully multi-coated lenses provide a clean and bright, unobscured point of view. Unlimited eye relief allows for rapidtransitions.
Durability & Weight
Both the sights have strong and high-quality aluminum housing so they are durable enough to take recoil from AR rifles.
Sparc II: This red dot sight is specialized in handling the calibration of any AR-15 rifle. The interior of this sight is O-ring sealed hence it is protected from water and fog. The Sparc II sight weighs only 5.9 oz without the mount, making it very lightweight and compact for longer use.
StrikeFire II: In the case of StrikeFire II, it has the same ruggedness as the Sparc sight since it is made of aircraft-grade aluminum with an anodized finish. The Vortex sight is waterproof, fogproof, and shock-mounted to withstand the recoiling of rifles and shotguns. The only downside of this sight is the 7.2 ounces of weight which makes it heavier than the Sparc sight.
Therefore, the lightweight Vortex Sparc II will make a better companion for your weapon during a long journey.
Sparc 2/ StrikeFire 2 – Videos
Summary
Finally, to put an end to this battle between the Vortex Sparc II and StrikeFire II red dot sights, we have considered all of their important features. The Vortex Sparc sight is an excellent optics to use with your AR rifles or any other shotguns.
On the other hand, with the StrikeFire II sight, you get a better battery life, lens clarity, and more illumination options than the other sight. Besides, the Vortex StrikeFire mount height allows you to achieve lower ⅓ co-witness on an AR platform. Thus, in our opinion, StrikeFire II wins this battle.
Hi, I’m Brent Hansford. A writer turned hunter & now sharing my love for the sport through writing. As I practically breathe weapons, I firmly believe I’m capable of providing you with new knowledge about firearms and hunting. My mission is to help more people get better at hunting & master the weapons. Let me help with unleashing the beast within you!
