Launching a good quality optical sight in a budget-friendly price range is always a difficult task considering upscaled features will demand more cost. This is where the Vortex Optics products make an exception.
The Vortex optics red dot sights are popular for their excellent performance and reasonable price tag. Today, we have brought the most anticipated comparison and that is the Vortex Viper vs Venom red dot battle.
Most of the time it is difficult to choose between two of the favorites from the same company. Shooters find it always confusing about which one will suit their weapons better, the Vortex Viper or Venom.
That’s why we are here to give you an answer with all the similarities and dissimilarities you will find in both the red dot sights. If you look at the specification part below you will find all the important features of Viper and Venom sights.
We have further listed all the different points of both the Vortex sights and discussed them in the later section to help you clear all your confusion and choose the best one.
Vortex Venom/ Viper – Outlooks
Vortex Viper/ Venom- Specs
| Specs | Vortex Viper | Vortex Venom |
|---|---|---|
| Magnification | 1X | 1X |
| Dot Size | 6 MOA | 3 MOA, 6 MOA |
| Battery | CR2032 | CR1632 |
| Brightness Settings | 10 | 10 |
| Eye Relief | Unlimited | Unlimited |
| Adjustment Graduation | 1 MOA | 1 MOA |
| Mount | Weaver/Picatinny | Weaver/Picatinny |
| Max Windage Adjustments | 120 MOA | 130 MOA |
| Max Elevation Adjustments | 120 MOA | 100 MOA |
| Parallax | Free | Free |
| Weight | 1.03 oz | 1.1 oz |
| Dimension | 1.8”x1.06”x1.02” | 1.9”x1.11”x1.02” |
Key Difference Between Vortex Venom & Viper
Now that you have checked all the facts about both red dot sights, let’s list out the different functions of the Viper and Venom red dots.
- When we compare the red dot size of Vortex Viper with the Vortex Venom red dot we find that the Venom has more reticle options.
- Although both the sights support the same Picatinny Weaver mounting style, their heights make them more compatible with certain weapons.
- The Vortex Venom battery life is similar to the Viper sight, both offering the same brightness settings. But the battery quality makes them different from each other.
- You will get better windage and elevation adjustments and brightness-controlling knobs in one of the sights.
- Finally, the durability and weight ranch will put the sights in two different stages and make one more preferable.
Read More: Venom or RMR
In Depth View
We will be elaborating on all the contrasting qualities of both Vortex Viper and Venom mentioned above and give a final statement for every point so that you can choose one of them depending on your personal preference.
Reticles & Lens Clarity
Comparing the reticles and lens quality will give us an idea about their targeting performance.
Viper: The Vortex Viper red dot sight comes with a 6 MOA dot reticle that is good for targeting any short-range fast-moving objects. The anti-reflective and fully multi-coated lens gives you good image visibility. This kind of reticle is good for fast target acquisition. The sight has 10 brightness levels to adjust with low light settings but does not support auto-mode like Venom. So it is not as handy as the Venom sight.
Venom: This Vortex sight has two different dot sizes to choose from. The Vortex Venom red dot 3 MOA sight is great for any precise targeting out to 100 yards of distance. In addition, the Venom 6 MOA sight is good when you want to shoot in proximity. The Vortex Venom sight picture is more crisp and clear because of the multi-coated lens that provides a wide field of view for the target.
In the case of the lens quality and reticle options, the Vortex Venom has a much better offer than the Viper sight.
Mount
Mounting style is essential to understanding the compatibility of the red dot sight with any particular firearm. Here both the sights have the same mounting system.
Viper: Vortex Viper comes with a quick-release Picatinny/weaver mount that can be easily attached to a wide range of handguns and rifles. The low profile of the Viper Picatinny mount creates a good height for lower ⅓ co-witness when you mount the Vortex Viper on Glock 40 handguns.
You can also use an AT3 Tactical Pro-Mount Red Dot Riser Mount in case you want to attach the Viper sight on a higher level.
Venom: Similarly, the Vortex Venom Picatinny Mount can also attach to a multiple number of firearms. In addition, the height can support absolute co-witness on an AR platform. However, the mounting rail does not provide enough versatility as the Viper sight.
We would prefer the mounting style of the Viper red dot sight since it is more versatile and can achieve ⅓ lower co-witness so that you can put good use of the existing iron sights.
Battery Life
The battery quality and shelf life a necessary points to consider before choosing an optical sight for your weapon.
Viper: This red dot sight comes with a 3-volt CR2032 lithium battery that lasts from 150 hours to 30,000 hours for continuous use depending on the brightness level. This battery is extremely popular for any electrical device and is easily accessible.
Venom: The Vortex Venom red dot battery has the same runtime as the Viper red dot sight. So you are getting the exact same facility in this department. However, Venom uses the CR1632 lithium battery which does not hold a strong position compared to the CR2032 batteries. In addition, the battery compartment can be difficult to control, especially during a critical situation.
In light of all these points, although you will get the same runtime from both Viper and Venom red dot sight, we would suggest going for the Viper sight for better battery quality.
Windage & Elevation Adjustments
Adjustmenting the windage and elevation of a red dot sight gives an idea about the quality of the turrets of that particular sight.
Viper: The Viper sight turrets are quite efficient with their 1 MOA adjustment graduation. This red dot has maximum windage and elevation adjustments of 120 MOA. However, the major downside of this sight is that unlocking the turret adjustments gets difficult with certain weapons because of the rear sights.
Venom: With the Vortex Venom sight you are getting a maximum of 130 MOA of windage and 100 MOA of elevation adjustments. The best thing about this sight is that the turrets stay zero even after 100 rounds at 25 yards.
Since the Venom sight is better at maintaining zero for a longer period, it will be a preferable option to the Viper model.
Durability & Weight
Last but not least we will also be comparing the durability and weight range of both the red dot sights to get a better idea about which one of them is more rugged and can withstand harsh treatments.
Viper: When it comes to durability the Vortex Viper Sight uses high-strength aluminum housing materials and O-ring seals to conceal the body from any external harm. It is reliable and strong enough to take calibration from a wide range of weapons. But the sight works best for handguns. This weighs only 1.03 ounces, perfect to carry around on a compact pistol.
Venom: The Venom sight never plays with its quality to withstand any recoiling from heavy rifles such as AR-15 and M16 series. Its ruggedness is similar to the durability of Vortex Strikefire 2 and Sparc 2. It also only weighs about 1.1 ounces which is slightly heavier than the Viper but still light enough not to interfere with your shooting.
Hence, in terms of durability and sturdiness the Vortex Venom still claims the first place.
Vortex Venom/ Viper – Videos
Summary
Now to conclude this battle of Viper vs Venom, we have separately looked at all the aspects of them. Both the sights possess great qualities as strong red dots. Whichever you choose, it will not disappoint you.
But since we need to give a verdict, we will say that the Vortex Optics Venom red dot sights put out a better deal regarding the lens clarity, adjustments, and durability than the Viper sights. It will be a perfect sight on any rifle. However, if you are looking for a great red dot to attach to your pistols, Viper sights will work better.
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!
