We take a in-depth look at the best red dot sights providing you with detailed reviews on which sight is best for all of your shooting, hunting or tactical needs.


Vortex Strikefire 2- Of Course you Should!

Vortex Strikefire 2

The Vortex Strikefire 2 is a highly popular choice in red dot sight optics. This optics performance, along with friendly price, has shooters buying more than one to put on their favorite firing platform.

In this review of the Strikefire II, we look at the features and specifications that make purchasing more than one contagious.

The sight is a favorite among AR and other carbine enthusiasts enjoying a day at the range or employed in the self-defense role. The sight is perfectly at home on a shotgun or rifle to take down your favorite game

Already know what you what.  You can skip the in-depth review of the Vortex Strikefire 2 and go right to Amazon.com for an excellent price, fast shipping, and no hassles.

Click here to purchase the Vortex Strikefire 2 Red Dot Sight SF-RG-501 at Amazon.com

Strikefire 2 Red Dot Sight Review

Based in Wisconsin, Vortex Optics is a United Manufacture with a history of producing quality optics. Founded in 2004, Vortex Optics produces various types of weapon scopes, binoculars, holographic, and red dot sights.  Their products are utilized by outdoorsmen as well as professionals in law enforcement.

The Strikefire II red dot sight has become a very popular choice for many shooters for its quality and performance at an excellent price.  The sight is intuitive to use, making it a great option for shooters at any experience level.

Bottom Line Up Front 

The optics straight forward operation makes this sight ideal for beginners with all the right features to even the most seasoned shooter. The high-quality construction and clear viewing experience are ready to deliver on the range or in the woods.  

The large 4 MOA dot makes for easy acquisitions and rapid close-quarters target engagement.  With this red dot sight, shooters will be able to maintain situational awareness while sighting with both eyes open.  

With a no questions asked warranty and a proven track record, Vortex has made it easy to like this red dot sight.

Top Features of the Strikefire 2 Red Dot Sight

Design

The Vortex Strikefire 2 is constructed from a single alloy aluminum billet.  From the single billet, a 30mm lightweight solid single-piece chassis is formed. The results are a 7.2 oz optic that is strong enough to withstand the bangs and bumps you will encounter during range and hunting days.

The 30mm tube allows for a large Field of View (FOV).  The red dot sight has a matte finish hard anodized coat that reduces glare for a low shooter signature. Filled with argon gas and sealed with o-rings, the Stikefire 2 is protected from dust and moisture. The optic is also fog-proof through a wide range of temperatures.  This sight is suitable for operation in almost all environments.

The Strikefire II red dot sight has an overall length for 5.6 inches with a 1.45-inch objective lens (36.8mm) and a 1.8-inch eyepiece lens (30mm).   The size and compact design of the sight is ideal, allowing for ease of maneuver and unimpeded employment.  This red dot sights overall size and design allow for smooth and snag-free target acquisition and transition.

Reticle

With the Vortex Stikefire II, you get two reticule color options all within one sight.  You can select a 4 Minute of Angle (MOA) red dot option or a 4 MOA green dot option. This is a great feature as some shooters prefer a green dot reticle for specific light and environment conditions and a red dot reticle for daily use.  You will find the 4 MOA reticle is suitable for close to intermediate range engagements.

If you require an AR specific application for more precision at extended distance engagements, then take a look at our review of the Vortex Spitfire 3X Prism Scope.

This red dot sight has ten illumination brightness settings. The two lowest settings are night-vision compatible.  Adjustments to the reticle brightness are made via two rear-facing side-mounted buttons. Additionally, this sight includes an automatic shut down after 12 hours.

Operation

The Strikefire is powered from a single CR2 Lithium battery. If you factor in the 12-hour automatic shutoff, you can expect a battery life of up to 7,000 hrs at lower settings. The battery compartment is easily accessible for quick battery changes.

The sight is easy and intuitive to operate.  All functions are controlled with two side-mounted rear-facing buttons. Press and hold the UP button to turn the sight on/off. Press and hold the DOWN button to change reticle color.  The same buttons are used to adjust the reticle brightness.  This simple design in operation procedures makes the sight one of the easiest you will ever use.

Elevation and windage adjustments are made by removing the turret cover and adjusting the turrets in the proper direction with a coin or a screwdriver.  Adjustment increments on this red dot sight are in ½ MOA.  A single click adjustment on the Strikefire 2 will move the point of impact ½ inch at 100 yards.  The ability to make ½ MOA adjustments allows for increased precision.

Mounting

Included with your purchase of the Vortex Strikefire 2 is a cantilever mount that will mount on a Picatinny or Weaver-style rail base.  Utilize this mount will place the optic bore center 40 mm above the base. If you are mounting the red dot sight on an AR-style platform, you can expect to achieve a lower 1/3 co-witness with the existing iron sights.

If you need to mount your Stikefire II at a different height, you will have to purchase a different 30mm ring mount.

Details

Included with your purchase:

  • (1) Vortex Strikefire II, 4 MOA Red/Green Dot Sight SF-RG-501
  • (1) CR2 Lithium battery
  • (1) Flip Cap Optic Covers
  • (1) Torx® T-15 wrench
  • (1) Cantilever Ring Mount

Click here for the Mounting & Operation Instructions for the Strikefire 2.

Other Great Features:

You get the Vortex Lifetime Warranty. This is an unlimited lifetime warranty. Vortex will repair or replace the optic if it becomes damaged. Vortex performs the repairs at no cost or replaces the optic if they cannot fix it.  This warranty includes electronics.

The Stikefire 2 comes with two flip-up lens covers to keep the lenses clean and protected when the optic is not in use. This is something you typically have to purchase separately with other red dot sights.

The price of the Vortex Stikefire 2 is in the lower to mid-range for its class. There are a few cheaper red dot sights in this class but most of them fall short concerning reliability.

Specifications Overview:

Reticle 4 MOA Dot Red/Green
Brightness Setting 10 Levels
Light Source LED
Magnification 1x
Unlimited Eye Relief Yes
Parallax Free Yes
Multi-Coatings No
Battery Type 3v CR2 Lithium Battery
Battery Life 7,000 Hrs
Adjustment per Click 1/2 MOA
Windage Adjustment 100 MOA
Elevation Adjustment 100 MOA
Working Temperature -22° F to 140° F
Housing Material Aluminium
Surface Finish Matte Anodized
Housing Color Black
Weight (oz) 7.2 oz
Window Size 30 mm
Dimension (in) 5.6 inches length

Pros vs. Cons of the Vortex Strikefire 2 Red Dot Sight

The Pros 

The optic is intuitive and easy to operate right out of the box. Every level of shooter will have no problem putting this red dot sight into action and getting great results.

 You can switch between a red or green dot reticle.  We have found that in some conditions, a green dot is much easier to acquire.

The Vortex Strikefire 2 Red Dot Sight twelve-hour auto shut off feature is perfect for ensuring an extended battery life.  

The Vortex Lifetime warranty is better than many others in the industry. The warranty covers both physical damage and damage to the electronics.

The included cantilever mount frees up space on your mounting rail. This is a great feature if you expect to mount several other items like a magnifier, laser, or flashlight on your firearm.

The Cons

If you enjoy a larger reticle, then this might not be a con for you. Unless you expect to use the optic for close-range engagements, the 4 MOA dot may be a little large for precision shooting out to intermediate distances.

The battery life for the Strikefire 2 could be better for a sight at this price point.

Another feature that could make this red dot sight better would be auto-on.

Best Place to Buy the Vortex Strikefire 2

We recommend purchasing the Vortex Strikefire 2 Red Dot Sight SF-RG-501 from Amazon.com.  You get a great price and fast shipping! Additionally, you will find even more details, ratings, questions and answers about this red dot sight.

Click here to purchase the Vortex Strikefire 2 Red Dot Sight SF-RG-501 at Amazon.com

Common Questions about the Strikefire 2

Q. Can I achieve co-witness with the Strikefire 2 cantilever mount on my AR-15?

A. Yes, you will have 1/3 co-witness on an AR-style platform. If you are looking for absolute co-witness, then you will need to purchase a separate mount.  

Q. Is the Vortex Strikefire II magnified?


A. No, this red dot sight like most others in not magnified. This is advantageous for both eye open shooting when engaging close and mid-range targets.  

Q. Can you utilize the Strikefire2 with Night Vision (NV) optics?


A. This red dot sight is night vision compatible. The two lowest reticle brightness settings are for NV situations.

Q. Can I use a magnifier with this red dot sight for longer distance shots?


A. Yes, We recommend that you do not use anything more than a 3x magnifier. You can purchase the Vortex Optics VMX-3T Magnifier and it will line up perfectly with the Strikefire 2 on the provided cantilever mount.

Customer Feedback

The Vortex Strikefire 2 Red Dot Sight has 4.5/5 stars with 80% of the reviews for this optic at five stars and over 550 ratings.

Let’s take a look at what other shooters have to say about the sight:

Price: You cannot beat the price of this red dot sight.  You get a lot of optic for such a great price.

Warranty:  The Vortex Optic Lifetime Guarantee sets the standard for customer service.  

Accuracy: With repeated use and thousands of rounds, the optic maintained a perfect zero. 

Quality: Crystal clear viewing with a sharp red dot. The sight has plenty of brightness settings for any light condition.

Alternative Red Dots Sights

If you are looking for an alternative to the Strikefire 2, we recommend the Sig Sauer Romeo 5. You will get a smaller dot and longer battery life, but only a 25mm objective lens.

Be sure to check our other reviews and guides at reddotsightreviews.com