First Look: Vortex Defender XL Red Dot Sight

Featuring a large sight window and either a 5- or 8-MOA red dot. 

by
posted on June 19, 2024
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Vortex Defender XL Red Dot Sight

Vortex Optics has just launched a new red-dot sight, the Vortex Defender XL. The Vortex Defender XL joins the trending category of “big window” slide-mounted red-dot sights favored by both performance and competitive shooters. The new Vortex Defender XL sight is offered with either a larger 5- or 8-MOA red dot, as competitive shooters tend to favor larger dots in their sights. The Vortex Defender XL’s window dimensions are on par with some of the more popular red dots on the market such as the Trijicon SRO or the Holosun HS507COMP, with a wide field of view which aids in not only transitioning between targets but also tracking the dot during shooting.

The Vortex Defender XL red dot sight is compatible with the popular Leupold DeltaPoint Pro footprint which is still one of the most popular footprints on the market. In the box, Vortex includes a basic Picatinny mount so the dot can also be mounted on a section of Picatinny rail over a long gun, a protective rubber cover that fits over the optic’s external housing, tools, accessories and most importantly: an assortment of various mounting screws packaged and labeled separately that correspond to the most common makes and models of handguns and their respective thread pitches.

Vortex Defender-XL Micro Red Dot Speculations

  • Dot Size: 5-MOA (DFXL-MRD5)/8-MOA (DFXL-MRD8)
  • Dot Color: Red
  • Battery Type: CR2032
  • Battery Run Time: 25,000 hours
  • Eye Relief: Unlimited
  • Magnification: 1X
  • Footprint: Deltapoint Pro
  • Adjustment graduation: 1 MOA
  • Travel per rotation: 25 MOA
  • Total elevation adjustment: 120 MOA
  • Total windage adjustment: 115 MOA
  • Parallax setting: Parallax free
  • Length: 2.03 inches
  • Weight: 1.93 ounces with battery
  • MSRP: $399

To learn more about the new Vortex Optics Defender XL red dot sight, please visit vortexoptics.com.

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