We currently live in a renaissance period for optics and especially red dots. Everywhere you turn, someone is making a decent red dot for recreational shooting or duty work. Expensive, quality red dots are easy to come by (you expend a lot of money on a product, it better be good quality). The more intriguing end of the product spectrum is the affordable or cheap end. How affordably-priced can something be while still being incredibly reliable and worth purchasing? We might have found that threshold in the new Vortex Optics Crossfire II Solar 2 MOA Red Dot. So, today we are going to review this lil’ guy to see how it performs and just how good it is. Let’s dive in!
Vortex @ TFB:
Specifications - Vortex Optics Crossfire II Solar 2 MOA Red Dot
First off, let’s assess some of the technical specifications behind the Crossfire II Solar Red Dot, which is MSRP’d at $249.99 in this black colorway we are reviewing. It is a 2 MOA dot size powered by a standard CR2032 battery type. You have ½ MOA click adjustments for windage and elevation, and the battery life is pretty crazy when it factors in its solar capabilities.
Technical Specs
- Dot Size: 2 MOA
- Dot Color: Bright Red
- Magnification: 1x
- Battery Type: CR2032
- Battery Run Time: 50,000 Hours (150,000 Hours with Solar)
- Eye Relief: Unlimited
- Adjustment Graduation: 1/2 MOA
- Travel Per Rotation: 22.5 MOA
- Max Elevation Adjustment: 100 MOA
- Max Windage Adjustment: 100 MOA
- Length: 2.60"
- Weight: 4.47 oz.
Standout Features
Some of the more impressive features of this small yet mighty red dot are its large viewing window, night vision compatibility, and buttons that are methodically placed on top for easy access and adjustment at a moment’s notice.
- Night-Vision Compatibility - The lowest 2 settings are night-vision compatible.
- Parallax Free - All red dot and holographic sights will exhibit some small amount of parallax. Matching current industry practice, this small amount would be considered "parallax free" and will make a negligible difference in performance.
- Unlimited Eye Relief - Non-critical eye relief for rapid target acquisition.
- Multi-Height Mount System - Lower 1/3 Co-Witness Mount and Low Mount.
- Low-Glare Matte Black Anodize - Corrosion and wear resistant anodization provides low-glare matte surface and helps camouflage the shooter's position.
- Single-Piece Chassis - Compact and lightweight.
- Fully Multi-Coated Lenses - Anti-reflective coatings on all air-to-glass surfaces provide increased light transmission for greater clarity and low-light performance.
- Nitrogen Gas Purged - Gas purged and O-ring sealed for fogproof and waterproof performance.
Vortex VIP Warranty - Vortex Optics Crossfire II Solar 2 MOA Red Dot
In the rare event that your red dot should ever require service, warranty, or replacement of any kind, Vortex Optics has set the bar for customer service. The Vortex VIP Warranty that covers all of their optics also covers your Crossfire II Solar 2 MOA Red Dot as an unlimited lifetime warranty that is fully transferable to future owners of products and no receipt is needed. So, whether you give something to a friend or pass it down to a family member, the next owner in line is still covered. Whether this red dot takes a tumble out of a gun case, or down the side of a mountain trail while hunting, you are still covered.
A Word from Vortex on their Crossfire II Solar 2 MOA Red Dot
“From close-range drills or steel at distance, the Crossfire® II is built to grow with you. Quick to set up. Simple to run. It's motion-activated, magnifier and night-vision compatible. Mount it up, and make some noise.”
What’s in the Box? Vortex Optics Crossfire II Solar 2 MOA Red Dot
One of the most common and recurring questions I receive reviewing firearms and their related products is, “what’s in the box?” Meaning, what do you all get with your purchase. This is important because what you do and do not get will dictate what type of accessories you need to additionally buy depending on what you want your end-product or hunting setup to look like. All this being said, this is everything that you will receive:
Included in the Box:
- Crossfire II Solar 2 MOA Red Dot
- Lower 1/3 Co-Witness Mount
- Low Mount
- Custom Tool
- Rubber Cover
- Lens Cloth
- CR2032 Battery
What’s the Upsell? What’s the 30-Second Elevator Pitch?
So, what’s the upsell? What’s the metaphorical and literal 30-second elevator pitch? For the Crossfire II Solar 2 MOA Red Dot, you’re looking at several prominent traits that might tip the scale in favor of Vortex Optics as opposed to a competing manufacturer at a similar price point.
- Waterproof, Fogproof, and Shockproof - Designed to withstand harsh weather conditions, a wide range of temperatures, and the highest levels of recoil and impact.
- SOLAR with Auto D-TEC Technology - Detects light conditions to automatically draw power from solar or battery as needed.
- Motion Activation with 10 Minute Auto-Shutoff - Automatically activates with motion while 10 minute auto-shutoff saves battery life.
- ArmorTek® - Ultra-hard exterior lens coatings defend against scratches, oil, and dirt.
- 10 Daylight Bright Brightness Settings - Daylight bright, illuminated center dot aids in faster center-point acquisition in bright daylight conditions.
Field Use
So, how did the Vortex Optics Crossfire II Solar 2 MOA Red Dot perform out on the range?... To get this show on the road, we first had to get it saddled up on a firearm. For this review, I placed it on the newly-announced Benelli M2-G1 tactical semi-auto shotgun.
Mounting
To get this mounted on the Benelli M2-G1 was a breeze because it had a factory Picatinny rail installed and the Crossfire II Solar comes with two pic rail adaptable mounts: a lower 1/3 co-witness mount and a low mount. So, simply torque down the appropriate mount of your choice - for this shotgun, the low mount was the obvious choice - and you are off and running.
Test-Firing
When it came to test-firing this red dot and establishing a zero, I was launching some Federal lead downrange. For tactical shotgun and defense training, this ammunition has always been reliable and performed well for me. So, thank you to Federal for providing this ammo for this review.
The Crossfire II Solar 2 MOA Red Dot easily handled the recoil of the Benelli 12 Gauge, and a hastily-established zero was achieved in swift order. So, we could get to more LARP-ing, shooting, and gun range tomfoolery testing.
Accuracy
While I did verify a zero and test the accuracy of the Crossfire II Solar on the Benelli M2-G1, it is more than difficult to authentically test the accuracy of a red dot while it is sitting on top of a scattergun. So, this red dot did see some time on my Springfield Armory Saint Victor V2 5.56 NATO where more discerning groups could be collected.
At 100 yards, I was achieving anywhere from 2” to 3 ½” groups depending on my level of caffeination at the time. This made sense to me because you’re never going to out-shoot - or be more accurate - than the size of the red dot (2 MOA).
Sight Picture
As far as the sight picture, this red dot performed as advertised. The dot was predictably a bright red color whether it was sunny out, or cloudy. It has to have a high refresh rate because I never noticed any “flickering” or “wavering” of the red dot. Also, with the multiple different brightness settings that you can choose from, I could always set it at an appropriate brightness for the task at hand.
Durability
In regards to durability, I am not one of those writers or media types who’s going to attempt to blow this thing up with Tannerite or chuck it into the Grand Canyon for clicks. You’ve come to the wrong guy. But I do treat all of my firearms and related accessories as the tools they are. I’m not out to destroy things, yet nothing is babied either.
All that being said, through general range use - dropping this red dot on tables, resting it on the ground, being chucked into gun cases, etc - this red dot essentially looks brand new. Also, knowing how reliable Vortex’s products typically are, I had no durability concerns going into this review.
Intangibles
I like the updated, sleek aesthetic to the Vortex Optics Crossfire II Solar 2 MOA Red Dot. It is clean, snag-free, and visually appealing on basically any firearm you throw this on. While it’s never going to show up on a spec sheet, looks matter for something.
Also, the recessed windage and elevation caps are a nice update. Then, they are always accessible yet there are no concerns of busting off a cap.
Lastly, I like the amount of accoutrements that Vortex ships with this: custom tool, battery, two mounts, and lens cleaning cloth. They get you set up well from the jump. So, you don’t have to scramble for inherently-needed accessories upon purchase.
Final Thoughts
So, what are my final thoughts on the Vortex Optics Crossfire II Solar 2 MOA Red Dot?... Overall, at an MSRP of $249.99 for a solar red dot, this is a great value. It performs as advertised and then some, all at a very attainable price point. For general use on carbines, shotguns, and AR-15s, it works terrifically. I honestly fail to find a real point of constructive criticism other than it’d be rad if this only cost $50, but if the red dot was that cheap, then it’d probably suck. So, as-is, this is a wonderful red dot.
In closing, I want to say thank you to Vortex Optics for allowing TheFirearmBlog and myself the opportunity to try out their Vortex Optics Crossfire II Solar 2 MOA Red Dot. That is greatly appreciated. Also, we would like to know what all of you guys and gals think? Do you believe that the Vortex Optics Crossfire II Solar 2 MOA Red Dot is something worth spending your money on? Would you take one with you hunting? Shoot a league or competition? Put it on your home defense firearm? As always, let us know all of your thoughts about Vortex Optics and the Crossfire II Solar 2 MOA Red Dot in the Comments below! We always appreciate your feedback and engagement.
