Welcome to Optics Trade debates. In each episode, we talk about a different topic and try to answer the most common questions we receive about it. Today we are going to talk about the differences between the Vortex Venom red dot and the Vortex Viper red dot.
The most obvious physical difference is in the shape of the window. The Venom has a wider window, while the window from the Viper is comparable with the general shape of Docter (Noblex) red dot sights.
The second difference is the position of the battery. The battery on the Viper is on the bottom side of the sight, therefore the red dot is open and is waterproof only when mounted on a proper mount with the included gasket.
A positive side of this is that the battery is easily exchangeable. But in order to change it, you have to remove the red dot from the mount.
On the other hand, the Venom has its battery positioned on the top of the red dot. Therefore, the red dot can stay on the mount while exchanging it and so the red dot stays zeroed. But there is a downside, it’s really hard to access the small compartment that it’s in.
Both of these red dots have an automatic shutdown after 14 h which is really good news for the battery life. The Venom has a special type of battery that is a bit harder to get, while the Viper has a more common CR 2032 battery.
The Venom, as well as the Viper, has a standard 6 MOA dot because they are mostly meant to be used on pistols. However, the Venom is also available in 3 MOA if you want to use it on a rifle.
All of the red dots from Vortex can also be mounted on all of the Docter red dot mounts which is a really good thing because there are multiple mounting solutions on the market, even for rifles, so the mounting should not be a problem due to the use of a common standard.
If you use night vision with your red dots the Viper is the one to get. The first intensity levels on the Viper are really low so that they aren’t too bright to be used with night vision, while the Venom will always be too bright.<
The Venom and the Viper have 10 manual intensity levels, which are controlled with the buttons on the side. But the Venom still has an advantage, it has a sensor in the front that can adjust the illumination in accordance with the ambient lighting.
They both can be used on handguns and rifles. They’re also rated for any kind of recoil and are covered with a great warranty.
Both dots are really good options price-wise.
We would like to thank you for your time. In case we did not answer all the questions regarding this topic, please leave a comment below or send an e-mail to us. If you found this video useful, please subscribe to our channel.
Products mentioned:
Vortex Venom Red Dot: https://www.optics-trade.eu/en/dot-sights/vortex-venom-red-dot.html
Vortex Venom Red Dot 6 MOA: https://www.optics-trade.eu/en/dot-sights/vortex-venom-red-dot-6-moa.html
Vortex Viper Red Dot: https://www.optics-trade.eu/en/dot-sights/vortex-viper-red-dot.html
Hello from Vancouver CANADA if you mount the Viper and the Venom on the same mount is one lower than the other I can not find specs anywhere Thanks Lee
Hi Lee! I think this picture will tell you the answer:
They are basically the same height
Hello, from Florida everyone. Would anyone know if the footprint on the vortex viper is the same as the docter sight red dot? I keep coming across mixed answers and I want to know for sure. I have my m&p slide with a vortex viper on it and I love it but I want to test out the docter sight. Thank you in advance for any assistance.
Yes, the Vortex Viper has the Noblex/ex-Docter platform, so you will be able to easily switch between them!
Thanks for shɑring yοur info. I truly ɑppreciаte
your efforts and I will be waiting for your next post thank you once again.
Thank you for your informative article. I have few questions and could appreciate your advice.
I bought a rifled barrel with iron sights for my 12 g. Remington Versa Max and will be using Sabot slugs.
I want to install the Venom Red Dot (3 MOA) where the rear sight on the barrel is located. I need to be interchanging the rifled barrel with shotgun barrel twice a year, so I didn’t want to install this optic on a receiver.
This would save me the hassle replacing this optic and sighting in again, plus having the optic on the barrel would be better for accuracy.
My questions are:
1. Would that be possible with a proper base for that kind of application or making a custom base?
2. The recoil of the shotgun with Sabot slugs is rather severe. Can the Venom Red Dot handle that kind of recoil without things getting loose?
3. Would the Venom Red Dot be a good choice for this kind of application, or another optic would be a better choice?
Thank you for your help,
Sincerely,
Alex Sztogryn, Calgary, Alberta.
Dear Mr. Sztogryn,
first of all, thank you for visiting and reading our blog!
Potentially, you could install a Picatinny rail or a Henneberger mount on the ventilated rib of your Versa Max Shotgun. In order to install a Picatinny rail, we would require detailed information on the width of your shotgun rib, the height of the rib and difference in height measured from the lower part of the ventilated rib to the barrel of the firearm.
To install a mount from Henneberger, you would require pertinent gunsmith’s work in order to adjust it according to the dimensions of your rifle’s shotgun rib.
According to Vortex, this product is designed to withstand a recoil of a shotgun. Reflex red dot sights are usually not as delicate as other red dot sights in terms of recoil resistance considering that they comprise of a single glass.
Vortex Venom is one of the frequently used red dot sights for such purposes.
Should you require any further assistance, please do not hesitate to contact us again.
Kind regards!