Vortex Crossfire 2 MOA Green Dot sight. Photo: Jason Mosher

One of the latest new products from Vortex is their new Crossfire red or green 2 MOA dot optic. According to Vortex, the Crossfire is perfect for AR-15 rifles, shotguns, and rimfire rifles. I’ve been using Vortex Optics for years now because I like their products and company overall. So of course, I was interested to see this new optic and what you get for your hard-earned dollars.

Vortex has earned a good reputation for producing affordable, durable optics. When you add their awesome customer service and VIP warranty, it’s hard not to buy Vortex products.

Vortex has one of the best customer service teams I’ve ever seen and they offer a lifetime warranty on all their products. Photo: Jason Mosher

Last summer I picked up a pair of Vortex’s new shooting glasses and thought they were great, not just for shooting, but everyday wear. I didn’t realize at the time that even their glasses carried the same lifetime, no questions asked warranty.

But enough about the warranty and on to the topic of the optic, the Crossfire 2 MOA green dot. There were some things I liked and one specific thing I wished were different. Let’s jump in and take a look at this new optic from Vortex.

Crossfire 2 MOA Green Dot

The Crossfire 2 MOA green dot is a small rifle optic. For comparison, it’s about the same size as the SIG ROMRO5 and Holosun HS403 red dots. For me, this is a great size for general purpose use. They’re not too small for a full-size AR-15, but you can also use them on AR pistols, PCC’s and sub-gun sized firearms.

The Crossfire 2 MOA Green Dot (center) is about the same size as the Holosun HS403B (left) and Romeo5 (right). Photo: Jason Mosher

Multiple mount sizes are available for the Crossfire, but it ships with a lower third co-witness mount for a Picatinny rail. A low mount is also included. The mount uses a cross-bolt design and requires a Torx T-10 wrench (also included) to attach it.

Zeroing in the Crossfire 2 MOA green dot is easy to do with the windage and elevation turrets. The caps can be used to turn the turrets, so no tool is needed. Photo: Jason Mosher

Windage and elevation turrets are adjusted at 1 MOA per click. Vortex used caps that have a small flat edge on the back, so you don’t have to use any tools when sighting it in.

Simple function

Using the Crossfire is about as simple as it gets. Some people like their optics to have a billion options and others like them simple. A dial on the right side of the optic cycles through the brightness settings and the battery compartment is inside the dial. When starting from the “off” position, the first two clicks of the dial are night vision compatible settings. After that there are nine brightness settings for a total of 11 to choose from.

The Vortex Crossfire 2 MOA Green Dot is one of Vortex’s newest optics. Photo: Jason Mosher

I mounted the Crossfire to multiple AR-15 rifles and a MCK GLOCK 19 chassis. It’s easy to sight in and didn’t appear to have any problems staying zeroed. After using it on both overcast and bright days, I found setting nine was perfect for me.

Side mount dial and one modification I would like to see

I don’t mind that Vortex went with a manual dial (as opposed to the up and down buttons some makers use), but there is one thing I would like modified. You can’t turn the dial backwards from the off position. That means if you the brightest settings, say 10 or 11, you have to turn the dial from 0 up to 10 or 11.

That isn’t a huge deal, but if you’re in a hurry, it would be nice if the dial worked in both directions. With some optics you can turn the dial counterclockwise and go directly to the brightest setting. Another option I’d like is “off” positions between each brightness setting so you can keep the dial next to the setting you use the most. That’s not here either.

11 is the brightest setting, but I wish you could turn the dial from 0 directly to 11 (counterclockwise). Photo: Jason Mosher

On a positive note, the brightness adjustment dial is easier to turn on with gloves models with buttons. I’ve had issues before pushing the power button on some optics when wearing gloves. The dial on the Crossfire isn’t hard to turn, but you can feel distinctive clicks at each position.

Long-lasting power

The Crossfire is rated for 50,000 hours of runtime on its CR2032 battery. Using a small battery in pistol optics is a necessity. I used to complain when larger rifle optics used small coin cell batteries because they’re large enough to hold larger batteries. But if you can get 50,000 hours — more than five years — that works for me.

Specifications: Vortex Crossfire 2 MOA Red Dot Sight

• Dot Size: 2 MOA
• Brightness Settings: 11 levels
• Battery Type: CR2032
• Battery Life: Up to 50,000 hours (medium setting)
• Mount Type: Lower 1/3 co-witness and absolute co-witness mounts included
• Construction: Shockproof, waterproof, fog-proof
• Weight: Approx. 5.2 oz
• Length: 2.5 inches
• Anti-reflective coating
• Gas purged and 0-ring sealed for fog proof and waterproofing
• MSRP: $219.99

Why a Green Dot?

Glance at a few optics and it won’t take long to see that red is the most popular color for dot sights. But there are some good arguments for green as well.

For me, a green dot is a little easier to see during daylight than a red dot. You would think that would be the other way around, but it’s not. Over the years I’ve found some shooters prefer one color over the other. It really depends on what works best for you. But, if you want a better reason than “it worked for me” here are some reasons companies are starting to produce more green dot sights.

Green dots are reportedly easier for the human eye to see during the day. I like green dots a little more than red but use both. Photo: Jason Mosher

One of the biggest benefits is that green light is far more visible to the human eye than red. That means in bright sunlight or high-glare environments, a green dot will be easier to see. If you frequently shoot in outdoor settings with lots of natural light, a green dot can provide better contrast against the background.

Faster Target Acquisition

Since the human eye naturally detects green more efficiently than red, green dots can help with faster target acquisition. That makes them an excellent choice for defensive shooting, competition shooting, and law enforcement use where speed is critical.

Less Eye Strain

Another overlooked benefit of a green dot is reduced eye strain. Some shooters experience fatigue or discomfort when looking at a red dot for extended periods. Green dots are softer on the eyes and therefore reduce fatigue. This makes them a little easier to look at during long-range sessions or extended tactical operations.

Better Performance for Color-Blind Shooters

Approximately 8% of men and 0.5% of women have some form of red-green color blindness. For many of these individuals, red dots appear dimmer or harder to distinguish, whereas green dots stand out more clearly. If you’ve ever struggled to see a red dot properly, a green dot might be a better solution.

Quality vs. Price Ratio

The Crossfire 2 MOA Green Dot retails for just a little more than other optics that may be considered similar. For example, the Crossfire retails for about $149, ROMEO5 for $145, and the Holosun HS403B for about $140.

If you start comparing the specs of each optic, they have a lot in common. The same battery size, about the same run-time, etc. I have used all three optics and like all three. But as I mentioned in the beginning, it’s hard to beat Vortex’s VIP warranty. That’s enough to tip the scales toward the Vortex for a lot of buyers. Your mileage may vary.

– Jason Mosher, Shooting News Weekly