When it comes to pistol optics, Vortex has become one of my favorite companies. Their products are built well, but that’s not the only reason I’m a fan. Their VIP warranty and customer service are a big part as well.
I won’t get into the details of their customer service and warranty today as I’ve mentioned it in other articles. But I will say this…when Vortex says they offer a “no questions asked” lifetime warranty, they mean it. They will keep your optic running for life, regardless of what may happen to it.
But enough of that and on with the topic of the day; the Defender line of pistol optics. I’ve been using all three of the reflex sights in the Defender line for a while now. The newest is the XL so I have the least amount of time with it, but so far it’s proving to be just as reliable as the others.
Here’s a quick rundown of the three sizes that are available in the Vortex Defender line.
Defender CCW
Released in early 2023, the Defender CCW wasn’t like anything Vortex had done yet. It is specifically designed for concealed carry pistols. It’s lightweight and low-profile which is what most people want on their compact gun.
The battery used in the Defender CCW is a CR1632, which is conveniently stored in a top-loading battery tray. The CCW has a 3 MOA dot, which is a good size for self-defense optics. This optic wasn’t made as much for precise shooting as fast target acquisition.
It has auto on/off as you would expect from a quality handgun optic. The auto off time is 10 minutes after the optic has not been moved. I prefer shorter times like this as it makes the batter last a little longer. In this case, the estimated run time is 9,500 hours (on setting 6).
That’s not near as long as a lot of other optics out there, but with the auto off feature helps. I’ve been using my CWW Defender for about 17 months before changing the battery. With easy access to the battery, it’s not a big deal to swap out either. I would recommend replacing the battery once per year even if it’s not dead yet. This will help ensure it stays running while carrying it.
There are 10 brightness settings, including 2 night-vision compatible levels, which is about the norm these days.
The Defender CCW uses the Shield RMSc footprint, which is one of the most popular footprints for compact size pistols.
Specs for the Defender CCW
Defender ST
The Defender ST (Standard) is the middle child of the Defender family. Released in early 2024, it’s a great optic for full-size handguns like duty weapons or home defense pistols.
Of course, the ST is a bit larger overall meaning it also has a larger window. Like the CCW, it uses a top-loading battery but this one has a little more juice with a CR2032 battery. The estimated runtime on this one is 25,000 hours, which is more than double of the CCW.
There are to dot sizes available when purchasing the ST which are 3 and 6 MOA. I like having options because everyone is different and has their own preferences.
Auto on/off are the same with this optic and again, there are 10 brightness settings with 2 night-vision levels.
One feature I didn’t mention with the CCW is the aggressive texturing on the front of the optic. Vortex calls this “fast-rack “texturing and you will find it on all three optics in the Defender series. This gives the front of the optic a great surface to rack your slide with.
The ST mounts using the Docter/Noblex footprint. I’ll be honest, I’m surprised they didn’t use the RMR footprint, but it’s not a big deal for me. Vortex sends an MOS adaptor plate and picatinny mount in the box. It’s easy to find other adaptor plates should you need them as well.
Specs for the Defender ST
Defender XL
And the newest optic in the Defender line is the Defender XL. The window on this red dot is 25.5mm wide and 23.3mm tall. It is available in three MOA sizes of 2, 5, and 8 MOA. This would be a great optic for competition shooting, hunting, etc. The larger window also makes it nice for rifles and PCC weapons.
Like the first two, it has a top-loading battery, but this one is a little different. On the CCW and ST, the battery catch unscrews from the top of the optic using a Phillips or strait screwdriver. On the XL, there is a handy push-and-lift lid that makes swapping out batteries even faster and doesn’t require any tools.
The optic runs on a CR2032 battery and has a 25,000 hour battery life like the ST. It has the same features and settings as the ST which also include a
Vortex used the Docter/Noblex footprint like the ST and again provides a Glock MOS plate, picatinny rail mount, cover, and 5 sets of mounting screws.
Specs for the Defender XL
Options are never bad
Because I was already used to carrying the Defender CCW on a regular basis, I liked having a full-size optic that functioned the same. With the XL, I get the same familiarity in an even larger optic.
So far, I’ve been using my Defender CCW on my IWI Masada Slim, the Defender SL on my Glock 45 and the Defender XL on my B&T. I’m not against using a larger optic like the XL on a handgun, but I’m liking it on a PCC for now.
There are other great optics out there and like I said in the beginning, I like using them all. But I always find myself drawn to Vortex for my daily carries. Part of this is because I know they will fix it if anything goes wrongs, but also because I like their product.
If you are not familiar with this line of optics, check out the Defender series. There three sizes to choose from and options are never a bag thing.
— Jason Mosher, Shooting News Weekly