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Posted: 5/15/2010 5:36:17 PM EDT
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I wasn't sure about the concept of a 3x magnifier behind a red dot optic, and I didn't want to spend a lot of money to find out. So I decided to try Vortex's VMX3. I've been pleased with other Vortex optics in the past. They offer a good product at an affordable price. Vortex lower price point optics are designed in the USA and manufactured in China. I've noticed that their glass is usable, but not stellar and that durability is their strong point. Vortex optics have an unconditional lifetime warranty, no questions asked, just send it in. Although I've never needed to use the warranty with any of their products. I know there are many Arfcomers that would never consider putting a Chinese" POS" on their beloved ARs, but not everyone is made of money, and this review is for you.
Vortex VMX3 Optics Planet Here's what you get for your $129 . 
-Magnifier -30mm high ring -Lens covers -Manual -Torx wrench -Adjustment tool Specs: Weight-8oz Length- 4.8" Tube diameter-30mm Eye relief- 50mm The VMX3 is finished in a semi-matte black with a soft rubber protective cover. There are two adjustment centering screws, elevation on top, windage on the side, as well as a focus adjustment ring at the back of the ocular lens. The focus adj. ring is rubber covered to prevent slippage, and the tension is just right. Tight enough to prevent accidental movement, loose enough to allow easy rotation. 
The centering adj. screws allow you to "center up" the dot in the magnifier. Once the red dot optic is zeroed, and the magnifier is mounted behind it, the dot may not be in the center of the sight picture(this will vary with each weapon). The weapons "zero" is not effected by this, it will still hit point of aim, but the sight picture is easier to use if the dot is centered. I found the easiest way to center the dot in the magnifier was to hold up the weapon, sight through the magnifier and turn the adj. screw. 
Rather than turn the screw, then sight the weapon. 
Mounting the magnifier is simple with any 30mm ring available. For this review I used the supplied ring, and a 30mm MFI medium height ring. Vortex recommends at least .25" of clearance between the magnifier and the primary optic. MFI, Vortex 
I also replaced the supplied mounting nut with a "wing nut" type for ease of installation and removal. 
The Vortex mount will provide an absolute co-witness on AR type rifles providing you have a low rear buis, or no rear buis mounted. 
I found that eye relief is limited with the magnifier in place to about 1.5-2.5" total. this requires a NTCH hold to get a full sight picture. Not a problem on a low recoiling 5.56mm weapon, but a potential problem on a 7.62mm rifle. 
I mounted the VMX3 up behind several different weapons and optics for comparison. SCAR and Aimpoint M3 
The VMX3 and Aimpoint/MI mount gave an absolute co-witness with the SCAR's standard sights. Eye relief was about 2" with a good cheek weld and sight picture. There were no charging handle issues with this set up. The sight picture was good and clear even with the ARD Killflash in place. The ARD was slightly visible if looking at the sky or other light colored uniform surface. 
(The red "blooming" in this picture was not visible to the eye, only to the camera) LMT MRP and Eotech 552 
Once again an absolute co-witness, and a good sight picture with a smaller field of view than is normal for an Eotech. The control buttons were a little difficult to operate with this model, it wasn't designed for use with a magnifier. 
(The reticle intensity level was on a low setting to keep from "blooming" in the camera lens). XCR and Vortex SPARC Here's where I ran into a problem. The XCR has a lower stock compared to an AR type rifle. To get a good cheek weld and sight picture a lower mount needs to be used. I tried the Med. height MFI mount as it lined up with the SPARC/ADM mount. Unfortunately the VMX3 won't clear the Troy rear buis. 
If I slide the optics forward on the rail to get clearance for the rear buis, I lose the sight picture due to too much eye relief. 
The only workable alternatives are to remove the rear sight, not an option for me, or use higher mounts causing loss of cheek weld/sight picture, again not an option. Sig556 and Trijicon TriPower Same story as the XCR. 
So I removed the rear sight and tried it anyway. 
This gave a good sight picture, while retaining the cheek weld and eye relief. But I'd still rather have my buis. 
M4 clone and Vortex StrikeFire Absolute co-witness, good sight picture and cheek weld, no problems at all. Although due to the limited receiver rail length a cantilever mount must be used.
In conclusion, would I recommend the VMX3 to a friend? Yes. The magnifier works as advertised. The clarity of the glass is fine for it's intended purpose, the unit is sturdy, and easily adjusted(and held adjustment). I noticed very little distortion of the sight picture through the magnifier, only a little at the very edge. On all of the optics I tried the aiming points (Aimpoint's dot, Trijicon's chevron, Eotech's circle dot, and StrikeFire's green/red dot) remained bright, clear and sharp through the magnifier. The price is right for those on a budget, you can get a SPARC and VMX3 from Optics Planet for $329. My SPARC review The only real downside in my opinion is the thickness of the rubber protective cover, making mounting on weapons other than ARs problematic. Also a full length top rail simplifies mounting both the red dot and magnifier. The concept of using a 3x magnifier behind a 1x red dot optic may be a solution to the need for magnification, but I'd still rather have an illuminated 1-4x24 optic with a range scale. It is a simpler, more efficient solution. The Vortex Viper PST 1-4x24 scope should be available soon. SWFA as them listed for $499. I'm waiting like everyone else. I'll put up a review when I get one. Viper PST 1-4x24 |
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Do optics really need the dubious "protection" the rubber armor offers? It's a new trend I guess, since no Aimpoints have them (save the M2/M3 optional rubber armor add-on), no EOTech, ACOG, ELCAN, variable magnification scopes (except the el cheapo Chicom crap) have rubber armor. I daresay the Aimpoint 3x magnifier probably doesn't need one either, at least it's thin enough to be out of the way, and makes it easy to grasp.
Could be a play on perception, maybe people feel better that it's there, never mind it doesn't serve any useful purpose other than making it bulky. |
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Some additional data points:
1. The rubber shroud is too large so it bumps into things like your BUIS. I could not get it to work with a rear MBUS and the LaRue LT-649S (Short) so I switched to an ARMS #40L. Still, it's a tight fit. 2. Eye relief is pretty good although the authentic AP magnifier is still better. Glass quality is good too. 3. The magnifier fits the LaRue LT-649 perfectly. 
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How sharp is the sight picture through the VMX3 behind a red dot optic @ 200 yards?
I didn't have a positive experience with a hendsoldt/poboy behind my aimpoint comp m3. It was mounted 1/4 to 1/2 inch behind the aimpoint, and i was not able to see targets clearly no matter what i did with the objective focus. i think the poboy was a little sharper when looking through it by itself. |
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Quoted:
Under magnification, my EOTech is clearer than the AimPoint. This likely has to do with the coating that AimPoint uses on the reflective lens for the red diode as opposed to clear glass on the EOTech. this makes alot of sense. i thought it had something do do with my eyes (astigmatism). thanks for posting up your pics by the way. i have a LT-649 at home sitting empty...waiting for another magnifier; got rid of the poboy. i was going to try an aimpoint maginifer, but the price point on the vortex is tempting. |
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