Vortex StrikeFire Video Update in OP 8/29/08 (Page 4 of 9)
thanks for the info. one other question - why the issue w/ making it a true co-witness mount? you have the solidworks files for your optic, so you know the center point of the dot vs where the mount would be and i am sure you could find out the normal height of a regular iron...am i oversimplifying this? it seems that would be part of the easier portion of the design... |
It's not really a problem of figuring out how to do it. You are correct, that's very simple from a design perspective. It was more a problem of deciding how many different SKU's we wanted to have with an optic that we weren't sure what the response would be like. We decided on two SKU's to start and knew that hunters using this on a shot gun would want a low mount, then we had to decide between going absolute or lower 3rd co-witness for the tactical market. Fortunately, the response seems to be very positive, so that makes the decision to add additional SKU's pretty easy. We'll probably be adding an absolute co-witness mount not long after these are released. Thanks for the input!  |
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why 3 skus? is it because some of the "lo-pro" uppers? or is that rra buis mount? since this sounds like just a mount isssue, will the "ar15" version be a absolute co-witness w/ regular buis dimensions or is there enough adjustment built in so it will be ok as it currently is? also, again since it may be just a mount issue, will there be a delay for those particular units that have the different mount or can we buy the other mount later? definiately looking forward to this optic. i currently have a reflex and love it, and then just put on a set of irons and man, the reflex/holographic sight is for me as i slowly creep up in age, the eyes don't like the irons as much as they use to again, thanks for the response and i think you have what appears to be an exceptional product at a price that will hopefully not make in too much demand thus to bring in gouging from the retailers.. |
Yes, this is simply a mount issue. The "AR-15" version has a mount that puts the irons in the lower 1/3 of the FOV on a flat top upper. However, we could easily add a second "AR-15" version with an absolute co-witness and I think we probably will not too long after we release these. At this point I'm not exactly sure how will will work out the marketing with the mounts and if they will be available separately later or not. That is something I will have to discuss. I hope that answers your question. Otherwise just let me know. Thanks! |
again, thanks for taking the time to answer the questions and comments. if this type of service is any indication of the service if there is an issue w/ your optic i would say you guys are going to sell a ton of these. imho, i would rather you guys make/sell the additional mount so arms or somebody else doesn't try to rape us on a seperate true co-witness mount. thanks again :) |
No problem bob. Thanks for the feedback. I will definitely keep it in mind as we move forward with this project. 
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+1 That would kinda kill the point of this optic if we had to go drop another $100-175 for a co-witness mount. Just as a note to Vortex: I firmly believe that having an absolute co-witness mount will dramatically increase sale of this new optic. I for one am very excited to see what its all about but am boarder line on purchasing because of the 1/3 mount. If you offered a mount with absolute co-witness then I would be all over this thing. Can't wait to hear more about it. -Derek |
I'm definitely bringing this up at our next marketing meeting. I'll let you guys know what happens. Thanks! |
Nice build! 
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I just preordered one from SWFA today. Just as an FYI you preorder with a CC but they do not bill it until they have and ship it. They will email when it comes in. They said that they have had a lot of calls on them but still have enough ordered to cover all preorders. Hope that helps, if anybody was wondering... |
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vortexsam, i read in another thread that they will be available aug or early sept and that is cool as i am sure all the bugs will be worked out. by that time will the true co-witness be available too? the mount looks easy enough to modify in solidworks for the difference in height and i would really like a true co-witness as i will only be running this on a ar (either 45acp or 5.56) w/ a buis, or at the very least, could you verify w/ us that you do intend to make a true co-witness mount for a reasonable cost to us? as i stated earlier, i just don't want to buy this, then have to buy a different brand true co-witness mount, knowing the aftermarket portion would probably be ~$100 for the mount, thus nullifying the savings on the actual optic. |
Bob, a true co-witness mount probably won't be available by then, but it is something that I am actively working on now. Hopefully it won't be too long after the first two versions are out, but I don't really have enough information at this time to give you an accurate estimate. I understand about not wanting to buy an expensive after market mount, so I'll do my best to get something out ASAP!
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Pic of it on an Ultimak rail on an AK FTW!!! CXS |
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"Be polite, be courteous, but have a plan on how to kill everyone you meet."
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Sorry, I don't have that setup, or I'd take a pic for you. If anyone wants to come by the shop with that setup I'll be glad to let them play with the prototype while I snap some pics of it though! 
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Yes, on release there will be two versions. The "Hunter" version will have a low mount that puts the center of the optic 0.8125inches above the top of the rail. The "AR-15" version will have a high mount that puts the optic 1.5625inches above the top of the rail (lower 1/3 co-witness). Later, we will be coming out with a version that is a medium height for absolute co-witness. |
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Sam, instead of worrying about several different mounts for the StrikeFire, why not just drop the price a few bucks and let us use whatever mount we want. The StrikeFire uses a standard 30mm tube, and there's certainly no shortage of 30mm mounts. I'll be using an Aimpoint QRP mount for my StrikeFire, and the supplied mount is just something else to drop in the spare parts box. Just a thought. 
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then the mount will be nearly the cost of the optic, or even higher....kind of defeats the purpose of a nicely priced optic if i need to double it for a mount...not everybody has extra mounts laying around |
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looks like it, just w/ that middle hole. that is not a bad deal, when i looked quickly i only found ~$100 mounts, but if they dropped the price of the optic to ~$100-$110 that would be excellent, but i am sure they are making a couple bucks on the mount to, so wonder if they would offer a mount free version and we could just pick up the burris for $30??? imho a true co-witness is needed for this particular market, not sure what % that is of the strikefire desired group but i would guess pretty high |
| Just ordered an AK and was wondering if anyone had plans on putting this set up on a AK. This will be my first rifle so don't know if this would be a good buy for this particular rifle (people saying that there inaccurate and all) but if i do decide to get a red dot this will be it, price seems to good to be true, don't know if i should wait for reviews or get the pre-order. let me know what you guys think i should do. and also what would the website be at where i could place an order. |
This might be the wrong place to discuss this but I'll do my best. As far as AKs go if you're going to put any optics on it, a red dot or a holosight is probably the way to go. As far as red dots go this seems to be the best value out there. The AK isn't a precision instrument but it is combat accurate; the stories of its inaccuracy are greatly exaggerated. |
| I am giddy with antisipation for this strikefire to come out... I got a true heat test for ya, sent a demo to me in Phoenix, Arizona. I lock it in my car then take it the range and let you know how it peforms.. Its only 110 out side right now.. Its kinda cool today.. |
It is almost July Sam  ....My plan is to buy 1 on initial delivery then a few more when we know things are working/bugs are worked out.Let me know. Brandon |
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We have begun production now, so the release date is easier to estimate. Unfortunately it's looking like end of August now. Sorry for the delay, but our testing took a little longer. Hang in there a little bit more!
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ETA Update for StrikeFire: Late August/ early September 2008
I've had some guys asking about using it with an Ultimak rail. If you go that route, you're probably going to need the low mount ("hunting" version). I may have a guy with that setup coming in sometime to test the co-witness out. I'll let you know if I hear anything. |
ETA Update for StrikeFire: Late August/ early September 2008
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Well personally i just take more confidence in the sight out of the fact that there was so much testing performed on it before going into production. Too often nowadays companies push products into the market before they are properly tested and you end up just getting a unit that needs to be sent back time after time, using the customer as your quality assurance department... I applaud you Vortex for your consumer-mindedness. |
  Congratulations Sam!
So who should I preorder from to get one from your first shipment? Who is getting the most? 
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Proud Member of "Ranstad's Militia," The Fantastic Bastards
Thanks! I think that SWFA is a good bet and they are a site sponsor, so you might want to go that route. The sales guys tell me they have plenty on backorder too. |
ETA Update for StrikeFire: Late August/ early September 2008
tagged since this is the exact setup I'm thinking of purchasing it for.. |
كافر
usually a render is going to look just like the finished product. i have done some 3d modeling then sent it to be cnc milled. the product i received was nearly identical to my render - the only difference was that i made a portion too small for an actuall endmill to get into, had i mad the model knowing that limitation (think of the back of a 3, i made the middle back come to a point, the endmill used was very small but made a very small radius), it would have been 100% accurate, in all honesty, if i do a high quality render on a white background, then take a pic of the item i had made on a white background, print them out on a regular printer you wold be hard pressed to tell the difference between the 2. the software and machining processes are that good, i was incredibly impressed. i am sure it will look just like the first pic. |
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Sorry guys, I haven't had time to take any pictures of the final production model, but it is pretty close to the Solidworks render. If my schedule clears up sometime soon I'll try to post some up, but I've been pretty busy developing some new and exciting products... 9Divdoc, I'll talk to my brother about getting his wife some roller skates!
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ETA Update for StrikeFire: Late August/ early September 2008
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VortexSam, Are there plans for a 3x or 4x magnifier in the future? Can we get some pics as seen through the magnifier? Also, if you need someone to strap this bad boy to the rail of Desert Eagle "Point Five Oh" I'm here for ya. I'll get it tested with some 300gr loads and send what's left of it back to you same-day.  Anyways, as soon as these are ready to ship... I AM buying one. I'm just not tooo keen on the preorder idea. |
A 3x or 4x magnifier is something that we are considering. Sorry, I don't have any pictures through the magnifier at this time. I'll see what I can do about getting some posted up. Glad you're going to buy one. Still looking like end of August, so just hang in there!
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ETA Update for StrikeFire: Late August/ early September 2008
All of my latest prototypes are currently out in reps hands to show dealers, however I was able to snap a pic before I sent them out. Here is a preview for you! 
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ETA Update for StrikeFire: Late August/ early September 2008
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