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Review: Vortex SPARC red dot sight
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Thanks for the review, always wanted to buy it, but the cr2354 battery is non-exsistant where I live.
It does use the micro bases, but I believe it sits alittle taller then the aimpoint and has a 6'oclock emitter. I remember reading somewhere it will not co-witness with the tall mounts, but is ok with the absolute co-witness height mounts.
It does use the micro bases, but I believe it sits alittle taller then the aimpoint and has a 6'oclock emitter. I remember reading somewhere it will not co-witness with the tall mounts, but is ok with the absolute co-witness height mounts.
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4,651 Posts
I was just about to edit my post to ask that very question. I'm not stateside so I'm wondering about availability and more importantly what kind of battery life one should expect in that optic. I may have missed it as well, but was there an auto shut-off feature?
I'm not a fan of absolute co-witness and prefer the lower 1/3. That's a bummer.
I'm not a fan of absolute co-witness and prefer the lower 1/3. That's a bummer.
Great review as always. You present your reviews in a clear and concise manner and you speak very well.
Yes, there is an auto shut-off. For the price, I'm giving it a shot. I've got aimpoints and eotechs and while I think they are excellent products, I'm hoping to find a less expensive alternative that does what I need a red dot to do, for the activities I do without breaking the bank.
Personally, I don't need a mil-spec optic as long as the site is durable and holds zero. If I find myself in a real combat situation where I need everything my Aimpoint or Eotech is capable of withstanding, the world is doomed and all hell must have broken loose.
Yes, there is an auto shut-off. For the price, I'm giving it a shot. I've got aimpoints and eotechs and while I think they are excellent products, I'm hoping to find a less expensive alternative that does what I need a red dot to do, for the activities I do without breaking the bank.
Personally, I don't need a mil-spec optic as long as the site is durable and holds zero. If I find myself in a real combat situation where I need everything my Aimpoint or Eotech is capable of withstanding, the world is doomed and all hell must have broken loose.
I've had my SPARC for awhile now. Its been very good. I have a couple minor complaints; 1) sometimes when its off and I'm using the iron sights looking through the optic and firing the SPARC will come on by itself. 2) The on/off switch is sensitive to being bumped and turning on. This is not a problem with it turning off, just on.
Oh and the rubber thingys that holds the front and rear covers tore...
Other than that its been a good red-dot!
Oh and the rubber thingys that holds the front and rear covers tore...
Other than that its been a good red-dot!
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4,651 Posts
I've heard a rumor that the SPARC is made in China. Can anyone confirm this? I like the idea of the SPRAC, but I want to make sure I'm not buying something that isn't robust enough.
I like the Aimpoint T1/H1's, but don't like that they are 4moa dots, and that weird "Space Invader" thing that pops up in the right light conditions.
What a picky bitch.
I like the Aimpoint T1/H1's, but don't like that they are 4moa dots, and that weird "Space Invader" thing that pops up in the right light conditions.
What a picky bitch.
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The SPARC is made in China. Vortex does have a limited, (what ever that means) lifetime warranty. I have heard nothing but good things about Vortex's customer service. My only complaint with the SPARC is the weird battery it uses, (CR2354) and not the quasi standard CR2032.
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+1 on the SPARC. It is small, lightweight, inexpensive and very capable. I have beat mine to hell and back and it is still kicking
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2,061 Posts
| Construction Features | |
| One-Piece Tube | Maximizes strength and waterproofness. Compact and lightweight. |
| Waterproof | Optics are sealed with O-rings to prevent moisture, dust, and debris from getting inside the scope. |
| Fogproof | Nitrogen purged to inhibit internal fogging. |
| Shockproof | High recoil rating. Tested with .375 H&H Magnum for 1000 rounds. |
| Parallax Free | Allows for rapid shooting with both eyes open, without concern for parallax shooting error. Parallax free beyond 50 yards; less than one-inch error closer than 50 yards. |
| Operating Temperature | Rated from -40 degrees to +140 degrees Fahrenheit. |
| Convenience Features | |
| Unlimited Eye Relief | Non-critical eye relief for rapid target aquisition. |
| Adjustable Dot Intensity | Provides ten variable illumination settings to increase or decrease dot brightness according to viewing conditions. |
| Night Vision Mode | Sets the brightness to the lowest possible level—an illumination level that generally is not seen without use of a night vision device. |
| 2x Magnifier | Screw-in doubler provides extra magnification for longer distance shooting. |
| Risers and Shims | Combine in various ways to mount the SPARC at four different heights. |
| Battery Life | 6-hour auto-shutdown feature maximizes battery life. Typical battery life in normal mode of operation: 120 hours (maximum brightness), 3400 hours (minimum brightness). Typical battery life in night vision mode: 4200 hours (maximum brightness), 4600 hou |
I recently purchased a Vortex SPARC red dot sight from Rainier Arms. It was to go on my ACR but I have decided that my daughter's Bushmaster M4 would be a better place for it. The SPARC co-witnessed with the stock M4 front sight and the rear Gen 1 MBUS, off my ACR, that now sits on the Bushmaster. It seems like a good sight and it works will for the cost. The Vortex unconditional lifetime warranty was a big selling point for me. This sight is hard to beat for $189.
SamM
SamM
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218 Posts
I messed with one of these two years ago. My experience with the SPARC wasn't too good. I found the dot to be more of a blob. Also, the illumination adjustments on mine didn't have very distinct "steps" between settings. By this I mean some of the lower and higher settings didn't seem to make much difference in the brightness of the dot. Vortex can say the SPARC has "x" amount of illumination adjustment but those adjustments mean nothing if they're just steps on a dial.
My biggest problem with the optic was that the rubber control module on the left side of the optic is just glued in place with rubber cement. Mine fell off after only a short amount of use and exposed the internal wires, etc.
Vortex replaced my defective optic for free and I never even opened the box on the replacement. Sold it on eBay and was glad to be rid of it.
Chinese optics are Chinese optics. If you're going to go cheap, go cheap and get a $79 Aimpoint clone from Sig or Primary Arms.
My biggest problem with the optic was that the rubber control module on the left side of the optic is just glued in place with rubber cement. Mine fell off after only a short amount of use and exposed the internal wires, etc.
Vortex replaced my defective optic for free and I never even opened the box on the replacement. Sold it on eBay and was glad to be rid of it.
Chinese optics are Chinese optics. If you're going to go cheap, go cheap and get a $79 Aimpoint clone from Sig or Primary Arms.
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You can always count on one of these idiots, you know, ones who make money off overpriced American optics, to chime in on a thread and try to ruin it for everyone. IGNORE these fear mongers, the Vortex sparc is STILL going strong after years of abuse and his argument is invalid yet again. Go back to arfcom where you gear snobs can make people jump through hoops and pay 1200.00 bucks per red dot, all I know is Vortex works 100% all the time.
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