For a $130 optic, I wasn’t expecting much from the STNGR Axiom II.
But after hand-testing all of its features, throwing it on concrete and shooting over 100 rounds through it, the AXIOM II has earned my respect.
In this STNGR Axiom II review, I’ll explain why.
Let’s get started!
| Features | STNGR Axiom II Red Dot |
|---|---|
| Brand | STNGR USA |
| Material | 6061-T6 Anodized Aluminum |
| Battery life | 50,000 hours (at setting 6) |
| Brightness Settings | 11 settings (9 Daylight / 2 Night Vision compatible) |
| Reticle Type | Bright Red, 2 MOA, 1x Magnification |
| Illuminated? | Yes |
| Weight | 3.80 ounces |
| Dimensions | 2.5 in x 1.7 in x 2.0 in |
| Objective Lens Diameter | 20mm |
Here’s my STNGR Axiom II Review
The Axiom II is a simple red dot sight that excels in closer ranges (0 – 50 yards). It’s light, durable, and accurate. Here’s how it looks:
As you’ve noticed, it has a huge illumination knob, an aluminum housing, and a sleek design. I’ll cover each feature and more in-depth below. But before we get into the review, I’d like to disclose that this red dot was sent to me for review by STNGR USA.
The manufacturer reached out to me to review it. I accepted since the optic seemed promising. I have no affiliations with them, and I made it very clear to them that this is a bias-free review.
So in this STNGR Axiom II review, I’ll reveal everything about this optic: the good, the bad, and whether it’s worth your money.
Let’s check it out.
Glass Clarity and Reticle
The Axiom II’s glass clarity is perfectly acceptable.
By that I mean it’s up to par with many of its competitors and even beats some of them out. Mine came perfectly clean and without any scratches whatsoever. The glass itself is clear and without loss of detail when looking through it.
There is a little bit of tint to it, but nothing detrimental to the overall product.
The reticle is a simple dot.
There aren’t any adjustments available besides 11 brightness settings.
The brightness can get super low too, almost imperceptible. However, at its brightest setting, it’s not that bright.
I was able to see through its brightest setting just fine even in my house at night. During the day the sun can get super intense and blow out the reticle entirely. For the most part, I was able to see the dot fine, but if you have the sun at your 12 o’clock, your dot might get washed out.
Target acquisition felt pretty easy to me. I was able to move from target to target smoothly with both of my eyes open.
The low-ready transition to shooting was easy as well.
Battery
This optic was advertised to have a 50,000-hour battery life (using CR2032), though that’s rather difficult to verify since I’ve only used this optic for about a week.
For what it’s worth though, I’ve left it on the entire time I’ve had it and it’s still going strong. I’ll be updating this review next year with its battery life progress.
Eye Box and Sight Picture
The eye box and sight picture is similar to most other red dots. I had a Vortex Sparc AR on-hand to compare it to.
The eye box (or should I say eye circle?) is a little small, but it’s not too hard to work with. Plus, its emitter is less obtrusive than the Vortex Sparc’s which makes the Axiom II feel like it had a wider sight picture by comparison.
Accuracy
The Axiom II had a great outing when it comes to accuracy.
From a seated position at 25 yards, I was hitting sub-inch groups with this optic. Standing was a different story. My groups were 3+ inches, but hey, I was having an off day. It happens to the best of us.
The next day was consistently accurate throughout my range time and stayed accurate after some of my rigorous tests (more on that later).
The Axiom II keeps up with optics way outside of its price range, at least after being freshly zeroed and used right out of the box.
At the present moment, it is super solid, but the price leaves its longevity in question. Most low-mid price range optics don’t show their issues right away. Down the line, you start to see where companies cut corners in weird places like O-rings and protection against rust.
Is that the case with the Axiom II? I’m not sure — I’ve only used it for about 1-2 weeks so far. I’ll update this review next year with my findings 🙂
Durability
Truth be told: I was expecting the Axiom II to really drop the ball when it came to ruggedness, but I came away surprised and a little bit impressed.
I did three tests. All three of these tests were performed with the optic mounted onto a cleared and empty AR-15.
Speaking of which, I wrote an ultimate guide on the Best AR-15 Optics and Scopes.
The first was a shoulder-height drop onto hard-packed dirt and rocks. This optic withstood the drop test without a problem besides some scratches.
The second was a similar test, except dropped onto concrete. The results were very much the same with all of the damage being cosmetic.
The third was me slamming the top of the optic on a wooden bench. You guessed it, identical results on this test too.
After that, I tested to see if it held zero. A ton of optics in this price range will lose zero if the one hits them wrong. It appears that the STNGR Axiom II was the exception. There were no readjustments required. Any potential changes in zero were imperceptible. This is the aspect of the Axiom II that impressed me the most. Credit where credit is due.
Additionally, I removed the Axiom II from my rifle, tossed it around a bit, and reattached it to my AR-15 to test if it returns to zero. It does. This means you can move it from rifle to rifle as long as they meet the same specifications.
This optic was also submerged in 2 feet of water and continued to work while underwater. The nitrogen-purged inner chamber seems to be doing its job. No liquid seeped inside and the glass didn’t fog up.
I do need to mention that the finish is pretty weak though. It’s already pretty scratched up. I put a scrape on it within a half-hour of opening it. It’s a small issue, but it’s one of those things that signals its price.
It’s also made in China which may or may not be a bad thing. So far, the optic is holding up fine. Again, I’ll update this review next year with my long-term findings.
Mounting
In the box (which is surprisingly nice by the way) you’ll find your new optic and two mounting options.
I’d say that is pretty sweet given the already low price. Included is a low-mount for shotguns and AKs.
I did try to mount this to my AR-15 but I couldn’t get a deep enough cheek weld to make it work. That’s not a problem though because they also included a T1/2 quick detach mount.
With a little tightening, it was perfect without any give or wiggle to speak of.
Price
If you look at this optic from a strictly monetary point of view, it’s pretty awesome.
- 50,000 HOUR BATTERY LIFE - Over 5 years of continuous-on battery life at brightness setting 6
- IPX7 WATERPROOF - IPX7 waterproof & fogproof (Nitrogen purged and sealed by 5 O-rings)
- 2 x T1/T2 COMPATIBLE MOUNTS - Includes both a Quick Detach (QD) Lower 1/3 co-witness mount & Low height mount
Under $200 is a steal for quality optics. That same price that makes you want to buy it is the same thing that makes me hesitant. I’ve toyed with hundreds of cheaper parts and they always fail more quickly than their pricier counterparts.
Still, the Axiom II has had some promising performance and $150 is really hard to beat.
My Bottom Line
Normally, I’d pass on budget optics (since I can afford more expensive optics), but the Axiom II is an exception.
If you are on a budget, I’d recommend giving the STNGR Axiom II red dot sight a try. It’s definitely worth the money.
- 50,000 HOUR BATTERY LIFE - Over 5 years of continuous-on battery life at brightness setting 6
- IPX7 WATERPROOF - IPX7 waterproof & fogproof (Nitrogen purged and sealed by 5 O-rings)
- 2 x T1/T2 COMPATIBLE MOUNTS - Includes both a Quick Detach (QD) Lower 1/3 co-witness mount & Low height mount
At the end of the day, it’s accurate, reliable, easy to use, and easy to aim. I can’t say how it’s going to hold up over the years, but at least you get a lifetime warranty.
Disclosure
As always, it’s your right to know of any biases that may have affected this review.
I never accept paid reviews, product placements, or manufacturer ‘contributions’. These contributions make the review biased.
STNGR Industries reached out to me to review this product. I made it very clear to them that that I don’t promise positive reviews. They agreed, so they sent me a free Axiom II to test. I believe in telling all: the good, the bad, and the ugly with each product so that you can make a better-informed decision.
I do it this way for myself and anyone that stumbles across my blog. Now that’s out of the way, I’d like to hear from you:
Have you tried out the STNGR Axiom II? Or perhaps you’re planning on buying one? Either way, let me know in the comments down below.
Also, if you’re on the market for a long range scope, check out my Vortex Strike Eagle 4-24×50 optic review.