What’s the difference between the Vortex Razor and Trijicon RMR?
I wanted to find out, so I bought both red dot sights and hand-tested everything:
- Reticle
- Durability
- Battery life
- Field of view
- And so much more
By the end of this Vortex Razor vs Trijicon RMR comparison review, you’ll know which red dot is best for you.
Let’s get started!
Quick Comparison Table
| Features | Vortex Razor | Trijicon RMR |
|---|---|---|
| MOA | 6 | 3.25 |
| Magnification | 1x | 1x |
| Eye relief | 3.7 in | 2.4 in |
| Reticle type | Red Dot | Red Dot |
| Illuminated? | Yes | Yes |
| Weight | 0.35 lbs | 1.0 oz |
| Length | 4.2 in. | 5 in. |
Vortex Razor vs Trijicon RMR Review
I am writing a review about Vortex Razor vs Trijicon RMR Red Dot comparison. Most people ask me which one is the best and I tell them that it all depends on what they want. So if you are ready to find out which red dot is best for you, read on!
Glass Clarity & Reticle
The Vortex Razor like its cousin, the Vortex Strikefire II, has no black ring around the dot and it is much clearer.
The Trijicon’s dot is very clear and crisp, but the black ring around the dot sucks.
This causes it to be less clear than the Razor. However, it has better glass clarity than the Razor since the Razor is more of a single dot sight compared to the Trijicon RMR.
Battery Life
The Vortex Razor has amazing battery life, like the Vortex Venom and Viper.
It has a 5 year life span on one battery and is very light compared to the RMR’s 2-3 year life span on one battery and great for those that want a lightweight red dot! The Trijicon RMR: 10 year life span on one battery. Trijicon RMR uses 3 AA batteries and the Vortex uses 1 lithium ion battery which is more powerful.
The Vortex battery lasts for 250 hours compared to Trijicon’s 100 hours.
Eye Relief & Eye Box
The Razor has 9.25 inches of eye relief & the RMR has 3.8 inches of eye relief.
Both have unlimited eye box so no need for any kind of measurements to see the sight with both eyes open.
If you want to increase magnification, I highly recommend getting a red dot magnifier.
Durability & Weight
My Vortex Razor has been dropped from various heights from different distances onto concrete and it still works perfectly fine.
I have taken it to many places. It’s been to the deserts, the mountains and all over my bushcrafting area. It still works fine and the only damage is a little scratch on the rubber.
My Trijicon RMR has been dropped from over 5 foot high and into concrete flooring with no protection. I also took it with me on an Airsoft Fight and got shot in the optic and I still use it.
I would suggest that you go with Vortex Razor if you want a durable optic compared to Trijicon RMR.
However, Trijicon RMR is better for indoor use with less dust or fog since there aren’t any external protection/lenses like with Vortex Razor.
The Vortex Razor is one of the lightest red dot sights you can get for your rifle. It weighs less than 1.5 ounces. The Trijicon RMR weighs 19 ounces. This is an increase of 13% in weight over the Razor!
Windage, Elevation & Brightness Knob
The windage and elevation for Vortex Razor is fine although it does not have the 0-50 MOA click, but it does have MOA scale so you can still dial in your red dot very accurately.
The windage and elevation on the Trijicon RMR is amazing and it is one of the best walther pps m2 sights available. You can use those to dial in your red dot on an absolute point of impact!
The brightness for the Vortex Razor is one click adjustment whereas you need to hold down the button for 4 seconds to turn off/on with Trijicon RMR.
I prefer the one click because I’m used to it, but I prefer holding down the button although you can switch between 1 or 4 second time periods with Trijicon RMR.
Mounting
Both mounts are very easy to mount on your rail.
The Vortex Razor comes with an adapter which screws on the mount and it fits my rifle perfectly.
However, when you use the bracket with Trijicon RMR it is not held in place on my rail.
Put the plating of the optic in between where your rail mounts in your gun and you can see how it is held onto your rifle.
Price
If we are talking about the price range between the Vortex Razor and Trijicon RMR, the Vortex Razor is $229
- The Razor red dot is a high-end reflex sight built for top-tier performance and incredible versatility. Fast and accurate, clear, compact, durable and dependable—this red dot is a sight worthy of...
and the Trijicon RMR is a whopping $699!
- The bigger dot size gives the user the ability to locate the dot quickly which is ideal for close quarter engagements, or is a great solution for those who have vision problems.
- If a manual mode has been chosen, the RMR will remain in manual mode for 16.5 hours following the last push of a button
If you’re looking for budget friendly alternatives, then check out the Burris Fastfire or the Holosun HS510C.
Vortex Razor vs Trijicon RMR: Which Red Dot is Better?
While the Trijicon RMR is a formidable red dot for pistols, I choose the Vortex Razor.
- The Razor red dot is a high-end reflex sight built for top-tier performance and incredible versatility. Fast and accurate, clear, compact, durable and dependable—this red dot is a sight worthy of...
It is one of the best reflex sights out now.
Another good alternative would be the EXPS2.
There may be more expensive optics out there, but I am 100% sure that this will be the last optic you ever buy. It’ll last multiple wars and a long time of daily use. And a little advice for those of you who want a red dot on their rifle:
Don’t put a cheap scope on it – get a red dot instead. They are much better for close range shooting and CQB.
Finally, if you want to learn more on the correct positioning of red dots, check out this video: