I picked up the Vortex Spitfire 3x a while ago to see how it compared to other red dot sights.
I’ve put this sight through its paces, and at this point, I’ve tested everything including:
- Durability
- Battery life
- 5 different brightness settings
- Red/Green illumination settings
- Every other feature that I could find
Now, I’m here to tell you everything that you ever wanted to know about this optic, and soon you’ll know if the Vortex Spitfire 3x is for you.
Keep reading and I’ll tell you all about it!
| Features | Vortex Spitfire 3x |
|---|---|
| Brand | Vortex |
| Color | Black |
| Magnification Range | 3x |
| Reticle Type | Etched Crosshair |
| Reticle Illumination | Red or Green |
| Weight | 15.4 oz |
| Length | 5.5 inches |
| Objective Lens Diameter | 32 mm |
Here’s my Vortex Spitfire 3x Review
The Vortex Spitfire 3x prism scope is a top-tier optic that you can get without paying the top-tier price.
It’s a little on the heftier side at nearly a pound, but that weight works well on my AR-15.
Right away I could tell that this was a solid, durable, and ultra tough optic with an EBR-556b MOA reticle etched directly onto the scope, and I’m happy to say that I wasn’t disappointed in the quality.
The Vortex Spitfire 3x prism scope has a lot of great features that I’m excited to tell you about.
Keep reading and I’ll tell you why you’re going to love it too.
Glass Clarity & Reticle
The glass is high-quality and crystal clear on the Vortex Spitfire 3x prism scope.
One of the biggest things that I love about Vortex is that you know you’re getting serious optical quality from them.
They don’t go cheap on their glass, their reticles, or the prism-based design.
The Vortex Spitfire 3x prism scope is made of tempered glass and has a fully multi-coated lens that’s covered with an anti-reflective coating.
The coating lets insane amounts of light transmission in and the clarity of the prism scope lens just blows some other scopes out of the water.
The EBR-556b MOA reticle is an etched reticle straight onto the prism, which means that even if you run out of battery, you’ll still be able to see it.
I’m a big fan of prism scopes for that reason.
If EBR-556b MOA reticle prism scopes aren’t your thing, then I’d recommend a red dot or one of these holographic sights instead.
Continuing on, the dual ring reticle has five levels of brightness to support it as well as your choice of red or green illumination.
With the automatic brightness adjustment, I found that I was able to quickly identify my targets both indoors and outdoors regardless of what time of day it was.
That’s a big plus for a sight that touts itself as a tactical optic.
Eye Relief & Eye Box
The eye relief of the Vortex Spitfire 3x prism scope is decent at 2.8 inches.
It’s not terrible, but sometimes I find myself wishing that I had more room like with my red dot, especially when I try to put it on a rifle with heavy recoil.
Because of that, your sight picture is going to be more limited. The Spitfire 3x prism scope was difficult to shoot with both eyes open with this sight.
There are some other reflex sights out there that I recommend that have a much larger eye relief.
That said, the eye relief is pretty much the only drawback that I have to this optic.
Durability
This redesigned HD optical system is ultra-durable.
It’s got a hard anodized coating for its finish and even though I’ve dinged it against a few rocks and tree stumps, I’ve never managed to scratch the paint.
It’s made of one solid piece of aircraft-grade aluminum which makes it fairly light as well as tough.
On top of that, the Vortex Spitfire 3x prism scope is fog proof, shockproof, and waterproof.
Plus, it’s nitrogen purged and O ring sealed, so you know there’s no moisture getting in there.
I’ve left this on my AR for a while now, and after numerous hunting trips and trudging through the brush, across streams, and scrambling over rocks, I’m happy to say that it’s never budged.
It’s got a CR 2032 battery that’s specced for 250 hours on the brightest setting and up to 3,000 hours on the lowest.
I’ve had it for a while now, and I haven’t noticed any concerns with the battery.
This optic can be used in virtually any conditions and environments with ease.
While the Vortex Spitfire 3x prism scope is incredibly durable, you may be looking for something a little more recoil-resistant to go on a hunting rifle.
In that case, I still highly recommend Vortex products for their incredible quality.
I recently did a review on the Vortex Sparc 2 vs the Vortex Strikefire 2 for this exact purpose. If you’re looking for a hunting scope, go check it out.
Or, if you’re looking to steer away from Vortex Optics for a while, then my Holosun HS510C review might be up your alley, especially if you’re looking to put it on a carbine rifle.
Elevation & Windage Knobs
The Vortex Spitfire 3x prism scope has plenty of room for adjustment, up to 120 MOA both on elevation and windage.
The turrets are crisp and audibly click when I adjust them and they turn smoothly without using a ton of force.
That said, they’re still sturdy enough to resist being accidentally bumped if you’re not paying attention.
I was able to zero in my rifle in 5 shots at 100 yards, and it hasn’t budged from that consistent point of aim since.
Parallax & Magnification
The Vortex Spitfire 3x prism scope has a fixed 3x magnification setting and a 32mm objective lens with an EBR 556b MOA reticle.
I’ve found that the 3x magnification is perfect for target shooting and for hunting varmints on my land.
This enhanced battle reticle excels at closer ranges to mid-range shooting, and it allows for extremely fast target acquisition from 0-500 yards. It’s just as easy to use as a red dot in that department.
Its parallax setting is at 100 yards, which is pretty average for a rifle sight.
If you’re looking for a sight for your handgun instead of a mid-range prism scope like this, then check out my exps2 vs exps3 holosight review for some high-quality options.
Mounting & Rings
The Vortex Spitfire 3x prism scope comes with a set of adjustable Picatinny rails that allow you to offset the optic if you choose.
It’s a solid, surprisingly sturdy mount considering that it’s included in the cost.
It also comes with a pair of flip cap covers to protect both lenses from getting damaged accidentally.
They’re a nice addition to be sure, but the scratch-resistant coating on the lenses is sturdy enough on its own.
You don’t need to buy anything else to get the Spitfire 3x prism scope up and running straight out of the box.
Price
For all of its features, its exceptional durability, and simply for the incredible Vortex VIP warranty, I’d say that the Vortex Spitfire 3x prism scope is well worth the price.
- The Spitfire 3x Prism Scope excels in close to medium range shooting applications where fast target acquisition and speed is of the essence. The prism based design allows for a compact optical system...
- Fully multi-coated lenses with anti-reflective coatings offer bright views even in low light conditions. A selectable red/green illuminated reticle features five intensity levels to match the...
- The reticle is etched directly on the prism ensuring shooters have an effective point of aim at all times regardless of illumination. A fast focus eyepiece adjusts the reticle into sharp focus.
Vortex excels at offering really sharp optics at a price that won’t break the bank, although they are still a bit pricer than some others on the market.
I’m a big believer in the “you get what you pay for” mentality though.
That said if you’re looking for the same high-quality with most of the features, but a little bit of a cheaper price point, then the Vortex Strikefire 2 might be for you.
Is the Vortex Spitfire 3x Prism Scope for you?
If you’re looking for a high-quality, fixed magnification optic that’s durable and reliable, then the Vortex Spitfire 3x prism scope is for you.
To recap, some of the Spitfire 3x’s best features are:
- 3x mag
- Ultra durable
- Long battery life
- 32mm objective lens
- 5 brightness settings with illuminated reticle
- Red/Green illumination
- Etched reticle
- No internal fogging, waterproof, shockproof
- Multi-coated lens with anti-reflective coating
Its quality is hard to beat for the price, especially when you consider the Vortex VIP warranty.
That warranty is for the life of the optic, it’s completely transferable if you ever decide to give it away, and it covers every single thing on the optic with no questions asked.
The Vortex Spitfire 3x prism scope is a great close to mid-range sight that’s a great choice for tactical situations, rapid target acquisition, and hunting alike.
- The Spitfire 3x Prism Scope excels in close to medium range shooting applications where fast target acquisition and speed is of the essence. The prism based design allows for a compact optical system...
- Fully multi-coated lenses with anti-reflective coatings offer bright views even in low light conditions. A selectable red/green illuminated reticle features five intensity levels to match the...
- The reticle is etched directly on the prism ensuring shooters have an effective point of aim at all times regardless of illumination. A fast focus eyepiece adjusts the reticle into sharp focus.
Now It’s Your Turn
I hope you enjoyed my Vortex Spitfire 3x review.
Now I want to turn it over to you:
What do you think about the Vortex Spitfire 3x prism scope? Or perhaps you already bought it and would like to share your thoughts.
Either way, let me know by leaving a quick comment down below.
FAQ:
CR 2032 battery
EBR-556B MOA reticle
Prism Scopes are not compatible with VMX-3T Magnifiers.
Nearly all Vortex Optics are manufactured in China, including this one.
How do you remove the flip caps?