New Vortex Defender-XL, 2 MOA red dot sight
Vortex Optics introduces a new variant of their Defender-XL micro red dot sight, now with a thinner 2 MOA dot for improved long-range accuracy
Vortex Optics Defender-XL micro red dot sight, now with 2 MOA dot
A new variant of the Vortex Optics Defender-XL micro red dot sight – winner of the prestigious and coveted Guns & Ammo's 2024 Optics of the Year award – has been announced on the US market on March 27, 2025; the pre-existing 5 MOA and 8 MOA variants, first launched back in the early Summer of 2024, are now joined by a 2 MOA version.
While the large window on the Defender-XL micro red dot sight appeals to most competitive shooters – allowing them greater peripheral vision and faster target transitions – many shooters prefer a smaller dot that cover less of the target, allowing for more precision at longer ranges where larger dots would otherwise obscure more of a target.
In competition shooting or defensive, duty, and tactical applications where longer-range shots may need to be taken, a smaller dot can make a big difference.
Vortex Optics Defender-XL 2 MOA micro red dot sight – right side
Vortex Optics Defender-XL 2 MOA micro red dot sight – left side
The Vortex Optics Defender-XL micro red dot sight is built around a single-piece 7075-T6 lightweight aluminum alloy body, hard-anodized in glare-proof matte black and featuring a polymer ShockShield insert to absorb recoil energy and shocks from bumps or falls and thus improve durability and extend service life.
The single hard-coated aspherical lens is inserted in a Fast-rack window, featuring an aggressive face texturing that allows slide racking off any surface for one-handed shooting or emergency stoppage clearing without scratching the lens.
The Defender-XL micro red dot sight is powered by a single CR2032 battery, top mounted for easy change without requiring re-zero. Two rubberized buttons, one on each side, allow manual activation and manual brightness adjustment to ten different levels, the weakest of which are compatible with night vision devices.
The Vortex Optics Defender-XL micro red dot sight also features a 10-minutes auto-shutoff function, allowing a single CR2032 battery to offer up to 20,000 hours of life.
Essentially parallax-free and offering unlimited eye relief, the Vortex Optics Defender-XL features two recessed 1-MOA-per-click installed at the top rear and right rear of the single-piece alloy body of the micro red dot sight, allowing the center dot to be adjusted on a 120-MOA range in elevation and 115-MOA range in windage.
Standing at 5,16 cm / 2.03" in overall length and weighing in at approximately 55 grams (1.93 oz.) without a battery, the Vortex Optics Defender-XL micro red dot sight is both Picatinny-compatible and attachable on all Leupold DeltaPoint Pro footprint interfaces; it is O-ring sealed against water, dust, and other external elements, and can withstand use at a wide range of extremely high or extremely low temperatures.
The Vortex Defender-XL micro red dot sight is available on the US market at a suggested retail price of $599.99; for further information, visit the official website or consult the authorized Vortex Optics distributor for your Country for local availability and pricing outside of the United States.