Vortex RZR 2001

Vortex Optics has been around in the UK for a good few years but has never really been given the push they deserve. Up until now that is, as Riflecraft Ltd having picked them up and to say they are running with them would be an understatement. I was sent three and thought I’d kick off with their Razor Red Dot sight.

This compact Reflex-type unit seems to have learned from similar designs from the past and has all the bases covered. Small, light and made of aluminium alloy at 1.8” and 1.4oz (less base) as standard there’s a removable, low Picatinny base, mounting shim 2 x Allan keys and a plastic cover. Power comes from a single CR 2032 3-volt battery.

SOPHISTICATED

The Razor offers a number of practical features. ON/OFF and illumination are controlled by two, rubber-covered buttons at the rear of the lens (left minus, right plus). Press either to turn ON and the minus for three seconds to turn off. Adjusters are positioned rear top (elevation) and left (windage) and set by the small Allan key. There’s a lock at the rear which needs undoing first. Values are 1 MOA @ 100-yards with a generous 170 (elevation) and 140 MOA (windage). Dot size is 3 MOA, which I found ideal, 6 MOA is also available.

What I really liked was the battery tray, which slides out to the right! On some of these micro-types the whole unit has to be unscrewed from the base to access the battery! In use the Razor showed a bright and clear image, with a well shaped dot that did not flare out (look like a red spider) at high illumination. At 3 MOA it can be easily used out to 100-yards + and lights up well even against a blue sky. Run time is quoted as a year; impressive, but the Razor has an automatic shutdown after 6 hours to increase life. Just press the button to turn it back on!

ON THE SIDE

The Razor will be equally at home on a 22 rimfire, centrefire or even shotgun for whatever is required of it!  For the more Tactical Tommy’s, Vortex also offers their RT45 Offset Mount. Consisting of a horizontal base with a 45° mounting plate it’s designed to clamp onto any Picatinny-type rail, perhaps best typified by an AR15’s 4-way, free-float forend.

All you do is remove the integral low mount and bolt the Razor directly to the 45° plate on the RT45. The idea is to have a red dot in conjunction with conventional optics. So when you get up close and personal you can roll the rifle over and go to the dot for fast and easy target acquisition.

Overall an impressive and practical red dot sight, probably the best of the compact Reflex designs I have seen so far. Don’t forget Vortex’s VIP (Very Important Promise) warranty, they will repair or replace your Vortex product in the event it becomes damaged or defective—at no charge to you. It doesn’t matter how it happened, whose fault it was, or where you purchased it.