Vortex Optics Defender-CCW Micro Red Dot Sight, 3 MOA Dot Reticle, Black

2025-07-16T20:00:00

It says 9500 hrs (396 days). It's more like 2000 hrs (90 days). This is NOT the 14 hr shutoff model. I'm on the 3rd battery in 6 months for very light to no use. There is no warning, you go to use it & it's dead. Battery was at 0V. This site really needs a sensor to compensate automatically and when the rubber hood is in place, it turns off completely. I suspect that the shake-awake feature is draining the battery excessively. Also, outdoor daylight brightness setting needs to be much higher than indoor daylight setting. The brightness levels are not linear, it goes from dim to too bright in one step.

Rocket_Scientist

Originally posted at

2025-07-08T20:00:00

First time using optics on a pistol frame and the defender- ccw covers all that I need a little getting use too and yes having the shake and awake feature on does seem to drain the battery quicker I have put it in three pistols so far the echelon,the equalizer and the xd mod. 3 with no issues

Dustin

Originally posted at

2025-06-29T20:00:00

The factory S&W fixed sights on the S&W Equalizer obscure the target because their POA is too low for the POI. Since no one makes an adjustable rear sight, a red dot was the best option & the best choice was a Vortex. The Defender-CCW requires no adapter plates. I currently have 3 Vortex red dots: SPARC Gen 1, Spitfire AR Prism, Defender-CCW. Had the Strikefire but did not like it, i. e. much too heavy for a red dot. The only issue with the Defender-CCW is the windage & elevation adjustment "clicks" are not tactile or audible & the supplied tool does not fit the slot well. The supplied battery did not last long & was probably mostly dead when installed at the factory. My replacement has lasted many months. The CR1632 was a good choice on Vortex's part. They are not expensive & the next best choice to the very common CR2032.

Rocket_Scientist

Originally posted at

2025-06-03T20:00:00

If you're looking for a quality optic at a price that won't break the bank this is the optic for you. You won't be disappointed.

Brady J.

Originally posted at

2025-05-11T20:00:00

This was my first red dot so I really have nothing to compare it to but its been a great product so far. I mounted it to my Mossberg 500 and it shoots great!! I have taken it to the range and shot the hell out of it with double 00 buck and have had no problems what so ever. I like the multiple dot brightness options and for the price the quality and durability are definitely there!!! For the price it falls into a budget red dot but the quality/fit and finish puts it into the mid to upper range.

Kirk B.

Originally posted at

2025-05-07T20:00:00

Great product, easy to use, stands up to the elements

Perry C.

Originally posted at

2025-04-30T20:00:00

After having a Sig Romeo Zero die on me in less than a year, I decided to go with a brand that I trust. I couldn't be happier with my choice. The sight window is large and clear. Mounting options are plentiful, red dot is bright and easily adjustable. I will never hesitate to buy Vortex.

Wade N.

Originally posted at

2025-04-16T20:00:00

Awesome price point. Vortex has always been a go to for me. They stand by their work and charge a fair price.

Zachary A.

Originally posted at

2025-04-14T20:00:00

Got my new CCW6MOA, with the 10minutes automatic shutoff version last week. Already shot 400 rounds with it, indoor and outdoor. I love it. Best for my Hellcat Pro. Excellent package, including a variety of screws for the different foot prints of different hand guns. Fit perfectly the Hellcat Pro RMSc foot print. Perfect and very useful Co Witnessing. Crispy clear red dot. Excellent customer service. . . thank you Mike McDowell, with whom I consulted before I have decided to purchase the Vortex. Gives an excellent fight for the Holosun. . . and for a much more reasonable price, with an unconditional lifetime warranty.

Ron W.

Originally posted at

2025-04-11T20:00:00

I've been running the Vortex Defender-CCW 6 MOA Red Dot on my EDC pistol for the past few weeks, and I have to say-Vortex knocked it out of the park with this one. Whether you're a seasoned shooter or new to red dots, this optic is built to perform. Clarity & Dot Size: The 6 MOA red dot is crisp, easy to pick up under stress, and incredibly fast for target acquisition-especially in close quarters or fast-draw scenarios. It's the ideal size for defensive shooting where speed matters most. The glass is crystal-clear with no noticeable tint, giving a clean sight picture in various lighting conditions. Durability: This thing is tough. I've put it through a couple of rough range sessions-drops, sweat, dust, even light rain-and it hasn't missed a beat. The rugged construction and smart design make it feel more like a duty-grade optic than a compact carry dot. Footprint & Fit: It has a Shield RMSc footprint, which made mounting it to my slim-profile carry pistol seamless. The low profile sits perfectly for co-witnessing with suppressor-height irons, and it doesn't snag or add bulk for concealed carry. Battery Life & Controls: Easy-to-use brightness settings with a side-access battery tray-huge plus. No need to remove the optic to swap the battery. The motion activation feature and auto-shutoff help conserve battery without sacrificing readiness. Final Thoughts: If you're looking for a red dot that's compact, reliable, and purpose-built for concealed carry, the Defender-CCW 6 MOA is the real deal. Vortex backs it with their unbeatable lifetime warranty too, so peace of mind is built-in. Fast, rugged, and ready when you need it-this optic is staying on my EDC.

Jeffrey B.

Originally posted at

2025-04-09T20:00:00

I have the defender XL and ST and just bought the CCW but realize the CCW auto shut off works but shake awake doesn't work gotta press the up or down button to bring back the dot and yes it's on the right setting but on to the good my god is that a crisp dot! Fitment is great and it's just a sharp RDS love the defender line up but would like to see once I shoot my sig with this optic maybe it will wake up that shake awake issue

Ryan B.

Originally posted at

2025-04-03T20:00:00

If you wanna save time and stress avoiding looking up footprints I highly recommend this red dot. it comes with a nice key to do your mounting and adjustments in the field, most screws (labeled) for common guns to save you time and head ache. and the design allows for one handed racking of surfaces. I have this mounted to my springfield echelon and it's a beautiful pair.

cory n.

Originally posted at

2025-04-01T20:00:00

I have one on a Glock 48 and one for a Glock19. Love the durability and site acquisition. Super clear and I don't feel like I have to baby it at all. Haven't had a hard time sighting it in at all and love that the battery is easy to access.

Easton H.

Originally posted at

2025-03-29T20:00:00

Functions perfectly; super easy to install and the design is well thought out.

Mark M.

Originally posted at

2025-03-24T20:00:00

Like the previous reviewer said, Buy it! This is a bada** optic! Couldn't perform better and definitely a rockstar in the category. We ran this little beast hard for a week and it never complained! Another Vortex masterpiece!

Daniel B.

Originally posted at

2025-03-20T20:00:00

I got a Defender CCW Micro with expectations it would be fairly good. I already had the largest version and love it but the Micro was substantially less cost so o thought quality would be less. Bot was I wrong. The Defender CCW is my main everyday carry optic now. It just plain works super well No fuzzy dot like some other brands. Great optically. Size is perfect. I love ability to rack slide with front serrations. I don't think any other brands costing hundreds of dollars more can compete with it I highly recommend it!

Mike M.

Originally posted at

2025-03-11T20:00:00

Won't work with my G43X in a pancake holster with half kydex shell. The right slide of the slide pushes into the pancake backing and adjusts the brightness to full. Unfortunately the lockout is also on the left side, so it's worthless. Only thing I can say in defense of Vortex here is that nobody else seems to offer a good solution for the 43X either.

Ian

Originally posted at

2025-03-09T20:00:00

I wanted to give it less because my defender has had problems adjusting the reticle but I own a lot of different Vortex optics and think this must be a fluke.

Reed S.

Originally posted at

2025-02-18T19:00:00

Crisp dot, robust body, simple controls, shake awake, and top load battery. It also comes with multiple different screws to facilitate mounting it to multiple different platforms. Fantastic little optic. Will be buying more.

Taylor K.

Originally posted at

2025-02-16T19:00:00

Great feature set for the price. This version doesn't have any of the issues the previous version did, such as the dot flickering under recoil and the auto-shutoff being shortened to 10 minutes.

Zachary A.

Originally posted at

2025-02-14T19:00:00

Phenomenal red dot. Very durable construction. Easy to adjust and kept its hold after 1000+ rounds. I have it mounted on a P365 AXG legion. Also fits nicely in optic cut holsters.

Richard M.

Originally posted at

2025-02-13T19:00:00

I own a number of Vortex scopes and binoculars. This sight is built tough and the glass makes it easy to pick up the red dot. Of course it is backed with the Vortex lifetime warranty but I have no concerns. I have this on my 43X and it is exactly what I was looking for at the right price. The only thing I would change is the sight hangs off the slide a tick and it would be great if they could narrow it a bit.

Shawn M.

Originally posted at

2025-02-09T19:00:00

Great fit & finish! Works like a charm on my Sig P365, looks like it was made for it. Great battery life. Crisp, clear dot. Easy to zero. 10/10!

Steve G.

Originally posted at

2025-02-03T19:00:00

The pros outweigh the cons by far, but there are still a few cons to consider. Starting with the pros, it is rugged and durable; standing up to the test of many drills and around 1200 rounds so far and still maintains the original zero. The battery life is very good, I like the 14 shutdown and shake awake function. The placement of the battery shows outstanding foresight on the part of Vortex. Not having to remove the optic to replace the battery and re-zero is a huge point for me. The optic window is large and the dot is crisp enough for me to get the job done. I'm a fan of the fast rack texturing, and find that it grabs my belt, pockets, or nearby surfaces, very well for racking in close quarters or one armed scenarios. Finally for the pros, it came with plenty of hardware for mounting on multiple weapon systems, so I didn't have to dig deeper in my pockets for screws and mounts after this purchase. Thank you, Vortex. Overall I really like my Defender CCW. It fills the roll I need it to on my EDC quite well, so I'm not looking to replace it. However I do have to speak to the cons now. The first con isn't really a con for me, though I've heard others complain about the refresh rate on the emitter? if the dot is red on target and produces an accurate point of aim, that's really all I'm looking for? rounds on target quickly. The exposed emitter is a more realistic con if an obstruction were to find its way into that gap. Dirt, grime, and lint are the name of the game with an IWB carry setup like mine, for those who are looking for the smallest footprint. Any obstruction in the path of the emitter could be a problem? I say could, it hasn't happened, but I know Murphy. My final con is that it's made in China. It's not a cheap piece of junk, but relations are not great with China right now? time will tell how that plays out. SF

Russell B.

Originally posted at

2025-01-27T19:00:00

Received your Vortex CCW and it looks great. Only issue is I don't have the correct plate to mount on my Sig M18. Suggestions on where I can order?

Marcos

Originally posted at

2025-01-25T19:00:00

I love the vortex brand overall with their lifetime warranty. But something about "tacting" out my 10mm made it extra cool. I'm happy that the battery is in an accessible spot on the optic as well as easy to work buttons for turning on/off and brightness. 3 MOA was definitely perfect for me, I like my dot sizes smaller for a small optic. I also love that it fits well on my optic plate and doesn't look like it's too much for the overall slide.

Jennifer S.

Originally posted at

2025-01-21T19:00:00

I really love the sight. It works exactly like it's supposed to. I like the fact that you can change the brightness and then lock it so that it won't accidentally change. The only issue is to lock and unlock the brightness you hold the button for a couple of seconds. When I am carrying IWB the button is up against my body and will unlock and change brightness automatically. Just something to think about.

Derek

Originally posted at

2025-01-19T19:00:00

Much better than my RMRcc. Dot is super clear. It's also great that Vortex decided on adding a battery compartment that can be accessed without removing the optic.

kodin e.

Originally posted at

2025-01-19T19:00:00

Much better than my RMRcc. Dot is super clear. It's also great that Vortex decided on adding a battery compartment that can be accessed without removing the optic.

Kodin E.

Originally posted at

2025-01-16T19:00:00

Perfect for my daily carry

Kevin M.

Originally posted at