February 10th, 2021
6minute read
One size fits all.
Thats a noble goal, to be sure.
However, people are just so maddeningly heterogenous.
However, I think Vortex might have just figured it out.
The Problem
Its a timeless quandary.
Whats a brother to do?
In the past you just had to choose.
They call this nifty little rig the Spitfire HD Gen II.
Whats in a Name?
The WWII-era Supermarine Spitfire fighter plane helped save the British from the genocidal Nazi hordes.
The Spitfire HD Gen II optical gun sight from Vortex is itself also a preternaturally capable machine.
It comes in two flavors.
One features 3X magnification.
The other is 5X (the one I am testing here).
The footprints are similar, though the 5X version is about half an inch longer.
The Spitfire HD Gen II is a fixed-power prism scope optimized for AR rifles firing 5.56mm rounds.
The red illuminated reticle features a dozen brightness levels, two of which are NVG compatible.
The sight runs about forever on a standard CR2032 battery it’s possible for you to get at Walgreens.
The objective lens is 25mm (1) across and offers a 23.3 field of view at 100 yards.
1-MOA adjustments require nothing fancier than a case rim and offer a 200-MOA span in both windage and elevation.
Adjustment turrets are flush and unobtrusive.
Retained rubber lens covers keep everything tidy.
The AR-BDC4 reticle is a precision instrument designed to help establish quick holdovers out to 650 yards.
Glass etched subtensions are measured in MOA.
The most impressive aspect of the Spitfire HD Gen II is its compact size.
The sight is a mere 3.6 long and weighs a modest 10.3 oz.
However, when you peek inside it really brings distant targets in tight.
Theeye relieffor the Spitfire HD Gen II is a generous 2.7.
Many prism sights sport an abbreviated eye relief, but the Spitfire HD Gen II offers ample breathing room.
When combined with the illuminated horseshoe reticle, this makes for an exceptionally versatile gear.
Proper magnification lets you launch the gun out to the limits of the cartridge.
All that can be had at a working mans price.
My SAINT and I have been around the block quite a few times together.
Mounting up the Spitfire HD takes about a minute with the included riser mount and T-10 Torx multi-tool.
Depending upon your system the sight can be used with or without the removable riser.
Some guns need the extra height, others dont.
Vortex has you covered either way.
With the riser mount attached underneath the Spitfire HD my Saint accommodates my particular anatomy quite nicely.
Zeroing was painless, and I was banging out rounds in no time.
The miniaturization to the whole rig is interesting, but in a good way.
The reticle seems small, relatively speaking, but this keeps your optical workspace from becoming unduly cluttered.
For CQB applications you could even activate the illuminated reticle and keep both eyes open.
Having one peeper 5X magnified and the other raw is an acquired taste, to be sure.
However, every AH64 Apache pilot in the world does just that as part of their day job.
It might eventually give you a headache, but its an option in a crisis.
The legendary Vortex VIP warranty is the icing on the cake.
Vortex will repair or replace your sight for free if something ever fails.
Their warranty is unlimited, unconditional and extends for the lifetime of the sight.
Sometimes big thingsdocome in small packages.
Go to forum thread
