Yesterday morning I went to the range with two guns I had never fired and with my first Vortex optic. I took the following:
Gen 1.5 Robinson Armament XCR-L with Vortex Spitfire 3x
Gen 1 Sig MCX with Aimpoint T-2
I hadn't fired either rifle, and had never used a Vortex product. I started with the XCR, because I was excited to see how the Vortex would perform. I've owned other XCRs so there wasn't anything "new" about the rifle system, but I was instantly impressed by the optical clarity of the Vortex. I proceeded to zero the optic at 100 yards using Wolf Classic. I never brag online about the "groups" I shoot, but I can tell you I was positively impressed by the optic (and rifle's) performance.
I zeroed the Sig next. The first thing I noticed was the optical distortion and bluish color rendering. NOTE: I've been using Aimpoints since the M2 was "the newest" version, and currently have T-1, T-2, CompM4, and CompM4S on my go to rifles. This isn't a bash Aimpoint thread. Its just a honest observation.
I proceeded to zero the Aimpoint, and was happy with its performance. I print my own targets consisting of six 2" black circles on an 8.5x11 sheet of paper, therefore the dot covered the entire target circle so keeping 2 out of 3 rounds in the "black" consistently with Wolf steel case speaks to the rifle's mechanical capabilities.
After I finished zeroing the Sig/T-2 I spent the rest of my trip enjoying the XCR/Spitfire 3x. This included taking it over to the 400 yard rifle bay, and scoring 100% hits on a slightly larger than man size steel gong....with extreme ease. The clarity of the Spitfire simply amazed me. The subtensions were just about spot on for Wolf 55gr Classic too. Using the 400 yard slightly above the gong centerline produced hit after hit.
I came home, cleaned my rifles, recorded the range trip in my log ... then went online and ordered TWO more Spitfire 3x.
This morning, I ordered two Vortex SparcAR. If they make me half as happy as the Spitfires have ... I'll probably order more.
As a frame of reference, I'm not a firearms or optics noob. I assembled my first AR-15 in 1984, and bought a factory Colt later that year (have owned ARs ever since, and just about every other military pattern rifle you've heard of ... excluding a semi FAMAS).
As far as optics ... my current "go-to" optics include: Aimpoint T-1, T-2, CompM4, CompM4S (all in LaRue mounts), and TA11 ACOG, TA31 ACOG, TA47 ACOG (all in LaRue mounts). In the past, I've owned:
+ 4 other ACOG models (in total I've had about 2 dozen ACOGs since they became commonly available .. .bought my first in 1994 IIRC)
+ US Optics 1-8x
+ Trijicon Accupoints (several TR21 and TR24)
+ Steiner 1-4
+ Various Leupold variables (several Mk4, etc etc etc)
+ Leupold CQT (2 or 3 of them)
+ Various EoTechs (over two dozen including: 511, 512, 551, 553, 556, XPS, EXPS, etc)
+ Trijcon MROs (3 or 4)
+ Trijicon SRS
+ Older Aimpoints (M2, ML2, M3)
+ Trijicon Reflex (couple)
+ Others I'm forgetting
The point is, I've owned a lot of good glass over the years so when I compliment the optical quality (and general quality) of the Vortex Spitfire 3x it isn't coming from some new-to-ARs guy that shot 100rds and declared his gear "battle ready". This week I ran over 1000 rounds of 223/556 through 8 rifles. Some people vacation ... I go to the range, LOL.
This turned into a long winded, gush fest, but the respect is due. If the Spitfire holds up as well as it started out ... I'll buy many many many more Vortex products over the coming years. If it doesn't, they have the best warranty in the business.