VortexOptics VMX-3T 3X Red Dot Sight Magnifier with Built-in Flip Mount

Addendum 9/1/2015: I have 3 of these and just purchased 4th on 8/20/15. Spent an hour today trying to figure out why the eye relief on this newest item seems much less than the other 3. Still have no idea, gave up for the day. Has anyone else noticed a much closer and less forgiving eye relief range?Held my breath and trusted other reviews. It paid off: this fits perfectly atop the rail, and clears the fairly large metal rear backup site that adorns the Colt LE6940-P (even without the use of the included optional riser for the mount). I set-up this simple AR for my Pop, with an Eotech 512 holographic, but wanted to add the "just in case" magnifier as part of the package. I wish I would have found this product before previous purchases of the Lucid adjustable magnifier w/cantilever mount (for one of my own AR's). Another cool think about the tilt-away mechanism is that the magnifier can still be used for observation/recon even when not aligned with the red dot site (whereas my cantilever mount reverses the magnifier, rendering it useless when off-axis). Anyway, we took it out yesterday, sited in the Eotech, then 72 year old Pop proceeds to effortlessly put a complete 30 rd mag of surplus Lake City 556 within a 4" target at 100 yards.....almost seeming bored as he accomplished my random challenge (and majority were within 2-3 inches..... with a variably gusty 15-20mph wind from the rear and right at 45 degree angle).While obviously that's not MOA or less, the point is that this magnifier set-up is solid, functional, adaptable and augments excellent shooting (for a guy who essentially hasn't shot a rifle in 40+ years). Obviously, the magnifier can't take all of the credit, but its has just been one of the rare cool surprises of quality, cost and function. A+++1/14/15 Update:NEED A 1/2" Picatinny riser to use this Vortex magnifier with Eotech EXPS series.......So as my original review explains, I dig this cost-effective magnifier. So I got one to accompany an Eotech EXPS3-2 on a new SR762. I anticipated the extra height of the EXPS would require the use of the 7mm riser that accompanies the Vortex mount, BUT ITS NOT ENOUGH. Easy solution is the $10 UTG 3-space 1/2" riser with thumb screw. With the extra 1/2" the Vortex 7mm riser makes it too high. So, just add the UTG 1/2" riser under the VMX-3 and it is perfectly level with visual axis of the EXPS. (I doubt the additional riser would be needed with the XPS series).

I've purchased and used many Vortex products in the past, and have always been widely impressed, especially at their low prices. This was the first vortex product that I was actually hesitant to buy. The Gold standard for 3x magnifiers these days seems to be the EOTech G33, which retails for $550-700. The most expensive part of a quality magnifier or scope is the lense, so typically when you find a less expensive scope or magnifier, it's because they saved money going with cheaper lenses, which results in less clarity. So, my fear was that this magnifier, being 1/3 the price, would teller l reflect that difference in clarity or visual defects.I am pleased to say that after receiving it, mounting it and spending some time using it, my fears couldn't have been more wrong.The lenses on this magnifier are nothing short of perfection. Their crystal clear and provide a perfect sight picture.The mount is extremely well built, very solid, and the flip-to-side mechanism functions as smooth as silk.I read another review on this magnifier before purchasing it where the owner had an issue with the magnifier blurring the dot of his optic. From my use with this, that all depended on two factors: brightness setting of the dot, and mounting distance between the magnifier and red dot. With the magnifier mounted close to the red dot, and the red dot set to a medium setting (which for the vortex strikefire 2 bright red model is anything less than the brightest two settings), there is no blurriness at all. If you set the red dot to the brightest two settings there is some blur, but that is present when looking through the red dot without the magnifier as well, and is just a result of how bright the optic is. There is also some blur to the dot if the magnifier is mounted too far away from the optic, though that is possible to largely fix my adjusting the focus of the magnifier.So, in short, as long as the magnifier and optic are mounted properly together, and the optic isn't set ultra bright, I haven't had any issue with blur at all.My only complaint at all with this magnifier (or the Vortex red dots I've used) is that their mounts aren't Quick Detach. With that said, for the price they retail, I wouldn't expect them to be QD, and ito a complaint easily remedied by purchasing a $10 QD mount from Amazon. Even with the added cost of that mount, I'm still at a fraction of the cost of the G33 or similar competition, with all of the quality and competition.I can't recommend this enough.

I had been debating whether to pick this up for about 6 months. I have an AK74 and an AR15. I mainly bought it for my AK to test if i wanted to drop money on the Eotech version. The reviews for this have been great but just couldn't pull the trigger till recently. On my AK with a mi side mount and Eotech 512 this thing is a jewel! I couldn't be any happier with it. The eye relief is great and makes shots so much easier. The flip to side has been great, locks very well and easy to manipulate. So with my AK I couldn't be any happier. The AR15 is another issue. I haven't shot it yet but just moved the magnifier to AR15. I have a 14.5 mid length with an Eotech 512 then the magnifier then Magpul steel flip up iron. My only problem (which isn't a problem but more personal preference) is that with the back up iron behind magnifier, the eye relief only allows my vision to focus when the stock (6 position) is in the 1 to 2 position. I usually like it in the 3 or 4 position. Gun still functions fine, I just need to change my firing position somewhat with the magnifier. Just a heads up to anyone running a AR set similar to mine. Would I buy this again? Hell yes! Am I already thinking about buying another so I can have one on each gun? You bet I am. No regrets buying this product and a lifetime, no questions asked, warranty count me in! Will I buy the Eotech magnifier? I can't answer that. I am not sure I can justify the price difference. If you are debating this purchase like I have been just stop and buy it. It is worth every penny.