Do you prefer the FF III over the Venom or vice versa?I have and like the Fastfire II & III (III is better and worth it), a Vortex Venum which I like, and some higher priced dots as well. Got a couple of deeply discounted Type 1 RMRs and they are great.
The FF III is mounted on an XDm OSP and doing fine.
Please forgive me answering as well. In think the Venom is just a smidgen brighter. Otherwise they are pretty similar. More brightness settings with the Venom, but in all likelihood, in CCW mode you would likely be keeping it on auto brightness anyway. The brightnesss settings are really just for indoors.Do you prefer the FF III over the Venom or vice versa?
I can't see spending the cost of the gun on an optic either which is why I am seeking something more cost effective. I haven't yet decided what I feel that cost should be, but the higher the price the more I will put it off.I have two Bushnell TRS 25 tube tuoe, two Sightmark Mini Pro Spec reflex, two Burris Fastifre III reflex, and a Vortex Venom reflex. The Sightmarks have failed me outdoors in the bright sunlight. Can’t see the dot even at brightest setting when wearing sunglasses. The Fastfires are brighter and the Vortex is brighter yet. All work fine indoors but you do have to spend a few bucks extra to use one outdoors.
Except for one Bushnell all my red dot/reflexes are slide mounted. Never had a problem with any of them breaking, but it is imperative to install the sights with blue Loctite and a torque screwdriver. I use at least 20 inxlb torque and quality screws that won’t get torn up. One of the Fastifres was turning off from the shock in use, but tightening the battery cover fixed the problem.
In short I agree with the above. Spend a few extra bucks, at least $200, and get a Fastfire or Venom at the minimum. You should be okay. Unless you are Delta Force, you won’t likely need the $500 variety.
It's a toss up. They operate differently as far as how they turn on and what mode they start in.Do you prefer the FF III over the Venom or vice versa?
remember you have to buy a mounting plate to go with it. Could be another $50.
Docter, Burris, Vector, Sightmark, and maybe also JP will mount to the same plates.I had to get a plate for my PX4. Right at $50
The OP's Glock 19 MOS should come with a 'blank' plate as well as 4 additional plates for different optics. If memory serves, the FFIII can mount to a 'Doctor' style plate.
My only experience with a red dot is my FFIII. Haven't had it long, but it's pretty straight forward and has done everything I need it to do w/o a hitch thus far,,,
New Glock MOS sets do indeed come with 4 plates plus the slide itself.The Bushnell is a great tune optic at a terrific price, but it needs a rail to mount on. The Sightmark is terrific indoors and only $100. Not bright enough outdoors. Don’t make the mistake I did. It failed me during a handgun, self-defense course. Couldn‘t see it in the Nevada sunshine. But indoors for range target practice. Just fine. I think the FF3 is the seeet spot. Don’t go below that. And remember you have to buy a mounting plate to go with it. Could be another $50.
I can't see spending the cost of the gun on an optic either which is why I am seeking something more cost effective.
In this case the cost of the gun would be in the $400-600 range which would be an excessive amount to spend on an optic if the reports from this very thread are true regarding the Venom and the FF III. The only way I would end up even at the bottom of that price point would be if I somehow talked myself into the Trijicon RMR mentioned in several posts. I can't see myself buying one though.I certainly understand the above statement, but I don't really agree with it. This is a conversation I have periodically with other shooters, so I have given it some thought.
First, I would say that cheap and good value are often very different things. This is especially true of optics. For small open style red-dot sights, I have not found any sights cheaper than the FastFire III that I think are a good value.
But more importantly, I don't compare the cost of the firearm and the optic. My goal is to have a reliable firearm that I can shoot accurately. If I am using an optic, then it needs to be at least as reliable and accurate as the firearm. There are some moderately priced firearms that are both accurate and reliable, and I would not want to have an optic that was less capable than the firearm it rides on.
I have one rifle and one pistol that each wear optics that are worth more than the gun. Both guns are modest but effective models, and the quality optics allow me to exploit the fully capabilities of the guns.
The intended use is mainly defensive
You are not allowing for evolution of the products. The Fastfire III is universally considered to withstand slide shock. That being a problem with less expensive red dots is old news. Buying a Trijicon today is essentially paying for not keeping up with the times.In my mind you only have two choices then, trijicon or deltapoint. They are the ones that have stood the test of time on slide mounts.
Buying a Trijicon today is essentially paying for not keeping up with the times.
So for how long will that be the case? Forever? No competitor can ever match Trijicon? And what about if/when the company starts to decline? Don’t say it can’t happen. Happens all the time. How long will it take you to get THAT news?No its paying for proven quality; proven on the field of battle, proven in competition, proven by LEO.
Not some strangers post on the internet that shoots one box of ammo a year through the gun and proclaims their xyz RDS as the best thing since sliced cheese.