Vortex is a well-established leader in the optics world, from binoculars to range finders and an increasingly robust line of firearm optics. The AMG UH-1 Gen II Holographic Sight is one of those high-quality shooting options. Designed for military and law enforcement close-quarters battle (CQB) situations, the UH-1 is also a dandy civilian defensive optic that’s perfect for carbines, personal defense weapons (PDW), and pistol caliber carbines (PCC).
Shooters quickly dubbed the UH-1 the “Huey,” referencing the ubiquitous Vietnam-era, and later, Bell UH-1 Iroquois helicopter, which bore the same nickname. The moniker works, since Vortex built their UH-1 holographic sight with the same toughness and reliability that marked its namesake.
We were fortunate to get our hands on a UH-1 optic and put it through its paces. Let’s begin with the basic specifications:
Vortex AMG UH-1 Gen II Specifications
- Vortex EBR-CQB Complex Reticle with 1-MOA Red Dot
- 1x Magnification
- Unlimited Eye Relief
- Parallax Free
- Max Elevation Adjustment: 100 MOA
- Max Windage Adjustment: 100 MOA
- Integrated Picatinny/Weaver Quick Detach Mount
- Length: 3.9 inches
- Height: 2.65 inches (Excluding Mount)
- Weight: 11.6 ounces
- Waterproof/Fogproof/Shockproof
- Power Source: 1 CR123A Lithium Ion Battery (Included)
- 1,500 Hour Runtime
Holographic Sights vs. Red Dots
Holographic sights are different from red dots. They’ve been around for nearly 30 years, but only EOTech has made them for most of that time. Simply put, red dots use an LED emitter to project the reticle on the front glass. Holographic sights use a laser to float a reticle in your field of view.
Holographic reticles are less subject to head movements and awkward shooting positions than red dots, making them essentially parallax-free. Red dots have come a long way toward being parallax-free, but holographic sights are better, keeping you on target at more extreme angles.
Red dot reticles are also sharper than holographic reticles. This Vortex UH-1 is my first real experience with a holographic sight, and I was surprised by the pixelated reticle. I thought something was wrong with it. I even contacted Vortex, whereupon those fine folks patiently explained about holographic reticles and how to use them properly. Hey, I never claimed to know everything, but I learn quickly.
Essentially, if you look through the reticle instead of at the reticle, it will appear sharper. Most American shooters are trained to focus on their firearm’s front sight. That has apparently carried over to red dots, at least for me. It’s so ingrained that I don’t even notice it. I had to learn to use the UH-1’s reticle properly. I barely register the pixelation now, but it’s perfectly normal.
Holographic sights are also larger than red dots thanks to the technology. No holographic sights exist yet for pistols, for that reason. Battery life is also shorter since the holographic technology draws more power.
Vortex UH-1 Gen II Features
The UH-1’s housing is machined from a single block of aircraft-grade aluminum with a low-glare matte black (or tan) anodized finish. Vortex’s ultra-hard ArmorTek coating tops it off for maximum durability.
The O-ring seals keep out water, dust, and debris, making the Huey a reliable performer in any environment. Gas purging makes it fog-proof. The integral quick-detach mount makes this optic rock solid while maintaining easy accessibility. The QD switch is simple, responsive, and locks on tight.
The glass is extremely clear in the generous window. Multi-coated lenses increase light transmission while reducing reflection. Vortex’s proprietary FHQ technology cuts stray light emissions, further enhancing the shooter’s security. Unlimited eye relief and a parallax-free reticle make this a very forgiving optic in less-than-ideal scenarios.
The Huey has 14 brightness settings, which are easily adjusted by the rear-facing controls. The buttons themselves are both audible and tactile, and large enough for gloved use. A separate rear-facing Night Vision button activates and sets the eight NV settings.
The left side-mounted battery compartment is easy to manipulate with your fingers. The windage and elevation dials are on the right side. You need a coin or tool to operate them, but they are also audible and tactile, though they lack visual adjustment increments.
The complex reticle features a 1-MOA red dot inside a 68-MOA semi-ring with reference marks at North, East, and West. A red triangle marks the South position. The reticle seems to grow in size the farther forward you mount it, so you will always have a clean, usable sight picture.
The Vortex UH-1 “Huey” on the Range
My co-tester and I ran the Vortex UH-1 on our Grand Power Stribog SP9A3G PDW and IWI Zion-15 rifle. We even slapped it on our Aero Precision X-15 for a little binary trigger fun one day.
Despite being larger than most rifle red dots, the UH-1 is still a compact optic, and the 11.6-ounce weight wasn’t noticeable. We both appreciated the unlimited eye relief and large window, which made mounting it far forward a no-brainer. The reticle is large, bright, and visible without being busy, and we could easily pick it up with both eyes open.
We ran our usual horizontal and vertical transition drills, going from 10 to 50 yards and back again, incorporating movement and mag changes. Vortex pointedly says the UH-1’s zero image distortion aids fast target acquisition, and we concur. The sight picture was always clear, with the reticle right there, even while on the move. Staying on target with the binary trigger was no problem, even though neither of us is as skilled with that accessory as we’d like.
As I noted, we learned to look through the reticle at our target to reduce the reticle’s natural pixelation. But, truth told, we could still shoot accurately if we looked at the reticle early on. It was just a little disconcerting. I will say that looking through the reticle made transitions seem a little easier. I need to work on that.
Holding Zero
We fired fast, and we fired deliberately. We changed mags frequently, and we got the guns hot. The UH-1 held zero perfectly through 350 rounds of 5.56 NATO and 220 rounds of 9mm.
We also used the Huey for a separate exercise aimed at heating up our SilencerCo Spectre 9 suppressor on the Stribog. We ran an additional 200 rounds of 9mm through the Stribog as fast as we could pull the trigger and change mags, causing both gun and suppressor to smoke prodigiously. The UH-1 handled it as a matter of course.
Those drills were made possible by the generous support of the good folks at Ammo-to-Go, who supplied the 115-grain Federal American Eagle 9mm FMJ, and Global Ordnance, who provided the 5.56 rounds.
Final Thoughts
The UH-1 Gen II’s quality was obvious from the beginning. It feels solid, and that first impression was accurate. My only moment of doubt was seeing the pixelated reticle, but that doubt was born of ignorance and was quickly corrected. I noticed that other folks have had a similar experience when I looked at the product reviews. But I didn’t see anything indicating that the optic didn’t run.
I can say that our test optic most certainly ran, and it ran well. My co-tester and I both agreed that it would be perfect for the Stribog, even though we also liked it on the two AR-15s. Not owning a money tree, neither of us runs night vision gear, so I can’t comment on that capability. I expect, however, that the UH-1 does that well too.
The Vortex UH-1 impressed both of us with its accuracy, easy use, and obvious ruggedness. Check it out if you’re looking for a quality rifle or carbine optic. Just be aware of how to use the reticle, and I bet you’ll like it too.
