Today we are looking at the Vortex Triumph 2 MOA red dot. It’s not a battle-grade optic, and it’s not a “cheapy” optic either. So where does it fit in?
There are just as many discussions and opinions on optics as on any other accessory in the firearms industry. I once held the belief that any firearm or firearm accessory I owned should be “battle-quality” gear.
To be honest, a lot of that opinion stemmed from the opinion of my buddies. Everyone likes to brag about their gear, right? So, when the guys get together, the most expensive, most durable gear gets all the attention.
But unless you have a money tree in your backyard, a lot of us find ourselves looking for affordable gear. You have to pay more attention to quality when you start looking for “budget-friendly” gear.
For years now, Vortex has been one of my favorite companies. Not just because I like their product, but because they stand behind it with a no questions asked life-time warranty.
I’ve also been able to visit their facility multiple times and meet their employees. For me, customer service is a deciding factor for my decision to buy or not buy a product. And without question, Vortex excels in customer service. When you are looking for an affordable optic, knowing it will be guaranteed for life is just hard to pass up.
But where does an optic like the Triumph 2 MOA Red Dot fit in? Let’s take a look at it and see if we can find the answer.
Vortex Triumph 2 MOA Red Dot
The Vortex Triumph is a compact, closed-emitter red dot that comes with two mounting adaptors. It is made from a single-piece chassis, making it remarkably sturdy for its price point.
Of course, this is a 1x magnification optic, so it’s a perfect alternative to traditional iron sights. Even though the window is on the smaller side, I found the Triumph easy to use with both eyes open.
The lenses are fully multi-coated, which helps with light transmission and reduces glare during those bright days. It also has a nitrogen-purged design and uses an O-ring seal to help keep it waterproof and fog-proof.
In the box, you get two mounting adaptors. One is a low mount, which works great on shotguns and AKs. The second is a 1/3 co-witness mount, which is the industry standard for AR-15 platforms. The Triumph is shipped with the 1/3 co-witness mount attached, but switching them is a simple process.
Besides the optic, the Triumph ships with two mounts, a rubber lens cover and cloth, a battery, an optic tool, and a small bag of extra screws.
Vortex Triumph Specifications
- Magnification: 1x
- Dot Size: 2 MOA
- Dot Color: Bright Red
- Eye Relief: Unlimited
- Adjustment Graduation: 1/2 MOA
- Max Elevation/Windage Adjustment: 100 MOA
- Length: 2.52 inches
- Weight: 4.38 ounces (including battery and mount)
- Chassis Material: Matte Black Anodized Aluminum
- Mounting: Multi-height (Lower 1/3 Co-witness and Low Mount included)
Power and battery placement
Battery life is always a concern with any optic. No one wants to have their optic shut down in the middle of a range/hunting session or self-defense incident. Vortex used a CR2032 battery in the Triumph 2 MOA Red Dot, which is a common battery that can be found on Amazon, Walmart, or any other store that sells batteries.
The battery is housed in a side-loading compartment within the dial that turns on the power. This isn’t my favorite location for a battery, but it’s the most practical for an optic of this size. Sometimes the battery cap is hard to get off because the dial wants to turn as you unscrew the cap. But this is a common location for batteries in these types of optics, and it makes sense.
In terms of longevity, the Triumph offers about 50,000 hours of runtime on a medium brightness setting. To help extend the battery life, Vortex added a Motion Activation feature, which I prefer to have on all my optics. If the rifle sits still for 10 minutes, the dot turns off to preserve power. As soon as you pick the rifle up or even bump it, the dot snaps back to life instantly.
The Triumph has 11 brightness settings, including two that are night-vision compatible for those exploring low-light shooting.
Operating the Triumph 2 MOA Red Dot
There isn’t much to using the Triumph red dot. Once the battery is installed, simply turn the dial on the side of the optic. Vortex placed the night vision settings just before 0 (off) and the brightest setting of 11 just after. I like this arrangement because you can quickly turn it on night vision or a lower setting by turning the dial forward. If it’s sunny and bright out, just crank it to the rear of the optic, and you will have a brighter setting.
The elevation and windage turrets are easy to use with ½ MOA per click. Sighting in the Triumph was also straightforward and simple.
I haven’t done a lot of extensive shooting with the Triumph yet (around 600 rounds), but so far it’s been a great optic to use on an AR-15 rifle. At some point, I plan to put it on a shotgun as well.
Where does it fit in?
Like I said in the beginning, this is not a “battle-grade” optic, and that’s not what Vortex intended it to be. Every firearm you own does not have to be set up for the apocalypse. Vortex makes plenty of high-quality optics for that.
I recently started using the new AMG 1-10 FFP LPVO that stemmed from their contract with the Royal Marines. They are also making the next squad weapon optic for the US military. Another favorite of mine is the AMG UH-1, which is a holographic sight for rifles.
But those optics are not cheap. Some may wish to set up a “fun” rifle, or they are simply on a budget. For me, the Vortex Triumph is a great starter optic for beginners, or a quality optic for a rifle or shotgun on a budget.
From what I can tell so far, the Triumph will hold up great to normal, everyday use. And don’t forget that lifetime guarantee that comes with it. For a $100 optic, that’s hard to beat.
