Vortex hits the X-ring with its new monolithic chassis mount red dot. The Viper Shotgun Enclosed Micro Red Dot may have been intended for sporting shotguns, but this little gem has broader uses for defense and even some rifle applications.
by Rob Reaser
I know I shouldn’t be, but I continue to be amazed how manufacturers find new ways to skin the proverbial cat. Consider “red dot” optics. They’ve been around for nearly two generations yet every year new models pop up touting greater and better features as well as expanded applications. It’s all for the good. Nevertheless, most of the “new” or “new and improved” products that come out each year represent refinements and slight variations on a theme. Only occasionally do we come across something that causes an immediate, “Oh…now that’s neat,” response.
Well, those were my words exactly when I first saw the recently introduced Viper Shotgun Enclosed Micro Red Dot from Vortex Optics.
As red dot functionality and general performance goes, the new Viper Shotgun travels a well-trod path. You have a 3 MOA red dot or multiple reticle options (depending on which of the two models you choose), the unit runs on a common CR2032 battery with a projected 50K hour run time, and there are multiple illumination settings plus windage and elevation adjustment.
Where Vortex charted its own course is the chassis design. Yes, the Viper Shotgun is an enclosed emitter configuration — nothing unusual about that — but part of that design includes the mounting system. As you can see here, the emitter housing and mount are made from a single piece of machined 6061 aluminum. This is a big deal for shotgunners who favor wingshooting or who engage in fast-paced turkey hunting.
The reason? Basic shotgun ergonomics and marksmanship.
The shotgun is relatively simple in operation and shot execution when compared to a rifle; however, ergonomics and fitment are arguably more important with this platform — especially if you intend to knock flying things out of the air. Drop, cast, cheek weld, length-of-pull…all must work harmoniously to get the eye optimally aligned with the barrel and the body positioned for achieving a perfect sight picture. And a positive cheek weld (cheek placement against the stock) is essential to keep the gun from smacking you in the face under recoil.
One of the long-standing problems with fitting a red dot to a shotgun is the elevated height of the red dot compounded by the elevated mounting system. Both require the shooter to position the head higher along the stock to achieve proper eye alignment, and this, in turn, leads to a poor cheek weld and a disruption of the shotgun mount. The rise of micro red dots has helped mitigate this somewhat. Still, conventional red dots require a mount or adapter system (often a Picatinny or Weaver rail for shotguns) that adds to the sight height.
That’s where the Vortex Viper Shotgun comes in.
Vortex Viper Shotgun Enclosed Micro Red Dot Overview
By combining the mount and enclosed emitter chassis into a monolithic unit, the optic sits about as low as you can get it. The base is concave on the bottom to better follow the rounded contour of the receiver, and the unit mounts directly to the receiver, making use of the tapped factory holes. No rails or adapter plates are required. The unitized construction also contributes to this system’s exceptional sturdiness while the lower profile lessens the snag and bump potential.
Granted, eye alignment is understandably higher than it is when sighting down the rib to the front bead, but this is a nuance that mostly only seasoned clay and wingshooters will notice. The Viper Shotgun’s generous sight window gives a quick and clear downrange view, so the reticle is easy to pick up as soon as you mount the gun.
Speaking of the reticle, Vortex offers two options — a single, 3 MOA red dot (MSRP $429.99) and a multi-reticle version (MSRP $499.99) that incorporates the 3 MOA dot, a 32 MOA circle, and a 65 MOA circle. Both have 12 illumination settings (10 day and two night). With the multi-reticle, you can select between seven different configurations to meet your specific shooting needs. While different chokes and loads produce varying results, the small and large circles should generally correspond to full and modified choke patterns, respectively.
As with most red dots, the Viper Shotgun interface is comprised of soft-touch buttons located atop the emitter housing. These buttons allow you to scroll through the illumination settings, select the reticle configuration on the multi-reticle model, manually turn the unit on/off, and turn on/off the auto shut-off mode. When engaged, the auto shut-off mode turns off the emitter after ten minutes. The Viper Shotgun also includes a motion activation or “shake awake” feature when in auto mode, so all you need to do is pick up the gun when in this mode and the reticle will display at the last illumination setting and configuration.
Another benefit of the enclosed emitter design is that the battery compartment is located on the side of the unit. This makes battery swaps super simple, and you don’t have to worry about losing your zero — an issue common to most micro red dots because the batteries are typically located underneath the housing.
The sight window measures about 22mm wide with an aspherical lens to eliminate distortion. I found it to be exceptionally clear and parallax-free as far as red dots go. I also appreciate the full light spectrum transmission. Testing the unit on a snowy day, I could detect no color suppression or overall tinting of the glass. The view is crisp, clear, and bright. Furthermore, blackout serrations along the top of the mount minimize glare and reflection on both sides of the emitter housing.
As you can see, elevation and windage adjustment is 1 click/MOA, making the Viper Shotgun quick to zero for typical shotgun distances. The adjustment detents offer unmistakable tactile and audible clicks so there is no guessing in your adjustment rotations.
Viper Shotgun Installation
The base of the Viper Shotgun system features two rear mounting screw locations and an extended front slot. Vortex engineers developed this configuration to allow the sight to be compatible with the broadest possible range of shotgun receiver mounting locations. The list of compatible shotguns is extensive and includes such brands as Benelli, Beretta, Browning, Franchi, Ithaca, Mossberg, Remington, Retay, Savage, Savage/Stevens, Stoeger, Weatherby, and Winchester models.
Here, I am mounting the Viper Shotgun onto a Mossberg 590. You can see how the footprint aligns with three of the 590’s four tapped receiver holes to provide a solid anchor for the sight.
Because receiver hole thread size and pitch can vary among shotgun manufacturers, Vortex supplies four of the most common screw sizes with each kit. These include M4x.7, 6-48, 8-36, and 8-40. Four screws come in each pack. The screws are pre-treated with thread locker.
Begin the installation by determining the hole pattern to be used for your specific shotgun and then remove the factory filler screws. Be sure to use parallel driver bits that are precisely sized to match your screw slots to prevent damage to the screws or to the receiver. Here, we are using a screwdriver and bit from Real Avid’s Smart-Torq & Driver Master Set.
Place the Viper Shotgun unit onto the receiver and loosely install the mounting screws, beginning with the rear mounting screw, then the forward-most mounting screw, then the remaining screw/s.
All screws tighten to 12 in/lbs. It is important to use a torque driver for this process and to not guesstimate the torque by feel. These type of screws can be delicate, and if you happen to over-torque one and snap off the head, you’re going to have a very bad day.
Once the Viper Shotgun is installed, you’re ready to hit the range and adjust the sight for zero with your intended load. Vortex includes a stout wrench in the kit that makes elevation and windage adjustment a breeze.
Not Just for Shotguns!
Although Vortex developed this red dot for shotgun use, that does not preclude its adaptation to certain rifle platforms — specifically, to lever-action rifles. On a whim, I pulled out my Rossi R95 .30-30 to see if it would fit. It did. The footprint also proved compatible with a Marlin 336. And while I did not want to upset the zero on my Henry .44 Magnum lever gun by removing the existing red dot and rail assembly to see if the Viper Shotgun would work on it, rumor has it that this optic footprint is also compatible with at least some Henry models. But you’ll need to verify that for yourself.
As with the shotgun application, this red dot delivers a low-profile solution for lever-action rifles, allowing a comfortable cheek weld and excellent eye alignment low toward the barrel bore, which is right where you want it.
Even though Vortex pitches the Viper Shotgun Enclosed Micro Red Dot primarily for wingshooting and turkey hunting, I say it makes total sense for use on any defense shotgun or slug gun for all the same reasons — fast sight picture acquisition, accuracy-inducing ergonomic placement, and a low-profile to minimize bumps and snags during rapid deployment.
If you’ve been considering upgrading your hunting or defensive shotgun with a red dot — or want to do the same with your lever-action rifle — this is one optic worth your consideration.
