Vortex Venom vs. Defender ST Enclosed

Hey Freedom Gorillas, today we want to take a close look at the Vortex Venom vs. Defender ST Enclosed, two enclosed sights in the Vortex lineup. Both of these sights are made to fit full size pistols with a DPP cut but have different features, making them appropriate for different needs and circumstances.

In this Venom vs. Defender ST Enclosed comparison, we’ll look at what each optic features, their similarities and differences, and which one you should consider buying.

Starts at $199.99 Buy the Vortex Venom Enclosed At The Best Price

Starts at $379.99 Buy the Vortex Defender ST Enclosed At The Best Price

TLDR

The Defender ST and Venom are both enclosed sights, but the Defender ST is going to be a more durable and pricier option. The Defender ST is made of 7075 aluminum which is more durable than the 6061 aluminum that makes up the housing of the Venom. The Defender ST also has a fast rack textured face to provide more shock resistance while fast racking. This makes the ST great for rough duty use.

Both have a side mounted battery so you can replace the CR2032 battery on either optic while they are still mounted to a weapon. The Defender ST has an expected 35k hours of battery life while the Vortex has only 20k hours, and the Defender ST has the Solar Failsafe feature, which can extend battery life to up to 150k hours.

Because the Defender ST has the solar panel on the top of the optic, the control buttons are on the left side of the housing instead of the top, which is where the buttons are for the Vortex. This also makes the buttons for the Vortex slightly larger.

The Venom Vortex has a dot only reticle with the option of a 3 MOA dot or 6 MOA while the Defender ST has a MRS, or multi reticle system, which allows you to toggle between a 3 MOA dot only, 32 MOA circle only, or both the 3 MOA dot and 32 MOA circle at the same time. The Defender ST also has higher refresh rate and newer technology, so it has a clearer dot with less lag and spots. 

Both optics have a DeltaPoint Pro footprint and can fit all DPP cut pistols, but can also fit other footprints with the addition of an adapter. The Defender ST comes with an MOS adapter plate and a Picatinny mount right out of the box.

Both optics have 12 brightness settings, 10 daylight and 2 night vision compatible settings, and they also have the motion activation auto on/off and button lockout features. Both come with the Vortex Lifetime Warranty and are available on Freedom Gorilla. The Venom is more affordable, coming in at $199.99 while the Defender ST is $379.99

Quick Specs for Vortex Venom and Vortex Defender ST Enclosed

The Defender ST and Venom are both Vortex optics so they share many of the same features, however there are some key differences that make them stand apart. Here are the main specifications for both optics:

Design and Material Differences Between Venom and Defender ST

Both the Defender ST and Vortex Venom are enclosed optics. This means there is a second plane of glass behind the emitter and it is encased in the housing for more protection. This also adds to the durability. The housing of the Venom is made of 6061 aluminum while the housing on the Defender ST is made of 7075 aluminum, making the ST more durable.

The Defender ST also has a fast rack textured face which allows for fast racking without damaging the optic. Both optics also have Shockshield, a polymer insert that diverts shock away from the viewing window. The viewing window on both optics is a large viewing window for fast target acquisition

Button Position

One of the major differences in the design of these optics is the button position. On the Vortex Venom, the buttons are positioned on the top of the housing while the buttons are on the side of the housing of the Defender ST since it has the solar failsafe on the top.

Deck Height

Another physical difference that can be noticed once the optics are mounted is that the Venom has a slightly higher deck height, which can make it more difficult to see your backup iron sights in the event that your optic fails.

Understanding the Footprint for The Defender ST and Venom

The Defender ST and Vortex Venom both use the DeltaPoint Pro footprint and therefore are compatible with DPP cut pistols. The DPP footprint is typically found on full size pistols and has four recoil lugs, one at each corner, and two screw holes towards the rear of the optic in front of the two rear recoil lugs.

Direct Mounting Options for ST and Venom

Since both the Defender ST and Venom  have a DeltaPoint Pro footprint, they can fit all pistols that have a DPP cut. Common pistols that they can mount directly too include:

• Glock: 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 34, 35, 40, and 41
• Sig P220
• Walther PDP
• FN 509
• FNX-45 Tactical
• CZ P10 Series
• Springfield Armory 1911 TRP

Alternative Mounting Options

When it comes to mounting options right out of the box, the Defender ST is going to have more since it comes with a Picatinny mount and MOS adapter plate. So, it can be mounted to shotguns or carbines with a Picatinny rail and can be mounted to MOS cut pistols. Keep in mind, this may alter the deck height.

The Vortex Venom can also be mounted to an MOS cut pistol or long gun with a Picatinny rail, but you will have to purchase those separately since they don’t come in the box. If you would like to look for the right adapter plate for your optic, check out our adapter plate finder. 

Reticle Options and Dot Clarity

The Defender ST and Vortex Venom only come with a red dot reticle and the Defender ST has a multi reticle system while the Venom has a dot only reticle. The Defender ST has a 3 MOA dot and a 32 MOA circle, and, since it’s an MRS, you can choose between dot only, circle only, or circle and dot together.

The Vortex Venom comes with your choice of either a 3 MOA or 6 MOA dot. This makes the Venom more streamlined and perfect for those who want a simple red dot optic for precision. Both optics have great dot clarity, however many have recognized that since the Defender ST has a higher refresh rate and newer technology, it has better dot clarity with fewer spots and less lag.

Battery Type and Battery Life for Venom vs. Defender ST

Both the Defender ST and the Vortex Venom use a CR2032 replaceable battery, which is included with the optics. The battery is easily accessed on both optics via a side mount that can be opened while they are still mounted.

Since the battery on both optics is side mounted, there’s more width to them, which is something to think about when considering these optics for concealed carry. The Defender ST has more battery life with an expected 35k hours while the Venom only has 20k hours of expected battery life.

Solar Failsafe Option on the Defender ST

The battery life of the Defender ST is also greatly extended with the use of its Solar Failsafe feature. This comes in the form of a solar panel on the top of the housing that collects ambient light to power the optic if the battery fails. It also extends the battery life to up to 150k hours. This does not charge the battery, but instead supplements the battery usage when outdoors.

Venom vs. Defender ST Brightness Settings and Power Saving Features

The Venom and Defender ST both have 12 brightness settings: 10 daylight settings and 2 night vision compatible settings. These settings can be toggled through with the use of the plus (+) and minus (-) buttons on the top of the Venom and on the side of the Defender ST.

Both optics also have an auto on/off feature that automatically turns the optic off after a period of inactivity and turns it back on the moment it senses motion. The Vortex Venom shuts off after 10 minutes of inactivity, and the Defender ST shuts off after 14 hours of inactivity. You can deactivate the auto off feature completely, but this means you have to manually turn the optic off and on.

The Button Lock Out feature is also available on both optics. This allows you to lock the buttons, therefore preventing any setting changes from accidental button pushes. This makes both optics convenient for everyday carry if you carry a full size pistol.

Summary of Similarities and Differences Between the Venom and Defender ST

To help break this down, here’s a list of the similarities and differences between the Defender ST and Venom micro red dot optics:

Similarities

• Both are Vortex red dot optics
• Both have a DeltaPoint Pro footprint.
• Both are enclosed emitters
• Both have side mounted batteries
• Both have aspherical lens
• Both have the Button Lock Out and Auto On/Off (Motion Activation) features

Differences

• The Venom has a higher deck height than the Defender ST
• The Defender ST has the fast rack textured face while the Venom doesn’t
• The Venom has buttons on the top and the Defender ST has buttons on the side
• The Defender ST has a solar failsafe solar panel on the top of its housing, The Venom doesn’t have a solar failsafe. 
• The housing on the Venom is made of 6061 aluminum while the Defender is made of the more durable 7075 aluminum. 
• The Defender ST has more battery life (35k no solar and 150k with solar) than the Venom (20k hours). 
• The Defender ST also comes with a Picatinny Mount, MOS adapter plate, and extended T-10 torx, which the Venom does not. 
• The Defender ST has a multi reticle system with a 3 MOA dot and a 32 MOA circle while the Venom is either a 3 MOA dot or a 6 MOA dot. 

Which One to Choose

As you can see, both of these optics are similar in many ways but the ways in which they differ make them more appropriate for certain needs and circumstances. Here’s what makes either the Vortex Venom or the Vortex Defender ST for you…

Choose the Vortex Venom if…

The Vortex Venom is a no frills red dot optic in comparison to the Defender ST. It is streamlined, intuitive, and affordable. This is a great sight for those who are new to the optics world and want to dip their toes in, especially since it is still durable and it comes with the Vortex Lifetime Warranty.

The Vortex Venom is dot only, so it’s appropriate for precision shooting at close or far range, depending on the dot you prefer, 3 MOA or 6 MOA. If you’re looking for a budget red dot option the Vortex is the way to go.

Choose the Vortex Defender ST if…

The Vortex Defender ST is most appropriate for those who want something durable for duty. With the 7075 aluminum housing and the fast rack textured face, the Defender ST is tougher for  heavy duty use. The prolonged battery life, thanks to the Solar Failsafe, makes it a good optic for those who plan on constantly using their sight.

This optic is also a strong contender for those who want something versatile, since it has the multi reticle system; this can help you find the dot with greater speed or help with your precision, depending on the setting. It also has more reliable dot clarity.

The Defender ST is also better for those who want more extras with their optic since it comes with a Picatinny Mount and MOS adapter plate.

Starts at $199.99 Buy the Vortex Venom Enclosed At The Best Price

Starts at $379.99 Buy the Vortex Defender ST Enclosed At The Best Price

Final Verdict

Both the Vortex Defender ST and Vortex Venom are enclosed red dot optics with a DPP footprint. The Venom is essentially a more affordable and no thrills version of the Defender ST. Defender is made of 7075 aluminum and has a fast rack textured face, making it more durable than the Venom.

The Defender also has a Solar Failsafe with control buttons on the side while the Venom has no Solar Failsafe feature and has the buttons located on the top of the housing. The reticles are also different since the Defender ST features a multi reticle system while the Venom is dot only with a 3 MOA or 6 MOA dot option.

At Freedom Gorilla we sell both optics, so you can check the availability for both the Vortex Defender ST and the Vortex Venom as well as the entire Vortex red dot optic lineup on our site. We offer free shipping and returns.

Thanks for reading and, as always, don’t hesitate to let us know if you have any questions.