Red Dot for Franchi: Burris or Vortex?

[macobb]

This may have been covered but I haven't found it. I am getting a Franchi Affinity 20 gauge and hand loading TSS shells. I have been looking at the Burris FastFire 3, 3 MOA; Vortex Viper 6 MOA; and Vortex Venom 3 MOA. Does anyone have any experience with these? I am looking for if a 3, 6, or 8 MOA dot is better and why? I'd guess the 3 MOA for turkeys but honestly no experience to go off of. Is one of these sites superior to the other? I have heard good things on the FastFire 3 and Vortex brand in general. Just looking for insight.

[ads1]

I have both of these red dots. They are both excellent. I use the 3 moa.

[macobb]

By both which two of the three...
Burris FastFire 3
Vortex Venom
Vortex Viper

Have you found them to be reliable through rough treatment. I don't intend to abuse it. But I usually end up having to put the Mohican Sneak on at least one old Tom a year. Also can you describe your mount? Not sure if a picatinny rail is necessary? Never put optics a shotgun.

[huntinsomd]

I have 2 Vortex Venoms (1 on a Franchi Affinity 3 20ga) and would recommend them. They are both 3moa dots and that seems to be the right size for turkeys. Sumtoy mounts for both. If you plan to reload TSS, I would suggest reloading 2 3/4" shells to avoid any feeding issues as longer shells (roll crimped ones) can be a problem for that gun. Hal has some great recipes for 2 3/4" TSS loads.

[macobb]

Preciate the info. Yea I'm definitely only doing 2 3/4. I'm going to go with the Franchi cause I've seen and heard great things although, it does tick me off I can't order the Franchi Affinity Compact in bottomland with a 24" barrel. The venom has a top battery replacement right?

[ads1]

I have the Vortex Venom and the Burris Fastfire III. Both load batteries from the top although I have never had to change batteries on FFIII in around 5 years. Just got the Vortex Venom and it is an excellent red dot 3 moa works great.

[macobb]

Just found out that this summer Franchi is finally coming out with a 24" barrel compact Affinity in MOBL. How often have you changed the battery in the venom.

[Jstocks]

Both good sights.
Buy the one you find the best deal on new and don't look back.
Smaller MOA the dot the better for turkeys in my opinion.

[BandedSpur]

Have shot an FF III for 7 years. Never had to replace the battery. Held up very well with normal use. I did drop my gun on pavement recently. Landed on the choke tube and FF III. Dented the housing but didnt break the lens. Knocked zero off by 32" and didn't have enough adjustment to get back to zero. I busted it good.

When I bought the sight in 2007, the paperwork said One Year Warranty. Called Burris, explained what I did and that I knew the sight was not under warranty since I had owned it since 2007. He said, "All Burris optics are warrantied for life". Sent it to them and had a brand new one with new battery in about 10 days. No charge, no questions asked. Great customer service.

Mine is 3 MOA, and I agree that the smaller the dot the better for turkeys. I also like them mounted as low as possible. I have an FF II on a Marlin 336 base on my 12 ga Rem 11-87. Very low profile. Not sure which mount fits the Franchi. Sumtoy makes a mount that might work.

Never owned the Vortex so can't speak to it, but the Burris is a solid choice.

[sixbird]

I have the Burris Fast Fire three. I'm guessing it's 4 or 5 years old. It's been a great sight, never a minutes trouble with it.
I hunt every day of our season and have the sight turned on for the three weeks of our season that closes at noon (sunrise until noon), and the two weeks it closes at sunset. Also the week of Fall season.
A battery lasts, for me, about a full year. The dot will start blinking a few hrs. before it goes dead so you'll have plenty of warning. I carry a spare just in case but have never needed it.
I have friends who have the Venom and they like them. Not sure if the Venom has an auto adjust for dot intensity. That would be a deal breaker for me if it didn't have it. I turn my FFIII on in the dark and it auto adjusts to light conditions. I have set it manually and when I brought it up to shoot, the dot was barely visible because of the changing light conditions. The auto function does away with that and adjusts to whatever light is available.
That said, they're both great sights and they weigh pretty much nothing...

[macobb]

Thanks for the responses. I'm leaning towards the Burris because the Venom seems to be a bit wider than the gun but I think either will do the trick.

[sixbird]

Looking at Burris and Vortex information and they both have the auto setting for brightness so that issue not a deciding one. They both have a forever warranty also.
Burris claims weather resistant. Vortex water proof, (I've never had an issue with Burris even in a downpour).
The multicoating on the lens on Burris is between two pieces of glass. Vortex is on the lens surface. That could be an issue.
Burris operating temp. is -10 to 130...Vortex 22 to 122. For turkey hunters that should be a non issue except if you're out west early, that 22 degrees on the Vortex might be on the edge of it's capability.
Vortex has ten brightness settings in manual mode and an auto setting. Burris has 3 manual and an auto. I normally use the auto only on my Burris. I question the value of 10 settings.
Weight, .9 oz. for Burris, 1.1 oz. for Vortex. No real difference there.
Both have top load battery. That's an important feature since you don't need to take the sight off of the firearm to replace battery.
Pricewise. The Burris lists for $299. It sells for around $236. The Vortex lists for $329 and sells for around $229, so no significant difference there.
So, there's the comparison. Both great sights. I don't think you'd go wrong with either.

[mspaci]

My Burris has been great also, Mike

[redjones]

Just bought a new Savage 220 Turkey and I am almost positive this is whats going on top of it.
Leupold Deltapoint Pro,read the specs,I'm going with the 7.5 Moa Triangle,I looked at the dot and triangle at the local Cabela's.
Kind of expensive but I have some Cabela's points saved up.
Worth a look and differently check out a few of the video reviews,this one is pretty good.
Never thought these could hold up to this kind of abuse.

  Greg

https://youtu.be/CLLJIqklOVE

[Shoebuck]

Burris is a great sight, I have three and never a problem. 3 Moa dot.