In this post, we’re going to overview the Vortex Defender pistol sight family so that you could navigate it easily.
The Defender Line-up at a Glance
The Vortex Defender lineup spans three sizes – CCW (micro), ST (standard), and XL (competition). Late 2025 saw the introduction of enclosed solar variants for CCW and ST models, featuring multi-reticle systems and dual-power capability extending battery life to 150,000 hours.
Defender CCW: A CCW pistol sight built for slimline carry guns like the P365 or Hellcat. It’s light (under an ounce), tough, and has a surprisingly usable window for its size.
Defender ST: A do-it-all model that mounts on a home defense and duty pistol as well as a shotgun/carbine. It balances size and speed. The battery life jumps up significantly compared to the Defender CCW.
Defender XL: A competition model with a massive window, best for USPSA/IDPA competitions and range toys.
Let’s break down each model.
![Vortex Defender: CCW vs ST vs XL [Series Overview]](https://blog.gritroutdoors.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/imgi_212_vtx_defender-ccw-enclosed_dfccw-mrd3-e__2_.jpg "Vortex Defender: CCW vs ST vs XL [Series Overview] 2")
Vortex Defender Pistol Optic Lineup Overview
Defender CCW & Defender CCW Enclosed
The Defender CCW, as the name suggests, is purpose-built for subcompact 9mms (P365, Hellcat, G43X). It uses the RMSc footprint, meaning it mounts directly to most modern optic-ready carry pistols without an adapter plate, keeping the optic low. Pay attention though that the CCW does NOT include a Glock MOS adapter plate.
The main feature of this Vortex pistol optic is the window – 20x16mm. It feels significantly less claustrophobic than many other micro-dots.
Importantly, the Defender CCW has open- and enclosed-emitter submodels. The original open-emitter Defender CCW is solid, but lint and dust are the enemies of concealed carry. The enclosed version seals everything up, so you never draw your gun only to find a fuzzy ball of pocket lint blocking your emitter.
Plus, the solar backup on the Defender CCW Enclosed pushes battery life into the “forever” territory. The light sensor is located on the top surface and automatically switches between solar and battery power based on the light conditions.
The original open emitter CCW has a low 6.9mm deck height, ensuring the best co-witness capability with most standard-height irons in the Defender line. The enclosed solar variant has slightly taller 7.2mm deck height, but still maintains co-witness.
As for the controls, the open emitter Defender CCW has rubberized brightness adjustment buttons positioned on the left and right sides. They are slightly recessed into an aluminum housing outline to minimize accidental activation. The buttons on the Defender CCW Enclosed are both positioned on the left side and are much larger than the open emitter.
The side loading battery compartment on the CCW Enclosed gives easier access than the standard model which requires a special tool for the compartment on the top.
Shared Specs:
- Window Size: 20mm W × 16mm H
- Length: 1.59″ (measured 1.6″)
- Width: 1.0″
- Height: 1.0″
- Weight: 0.95 oz
- Mounting Footprint: Shield RMSc
- Adjustment: 1 MOA per click
- Max Windage: 105 MOA
- Max Elevation: 110 MOA
- Housing Material: 7075 Aluminum with ShockShield polymer insert
- Water Resistance: IPX7 (30 minutes at 1 meter)
CCW Open-Emitter Specs:
- Deck Height: 6.9mm
- Reticle Options: 3 MOA, 6 MOA Red Dot; 3 MOA Green Dot
- Battery Type: CR1632 (top-loading)
- Battery Life: 9,500 hours at setting 6
- Brightness Settings: 8 daylight, 2 NV
CCW Enclosed Solar Specs:
- Deck Height: 7.2mm
- Reticle: Multi-reticle (3 MOA dot, 32 MOA circle, or combination)
- Battery Type: CR2032 (side-loading)
- Battery Life: 35,000 hours battery-only / 150,000 hours with solar assist
- Brightness Settings: 10 daylight, 2 NV
Defender ST & Defender ST Enclosed
The Defender ST features a DeltaPoint Pro footprint and mounts on many optics-ready full-size handguns (like the SIG Sauer P320, Springfield Echelon, or Walther PDP). Generally, the DPP is a good choice for 2011-style pistols and platforms with narrow slides where RMR footprints require excessive overhang.
The window jumps up to 23x20mm, giving you a much more forgiving view while striking a balance between competition shooters and EDC carriers.
The enclosed solar variant here is a game-changer because it actually sits lower than the standard version (7.7mm deck height vs 9.7mm), making it way easier to co-witness with your iron sights.
Just like on the CCW, the buttons on the open emitter are positioned on the left and right sides of the housing, with a raised lip around them to prevent accidental activation. Similarly, the ST Enclosed button layout is the same as the CCW Enclosed.
Shared Specs:
- Window Size: 23mm W × 20mm H
- Mounting Footprint: DeltaPoint Pro
- Adjustment: 1 MOA per click
- Max Windage: 145 MOA
- Max Elevation: 115 MOA
- Housing Material: 7075 Aluminum with ShockShield polymer insert
- Water Resistance: Waterproof
- Brightness Settings: 10 daylight, 2 NV
ST Open-Emitter Specs:
- Deck Height: 9.7mm
- Length: 1.83″
- Weight: 1.48 oz
- Reticle Options: 3 MOA Red Dot, 6 MOA Red Dot, 3 MOA Green Dot
- Battery Type: CR2032 (top-loading)
- Battery Life: 25,000 hours at setting 6
ST Enclosed Solar Specs:
- Deck Height: 7.7mm
- Length: 1.82″
- Weight: 1.62 oz
- Reticle: Multi-Reticle System (3 MOA dot, 32 MOA circle, or combination)
- Battery Type: CR2032 (side-loading)
- Battery Life: 35,000 hours (battery-only) / 150,000 hours (with solar assist)
Defender XL
Speed wins matches, and being able to see your dot is how you get speed. The Defender XL is a competition-focused optic with a massive window – 25.5mm wide. Tracking the dot through recoil is the easiest, the dot just never leaves the glass.
One interesting twist here is the reticle choice. You can get a 5 MOA dot or a huge 8 MOA dot. A bigger dot is great for purely reactive shooting where you just need to see red and pull the trigger.
The XL’s 10.0mm deck height makes co-witnessing with standard-height iron sights impossible. This means users seeking backup iron sights must install suppressor-height or extreme co-witness height sights.
The buttons located on the sides on the XL are larger than the ST. The top-mount battery compartment with screw cap requires the included tool for access.
Specs:
- Window Size: 25.5mm × 23.3mm
- Deck Height: 10.0mm / 0.397″
- Length: 2.03″
- Weight: 1.93 oz
- Mounting Footprint: DeltaPoint Pro
- Reticle Options: 2 MOA, 5 MOA, 8 MOA Red Dot; 3 MOA Green Dot
- Battery Type: CR2032 (top-loading)
- Battery Life: 25,000 hours at setting 6
- Brightness Settings: 12 total (10 daylight, 2 NV)
- Adjustment: 1 MOA per click
- Max Windage: 115 MOA
- Max Elevation: 120 MOA
- Housing Material: 7075 Aluminum with ShockShield polymer insert
- Water Resistance: Waterproof
Vortex Defender Sight Technologies & General Design Concept
Fast-Rack Texturing – All Defender models feature aggressive front-face texturing with repeating peaks that enable slide manipulation against belts, boot heels, doorframes, or range benches. Multiple durability testers report using this feature extensively without lens damage or housing failure.
ShockShield Polymer Insert – Vortex engineers a polymer pad into the top of each Defender housing to absorb impact energy and protect internal components. Drop testing across all three models shows consistent zero retention after impacts that would crack competitive optics’ lenses.
ArmorTek Lens Coating – All models receive Vortex’s proprietary lens coating that resists scratches, oil, and dirt. The coating performs well in dusty/dirty environments and cleaning is straightforward.
Motion Activation with Auto-Shutoff – Current production models feature 10-minute auto-shutoff that can be toggled on/off via button combination. When enabled, the optic automatically reactivates at the last brightness setting upon detecting motion.
Button Lockout Mode – All models include brightness lockout (hold up button for 3 seconds) to prevent accidental setting changes during carry or dynamic use. The lockout is necessary when using the Fast-Rack feature to prevent brightness adjustment while manipulating the slide as well as in cases when your holster accidentally changes brightness.
Waterproofing – All models feature O-ring seals to prevent moisture, dust, and debris penetration.
Solar Auto D-TEC Technology – A photovoltaic panel on the optic’s top surface detects ambient light conditions and automatically switches between solar and battery power.
No Auto-Brightness Sensors – NONE of the Defender models include automatic brightness adjustment based on ambient light. All brightness changes require manual button input.
