Prism sights
Vortex Spitfire HD Gen II 3x: Full Specifications
Quick answer
The Vortex Spitfire HD Gen II 3X Prism Scope, BDC4 Reticle lists at $389.79. Published figures: magnification 3x, etched glass reticle Yes, reticle BDC4. It suits a fixed three power that works with a dead battery.
Vortex glass and warranty in a prism, with a BDC reticle that stays etched and usable if the illumination dies in the field.
Every figure below is the manufacturer's own published specification, taken from the product listing and the data sheet. Where a figure is not published it is left out rather than estimated, which is why some sheets are shorter than others. Price is the listed price when this page was last compiled and it changes often.
On this page
Vortex Spitfire HD Gen II 3x specifications
The Vortex Spitfire HD Gen II 3x publishes magnification 3x, etched glass reticle Yes, reticle BDC4, at a listed price of $389.79.
Sourced figure
| Specification | Published figure |
|---|---|
| Magnification | 3x |
| Etched glass reticle | Yes |
| Reticle | BDC4 |
| Illuminated reticle | Yes |
Specifications above are the manufacturer published figures, taken from the product listing. Figures the maker does not publish, such as total elevation travel or exact eye relief, are omitted here rather than estimated.
What the manufacturer says about it
The manufacturer own listing bullets, quoted rather than paraphrased so you can judge the claims yourself. These are marketing copy, not independent measurement.
Vortex lists 5 headline points for the Spitfire HD Gen II 3x, quoted here verbatim.
| Manufacturer listing point |
|---|
| The Spitfire HD Gen II 3x prism scope is built for rapid transitions while still being usable even without illumination. The streamlined look and flush mount turret design makes for a smaller, lighter, and faster optic. |
| The updated optical design and fully multi-coated lenses provide improved resolution, and cuts chromatic aberration. The prism design and etched reticle solve the distortion problems for users plagued by astigmatism. |
| The BDC-4 reticle is built for holdovers out to 650 yards while offering 12 brightness settings; the lowest two settings being ultra-low for use with night-vision equipment. |
| The Spitfire HD Gen II prism sight can be mounted at two heights, lower 1/3 co-witness or a "low" mount option. |
| Nitrogen purged, the Spitfire HD Gen II is waterproof, shockproof and fogproof; standing up to whatever you throw at it. |
What this optic suits
Best for: a fixed three power that works with a dead battery.
Category: prism sights. The honest test for any optic is whether its numbers match your rifle and the distances you actually shoot rather than whether it is a good product in the abstract. Work out what ring height you need, what exit pupil the magnification gives you and how much elevation the distance demands, using the calculators on this site, then check this model against those answers.
The closest alternatives at a similar price
Same category, nearest price. An alternative with no stated reason is filler, so each of these is here because it trades something specific against the model above.
Primary Arms SLX 3X MicroPrism Sight, Yard Calibrated
$349.99A prism sight shrunk to roughly the size of a micro red dot, which removes the usual objection that prisms are heavy and long for what they do.
Best for: prism glass without the prism weight penalty
Check price on Amazon
Primary Arms SLX 3x32 Gen III Prism Scope
$299.99 Full specificationsThe standard recommendation for anyone whose astigmatism turns a red dot into a starburst. The reticle is etched into glass, so it is sharp regardless of how your eye focuses light.
Best for: a shooter who cannot see a red dot cleanly
Check price on Amazon
Swampfox Blade 1x25 Prism Scope, Amber BRC Reticle
$205.00 Full specificationsA one power prism, which sounds contradictory and is the right answer for astigmatism at close range: no magnification, no parallax to speak of, and an etched reticle.
Best for: close range shooting with an astigmatic eye
Check price on AmazonSide by side
| Model | Price | Magnification | Etched glass reticle | Illuminated reticle | Objective lens |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Vortex Spitfire HD Gen II 3X Prism Scope, BDC4 Reticle | $389.79 | 3x | Yes | Yes | - |
| Primary Arms SLX 3X MicroPrism Sight, Yard Calibrated | $349.99 | 3x | Yes | Yes | - |
| Primary Arms SLX 3x32 Gen III Prism Scope | $299.99 | 3x | Yes | Yes | 32 mm |
| Swampfox Blade 1x25 Prism Scope, Amber BRC Reticle | $205.00 | 1x | Yes | Yes | 25 mm |
A dash means the manufacturer does not publish that figure. We leave it blank rather than estimating it.
How we chose
We did not test these optics in person and we never claim to. Picks are researched from manufacturer specification sheets, published optical and ballistic formulas, and the recurring themes in verified owner reviews. Every pick is matched to a real objective diameter, a real tube size, a real ring height or a real exit pupil rather than to a price bracket, and it is placed in the tier where its capability actually belongs. Where a figure is shooter convention rather than a sourced number we label it, and where a manufacturer does not publish a figure we leave it out instead of estimating it.
Sources
- Vortex published specifications for the Spitfire HD Gen II 3x
- Amazon product listing features and current pricing
Frequently asked questions
How much does the Vortex Spitfire HD Gen II 3x cost?
It was listed at $389.79 when this page was last compiled. Optics pricing moves frequently and promotional pricing is common, so treat that as a planning figure and confirm the current price before committing to a purchase or budgeting a whole setup around it.
Is the Vortex Spitfire HD Gen II 3x right for my rifle?
A fixed three power that works with a dead battery. Beyond that, the honest test is whether it physically fits and whether its numbers match the distances you shoot. Check the ring height its objective needs and the exit pupil its magnification gives before deciding.
Where do these specifications come from?
The manufacturer published figures, taken from the product listing and data sheet. We do not test products in person and we never claim to, so nothing here is a measured result. Where a specification is not published by the manufacturer it is omitted rather than estimated, which is why some sheets are shorter than others.
Will this fit my rifle and my rings?
Check three things in this order. The tube diameter has to match the rings exactly, because a 30 mm ring will not hold a 34 mm tube. The objective bell has to clear the barrel at the ring height you own. And the rail or base pattern on the receiver has to match the mount. Those three account for most returns in this category.
Is it worth buying this rather than the cheaper alternative?
Only if the thing it does better is something you actually need. The alternatives listed above each trade something specific, and on a first setup the money almost always does more good spent on a solid mount, a torque driver and a level than on upgrading the glass by one model.
Researched, not professional advice. This page is compiled from published manufacturer specifications, published optical and ballistic formulas, and owner-review consensus, not hands-on testing. Figures described as a rule of thumb are shooter convention rather than sourced numbers, and they are labelled that way wherever they appear. Ballistic figures come from a point mass model using the ballistic coefficient the maker publishes, so treat them as a starting point and confirm them on paper at a measured distance. Confirm your firearm is unloaded with the action open before you mount, level, torque or bore sight anything. Verify a zero only on a supervised range or a safe, legal backstop, know what lies beyond your target, and follow the law where you hunt and shoot, including rules on land access and permitted cartridges.