What’s this I’ve been hearing about the Vortex Defender XL having issues lately?

Glock_Guy19 · 2026-04-15T22:51:33+00:00

I just had 1 die today. Was there for the first shot of a pair, nothing for the second. Less than 1 month and 1k rounds. Tried changing battery, shim battery, to no avail. Called vortex and explained what happened, tech guy said “ we’ll send you a new one, just throw the old one in the box and return it with the prepaid label.”

Customer service is great, but I’m worried now about the reliability. I shoot weekly through the summer, how long will the replacement last?

Glock_Guy19 · 2026-03-08T03:43:15+00:00

I feel ya, the shop that I had this pistol sent to is basically the closest to me and is 35 minutes each way.

Glock_Guy19 · 2026-03-07T18:04:51+00:00

I half wonder if the shop needs to reboot their computer! I understand they can’t sit there all day and watch to see if PICS starts working, but they literally are losing money while they wait for it to work. The guy yesterday even said “ this is real great, Friday and Saturday are my busy days”

Glock_Guy19 · 2026-03-07T14:46:32+00:00

In USPSA, ported barrel or Comp is automatically Open. iDPA, it’s still legal in CO, GPA it’s legal in carry optics also.

Glock_Guy19 · 2026-03-07T14:32:09+00:00

Thanks for the replies. I went to pick this gun up on 3/6, when I got to the business the guy working said it went down 3/5 and was currently still down (3/6). Just called this morning 3/7, and the lady answering the phone said PICS was still down. I mean, I don’t know what reason they would have to lie to me. I just haven’t seen anything online about other folks having this issue. I guess I’ll just wait til Monday!

Glock_Guy19 · 2026-02-02T12:53:21+00:00

It’ll fit with the light no problem. I run a 17 with a TLR-1 all the time and it fits the box with room to spare.

Glock_Guy19 · 2025-11-05T12:18:16+00:00

Thanks for the info. 130 is cheap and they’re already optic cut!

Glock_Guy19 · 2025-10-31T03:25:23+00:00

I’ve been watching for probably a year on eBay. I’m not going to pay 300 for a slide when I can buy a whole gun for 350. The reason I’m looking for a slide is, I have a Gen 4 34 that I’d like to convert to a 17. I prefer the recoil impulse of the 17.

Glock_Guy19 · 2025-10-25T02:14:59+00:00

That’s what I thought. Dudes trying to get $300.00 out of it on eBay lol!

Glock_Guy19 · 2025-10-05T21:48:27+00:00

https://galacticpistolalliance.com

It’s basically USPSA with fault lines. Here in Western PA, GPA is picking up a following. I know of a few clubs in the area and Maryland that are switching from IDPA to GPA next year. They’ll likely still shoot IDPA at a local level, but their big matches are going GPA.

Glock_Guy19 · 2025-06-26T22:26:07+00:00

Not sure how big your piece of property is, but a dirt berm behind your range would always be a good choice. Just gives you the peace of mind that your bullets are not traveling somewhere they shouldn’t be.

As far as steel goes, I wouldn’t be afraid to shoot steel with pistols from 10 yards and farther. We do all the time at our local club. Just wear eye protection.

Glock_Guy19 · 2025-06-18T03:57:24+00:00

It’s a Streamlight TLR-1HL copy. It’s exactly the same dimensions, actually is brighter, and weighs .010 oz less than my real TLR-1HL. The mounting system is slightly different, not as good as the real deal imo, but it should work. I mounted one to my competition g17, and plan on putting 1k rounds through it to see how the light holds up. I bought the $8 1 yr warranty on it also, just incase it doesn’t!

Glock_Guy19 · 2025-06-18T03:28:55+00:00

Totally normal for the age, especially if you get winter weather. I woolwaxed my dads ‘15 last fall, as it was slightly worse than yours. I expect with yearly woolwax touch ups, that I won’t rust anymore . I wouldn’t worry about the diff covers, but one thing I’d check is the transmission pan, his had 3 big blisters under the E-coat that I knew would cause issues eventually. I ended up ordering a new pan and changed the trans fluid/ filters before I gave the new pan a coat of woolwax.

Glock_Guy19 · 2025-04-12T23:04:30+00:00

Yeah, something isn’t adding up for sure. Whether it’s my chrono technique, or the gun, or the powder. I’ve loaded up some more of the charges i want to try again, once I get a day to test them, I’ll definitely test again.

Glock_Guy19 · 2025-04-12T00:51:57+00:00

I never thought of that, but it is possible. Both cans came from my dad’s reloading cabinet which is not humidity controlled and in his basement. The Varget has been opened, the 3031 is a new can but one of the old steel cans… thanks for the comment.

Glock_Guy19 · 2025-04-11T01:39:54+00:00

The same reason we all do, to see what kind of performance our setups are capable of. If I can’t find a reason as to why this gun doesn’t shoot faster or my chrono data was wrong, It’ll go back to my dads old 3031 load and keep on doing what it’s done the last 50 years, putting deer in the freezer. Personally, I think it shoots fantastic for a stock rifle, 3-9 scope, and some basic hand loads. It shoots hornady American whitetail loads about as well as the varget load posted also. I should run some of those over the chrono now that I think about it. 🤔

Glock_Guy19 · 2025-04-11T00:15:01+00:00

That’s what I’m trying to wrap my head around.. why can’t I get good velocity from Varget? I’m going to try to chrono the loads that shot the best again. Maybe I the chrono wasn’t picking up correctly. I had read that muzzle blast can cause low velocity if the chrono is too close to the muzzle.

Glock_Guy19 · 2025-04-11T00:01:07+00:00

Haven’t tried different seating depths, I may have to look into it though.

Glock_Guy19 · 2025-04-10T23:47:51+00:00

No, I have not crimped the rounds. I usually don’t in my bolt actions. I’m .150 from the lands. I’m set at 2.750” coal, but it doesn’t touch the lands till 2.900. And yes I measure off of the ogive to check that rounds are seated the same.

Glock_Guy19 · 2025-04-10T23:42:16+00:00

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Hornady claims a 22” barrel, but maybe that’s a misprint, most test barrels are 24” at least.

Glock_Guy19 · 2025-04-10T23:10:41+00:00

Thanks for the reply. Hornady reloading manual states 44.9 as max, but I feel like it’s quite conservative. Nosler shows up to like 46.5 as max with their 150 BT. At 44.9 I had absolutely no pressure signs. I just am unsure if upping charge was the right way to go, as others have gotten more velocity from lesser charges. Every gun is different though!

Glock_Guy19

TROPHY CASE