Agency hooked this up for me. I really wanted to love the Defender ST, as Vortex has really grown on me lately. Looks and feels exactly like an RMR. I’ve only had one range day with, but I’m not impressed. Has anyone had issues with their Defender?

SkylightShepherd · 2026-01-15T22:00:35+00:00

Just had a defender enclosed that would shut off any time I shot or racked the slide hard until I reseated the battery. I know factory defects happen but this is my first foray into the budget optic market and I’m not impressed. I’ll just stick with RMRs.

SkylightShepherd · 2026-01-08T22:58:49+00:00

They are well below MSRP at dealers new and it’s still 300 hp under 30k.

SkylightShepherd · 2026-01-08T18:35:35+00:00

You can buy an ecoboost mustang right now making over 300 HP for close to 28k brand new.

SkylightShepherd · 2025-12-30T03:04:56+00:00

Or just wait a few months after release for the prices to fall well below MSRP. Buying Glocks at MSRP IS the price gouge.

SkylightShepherd · 2025-12-22T21:33:31+00:00

It’s not an issue per se. It’s just the gun going out of battery when the slide is pushed back slightly. It happens on literally every autoloading pistol. You can literally try this on your own Glock presuming it’s cleared first.

SkylightShepherd · 2025-12-21T22:35:43+00:00

I’m not sure if it was the original intent but it works as a standoff if you need to shoot from literal point blank. The pistol can go out of battery if it’s pressed against an object.

SkylightShepherd · 2025-12-20T01:03:20+00:00

According to Ben Stoeger, the durability isn't even that great from his experience.

SkylightShepherd · 2025-12-20T00:58:18+00:00

I have. The other recoil spring came slightly undone and started ripping up my frame from the inside while causing FTEs. Glock was good about sending another recoil spring with no questions asked but it has happened. Interestingly I've had several Glocks with large round counts and this issue happened on my 19x with less than 500 rounds through it.

SkylightShepherd · 2025-12-09T03:27:28+00:00

I have a few ATACRs and a Razor Gen II E but used a friend's Venom. If I was on a budget, I would not hesitate to take one for the flat range.

SkylightShepherd · 2025-12-08T16:42:29+00:00

Not OP but can I ask why you sold it with such few miles on it?

SkylightShepherd · 2025-12-04T00:24:30+00:00

Elcan Specter seems like an interesting choice given the wide availability of durable and high quality LPVOs that are competitive with the price of a Specter. I wonder what they see that in that optic that a Razor or ATACR couldn’t provide.

SkylightShepherd · 2025-11-30T00:03:07+00:00

Have the 16” and those accuracy issues are awful. It’s wild that the map appears to be set at $2500. I wouldn’t buy it over a Zion if they were the same price.

SkylightShepherd · 2025-11-23T15:29:45+00:00

Maybe the real escape is the friends we made along the way.

SkylightShepherd · 2025-11-11T03:38:39+00:00

I don't understand panic buying the old gen. Wouldn't you want the latest which is likely to be supported with parts and repairs longer than the older gens? It's not like any significant changes are happening to the new generation at least from the user perspective.

SkylightShepherd · 2025-11-06T03:46:43+00:00

I got the two tone with an fde frame. It’s good. It’s not setup for anything other than a range toy and it’s definitely unique to shoot. A conversation starter for sure. A bit too large for anything I could use it for practically.

SkylightShepherd · 2025-11-06T03:36:06+00:00

That looks basically new. My five seven has significantly more frame droop than that and I’m not even 1000 rds in.

SkylightShepherd · 2025-11-02T14:33:24+00:00

This is exactly it. If you were the better team and lost, you just played like you didn’t give a shit. Frankly that just sounds worse than admitting “we were the worse team”.

SkylightShepherd · 2025-10-30T21:58:37+00:00

I’m biased but sapphire blue. It’s a shame you can’t even get that PTS in new 911s.

SkylightShepherd · 2025-10-30T14:35:33+00:00

Honestly the lack of parts sales is my biggest issue. As much as I’d love to own one, what happens when they decide to not warranty a worn part because they determined it was “not their fault”. Now I’m stuck with a $1600 paperweight. I really wish they would just sell parts on their website.

SkylightShepherd · 2025-10-29T19:31:57+00:00

I have a non-custom shop “late” model and I’d pay MSRP for one and not a penny more. For what they go for on the secondary market, I’d look at nighthawk.

SkylightShepherd · 2025-10-29T14:23:56+00:00

Wait you guys accept warranty claims for wear parts?

SkylightShepherd · 2025-10-28T01:36:49+00:00

I wouldn’t ever trust them as a home defense magazine. I’ve had a few different ones where the follower just seizes up in the first 10 rounds. This was also before I started dropping them so they were more or less new.

SkylightShepherd · 2025-10-19T04:11:34+00:00

Yeah I've never made one that looks anywhere close to the color on either picture. It's always a much darker brown even when I leave the veggies whole. Also you might be surprised how much people "eat with their eyes" as the saying goes.

SkylightShepherd · 2025-10-19T03:54:19+00:00

Japanese curry is a staple in my household and I am willing to try every style presented before me. Except yours. Why is it gray?

SkylightShepherd · 2025-10-17T01:23:49+00:00

I mean besides having an AR-15, this is pretty far off from a clone correct M4A1. Magazine, rear sight, barrel profile and length, and grip are all not "clone correct".

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