Sightmark Strikon VMP 1–4×22 Review – a prism scope with adjustable magnification

Does this Strikon fits the RRA? / Photos: Łukasz Kołodziejski, MILMAG

I’ve been wondering lately what to put on my AR-15 platform rifle – I mean the RRA with the bare rail, which I reviewed last year. It turns out I’ve accomplished a lot in my life, including developing astigmatism 🙂 From talking with my shooting buddies, it’s not some exceptionally rare achievement.

So what do you do when the nice ophthalmologist tells you you’d need glasses for every distance you shoot at? I know glasses aren’t cheap, and just now try putting together something like a bandolier to stick ten pairs of glasses into… Not exactly practical.

That’s why I started looking for something to make my life easier at the range.

First thought – a red dot sight. I have one on a pistol and it works great. The problem is that with a rifle you sometimes shoot at longer distances, so it would be nice to bring the aiming point, or the target itself, a bit closer.

So maybe a magnifier? Sure, that’s an option, but then it’s yet another piece of gear that needs to be matched and set up properly for your eye, mounted in front of the red dot, then flipped out of the way again… A lot of adjusting, and let’s be honest – people tend to get lazier with age 🙂

So maybe an LPVO? They’re nice, sure, but the good ones are expensive. They’re also kind of big and heavy… I know, I know, I’m being picky.

And then, as usual, the Editor from MILMAG comes along with a suggestion: “Want to test an optic?” Well of course I do. And that’s how I ended up receiving the Sightmark Strikon VMP 1–4×22 for review.

I’ll admit that I’m not an optics expert. It’s true that I’ve handled quite a few different sights, and I’ve even looked through some of them 😉 The name Sightmark had mostly just come up in passing, so out of journalistic duty, and simple curiosity, I decided to look up some information.

The company is based in the United States. They made their debut in the shooting optics field at SHOT Show in 2007. In 2011, they moved into a new, large headquarters in Mansfield – Texas, of course. This made it possible to bring multiple technological processes together under one roof. The company has received several awards in its field and has also patented a number of its own solutions. Sightmark now has representation in more than 40 countries.

According to their website, they focus on “Quality, Precision, Support.” As far as my foreign-language skills go, that translates to a commitment to quality, manufacturing precision, accuracy, and customer support. Sounds good.

Their product lineup includes scopes, red dot sights, magnifiers, and various lasers, including ones designed for weapon zeroing. Sightmark’s target audience includes sport shooters, hunters, uniformed services, and, as one Polish distributor aptly put it, “the general public.”

I also came across night vision devices and thermal imaging equipment, as well as mounts for accessories. So they offer a broad range of products, but everything revolves around optics for shooters.

Sightmark products are covered by a Limited Lifetime Warranty, which means lifetime coverage – but under certain conditions. Those conditions can be found on the manufacturer’s website. In short: if you use the product as intended and don’t go poking around inside it with your hands, you’re good 😉

After opening the box – surprise. The size is actually quite nice, the weight is noticeable but not intrusive, interesting… The manufacturer states that the optic measures 148 × 56.5 × 78.3 mm, and its weight is exactly 530 g with the mount installed (in a configuration with the optical axis at a height of 1.54 inches).

An interesting size – the Sightmark Strikon VMP 1–4×22

The Strikon VMP 1–4×22 is described as a compact scope. Inside the box, you’ll find a set of parts and accessories.

The contents of the box that houses the Sightmark Strikon VMP 1–4×22

In one of the photos above, take note of the two identical black plates. These are mounting components in the Aimpoint Micro standard.

Twins

All in all, the set includes three plates of the same height – 0.39 inches (0.99 cm). So where did the third one go?

Triples

This solution allows the scope to be mounted at four different height levels, namely:

1. without any spacers — the lowest setup, with the optical axis at 29 mm (1.15 inches),
2. using 1 spacer — an optical axis height of 39 mm (1.54 inches), corresponding to a 1/3 co-witness,
3. using 2 spacers — 49 mm (1.93 inches),
4. using 3 spacers — 59 mm (2.32 inches).

I like this approach, because there’s no need to buy anything extra and everyone can set up the optic exactly the way they prefer.

This is what the Sightmark Strikon VMP 1–4×22 mount looks like from the side, using one spacer plate

Once the mounting height has been selected, the whole assembly needs to be tightened down and secured to the Picatinny rail using the dedicated, adjustable clamping “jaw.”

A view of the adjustable mount of the Sightmark Strikon VMP 1–4×22 scope

We’re dealing here with a prism optic that truly delivers a true 1× image. So what’s there to get excited about? Well, the fact that we get adjustable magnification from 1 to 4×. You won’t find that in other prism optics, at least not yet. And certainly not implemented the way it is in the Strikon VMP.

When it comes to magnification adjustment, there’s a lever on the front of the scope body dedicated to this function. Interestingly, the manufacturer anticipated that some users prefer thicker… that is, levers, so they included a more substantial one as well 🙂 As it turns out, I actually liked that one more.

Thick and thin, interchangeable on the scope

On both sides of the magnification ring there’s a four-step scale, so if there’s ever any doubt, you can always glance left or right to confirm which magnification level you’re currently on. The adjustment itself is very smooth, yet offers just the right amount of resistance. You can operate it either using the selected lever or by gripping the entire ring.

View of the magnification adjustment ring on the Sightmark Strikon VMP 1–4×22, with scales on both sides

Once we have magnification adjustment, we can also fine-tune the focus for a chosen distance. This is done using a large, knurled ring located at the rear of the scope. Operating it is trouble-free and, again, offers appropriately tuned resistance.

The image focus adjustment ring on the Sightmark Strikon VMP 1–4×22

At the front, the Sightmark Strikon VMP 1–4×22 is equipped with a screw-on anti-reflection honeycomb-style cover. It is slightly visible in the field of view, but it’s not something I particularly noticed, and it didn’t interfere with aiming at the target.

A honeycomb sunshade on the front of the scope

All right, but what do you actually see when you look through the scope? Well, inside you’ll find the CRF-4 MIL reticle.

The reticle of the Sightmark Strikon VMP 1–4×22, image from the user manual / Sightmark

The reticle is adjusted using low-profile turrets. Elevation is set via the top turret, while windage is adjusted with the turret on the right side of the scope. The turrets can be operated with your fingers, even while wearing gloves (preferably thinner ones), or with the dedicated tool included in the kit. The clicks are very satisfying. They require a bit of force to turn, which is a good thing, as it reduces the risk of accidentally shifting the point of aim.

The scope’s point-of-aim adjustment turrets

For those who want it, the center of the reticle can be illuminated. And just like that, we get ourselves a “red dot” with 11 illumination settings, including two designed for night vision use. The desired brightness level is selected using large buttons on the top of the scope body. Clicking them is a great stress reliever – especially since they’re easy to find by feel. Just in case, the buttons are also outlined with a red frame.

A “stress reliever,” meaning the brightness adjustment for the reticle’s center dot

As you might expect, the manufacturer included a motion-activation feature charmingly called Shake Awake. This function automatically turns off the illumination after 10 minutes of inactivity. A nice touch when it comes to saving battery life.

Speaking of the battery, one is included with the scope – it’s a CR2032. All you need to do is remove two screws from the battery compartment cover on the rear right side of the Strikon VMP, slide out the tray, and insert it with the battery, feeding the beast… In case memory fails you, once the cover is removed you’ll find the battery type marked, along with a “–” symbol indicating the correct orientation.

The battery compartment cover

All right, all the preparatory maneuvers checked off, almost like a shuttle launch from Cape Canaveral…

The scope itself is pleasant to operate and features a finish that feels good in the shooter’s hands, thanks to the textured 6061-T6 aluminum it’s made from. Peace of mind is further enhanced by the IP67 rating. This standard tells the user that the optic is dustproof and resistant to immersion in water for up to 30 minutes at a depth of 1 meter. Swimming with it is not recommended, but if it gets caught in the rain or you drop the rifle into a puddle, it’ll just shake off the water and keep working.

The first thing that stands out is the image – razor sharp – and a true 1× magnification. The picture is clear, with no noticeable distortion. At first, I had trouble finding the reticle, and the image seemed oddly small, almost tunnel-like… It turned out that I had instinctively mounted the scope on the rail above the chamber area and had to move it all the way forward on the rail to get a full view through the objective. It’s also possible that the mount will need to be raised using the included spacers, because on an AR platform the charging handle ends up right under the optic.

It got a bit crowded on that rifle, sir…

On the one hand, that’s fine, because the weight of the scope shifts toward the rear of the firearm, so it’s not felt as much. On the other hand, if you don’t have an ambidextrous charging handle, you’ll either need to adjust your manual of arms or add spacers and re-zero the reticle.

The Sightmark Strikon VMP 1–4×22 will quickly remind you how you’re supposed to hold the rifle while shooting. If your grip is too loose, the reticle will immediately slip out of view; if your stance is off, you’ll be chasing it around the course 🙂 You need to get used to it. After all, this is an optical system with magnification, so we’re dealing with an exit pupil.

I’ll put it this way: with my astigmatism, it’s fantastic. I’d previously tested prism optics on various occasions and had already started leaning toward this solution. The Sightmark Strikon VMP 1–4×22 only reinforced my belief that this is a good idea… and with the added ability to magnify up to 4× and illuminate the reticle—what more could you want? Operating the magnification is very intuitive and doesn’t require much searching to move the adjustment ring. That said, you still need to hold the rifle firmly, or the reticle will wander.

On top of that, the scope is compact in its own way and looks downright cool 🙂 It’s a shame I have to give it back to the manufacturer…

The badass Sightmark Strikon VMP 1–4×22 on an RRA rifle

Do you want a scope, a prismatic red dot, or a magnifier? Is it possible to combine their features into a single product? Yes!

You ask, you get it. A combination of different benefits rolled into one. A simple and stable mounting system. Additional accessories, such as tools, a battery, covers, a cleaning cloth, and various screws, make it easy to tailor the Sightmark Strikon VMP 1–4×22 to your needs. On top of that, the manual is clear and easy to understand.

The Sightmark Strikon VMP 1–4×22 in all its glory

Adapting it to a vision defect and shooting with this kind of assistance is pure pleasure. And that crisp, clean image in the optic… Ah, you get used to good things quickly, and once again, it’s a shame it has to be returned…

This year it’s already after Santa, but as soon as there’s an opportunity – maybe Valentine’s Day or something like that – a Sightmark scope will find its way onto my rifle.

We would like to thank Sellmark for providing the equipment for testing.

Advertising cooperation. Product tests are conducted independently, and the opinions expressed are solely those of the author. The advertiser has no ability to influence the content of the review.