#DefenderCCW

Hello and welcome to another edition of The Rimfire Report! This ongoing series is all about the rimfire firearm world and its many types of guns, ammunition, and shooting sports! This week we’re diving back into another firearm chambered just in 22LR – the KelTec P17, but this time we’re talking about a new addition to the lineup for the P17 that many people have been waiting for – an optics-ready slide. KelTec is known for producing innovative and affordable firearms, and the KelTec P17 is no exception. The P17 is a reliable and fairly accurate pistol chambered in .22 LR that has gained a lot of popularity among shooters mostly for its price of just $199. However, many users wanted to improve the P17’s performance by adding a red dot sight. In response to this demand, KelTec recently released a new P17 replacement slide that includes a factory-installed red dot sight. In this edition of The Rimfire Report, we’ll take a closer look at the evolution of the P17 platform and how well the new slide provides customers with a turnkey solution for those who want to run the P17 with a red dot.

In the past five years, there has been an absolute boom in new micro-compact pistols. What followed was optics-ready models of those micro-compact pistols. With only a sparse amount of “micro-optics” and seldom in supply or at a feasible price point it was only a matter of time before other brands stepped up to the plate with their own offerings. Several footprints and types have made their mark in this timeframe but most are fragile and expensive. I am excited to say that now it is Vortex Optics’ turn in the spotlight. Today I am glad to introduce the Vortex Defender CCW 3 MOA Red Dot. Let’s dive right into my review!

The past few years have seen an absolute boom in micro-compact handguns and micro red dots to pair with them. I am happy to introduce the new Defender CCW Micro Red Dot from Vortex Optics. Their new red dot is touted as having one of the largest windows as far as micro red dots go. It features a rugged construction with an aspherical lens for a distortion-free sight picture and truer colors as well as a ShockShield™ Polymer Insert for shock absorption and added durability.