When I first ran across Swampfox Tactical Optics, I was looking for a small red dot sight. At the time, I had two possible uses in mind — I had a Ruger 10/22 Takedown Charger build in progress and had hoped that the entire package would fit inside of a .50 cal ammo can. The only thing keeping this from happening was the optic I was using at the time (Vortex StrikeFire II). I also figured that if I did not like the Micro Reflex Red Dot sight on the Charger, I could use it for a future handgun build. Here are the specs on the LIBERTY and JUSTICE.
| MOA Adjustment | Dial |
| Dot Size | 3 MOA |
| Magnification | 1x |
| Lens Diameter | Liberty: 22mm Justice: 27mm |
| Illumination Positions | 10 |
| Brightness Adjustments | Up/Down Digital Press |
| Shockproof G Forces | 1500Gs |
| Waterproof | 1 Meter/ IPX7 |
| Battery Type | CR 1632 |
| Max Battery Life | Approx 1 Year Real World (Shake ‘N Wake) |
| Dimensions | Liberty: 1.78”(length) * 1.09” (width) * 1.0”(height) Justice: 1.78”(length) * 1.24” (width) * 1.04”(height) |
| Weight | 1oz without battery |
| Lens | Multi-Coated Ruby Red |
| Specialty Coatings | Anti-fog, hydrophobic, anti-scratch |
| Parallax | Parallax free @33 yards |
| Eye Relief | Unlimited |
| Mount Type | RMR |
| Chassis | 7075-T6 aircraft grade aluminum |
| Windage/Elevation Movement Range (MOA) | 45 MOA/ Total 90 MOA Range |
I initially planned to purchase the Justice, but it was OOS. Being impatient and unsure of what size I really wanted, I went with the LIBERTY and IRONSIDES SHIELD – LIBERTY. After a few hundred rounds and discovering how much I liked the LIBERTY, I bought the JUSTICE when it was back ing stock, along with the IRONSIDES SHIELD – JUSTICE and two PICATINNY MOUNTS. When I purchased the LIBERTY , the PICATINNY MOUNTS weren’t available yet.
Here are some unboxing photos of the LIBERTY and IRONSIDES SHIELD – LIBERTY.
MY OBSERVATIONS
Using both the LIBERTY and JUSTICE. over the last few months, I’ve shot ~1,000 rounds of .22 LR, 300 Blackout and 20 Gauge combined at distances up to 90 yards (max distance at my home range). Here are my observations:
- Shake ‘N Wake: After owning red dots without this feature for a few years, this has become a must for me. For a defensive weapon, having an optic that turns on whenever it is moved can save valuable seconds. Having an optic that doesn’t have dead batteries can save even more time! Over the years, I’ve replaced countless batteries, due to not turning off an optic.
- 3 MOA Dot: In my opinion, a 3 MOA is the best all around dot size — it’s not so small that it is difficult to pick up, but is small enough for precise shooting at longer distances.
- Battery Life: I’ve been using these optics several times per week over the last 5 months and have not needed to replace batteries yet. The Swampfox website says that you can expect a year of use without a battery change.
- Both Eyes Open: The thin bezel/frame of this optic (and other Micro Reflex Red Dot Sights) have enabled me to get used to and prefer shooting with both eyes open, allowing for quicker sight acquisition and better situational awareness. I barely notice the bezel, especially when compared to the tube of other styles of red dot sights (ie Vortex Strikefire, Sig Romeo5, etc).
- “Pistol Sight”: With “pistol-brace equipped firearms” being in the news lately, I personally would not use anything other than a pistol sight on a pistol-brace equipped firearm.
I honestly struggled to find something to criticize here.
- Sight adjustment: no tactile or audible clicks when adjusting the sights, which makes fine tuning more difficult
- Battery: I would prefer that this sight used the more common CR2032 (it uses the CR1632), but my understanding is that if you want a sight this small and want to use a CR2032, the battery needs to go under the unit, which would require that the sight be removed for battery replacement. I really prefer that the sight not be removed for battery replacement.
- Ghosting: At times when the sun is very bright and at just the right angle, I’ve noticed some slight “ghosting” of the dot.
LIBERTY and IRONSIDES SHIELD – LIBERTY photos.
JUSTICE and IRONSIDES SHIELD – JUSTICE photos
BOTTOM LINE
- Out of all of the red dot sights I’ve used + purchased, the Liberty & Justice represent the best value I’ve found to date, especially when you consider the 30% off Amazon Prime 2021 Kickoff Sale.
- As a consumer with a limited budget that likes to review gear, Swampfox creates a unique problem for me — while I want to try other brands + models, it’s hard to justify going with something else — I know I am getting quality from Swampfox. In addition to the Liberty and Justice Micro Reflex Red Dot Sights, I also recommend their Ironsides Shields for the optics.
- After trying numerous optics on both the 300 Blackout AR Pistol and Ruger Charger builds, the Swampfox optics are our favorites. The Justice has found a permanent home on the AR. The Liberty would be staying on the Charger if I did not have something else I want to try it on (more below).
FUTURE TESTING
- The Justice will remain on my PDW and I will continue testing it with both sub and supersonic ammunition.
- The Liberty will be installed onto a 9mm handgun. If all goes well, it will serve as my EDC firearm.
- I have two of Swampfox’s 1913 Picatinny to RMR Mounts for the Liberty and Justice. I have not yet installed them, but they seem to be solidly built. Since optics like this are used on pistols, the 1913 Picatinny low mount is sold separately.
- It will be interesting to see how long the batteries last.
(published: 10/01/20 | last update: 01/02/2021)
