Photos By Alfredo Rico
July 06, 2020
By Richard Nance
Mounting a red-dot sight (RDS) to your pistol gives you an almost unfair advantage. However, for many shooters the question is, “Which RDS should I buy?” In an effort to help narrow your search, here are snapshots of six of the industry’s newest red-dot pistol sights.
Trijicon RMR Type 2 LED RM01 The Trijicon RMR set the standard in mini-red-dot sights (MRDS). The aptly named RMR, which is an acronym for “Ruggedized Miniature Reflex,” is uniquely shaped to protect the lens from impacts. It has proven itself for years on long guns and handguns in the law-enforcement and military arenas.
The Type 2 features upgraded electronics designed to better withstand the rigors of a reciprocating pistol slide. The concave housing makes for a relatively small objective, which can make it more challenging to pick up the red dot. However, you’ll not find a more battle-tested RDS.
Trijicon RMR Type 2 LED RM01
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Magnification: 1X Dot Size: 3.25 MOA Objective: 16mm Length: 1.8 in. Weight: 1.2 oz. Eye Relief: Unlimited Battery Life: 2 years MSRP: $649 Manufacturer: Trijicon, trijicon.com Trijicon SRO Last year, Trijicon stunned the shooting world when they introduced the Specialized Reflex Optic (SRO). Already owning a respectable share of the red-dot pistol market, many wondered why Trijicon would come out with a product that would potentially compete with the RMR.
From its introduction, the SRO had some big shoes to fill. Fortunately, the SRO shares the RMR’s footprint, so it fits perfectly in slides milled for the RMR.
The SRO distinguishes itself from the RMR by its noticeably taller and rounded objective lens, which makes it easier to find the dot. While not quite as overbuilt as the RMR, the SRO is plenty sturdy for competition or personal defense.
Trijicon SRO
Magnification: 1X Dot Size: 1, 2.5, 5 MOA Objective: 25mm Length: 2.2 in. Weight: 1.6 oz. Eye Relief: Unlimited Battery Life: 3 years MSRP: $749 Manufacturer: Trijicon, trijicon.com SIG Sauer ROMEO3MAX Designed in collaboration with IPSC World Champion and SIG Sauer Team Captain Max Michel, the ROMEO3MAX features a 30mm objective lens to maximize the shooter’s field of view. A red-notch filter provides a crisp red dot and a crystal-clear lens.
Whether you choose the 3- or 6-MOA version, the ROMEO3MAX’s dot enables you to get on target quickly, an important skill in competition and on the street.
In recent years, SIG Sauer has been manufacturing more optics. Quality craftsmanship and input from a world champion shooter seems to be a winning combination. Whether it’s on a SIG Sauer firearm or not, the ROMEO3MAX is a viable option.
SIG Sauer ROMEO3MAX
Magnification: 1X Dot Size: 3 or 6 MOA Objective: 30mm Length: 2.1 in. Weight: 1.5 oz. Eye Relief: Unlimited Battery Life: 2.85 years MSRP: $780 Manufacturer: SIG Sauer, sigsauer.com Aimpoint ACRO P-1 “ACRO” stands for Advanced Combat Reflex Sight, and the “P-1” indicates the sight was designed specifically for pistols.
The ACRO P-1 appears bulkier than other pistol RDSs thanks to its enclosed design. Its footprint, however, is actually the same as the RMR and the DeltaPoint Pro. The ACRO P-1’s closed-emitter protects internal components from rain and other environmental hazards that can wreak havoc on the more commonly used open-emitter sights.
The ACRO P-1 was torture tested by riding on the slide of a .40 S&W pistol for over 40,000 rounds. The fact that there were no failures is a testament to the ACRO P-1’s durability.
Aimpoint ACRO P-1
Magnification: 1X Dot Size: 3.5 MOA Objective: 30mm Length: 1.9 in. Weight: 2.10 oz. Eye Relief: Unlimited Battery Life: 1.5 years MSRP: $677 Manufacturer: Aimpoint, aimpoint.com Leupold DeltaPoint Pro The DeltaPoint Pro was developed with input from U.S. Special Operations. It features a large objective lens that’s parallax free, making it easy to see the dot even when your pistol isn’t perfectly aligned.
As an accessory, a rear sight can be added to the DeltaPoint Pro that can co-witness with the dot. This redundancy in sighting options is critical in both combat and personal defense.
To preserve battery life, the DeltaPoint Pro uses Motion Sensor Technology. This well-designed red-dot sight is what you’d expect from a company that built its reputation on manufacturing high-quality rifle scopes.
Leupold DeltaPoint Pro
Magnification: 1X Dot Size: 2.5 MOA Objective: 25mm Length: 1.8 in. Weight: 1.1 oz. Eye Relief: Unlimited Battery Life: Not available MSRP: $520 Manufacturer: Leupold, leupold.com Shield RMSc Little brother to the popular Shield RMS, the RMSc is specifically designed for subcompacts like the Glock 43, SIG Sauer P365 and the Springfield Armory Hellcat. As such, the Shield RMSc has been flying off the shelves at Brownells, their U.S. distributor.
The Shield RMSc is available with either a 4- or 8-MOA dot. Its narrower profile prevents it from extending beyond the slide of subcompact pistols, making them more comfortable to carry concealed. The Shield RMSc also makes it easier to shoot subcompact pistols accurately.
Shield RMSc
Magnification: 1X Dot Size: 4 or 8 MOA Length: 1.7 in. Weight: .57 oz. Eye Relief: Unlimited Battery Life: 2.5 years MSRP: $400 Manufacturer: Shield Sights, shieldpsd.com To read more articles like this, click here to purchase a print or digital copy of Red Dot.
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