The Big Picture: Bushnell RXM-300 Reflex Sight

Reflex sights are so prevalent on pistols these days, I’m almost surprised when I see a pistol without one. Judging by the success of reflex sights, the gun world at large has finally conceded that it’s easier to aim using a red dot than to align traditional “iron” pistol sights. Sure, there are naysayers, who cling to rudimentary iron sights out of spite or lack of training, but like it or not, reflex sights aren’t going anywhere. In fact, virtually every major pistol manufacturer offers optic cut slides.

Granted, in close quarters, where a courser sight picture will do, iron sights are fine. However, as distance or the need for precision increases, and when time is of the essence, a reflex sight leaves iron sights in the dust. Especially a reflex sight with an enormous window and bright, crisp red dot that was developed with input from one of the best shooters in the world.

Enter the intuitive and affordable RXM-300 Reflex Sight from Bushnell, designed with the help of world champion shooter, KC Eusebio, who’s proven its value by winning four major championships with it this season. Despite its modest $300 price tag, the RXM-300 is packed with features and ruggedly built with a 7075-T6 billet aluminum housing to withstand the rigors of a reciprocating pistol slide. Just ask Eusebio, he’s fired about 30,000 rounds using his RXM-300, without issue.

The RXM-300 employs the popular Trijicon RMR/SRO footprint, but it’s not just for pistols. The RXM-300 is compatible with an array of AR-15 style rifles, as well as shotguns. It ships with a Weaver-style low-profile mount and a high-rise spacer for mounting to a Picatinny sight rail.

The most distinguishing feature of the RXM-300 is its gigantic window, which measures 28mm wide by 24mm tall. Whether for competition or self-defense, a larger optic window increases your field of view, making it easier to find the next target or the next threat, respectively. While Bushnell’s smaller RX Series Reflex Sights are better suited for concealed carry, the RXM-300 is ideal for competition or even home defense, where concealment is not a concern.

According to Eusebio, the larger window is important for shooting with speed and accuracy and given the number of world championships he’s amassed, he should know. The larger window makes it easier to find the dot initially and track it through recoil for faster, more accurate follow ups. With the RXM-300, Bushnell combined the large window with a relatively small 4 MOA dot.

Eusebio explained that if you’re going to use a big dot, you might as well use iron sights. He prefers a smaller dot, which allows him to stack rounds, even at distance. Up close, you can get by with a bigger dot, but Eusebio cautioned that at distances of 30-40 yards, big dots don’t provide a refined enough aiming point.

With a reflex sight, glass clarity is another important factor. Glass with a purplish or bluish tint can be distracting and make it more difficult to transition from target to target, according to Eusebio. The RXM-300’s window is crystal clear, which affords you an unobstructed view of your target.

The RXM-300 has a IPX7 Ingress Waterproof Rating, meaning it will withstand being submerged in up to 3 feet of water for 30 minutes. While that’s not likely to occur, rain is. If you’ve never shot a reflex sight in a downpour, let me assure you, it’s not easy. Water accumulated on the glass can make the dot do crazy things. The RXM-300’s EXO Barrier hydrophobic coating not only repels water, light debris, and contaminants from the glass, it reduces fogging.

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Another feature specific to the RXM-300 is what Bushnell refers to as “corner speed holes”. These small holes (one in each upper corners of the housing) act as crumple zones to protect the glass from severe impacts but they also provide a gross sight picture. If you glimpse daylight through the holes, the red dot should be visible through the window. In that sense, the corner speed holes are comparable to a “training wheel set” for shooters new to reflex sights, according to Eusebio.

The RXM-300 is user-friendly, with a top loading battery compartment and 12 brightness settings, the lowest two of which are night vision compatible. The settings can be toggled through manually with the up and down arrows on either side of the unit, or you can set the unit to Light Sensing Control (LSC) mode, which automatically adjusts the dot’s brightness to local lighting conditions.

A CR2032 battery powers the RMX-300 for up to 35,000 hours. A shake-awake feature saves battery life should you forget to turn the unit off. The unit will shut off after five minutes of inactivity. The slightest movement awakens the reticle.

With my pistol bench rested, I shot a 1/2” three-shot group at 15 yards to confirm zero. Then, I shot a 1” five-shot group off hand at 7 yards. I worked several presentations from a compressed ready position and from a low ready position. The dot was easy to find.

I fired several rounds with my head angled so that the dot appeared in the extreme corners of the window. Regardless of where the dot appeared within the window, if it was visible on the target, the dot turned into a 9mm bullet hole with a press of the trigger.

I used the RXM-300 in the bright Arizona sun and in a dimly lit indoor range and the dot was crisp, clear, and bright in each environment. The RXM-300 is one of the most user-friendly reflex sights I’ve ever used. The large window, glass quality, dot clarity, and corner speed holes contribute to a simplified aiming process that shooter’s new to reflex sights will appreciate.

Bushnell RXM-300 Reflex Sight

• Dot Size: 4 MOA
• Battery Type: CR2032
• Battery Life: 35,000 hours (on setting 8)
• Housing Construction: 7075 T-6 Billet Aluminum
• Lens Material: Glass with EXO-Barrier, Hydrophobic Coated
• Brightness Settings: 12
• Auto On: Shake Awake
• Auto Adjust: Auto Ambient or Manual
• Windage and Elevation Adjustment: 1 MOA/Click
• Mounting: Weaver Style Low-Profile Mount, High Rise Spacer, Trijicon RMR/SRO footprint
• Waterproof: IPX7 Rated Ingress Protection
• MSRP: $300
• Contact: Bushnell, 800-423-3537, bushnell.com