Popular Red Dot Sights Part 1: Pistols
Precision and accuracy are two things all shooters strive for. The ability to make a shot with confidence and reliably hit a target, even at further distances, can be a challenging thing. However, modern technology has made it easier than ever to experience reliable and accurate performance through the development of optics like red dot sights and holographic sights. While they may have been difficult to work with in the past, it’s now easier than ever to mount one of these optics on competition pistols as well as your EDC, making your performance more reliable than ever before.
What are Red Dots?
For those that don’t know, red dot sights, also known as “reflex sights,” are a popular type of sight used by shooters in a variety of different settings. They can excel in competition and defensive shooting, where acquiring and hitting a target as quick as possible is key. However, they also can be a fun addition to a plinking or hunting setup, reducing the amount of effort needed to hit targets at range and making it easier to have precision accuracy. Because of the ease of use, they’re a great choice for shooters who have issues with declining vision or astigmatisms, as they provide a clear sight to look at on a single plain and reduce the eye strain that’s experienced with typical iron sights.
But how do they work? The construction of these scopes is actually pretty simple. They work by reflecting a red dot from an LED onto a lens which you then look through to aim the firearm. Though they take some practice to use, red dots are generally faster and easier to use than traditional iron sights, as they allow for quick target acquisition at close range and further distances. They are also useful in low light conditions, as the illuminated dot provides a clear and visible aiming point. While some shooters do use red dots by themselves, many prefer to mount a red dot sight that’s co-witnessed by iron sights, allowing them to have the iron sights available as a backup if the red dot malfunctions or dies.
Some of Our Popular Red Dots
Now that we’ve looked at how red dots work and some of the benefits they provide, we can look at some of our top red dots for pistol use. While this is not an exhaustive list of every optic or brand on the market, these are some of our favorites in the red dot category.
Sig Sauer Romeo 1
The Sig Sauer Romeo 1 is an excellent mini red dot for use with handguns and some long guns. It provides a standard 1x optic red dot for easy target acquisition. This model features a 3 MOA red dot for target acquisition at multiple ranges. The reticle also has 10 light settings to help you easily see the dot at any time in any lighting situation.
In addition to these features, the Sig Romeo 1 has a battery life of 5,000 hours and uses a top-loaded CR1632 battery that allows you to easily change it when you need to. The lens of the Romeo 1 is aspheric, made of molded glass, and coated to allow for easy light transmittance and prevent distortion. The optic is also extremely durable, being waterproof (IPX-7 rated for complete water immersion up to 1 meter) and featuring a CNC-machined magnesium housing. It should be noted as well that additional mounting kits for other popular slide cuts are available for purchase separately.
Sig Sauer Romeo 1 Specs
| Dot Size: 3 MOA | Length: 1.80” | Brightness Settings: 10 |
| Battery Life: 5,000 hours | Weight: 0.80 oz | Battery: CR1632 |
Trijicon RMR Type 2
The Trijicon RMR is an excellent red dot for use on your pistol or other small arms. The RMR line is built to withstand anything, with an aluminum build designed to absorb the shock of being dropped and protect the lens. This means that in addition to competitive shooting or hunting, you can rely on the RMR Type 2 for use on your everyday carry. This model of the Trijicon RMR Type 2 features a 3.25 MOA red dot for easier target acquisition. Additionally, the sight features an auto-adjusting brightness mode and a battery life of approximately 2 years from the CR2032 battery.
Trijicon RMR Type 2 Specs
| Dot Size: 3.25 MOA | Length: 1.70” | Brightness: Auto-adjusting |
| Battery Life: Up to 2 years | Weight: 1.20 oz | Battery: CR2032 |
Trijicon SRO
The Trijicon SRO, or Specialized Reflex Optic, is a red dot sight designed to provide excellent performance with pistols. It gives shooters a wide field of view and a 2.5 MOA red dot, making it easy to pick it up and find the dot in a variety of shooting situations. Tracking the dot is easy as well, with the automatic brightness modes adjusting the brightness of the sight to accommodate the light levels around you.
Every Trijicon SRO features both manual and automatic LED brightness modes and a 3-year battery life. Additionally, the SRO Trijicon features a 7075-T6 aluminum construction which provides durability that you can rely on. All of these features come together to make the Trijicon SRO red dot sight a great choice in any application.
Trijicon SRO Specs
| Dot Size: 2.5 MOA | Length: 2.2” | Brightness Settings: 6 Day/2 Night |
| Battery Life: 5,000 hours | Weight: 1.60 oz | Battery: CR2302 |
Leupold DeltaPoint Pro
The Leupold Delta Point Pro is a red dot scope designed for exceptional tactical performance. A rugged and reliable optic with unparalleled clarity, it offers the ultimate adaptability to your needs in any environment. It features an ultra-compact design that easily fits in your pocket or clips onto any Picatinny rail system.
One of the biggest perks of the DeltaPoint Pro is that the battery compartment is easy to access, making it easy to change it once it dies without needing to zero in the sight again. Additionally, the DeltaPoint Pro has up to 1,600 hours of battery life. The housing of the optic is waterproof, weatherproof, and shockproof, making the DeltaPoint an optic you can depend on in any situation. This model has a 2.5 MOA red dot, making it easy to track and hit targets at a distance and at close range.
Leupold DeltaPoint Pro Specs
| Dot Size: 2.5 MOA | Length: 1.8” | Brightness Settings: 8 |
| Battery Life: 1,600 hours | Weight: 2 oz | Battery: CR2302 |
Red Dot Sights at GrabAGun
We hope you’ve enjoyed our list of top red dot sights at GrabAGun! While it’s not exhaustive, we hope it helped you learn a bit more about red dots and provide a few options for mounting one to your pistol! If you didn’t see one you were looking for on this list, feel free to browse our selection of red dot sights at GrabAGunto view our full selection! Additionally, check back next week for our part 2 of this series, red dot sights for rifles!
-Matthew Cornell