Which Pistol Red Dot Sight Should You Get?
Aug 20th 2018
Which Red Dot Sight to Get and Why: Glock 19 Red Dot, RMR Sights & More
If you have already decided to get a pistol optic, but want someone to just tell you simply which red dot sight to get for your pistol, then you have come to the right place. Here is a breakdown for you and a video at the bottom to help you get what you are looking for. Scroll to the bottom for quick links to ensure you get the correct items if you are in the market. If you have not already weighed the pros and cons of red dot sights for pistols, make sure you check out this video first.
Questions on Micro Red Dot Sights (MRDS)
- WHICH DOT TECHNOLOGY? – There are 3 basic options to choose from with red dot sights on pistols: (1) Adjustable LED only, (2) Tritium dot, and (3) Dual technology which relies on tritium and LED. Because in certain lighting conditions, the tritium dot or the dual option can wash out and be invisible or hard to see, I recommend sticking with the ‘adjustable LED only‘ option. The battery life on these optics can be very high. I replace my Trijicon RMR battery once per year and that is with it being left ‘constant on’.
- WHAT MOA SIZE? – Red dots come in different sizes, ex: 6 MOA, 3.25 MOA, 1 MOA. I recommend the 3.25 MOA dot because it is small enough to allow very precise shots even at a longer distance, and a bigger dot like the 6 MOA dot does not help a shooter pick up their sights faster in my opinion.
- HOW DO I MOUNT THE RED DOT? – The best option may be getting a slide custom milled for an optic, however this can have varied results based on which company does the work, and also you have to pay a couple hundred dollars and wait for your slide to be cut. I recommend a simple and more cost effective option and that is get a gun from the factory that is already cut for an optic. I carry a Glock 19 MOS. To ensure this option works well for you, you will need to ensure you have the proper mounting plate and you blue loctite the screws (ensure you do not over or under-torque).
- WHICH BRAND SHOULD I BUY? – I will recommend what I am sure works well and I have personally used. The Trijicon RMR (preferably the RMR type 2), and the Leupold Delta Point Pro. There are other brands which are likely good options as well such as the Vortex Viper or Venom, the SIG ROMEO1, and the Aimpoint T1 or Aimpoint Nano. I would steer clear of really cheap options, as more often than not, they will fail you. Pistol optics must be extremely tough due to the constant impact of a quickly reciprocating slide.
