Estimated reading time: 7 minutes
The very well-defined red dot lined up right on the thug’s forehead. Each of my first four shots touched. Just when I was feeling like an Olympic shooter, I pulled Shot #5 to the left. I took several seconds to curse myself, then took a breath, realigned my red dot sight on my target, and shot once more. This last shot put me back in the main group.
The “thug” was a Bad Guy Shoot-N-C reactive target made by Birchwood Casey. That precise red dot was courtesy of the Reflex Mini Sight Compact (RMSc) Glass Edition from Shield Sights Ltd., which I’d mounted on a Springfield Armory Echelon 9MM.
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Group size of the five shots touching, .60-inches, with that one outlier to the left, all rounds shot from 12 yards and a rest.
I was testing the RMSc red dot at my outdoor range. This was the last of three sessions with the red dot, shot in various lighting conditions from low overcast to bright and sunny. Every session with the Shield Reflex Mini Sight Compact led me to the same conclusion: one very impressive reflex sight.
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RMS Footprint
If you’re a pistol shooter, no doubt you’ve heard of red dots made with the Shield “footprint” for the mounting of the optic. Well, that footprint or mounting system is the creation of no other than Shield Sights LTD. Based in Bridport, Dorset, England, Shield Sights has been producing a variety of firearm accessories since the 1980s.
Recently, the company introduced the Reflex Mini Sight Compact, taking the company’s popular RMS Shield reflex and slimming it down to fit on single-stack pistols like the Glock43, the Smith & Wesson Shield, and the 1911.
The red dot features a low-profile, aerospace aluminum frame design, allowing a shooter to co-witness with iron sights. The Compact also sports an all-new, scratch-resistant glass lens, a real departure from the original RMS which was built with a poly lens. Shield upgraded the electronics on this newer sight, too, with improved battery contacts within the same frame.
The RMSc Glass operates on an auto-brightness system—no manual brighter/less bright controls, and it worked well throughout my shooting.
Elevation and windage are controlled via tiny Allen screws, with the help of a “MiniDial.” More on that below.
Easy Mounting
I mount the RMSc Glass onto a Springfield Armony Echelon, for two reasons. One, I knew this was a quality 9MM pistol, having reviewed it and used it on other reflex optic reviews. And two, the Echelon features Springfield’s special slide cut and mounting system which allows one to attach optics with RMS Shield, Trijicon RMR, and Leupold DeltaPoint Pro footprints, among others.
The RMSc went onto my Echelon easily, once I put the correct mounting pins into the slide cut. It tightened down nicely without the need for thread locker (although using thread locker is certainly a good idea).
Shooting Time With the RMSc
At my outdoor range, I initially zeroed the Shield and Echelon at 12 yards, shooting from a rest. No surprise that my first shots were considerably off target. But instead of what I usually have to do with red dots—which is to click the windage and elevation and essentially “walk” my shots into the bullseye—I used the MiniDial which came with the RMSc package.
I pushed one end of the small Allen wrench (included) through the middle of the MiniDial. Next, I inserted that wrench end into the elevation or windage control. I then followed the instructions printed on the MiniDIal as to how many clicks would move the point of impact and how far. It worked very nicely.
Once zeroed, I shot groups offhand and from a rest. The best groups included the Bad Guy shooting mentioned above, as well as two six-shot clusters at .90 inches done offhand at five yards.
Precision and AUTO Illumination
The RMSc Glass Edition features one of the most precise red dots I’ve ever used. I can only think of a couple of sights with equally precise dots, and they run nearly double the suggested retail of this reflex optic. I assume the sight’s very clear glass lens has a good deal to do with the sharp-edged precision of the dot, as well as some first-rate LED electronics.
I usually prefer red dots with manual brightness controls. Most of the units equipped only with auto brightness controls don’t quite do the job for me, especially when lighting conditions go from very bright to darker and vice versa. My own eyes, of course, could very well be a factor in this. Yet, I experienced zero situations with the Reflex Mini Sight Compact where I wished the dot was brighter or less bright.
I used the RMSc inside my house, too, in fairly dark conditions (no shooting, obviously!), and the dot popped nicely. Good to know for potential home defense applications.
The RMSc Is Ready To Go
As a package, the Reflex Mini Sight Compact came with the optic and a rubberized protective cover, the MiniDial, Allen wrenches for both the elevation/windage controls and to tighten the provided screws to mount the optic onto a handgun, and a low-profile Glock MOS plate.
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Also, the RMSc box contained a single CR2032 battery, and small poly washers to go between the optic and/or MOS plate when mounting the unit. A handy instruction manual completed the package.
The Shield RMSc Glass version is a quality red dot that will provide years of use and will greatly complement smaller concealed carry-style pistols. Prices on the Internet are wide-ranging, from $440 down to $283. If you can score this optic for under $300? I’d rate that a damned good price for a first-rate reflex.
SPECS: Shield Reflex Mini Sight Compact Reflex
Magnification: 1X
Red Dot Size Options: 4 MOA (as tested) or 8 MOA Dot
Lens: Clear, Scratch-Resistant Glass
Lens Coatings: Si02 Quartz and Anti-Reflection
Battery: One 3V lithium battery, CR2032
Battery Life: 1 to 3 years with average use
Illumination Adjustment: Fast Automatic Brightness System
Exterior Housing: Aerospace Grade Aluminum, Matte Black
Dimensions (Length x Width x Height) 1.7 x 1.0 x 0.9 In.
Weight: 0.61 ounces
MISC: Wide Range of Mounts Available.
WEB Prices: $283 to $440.
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Several common issues very pertinent for a RDS reviewarenot covered. I don’t see a battery port on the exterior. This leaves the assumption of having to remove the optic for battery change (potential Zero shift). No mention of battery life. No comment if it has a Shake Awake feature which is a desirable and common on most RDS.
This looks like it will mount in the J-Point (Tasco Optima) footprint. Am I wrong?
The JPoint uses the SHIELD footprint so yes it will fit.