Red Dots

I don’t envy the Aimpoint engineer who drew the Micro S-1 assignment. Developing a plug-and-play red dot for a wide variety of shotguns must have been a nightmare. Most shotguns aren’t designed with optics in mind. Fortunately for us, Aimpoint’s engineers figured it out.

In the interest of a look toward the future, we decided to have a shoot-off of some of the most popular brands of 9mm pistol with a factory red dot mount option. There can be only one! So, let’s get them out on the range and in the hands of some different shooters and see what comes out on top.

What’s the difference then between Gen4 and Gen4 MOS pistols? Also, what does MOS mean? Glad you asked. MOS stands for Modular Optics System, which in five dollar words means you can put a red dot sight on it.

For those who want all the advantages of a red dot on their pistol, Springfield Armory is answering the call early on by offering a new version of their time-proven and hugely popular XDM pistol. It is called the OSP for “Optical-Sight Pistol.”

The new Shield Mini Sights are made of polymer. That alone is news enough–but the lens is polymer, too. Those used to steel and aluminum and glass will find this new combination

I hate to kill a sacred cow for all you tactical ninjas out there, but in most cases a magnified optic is better than a red dot.

The Micro Dot from Primary Arms is rugged, waterproof, and unbelievably inexpensive. If you’re in the market for a solid optic, and aren’t willing to invest in some of the more expensive options on the market–the Micro is a great option. We’ve been kicking this one around for two years now with no issues.

From a distance, the Burris AR-1X is just another red dot sight wrapped up in a different look, however that would be the incorrect assumption. This Burris AR-1X has features which make me feel that this may be one of the better red dots on the market. And it isn’t going to break the bank.

Introduced at SHOT Show 2011, the Aimpoint Patrol Rifle Optic (PRO) entered the competitive red dot market with a host of features designed specifically for the Law Enforcement Officer (LEO). Aimpoint, which has been in the red dot business since 1974, took its years of experience as well as input from LEO professionals to create an optic that is optimized for the LEO mission field and the LEO wallet. The features of the PRO are vast, and while Aimpoint has other red dot optics in its product inventory that may appear comparable, none could match the MSRP of $440.

The catch, at the time, was it was specifically made for LEO and could only be bought from an authorized Aimpoint Dealer. Of course with that kind of price point for a top-notch optic, everyone wanted to get his hands on one (or four). The general public was initially frustrated by the lack of availability, but Aimpoint wanted to make sure the LEO community was the first to get the PRO. Some civilians (like me) were able to get the PRO from other sources a few months down the road, but pickings were slim and disappeared very quickly. Eventually, like everything, the mystique of the optic and its “unobtainable” status faded away. Aimpoint now offers the PRO as part of its commercial line, available to the American shooting public. Even as we enter 2014, the Aimpoint Patrol Optic is still one of the most affordable, well-rounded and robust red dots on the market. I have used red dot optics that are lighter and smaller, but for my money it is hard to beat the PRO for what you get.