4 Best Pistol Red Dots [2024 Review and Tips] Home / Pistol Anatomy / Sights / Red Dot Sights

4 Best Pistol Red Dots [2024 Review and Tips]

Image of Bryan Hill, Founder of Pistol Wizard Bryan Hill / October 01 2024

Red dot sights are popular on rifles, and they're growing more popular with pistols.

Are they right for you?

We'll feature real-world incidents and data from competition and experiments to answer:

The pros and cons of pistol red dots
How to tell which red dot is best
Whether pistol red dots are worth it
The basics of getting started with a red dot.

Pistol Red Dot Pros and Cons

Pros

With a red dot, you can focus on your target while aiming. All you need is to see the target and the dot through the dot's window, and the dot will tell you where you'll hit.

Also, looking through a red dot compared to iron sights is like looking at a big screen TV instead of a phone. It's much easier to see your target and where your sights are on it.

Precise shooting. Long-range shots and precise shots are much easier.
Police sometimes need that:
Overcoming poor eyesight. Cross-eye dominant? Older shooter? No problem.
Low-light shooting. A red dot is better than the best night sights in the dark.
Threat focus in self-defense. In a life-or-death struggle, our instincts force us to focus on the threat. Red dots work with these instincts instead of against them.
Situational awareness. Since you can focus on your target(s) instead of the front sight, you can adapt to changes in the environment. This isn't a big deal on the range. But in a fight for your life? It's gold.
Shooting on the move. More situational awareness means you can move and hit targets while moving. Again, not a thing you notice on the range, but you will when the targets shoot back.
Shooting moving targets. In a real gunfight, people move. As long as you can keep the dot in the window, it's easy to hit moving targets with a red dot.

Cons

Cost ($350+). A tough dot costs at least $250. A mount costs at least $100.
Needs suppressor-height iron sights ($100+) if you want irons as a backup.
Learning curve (3+ hours). It's mostly learning how to see the dot fast.
Not for pocket pistols. If you mount a red dot on a pocket pistol, it'll be too tall to fit in most pockets, and present a snagging hazard.
Maintenance. Battery replacements and cleaning cost more time and money.
Weapon light compatibility. In low-light with a weapon-mounted light (WML), the dot can wash out unless it's turned to max brightness. Some dots have an automatic mode, but it sometimes doesn't work right.
Can't be a ninja. When in the dark, a red dot on max brightness lights you up, too.

What Makes a Good Pistol Red Dot?

Tough. It must stay accurate and work after falling at least 5 ft. on concrete.
Long battery life (2+ years) reduces maintenance costs.
Low deck height, or how low the window sits on the slide. The lower it is, the more it's like aiming with iron sights. It also makes it easier to aim at close targets.
Top or side-loading battery so you don't have to dismount the red dot to change the battery.
This also makes the deck height lower than when the battery sits below the window.
Big window size makes a dot easier to learn and use.
Wider makes faster target transitions (switching from one target to another, or tracking a moving target).

Taller makes it easier to find on presentation.
It also makes faster follow up shots for some. You're less likely to lose sight of the dot on recoil with a bad grip. With good grip technique, the dot just returns to where it was before you fired.
Large ring around the dot makes a dot easier to learn and use.
Lightweight, (2 oz. or less) so it doesn't affect your slide weight and recoil.

What MOA for Pistol Red Dot?

For a pistol red dot, 3 or 6 MOA are the most common dot sizes.

3 MOA

More precise for long-range shots.
More info on what you're aiming at, since the dot covers less of the window.
Better for dots with a larger dot mode, like Holosun red dots.
Harder to find the dot if you're new to red dots, or if it doesn't have a larger dot mode.

6 MOA

Easier for beginners to find the dot, if the red dot has no other dot modes.
Better for close-range shots.
Tougher long-range shots.

The best of both worlds is a 2-3 MOA dot with another mode for close-range shots (Holosun has a 32 MOA ring mode):

The ring on the Holosun can be shut off, so you can use it until you can find the 2 MOA dot.

But if you put in serious training on your grip and presentation, a 2 or 3 MOA dot by itself is good.

How to Use a Pistol Red Dot Sight

Finding the Dot Faster

It's going to take a lot of practice. Some things to keep in mind:

You can do most of this practice with a dry (unloaded) pistol.
If your grip is off, your sights will be off when you present the pistol. So check your grip technique.
To first find the dot, bring your pistol close to your face. Line up the pistol's back plate (or hammer) with the tip of your nose. You should be able to see the dot. Press out the pistol slowly, keeping the dot in the window.
Focus on your pistol presentation in dry practice. You can do this in the free dry fire app with Draw (Step 2 to 3).
When you present the pistol, keep your head still. Let the pistol's sight come up to your eye. With fewer moving parts, it's easier to get a consistent presentation.
Use a red dot designed to help you find the dot, like the Holosun 507c with ACSS reticle. More on that below.

Zeroing a Red Dot on a Pistol

Point of aim is where your sights say you'll hit.
Point of impact is where you actually hit relative to where you aimed.
A target showing point of aim vs. point of impact.
Zeroing a sight means to set your point of aim equal to your point of impact at a specific distance. Since bullets travel in an arc, this affects your point of impact at all other distances.
Holdover is how you compensate with the sights so you hit where you intend.

If your eyesight is good, zero your dot for 25 yards. Otherwise, zero for 10 yards.

10 yard zero holdovers:

5 yards: Aim 1 inch high.
15 yards: 1/2 inch low.
25 yards: 1 inch low.
50 yards: 6 inches low.

25 yard zero holdovers:

5 yards: Aim 1 inch high.
10 yards: 3/4 inch high.
15 yards: 1/2 inch high.
50 yards: 1 inch low.

How do you zero your red dot? First, prepare for a range trip. You'll need:

At least 20 rounds of ammo (your defensive ammo, ideally)
Your pistol (with red dot installed)
A rest: a dedicated pistol rest , a small sandbag, bag of rice, or bag of ammo.
Some Shoot N'C Targets (Check price @ Amazon )

Next, the procedure:

At the range, on the firing line, place a Shoot N'C target on your target.
Place your target at the desired range.
Adjust your red dot so it matches up with your front iron sight.
Turn down your red dot's brightness as low as you can.
Unload your pistol. Point it downrange and and do some dry fire trigger presses. Make sure the dot doesn't move when you press the trigger.
Load your pistol. Take aim on the target, either with your usual firing grip, or resting the pistol's grip on your rest (sandbag, etc.).
Fire on the target, ensuring the dot doesn't move during the trigger press.
Repeat the previous step 2 more times, aiming at the exact same spot on the target each time.
Note where the bullets hit the target.
If there's a lot of variation, estimate the average point of impact.
Put the pistol back on your rest, and line it up on the target like you did before.
Dial the red dot's sight so the dot covers where you actually hit the target (or the average point of impact. So if you hit 2" high and 4" right, move the dot so it would cover a spot on that target 2" high and 4" right of where you aimed before.
To verify, line up your aim on the rest and fire on the target again.
If your last shot was way off, start over. Have the best shooter at the range do the firing to make sure the dot doesn't move due to trigger press.

Are Pistol Red Dot Sights Worth It?

It depends. If you're using a pocket pistol, a laser sight is better.

If you haven't taken any training classes or competed at USPSA B class or above, a laser is probably better. Otherwise, it's a wash. For more info, see Red Dot vs. Laser: Head to Head.

For compact pistols and larger, it's complicated. Let's walk through some data to get a clearer picture.

USPSA Production vs. Carry Optics (2019)

Points and time on USPSA Carry Optics vs. Production classifiers (2019)
In competitive shooting, classifiers are short stages that test a few shooting skills at a time. Your 6 most recent classifiers rank you for competitions. Your rank can be:

Grandmaster
Master
A Class
B Class
C Class
D Class

Masters compete with Masters, and so on. Some examples of classifiers:

Divisions have their own rules. USPSA's Open division has almost no limits on what you can shoot. Their Production division only allows pistols with minimal upgrades. And their Carry Optics division is like its Production division, except:

Slide-mounted red dot sights are allowed.
There's no 10-round magazine limit.

How did Production shooters score vs. Carry Optics shooters? How much does a red dot sight help someone shooting a production pistol?

Key Takeaways

Assume the general public competes in USPSA D class (bottom 40%).
Both Production and Carry Optics divisions shot about the same speed.
Carry optics shooters averaged 15% more accurate, making better hits.
Most the gains from red dots were from B class shooters (top 60-79%) and up. In the chart below, the further a thin colored line is to the right of its thicker version, the more gains.
For B class or higher shooters, red dots offer 15-20% more accuracy.
Most of the red dot gains were from stages with shots over 10 yds., or head shots.

Red Dot in Force-on-Force (2017)

Miniaturized Red Dot Systems for Dut Handgun Use (2017)
This used force-on-force scenarios to test red dots vs. iron sights.

Key Takeaways

Those using a MRDS had significantly higher rates of using their sights.

A map of where hits occurred, below. The shaded areas show vital areas. Headshots can get an immediate stop, and shots to the heart can get a stop within 10 seconds.
The MRDS had significantly fewer misses, and significantly more critical (vital) hits.
With a pistol, one must hit the head or heart to stop a threat fast. Otherwise, the threat can keep attacking if it chooses to.
The accuracy gains found in competitive shooting may be magnified in defensive use.
The methodology of this study isn't ideal, but it's the only data available for red dots vs. irons in self defense.

Red Dot in Timed Drills (2017)

Red Dot Study – Key Points (2017)
Conducted by Karl Rehn of KR Training. Participants tested on timed firing drills at 5 and 10 yards. They did 10 or fewer dry fire presentations per sight type before testing began.

Key Takeaways

Participants performed better with iron sights than red dots.
Lasers (especially green lasers) were comparable to irons.
At close range and with little practice or training, red dots performed much worse.
This study highlights the need to train and practice with a red dot. It is not an easy shortcut to better shooting.
It also reveals an easy learning curve for lasers.

Comparative Pistol Project (2011)

Comparative Pistol Project (2011)
This took 27 students, split them up into an iron sight group and a red dot group, and tested them:

Stage 1: untimed fire at 15 yds, 1 target, 10 shots total.
Stage 2: timed strings of 2 shots at 5 yds, 1 target, 20 shots total.
Stage 3: timed strings of 2 shots at 10 yds, 1 target, 10 shots total.
Stage 4: timed strings of 2 shots at 10 yds, 2 targets 2 yds apart, 12 shots total.

Key Takeaways

Both groups had about the same number of hits.
They were also about the same speed on the timed stages.
However, the red dot shooters had significantly better hits than iron sight shooters. Their hits were in vital areas instead of non-vital areas.
With pistols, shot placement is critical to stopping threats quickly.

Pistol Red Dot vs. Iron Sights: Final Verdict

Red dots gave well-trained shooters better accuracy at the same speed as iron sights.
Accuracy with a pistol is key to stopping threats quickly.
Accuracy gains mainly came from training and practice.
A red dot and some training are valuable investments for self-defense. If you can only afford one, get the training.
If you have eyesight issues and can't use iron sights, a laser sight is good if you don't have training.

4 Best Pistol Red Dots

Best Pistol Red Dot for Pros

Best Pistol Red Dot for Carry Optics Competitions

2 Best Pistol Red Dots for Everyone Else

5 Runner-up Red Dots

Best Pistol Red Dot for Pros: Sig Romeo2

If you carry a pistol for your job, reliability and durability is key. Closed-emitter red dots seal the window from rain, snow, dust, etc. There are some awesome options on the market now. Which is best? The Sig Romeo2.

Why?

Best window size of any closed-emitter optic.
Built-in backup rear iron sights.
Hybrid design - if you need a lighter optic, you got it. If you need max durability, you got it, too!
Comes with a piece to prevent gas blowback on pistols with a loaded-chamber indicator.
Comes with a special wrench to prevent you from tightening screws too much (which will break them) or too little (they'll come loose).

The above features just aren't there for competing optics. Does the Romeo2 make any big tradeoffs in return? No. The Romeo2 is very well thought-out and solves common issues with red dots and with pistols that force you to choose between a red dot and a rear iron sight.

Before you buy a closed-emitter optic, compare it with the Romeo2. You may find the others wanting...

Updated hourly

	Sig Romeo2 $699.99 @ Compare Prices Check price $699.99 @
Window	0.62 x 1.18 in. 3, 6, or 10 MOA dot (fixed)
	1.58 (open emitter mode) 2.50 (closed emitter mode) oz
	Stayed accurate and didn't shatter after 3 5-ft. drops onto concrete.
	1-2 years
	5 years
	CZ P-10c, Glock 19 Gen5 MOS, Glock 34 Gen5 MOS, Sig P320 XCompact, Canik TP9SFx, Canik TP9 Elite Combat, Sig p320 X-Five, Sig p320 X-Five Legion
	Hybrid design - run as open emitter if you need minimal weight and bulk, or as a closed emitter for max durability against impacts, dust, water, etc. Biggest window of any closed emitter pistol optic Rear backup iron sights included on optic Fits Leupold DeltaPoint Pro mounts (with no bumps)

Best Pistol Red Dot for Carry Optics Competitions: Holosun 507COMP

The Holosun 507COMP was made to compete with the Triicon SRO. Compared to the SRO, it:

Sits lower on the slide, making it easier to aim.
Has a bigger window.
Is more durable.
Costs 33% less. For the price of 2 SROs, you can get 3 507COMPs.
Has multiple reticles: A 2 MOA dot and a 8/20/32 MOA Circle. You can stack the dot with any circle.

Is it so much better that you should sell your SRO(s)? Probably not. But if you want an optic for Carry Optics competition, this is the overall best choice.

Updated hourly

	Holosun 507COMP Check price @
Window	0.87 x 1.1 in. 2 MOA Dot and/or 8/20/32 MOA Circle
	1.7 oz
	Stayed accurate and didn't shatter after 3 5-ft. drops onto concrete.
	3-5 years
	Lifetime (housing, window glass), & 10 Years (electronics). Registration required, first-hand purchase only. (Full Warranty Info )
	CZ P-10c, Glock 19 Gen5 MOS, Glock 34 Gen5 MOS, Canik TP9SFx, Canik TP9 Elite Combat
	More durable than a Trijicon SRO. Best value. Best battery life. Same mount as the Trijicon RMR. Any pistol that takes the RMR will take this sight. Manual and auto brightness modes. Variety of reticles to fit your needs. Glass stands out from front of optic. Do not smash the front of optic into hard surfaces, or the glass can crack. Put a tiny amount of blue Loctite on the battery tray screw or it can fall out after firing hundreds or thousands of rounds.

2 Best Pistol Red Dots for Everyone Else

If you don't meet any of these criteria:

Trained for over 40 hours with top pistol trainers and plenty of dry practice
Competed in USPSA B class or above
Competed in IDPA Sharpshooter class or above
Are a SWAT Officer, US Marshal, or part of Special Operations Forces (SOF)

Then the following red dots are for you.

Holosun HE509 ACSS Vulcan

The Holosun HE509 is the best closed emitter optic for everyone. Why? It has a special reticle that shows you how you need to point the gun to see the dot. For 99% of shooters today that is a godsend. No other closed-emitter optic makes it so easy to find the dot and learn to use it.

If you find you don't need the reticle, you can just turn it off and save a bunch of batterly life.

Even without this unique feature, the Holosun HE509 holds its own. It has a great price, window size, durability, battery life, quality, and ergonomics.

Updated hourly

	Holosun HE509-RD Vulcan ~~$449.99~~ $429.99 @ Compare Prices Check price @ $429.99 @ $449.99 @ $449.99 @ $449.99 @
Window	0.63 x 0.91 in. 10 MOA ^ and/or 250 MOA circle
	2.0 oz
	Stayed accurate and didn't shatter after 3 5-ft. drops onto concrete.
	3-5 years (chevron reticle only) (3 months with ACSS circle and regular use/carry at brightness 10)
	Lifetime (housing, window glass), & 10 Years (electronics). Registration required, first-hand purchase only. (Full Warranty Info )
	CZ P-10c, Glock 19 Gen5 MOS, Canik TP9SFx, Canik TP9 Elite Combat, Glock 34 Gen5 MOS
	Best value. Best battery life. Same mount as the Trijicon RMR. Any pistol that takes the RMR will take this sight. Manual and auto brightness modes. 3 target modes: ^, circle, or ^ + circle. The circle helps immensely with finding the dot on presentation. Low battery life in ^ + circle mode: Battery needs to be changed every 3 months when carrying this pistol reguarly.

Holosun 507c ACSS Vulcan

If you aren't in rain or extreme weather, the Holosun 507c ACSS Vulcan is the best choice. It has the same ACSS Vulcan reticle as the HE509-RD-ACSS, making it easy to find the dot and learn.

But it's an open-emitter optic: you give up some durability and save over $100 and some weight on the slide. Its durability is a close second only to the Trijicon RMR. That's plenty for a concealed carrier or casual shooter. You can drop it on concrete a few times and it will keep working.

When you don't need the ACSS reticle anymore, you can turn it off and save a bunch of batterly life.

Updated hourly

	Holosun 507C-x2 Vulcan $319.99 @ Compare Prices Check price @ $319.99 @ $319.99 @	Holosun 507C-GR-x2 Vulcan $349.99 @ Compare Prices Check price $349.99 @ $349.99 @
Window	0.63 x 0.91 in. 10 MOA ^ and/or 250 MOA circle	0.63 x 0.91 in. 10 MOA ^ and/or 250 MOA circle
	1.41 oz	1.41 oz
	Stayed accurate and didn't shatter after 3 5-ft. drops onto concrete.	Stayed accurate and didn't shatter after 3 5-ft. drops onto concrete.
	3-5 years (chevron reticle only) (3 months with ACSS circle and regular use/carry at brightness 10)	3-5 years (chevron reticle only) (3 months with ACSS circle and regular use/carry at brightness 10)
	Lifetime (housing, window glass), & 10 Years (electronics). Registration required, first-hand purchase only. (Full Warranty Info )	Lifetime (housing, window glass), & 10 Years (electronics). Registration required, first-hand purchase only. (Full Warranty Info )
	CZ P-10c, Glock 19 Gen5 MOS, Glock 34 Gen5 MOS, Canik TP9SFx, Canik TP9 Elite Combat	CZ P-10c, Glock 19 Gen5 MOS, Glock 34 Gen5 MOS, Canik TP9SFx, Canik TP9 Elite Combat
	Best value. Best battery life. Same mount as the Trijicon RMR. Any pistol that takes the RMR will take this sight. Manual and auto brightness modes. 3 target modes: ^, circle, or ^ + circle. The circle helps immensely with finding the dot on presentation. Low battery life in ^ + circle mode: Battery needs to be changed every 3 months when carrying this pistol reguarly.	Green dot easier to see. Best battery life. Same mount as the Trijicon RMR. Any pistol that takes the RMR will take this sight. Manual and auto brightness modes. 3 target modes: ^, circle, or ^ + circle. The circle helps immensely with finding the dot on presentation. Low battery life in ^ + circle mode: Battery needs to be changed every 3 months when carrying this pistol reguarly.

6 Runner-up Red Dots

The following pistol optics can be the right choice in the right niche. If you already know you want them, you can find the best price on them out of 40+ online vendors below.

Vortex Venom - Best Budget Pistol Red Dot (?)

Leupold Deltapoint Pro

Trijicon RMR

Aimpoint Acro P-2

Steiner MPS

Vortex Venom - Best Budget Pistol Red Dot(?)

The Vortex Venom is the best you can get on a budget while still being reliable. Cheaper red dots tend to break, causing you to spend even more money. Be aware, though, that your pistol may not be compatible with the Venom...if it's not, it may cost an extra $50 to use this red dot. In that case, choose the Holosun 507c instead. You get much more for the money, especially if you get the ACSS Vulcan version.

Updated hourly

	Vortex Venom Check price @	Holosun 507C-x2 Vulcan $319.99 @ Compare Prices Check price @ $319.99 @ $319.99 @
Window	0.64 x 1.04 in. 3 or 6 MOA dot	0.63 x 0.91 in. 10 MOA ^ and/or 250 MOA circle
	1.1 oz	1.41 oz
	Survived 2 shoulder-height drops on concrete, but failed on the 3rd.	Stayed accurate and didn't shatter after 3 5-ft. drops onto concrete.
	6 days - 1 yr	3-5 years (chevron reticle only) (3 months with ACSS circle and regular use/carry at brightness 10)
	Lifetime, second-hand or not.	Lifetime (housing, window glass), & 10 Years (electronics). Registration required, first-hand purchase only. (Full Warranty Info )
	Glock Gen5 MOS (any)	CZ P-10c, Glock 19 Gen5 MOS, Glock 34 Gen5 MOS, Canik TP9SFx, Canik TP9 Elite Combat
	Most affordable red dot that is still reliable. Large window size, for an easier learning curve. Battery can be changed without needing to unmount the optic. Great warranty. Battery life is too short on highest setting. Fits the fewest optics-ready pistols. Any pistol NOT on the compatible pistols list needs a $40-50 separate mounting plate that raises the sight 3/16". The Holosun 507C might be a better choice.	Best value. Best battery life. Same mount as the Trijicon RMR. Any pistol that takes the RMR will take this sight. Manual and auto brightness modes. 3 target modes: ^, circle, or ^ + circle. The circle helps immensely with finding the dot on presentation. Low battery life in ^ + circle mode: Battery needs to be changed every 3 months when carrying this pistol reguarly.

Leupold DeltaPoint Pro

The Leupold DeltaPoint Pro once stood apart for its big window, easy battery changes, and attachable backup irons. At the time, that was a good tradeoff for its weak durability vs. the Trijicon RMR.

But today, compare the DeltaPoint with the Sig Romeo2. The Romeo2 is tough like a RMR, has a bigger window, and it even fits in most of the same mounts as the DeltaPoint! What does the DeltaPoint offer that the Romeo2 doesn't? I can't figure that out, but maybe you can.

If you can find a use case where the DeltaPoint Pro makes more sense than the Romeo2, check the best price for it below.

Updated hourly

	Leupold DeltaPoint Pro $449.99 @ Compare Prices Check price $449.99 @	Sig Romeo2 $699.99 @ Compare Prices Check price $699.99 @
Window	0.68 x 1.01 in. 2.5 MOA dot	0.62 x 1.18 in. 3, 6, or 10 MOA dot (fixed)
	1.95 oz	1.58 (open emitter mode) 2.50 (closed emitter mode) oz
		Stayed accurate and didn't shatter after 3 5-ft. drops onto concrete.
	3-6 months	1-2 years
	Lifetime, second-hand or not.	5 years
	CZ P-10c, Glock 19 Gen5 MOS, Glock 34 Gen5 MOS, Sig P320 XCompact, Canik TP9SFx, Canik TP9 Elite Combat, Sig p320 X-Five, Sig p320 X-Five Legion	CZ P-10c, Glock 19 Gen5 MOS, Glock 34 Gen5 MOS, Sig P320 XCompact, Canik TP9SFx, Canik TP9 Elite Combat, Sig p320 X-Five, Sig p320 X-Five Legion
	Large window size, for an easier learning curve. Compatible with the most pistols. Battery can be changed without needing to unmount the optic. Can install a rear iron sight on the optic itself. Recommended for Sig p320 & Canik TP9 series. Sits so high that most suppressor-height iron sights don't work. Worst battery life.	Hybrid design - run as open emitter if you need minimal weight and bulk, or as a closed emitter for max durability against impacts, dust, water, etc. Biggest window of any closed emitter pistol optic Rear backup iron sights included on optic Fits Leupold DeltaPoint Pro mounts (with no bumps)

Trijicon RMR

The Trijicon RMR once stood above all other red dots for its durability, reliability, and outstanding warranty. But now there are competitors that match it. And they have a bigger window, better reticle, easier battery changes, better glass, better battery life, etc.

This is still a great pistol red dot, and if you're sure this is the right one for you, great. But please compare the RMR to the Holosun HE509 with ACSS Vulcan and the Sig Romeo2 before you buy.

Updated hourly

	Trijicon RMR Type 2 Check price Compare Prices	Holosun HE509-RD Vulcan ~~$449.99~~ $429.99 @ Compare Prices Check price @ $429.99 @ $449.99 @ $449.99 @ $449.99 @
Window	0.62 x 0.86 in. 3.25 MOA dot	0.63 x 0.91 in. 10 MOA ^ and/or 250 MOA circle
	1.2 oz	2.0 oz
	Stayed accurate and didn't shatter after 3 5-ft. drops onto concrete.	Stayed accurate and didn't shatter after 3 5-ft. drops onto concrete.
	1-2 years	3-5 years (chevron reticle only) (3 months with ACSS circle and regular use/carry at brightness 10)
	Lifetime (window glass & housing), no second-hand. 5 years (electronics)	Lifetime (housing, window glass), & 10 Years (electronics). Registration required, first-hand purchase only. (Full Warranty Info )
	CZ P-10c, Glock 19 Gen5 MOS, Glock 34 Gen5 MOS, Canik TP9SFx, Canik TP9 Elite Combat	CZ P-10c, Glock 19 Gen5 MOS, Canik TP9SFx, Canik TP9 Elite Combat, Glock 34 Gen5 MOS
	Toughest open-emitter pistol optic. Lightest. Sits lowest on the pistol. Button lockout, so your brightness doesn't change while carrying it. Max brightness setting blooms and lights you up in the dark. Must unmount optic to change batteries. Must adjust the optic each time, and may strip the screws. Smallest window size, for the worst learning curve.	Best value. Best battery life. Same mount as the Trijicon RMR. Any pistol that takes the RMR will take this sight. Manual and auto brightness modes. 3 target modes: ^, circle, or ^ + circle. The circle helps immensely with finding the dot on presentation. Low battery life in ^ + circle mode: Battery needs to be changed every 3 months when carrying this pistol reguarly.

Trijicon SRO

The Trijicon SRO has a huge honkin' window to help you win in Carry Optics competitions. It's not perfect, though:

Don't drop it on concrete.
When flying with this optic in checked baggage, wrap it in the best bubble wrap you can find. TSA tends to manhandle SROs to death
Glass quality isn't as good as new red dots from this past year.
Some competitors report having to use Trijicon's excellent warranty. It's to the point they bring two extra SROs to compete instead of just one spare.

Still, top competitors find that sweet, sweet window size is worth the headaches...

The Holosun 507COMP is a better choice. It has a bigger window, is more durable, and costs less. It has reticle options to tweak it just how you want it. If you already have a SRO, there's no need to replace it. But if you're looking to buy a new optic for Carry Optics competition, get the Holosun 507COMP.

Updated hourly

	Trijcon SRO Check price	Holosun 507COMP Check price @
Window	.98 x .89 in. 1, 2.5, or 5 MOA dot (fixed)	0.87 x 1.1 in. 2 MOA Dot and/or 8/20/32 MOA Circle
	1.6 oz	1.7 oz
		Stayed accurate and didn't shatter after 3 5-ft. drops onto concrete.
	1-2 years	3-5 years
	Lifetime (window glass & housing), no second-hand. 5 years (electronics)	Lifetime (housing, window glass), & 10 Years (electronics). Registration required, first-hand purchase only. (Full Warranty Info )
	CZ P-10c, Glock 19 Gen5 MOS, Glock 34 Gen5 MOS, Canik TP9SFx, Canik TP9 Elite Combat	CZ P-10c, Glock 19 Gen5 MOS, Glock 34 Gen5 MOS, Canik TP9SFx, Canik TP9 Elite Combat
	2nd biggest window of any pistol optic Same mount as the Trijicon RMR Can break if dropped on concrete or handled by TSA	More durable than a Trijicon SRO. Best value. Best battery life. Same mount as the Trijicon RMR. Any pistol that takes the RMR will take this sight. Manual and auto brightness modes. Variety of reticles to fit your needs. Glass stands out from front of optic. Do not smash the front of optic into hard surfaces, or the glass can crack. Put a tiny amount of blue Loctite on the battery tray screw or it can fall out after firing hundreds or thousands of rounds.

Aimpoint Acro P-2

This is a great quality optic, solving glaring issues in the Acro P-1. But in context, there are better options for most people. The Holosun HE509 with ACSS Vulcan is better for 99% of shooters. For the 1%, the Sig Romeo2 has a bigger window and has built-in backup iron sights.

But the Acro P-2 has the best battery life of any closed-emitter optic today. If that's most important to you, then the P-2 is for you.

Updated hourly

	Sig Romeo2 $699.99 @ Compare Prices Check price $699.99 @	Aimpoint Acro P-2 $599.00 @ Compare Prices $599.00 @
Window	0.62 x 1.18 in. 3, 6, or 10 MOA dot (fixed)	0.59 x 0.59 inches 3.5 MOA dot
	1.58 (open emitter mode) 2.50 (closed emitter mode) oz	2.05 oz
	Stayed accurate and didn't shatter after 3 5-ft. drops onto concrete.	Stayed accurate and didn't shatter after 3 5-ft. drops onto concrete.
	1-2 years	3-5 years
	5 years	2 years for professional or competition use and 10 years for personal use; no second-hand
	CZ P-10c, Glock 19 Gen5 MOS, Glock 34 Gen5 MOS, Sig P320 XCompact, Canik TP9SFx, Canik TP9 Elite Combat, Sig p320 X-Five, Sig p320 X-Five Legion	CZ P-10c, Glock 19 Gen5 MOS, Glock 34 Gen5 MOS, Canik TP9SFx, Canik TP9 Elite Combat
	Hybrid design - run as open emitter if you need minimal weight and bulk, or as a closed emitter for max durability against impacts, dust, water, etc. Biggest window of any closed emitter pistol optic Rear backup iron sights included on optic Fits Leupold DeltaPoint Pro mounts (with no bumps)	Max durability against impacts, dust, water, etc. Great battery life Smallest window size

Steiner MPS

The Steiner MPS is one of the 4 great closed-emitter optics that came out in the past year. But before you buy it, compare it to the Sig Romeo2. Is there something the MPS does for you that the Romeo2 doesn't? What about the other way around? The same can be said for the Holosun HE509 with ACSS Vulcan reticle.

Also, the MPS fits the Aimpoint Acro footprint, but not all of them. Double-check compatibility with your pistol mount before you buy.

Updated hourly

	Sig Romeo2 $699.99 @ Compare Prices Check price $699.99 @	Steiner MPS ~~$599.99~~ $549.99 @ Compare Prices Check price $549.99 @ $599.99 @
Window	0.62 x 1.18 in. 3, 6, or 10 MOA dot (fixed)	0.60 x 0.80 inches 3.3 MOA dot
	1.58 (open emitter mode) 2.50 (closed emitter mode) oz	2.10 oz
	Stayed accurate and didn't shatter after 3 5-ft. drops onto concrete.	Stayed accurate and didn't shatter after 3 5-ft. drops onto concrete.
	1-2 years	6-12 months
	5 years	Lifetime, second-hand or not, except electronics (3-year warranty) and accessories
	CZ P-10c, Glock 19 Gen5 MOS, Glock 34 Gen5 MOS, Sig P320 XCompact, Canik TP9SFx, Canik TP9 Elite Combat, Sig p320 X-Five, Sig p320 X-Five Legion	CZ P-10c, Glock 19 Gen5 MOS, Glock 34 Gen5 MOS, Canik TP9SFx, Canik TP9 Elite Combat
	Hybrid design - run as open emitter if you need minimal weight and bulk, or as a closed emitter for max durability against impacts, dust, water, etc. Biggest window of any closed emitter pistol optic Rear backup iron sights included on optic Fits Leupold DeltaPoint Pro mounts (with no bumps)	Max durability against impacts, dust, water, etc. Doesn't fit all Aimpoint Acro mounts; check your pistol make/model's mount options for compatibility before you buy

^{Disclaimer: I get a small commission on purchases through the price links above, at no extra cost to you.
Pistol Wizard LLC is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to amazon.com.}

Frame

Grip

Trigger

Rail

Ammo

Magazine

Mag Release

Manual Safety

Slide

Barrel

Recoil Spring

Slide Release

Iron Sights

Optic Mount

Red Dot

Laser

Recoil

Compensator

Ejection Port

Aftermarket

4 Best Pistol Red Dots [2024 Review and Tips]

On this Page:

Pistol Red Dot Pros and Cons

Pros

Cons

What Makes a Good Pistol Red Dot?

What MOA for Pistol Red Dot?

3 MOA

6 MOA

How to Use a Pistol Red Dot Sight

Finding the Dot Faster

Zeroing a Red Dot on a Pistol

Are Pistol Red Dot Sights Worth It?

USPSA Production vs. Carry Optics (2019)

Key Takeaways

Red Dot in Force-on-Force (2017)

Key Takeaways

Red Dot in Timed Drills (2017)

Key Takeaways

Comparative Pistol Project (2011)

Key Takeaways

Pistol Red Dot vs. Iron Sights: Final Verdict

4 Best Pistol Red Dots

Best Pistol Red Dot for Pros: Sig Romeo2

Best Deal Guarantee

Updated hourly

Compare Prices

Best Pistol Red Dot for Carry Optics Competitions: Holosun 507COMP

Best Deal Guarantee

Updated hourly

2 Best Pistol Red Dots for Everyone Else

Holosun HE509 ACSS Vulcan

Best Deal Guarantee

Updated hourly

Compare Prices

Holosun 507c ACSS Vulcan

Best Deal Guarantee

Updated hourly

Compare Prices

Compare Prices

6 Runner-up Red Dots

Vortex Venom - Best Budget Pistol Red Dot(?)

Best Deal Guarantee

Updated hourly

Compare Prices

Leupold DeltaPoint Pro

Best Deal Guarantee

Updated hourly

Compare Prices

Compare Prices

Trijicon RMR

Best Deal Guarantee

Updated hourly

Compare Prices

Compare Prices

Trijicon SRO

Best Deal Guarantee

Updated hourly

Aimpoint Acro P-2

Best Deal Guarantee