{"id":5658,"date":"2023-11-14T21:40:33","date_gmt":"2023-11-14T21:40:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/?p=5658"},"modified":"2023-11-15T15:22:39","modified_gmt":"2023-11-15T15:22:39","slug":"best-pistol-red-dot","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/best-pistol-red-dot\/","title":{"rendered":"Best Pistol Red Dot Sights"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><span lang=\"EN\">Mounting red dot sights to a pistol slide isn&#8217;t a new trend, but in the past few years has become extremely popular. Every major manufacturer offers a solution for mounting a red dot to whatever their flagship pistol is, and many include multiple different guns in their lineup. There are red dots on big guns, little guns, and even on revolvers<\/span><span lang=\"EN\">.<\/span><\/p>\n<p>Today we&#8217;re going to take a look at the best pistol red dot sights and what you need to know when choosing one.<\/p>\n<h2><b><span lang=\"EN\">Best Pistol Red Dots<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n<p>Our picks for best pistol red dots are:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trijicon RMR<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Holosun 507C X2<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leupold DeltaPointPro<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trijicon SRO<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aimpoint ACRO<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vortex Venom\u00a0<\/span><\/li>\n<li><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Swampfox Liberty and Justice<\/span><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Let&#8217;s take a closer look at each.<\/p>\n<p><em>Disclaimer: This article contains affiliate links, meaning we receive commissions to help us pay for testing on the gear mentioned here on our blog.<\/em><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trijicon RMR<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Best Uses: Self defense<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3506 size-full\" title=\"trijicon rmr\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/RM06-C-700694_315-3690-1566507100.jpg\" alt=\"a trijicon rmr optic\" width=\"1596\" height=\"705\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/RM06-C-700694_315-3690-1566507100.jpg 1596w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/RM06-C-700694_315-3690-1566507100-300x133.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/RM06-C-700694_315-3690-1566507100-1024x452.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/RM06-C-700694_315-3690-1566507100-768x339.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/RM06-C-700694_315-3690-1566507100-1536x678.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/RM06-C-700694_315-3690-1566507100-200x88.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/RM06-C-700694_315-3690-1566507100-750x331.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/RM06-C-700694_315-3690-1566507100-1140x504.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1596px) 100vw, 1596px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/46umajn\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trijicon RMR<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the industry standard red dot, and it\u2019s massively popular for a reason. It\u2019s been rigorously tested for years, is tough as nails, and every single company makes mounting plates for it.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Holosun 507C X2<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Best Uses: Self defense<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-3495 size-full\" title=\"holosun 5007c x2\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/holosun507cx2.jpg\" alt=\"a holosun 507c x2 pistol red dot optic mounted on a glock\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1228\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/holosun507cx2.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/holosun507cx2-300x184.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/holosun507cx2-1024x629.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/holosun507cx2-768x472.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/holosun507cx2-1536x943.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/holosun507cx2-200x123.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/holosun507cx2-750x461.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/holosun507cx2-1140x700.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The RMR\u2019s greatest challenger comes from Holosun in the form of the recently upgraded <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3u75TmH\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">507C model<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">. Holosun\u2019s optics offer similar durability and battery life to the Trijicon optics at a fraction of the cost.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leupold DeltaPointPro<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Best Uses: Self defense, competition<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-3477 size-full\" title=\"leupold deltapoint pro\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/leupolddppro.jpg\" alt=\"a leupold deltapoint pro red dot sight mounted on a competition gun\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1011\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/leupolddppro.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/leupolddppro-300x152.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/leupolddppro-1024x518.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/leupolddppro-768x388.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/leupolddppro-1536x776.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/leupolddppro-200x101.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/leupolddppro-750x379.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/leupolddppro-1140x576.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3ucT7mW\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Leupold DP Pro<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> has a huge viewing window, which is perfect for competition applications. It gives the shooter a much wider field of view than other optics, which assists in transitioning the gun from target to target.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3>Trijicon SRO<\/h3>\n<p><strong>Best Uses: Competition<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3507 size-full\" title=\"trijicon sro\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/SRO2-C-2500002_315-5e79279e65c7f.jpg\" alt=\"a trijicon sro reflex sight\" width=\"1465\" height=\"710\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/SRO2-C-2500002_315-5e79279e65c7f.jpg 1465w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/SRO2-C-2500002_315-5e79279e65c7f-300x145.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/SRO2-C-2500002_315-5e79279e65c7f-1024x496.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/SRO2-C-2500002_315-5e79279e65c7f-768x372.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/SRO2-C-2500002_315-5e79279e65c7f-200x97.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/SRO2-C-2500002_315-5e79279e65c7f-750x363.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/SRO2-C-2500002_315-5e79279e65c7f-1140x552.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1465px) 100vw, 1465px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Trijicon\u2019s answer to the DP Pro is the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/49CI1b6\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">SRO<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, or Specialized Reflex Optic. The SRO has the largest window of Trijicon\u2019s pistol optics, but does sacrifice some of the RMR\u2019s durability to achieve this. It\u2019s huge optic window and tremendous battery life make it an excellent choice for USPSA or IDPA\u2019s Carry Optics division.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aimpoint ACRO<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Best Uses: Self defense, duty<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3484 size-full\" title=\"aimpoint acro\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/200691-Acro-P-2-Qtr-Left-RF-w-Aimpoint-1.png\" alt=\"an aimpoint acro optic\" width=\"1600\" height=\"1600\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/200691-Acro-P-2-Qtr-Left-RF-w-Aimpoint-1.png 1600w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/200691-Acro-P-2-Qtr-Left-RF-w-Aimpoint-1-300x300.png 300w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/200691-Acro-P-2-Qtr-Left-RF-w-Aimpoint-1-1024x1024.png 1024w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/200691-Acro-P-2-Qtr-Left-RF-w-Aimpoint-1-150x150.png 150w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/200691-Acro-P-2-Qtr-Left-RF-w-Aimpoint-1-768x768.png 768w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/200691-Acro-P-2-Qtr-Left-RF-w-Aimpoint-1-1536x1536.png 1536w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/200691-Acro-P-2-Qtr-Left-RF-w-Aimpoint-1-200x200.png 200w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/200691-Acro-P-2-Qtr-Left-RF-w-Aimpoint-1-750x750.png 750w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/200691-Acro-P-2-Qtr-Left-RF-w-Aimpoint-1-1140x1140.png 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1600px) 100vw, 1600px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">The only reason the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aimpoint.com\/products\/product-series\/acro-series\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aimpoint ACRO<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> isn\u2019t #1 is because the P-2 model, which increases the battery life by using the same battery as an RMR, isn\u2019t readily available. The P-1 is, which I have mounted on 4 of my guns, but it definitely has a shorter battery life than other optics. Aimpoint measures it in 15,000 hours of constant on time, which is a lot less than you\u2019d get from an RMR.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">However, the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.aimpoint.com\/products\/product-series\/acro-series\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Aimpoint ACRO<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is the toughest red dot of all the ones listed here. It will survive any beating that the gun may take.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Vortex Venom<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Best Uses: Competition, budget optic<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-3478 size-full\" title=\"vortex venom red dot optic\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/vortexvenom.jpg\" alt=\"a vorrtex venom red dot optic mounted on a smith &amp; wesson\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1019\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/vortexvenom.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/vortexvenom-300x153.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/vortexvenom-1024x522.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/vortexvenom-768x391.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/vortexvenom-1536x783.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/vortexvenom-200x102.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/vortexvenom-750x382.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/vortexvenom-1140x581.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Coming in at under $300, the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/40zXynX\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Venom<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\"> is our affordable competition red dot. Its small profile and wide window make it a great option for shooters on a budget, while still offering tremendous reliability and increased speed.<\/span><\/p>\n<h3><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Swampfox Liberty and Justice<\/span><\/h3>\n<p><strong>Best Uses: Competition, budget optic<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-3494 size-full\" title=\"swampfox justice\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/swampfoxjustice.jpg\" alt=\"a swampfox justice mounted on a glock\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1064\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/swampfoxjustice.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/swampfoxjustice-300x160.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/swampfoxjustice-1024x545.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/swampfoxjustice-768x409.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/swampfoxjustice-1536x817.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/swampfoxjustice-200x106.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/swampfoxjustice-750x399.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/swampfoxjustice-1140x606.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Want a solid red dot but don\u2019t want to break the bank? Check out the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3ucTuxQ\"><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">Liberty and Justice<\/span><\/a><span style=\"font-weight: 400;\">, two options from relative newcomer SwampFox. These optics offer an affordable solution that is compatible with any RMR-style mounting plate.<\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<h2><strong>Popular Red Dot Pistol Sights<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Now that we&#8217;ve listed our top picks, let&#8217;s look at how other red dots on the market compare. We&#8217;ve compiled a list of popular red dots to help make your shopping easier.<\/p>\n\n<table id=\"tablepress-5\" class=\"tablepress tablepress-id-5\">\n<thead>\n<tr class=\"row-1\">\n\t<th class=\"column-1\">Red Dot<\/th><th class=\"column-2\">Weight<\/th><th class=\"column-3\">Battery Life<\/th><th class=\"column-4\">Dot Size<\/th><th class=\"column-5\">MSRP<\/th>\n<\/tr>\n<\/thead>\n<tbody class=\"row-striping row-hover\">\n<tr class=\"row-2\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3eQji7P\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Aimpoint Acro<\/a><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">2.1 oz<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">15,000 hours<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">3.5 MOA<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">$599<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-3\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/31r5621\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Burris Fastfire 3<\/a><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">1.5 oz<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">5,000 hours<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">3, 8 MOA<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">$299<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-4\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3mZSCpw\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Crimson Trace CTS 1550<\/a><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">1 oz<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">20,000 hours<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">3 MOA<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">$179.99<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-5\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3EPwkwR\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Holosun 507C X2<\/a><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">1.5 oz<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Up to 50,000 hours (setting 6)<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">2 MOA<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">$364.69<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-6\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3pW4Gdt\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Holosun 507K X2<\/a><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">1 oz<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">Up to 50,000 hours (setting 6)<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">2 MOA dot<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">$341.16<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-7\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/31oNbsL\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Leupold Deltapoint Pro<\/a><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">1.94 oz<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">1,000 hours (medium intensity)<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">2.5 MOA<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">$449.99<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-8\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3HHnjYS\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Sig Sauer Romeo Zero<\/a><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">.4 oz<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">20,000 hours<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">3,6 MOA<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">$219.99<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-9\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3pSvU4E\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Swampfox Optics Liberty &amp; Justice<\/a><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">1 oz<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">4,000 hours mid range brightness)<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">3 MOA<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">$229-239<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-10\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3HCxj5j\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Swampfox Sentinel<\/a><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">.62 oz<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">17,520 hours<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">3 MOA<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">$249<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-11\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3pRwGyJ\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Trijicon RMR Type 2<\/a><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">1.2 oz<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">35,040 hours (brightness level 4)<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">1.0, 3.25, 6.5 MOA<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">$699<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-12\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3GeTs9T\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Trijicon RMRcc<\/a><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">1 oz<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">35,040 hours<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">3.25 or 6.5 MOA<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">$699<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-13\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3qPG45u\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Trijicon SRO<\/a><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">1.6 oz<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">26,280 hours (level 4)<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">1.0, 2.5, 5.0 MOA<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">$749<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-14\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3eXbn8F\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Vortex Razor<\/a><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">1.3 oz<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">150 (highest setting) to 30,000 hours (lower settings)<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">3, 6 MOA<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">$499.99<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-15\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3pQormK\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Vortex Venom<\/a><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">1.1 oz<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">150 (highest setting) to 30,000 hours (lower settings)<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">3, 6 MOA<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">$349.99<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr class=\"row-16\">\n\t<td class=\"column-1\"><a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3eO1iLm\" rel=\"noopener\" target=\"_blank\">Vortex Viper<\/a><\/td><td class=\"column-2\">1.1 oz<\/td><td class=\"column-3\">150 (highest setting) to 30,000 hours (lower settings)<\/td><td class=\"column-4\">3, 6 MOA<\/td><td class=\"column-5\">$349.99<\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<!-- #tablepress-5 from cache -->\n<h3><b><span lang=\"EN\">Why Choose Red Dot Sights?<\/span><\/b><\/h3>\n<p><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignnone wp-image-3480 size-full\" title=\"shooting a pistol with red dot\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/shootingpistolreddot.jpg\" alt=\"mckenzie shooting a pistol with a red dot sight\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1213\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/shootingpistolreddot.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/shootingpistolreddot-300x182.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/shootingpistolreddot-1024x621.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/shootingpistolreddot-768x466.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/shootingpistolreddot-1536x932.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/shootingpistolreddot-200x121.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/shootingpistolreddot-750x455.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/shootingpistolreddot-1140x691.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Just like with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/red-dot-sights-for-ar15-rifles\/\">red dots sights for rifles<\/a>, every pistol shooter can benefit from mounting a red dot sight to their gun. Some shooters will see immediate benefits, like people with aging eyes. Everyone will benefit from mounting a red dot sight for one important reason: staying target focused.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">To elaborate on this idea, guns are the only weapon in human history that requires us to NOT look at the target. Melee and contact weapons? Look at the threat. Thrown weapons? Look at the threat. Slings and arrows? LOOK AT THE THREAT. And then guns came along, and we said &#8220;these are weird look at the bumpy thing on the front of the gun.&#8221; With red dot sights on pistols (and lasers as well but that&#8217;s a different post) we can go back to doing what millions of years of evolution have taught us: look at the threat. <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">There are tons of other benefits to mounting a red dot sight. The other immediate benefit is greater accuracy when shooting at hard to hit targets. If a shooter has solid fundamentals, they&#8217;ll be more accurate right out of the gate with a red dot equipped pistol. A red dot provides finer feedback during aiming, which leads to better accuracy.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h2><b><span lang=\"EN\">Best Pistol Red Dot Sights &#8211; What to Look For<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3502\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3502\" style=\"width: 1916px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3502 size-full\" title=\"vortex viper red dot\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/vortexviper.jpg\" alt=\"a vortex viper mounted on a the rail of a ruger mark IV pistol \" width=\"1926\" height=\"1371\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/vortexviper.jpg 1926w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/vortexviper-300x214.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/vortexviper-1024x729.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/vortexviper-768x547.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/vortexviper-1536x1093.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/vortexviper-200x142.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/vortexviper-750x534.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/vortexviper-1140x811.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1926px) 100vw, 1926px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3502\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">Some shooters prefer a red dot with manually controlled brightness, like on this Vortex Viper.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">The number 1 requirement for a red dot pistol sight is that it must stay mounted! In the early days of red dots on handguns, the optic would often come loose from the slide due to the high g-forces. Or they would lose zero, or simply have their internals shaken to death. Regardless, it must stay on the gun first and foremost. This is a function of both the dot and its mounting system. This is why I personally prefer the Aimpoint ACRO for my handguns.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">Secondly, it must be durable enough to hold zero for extended range sessions. It also must be strong enough to withstand the battering of every day carry in a concealed or duty holster. Carry guns and duty guns get banged into car doors, counter-tops, and all sorts of things. If your optic won&#8217;t keep zero after getting whacked around a bit, it&#8217;s not strong enough.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">A lot of other stuff comes down to personal preference. For example, I like that my red dot sights have manually adjustable brightness. Some people like automatic brightness. I prefer that my red dot is constantly on, even when the gun is holstered, and some people prefer &#8220;shake awake&#8221; red dots. I much much prefer closed emitter dots like the Aimpoint ACRO, other people prefer an RMR-style open emitter.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<h2><b><span lang=\"EN\">What is MOA and What MOA Do You Need?<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n<figure id=\"attachment_3499\" aria-describedby=\"caption-attachment-3499\" style=\"width: 1990px\" class=\"wp-caption alignnone\"><img decoding=\"async\" class=\"wp-image-3499 size-full\" title=\"3 moa dot\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/moa.jpg\" alt=\"the swampfox justice with 3 moa dot\" width=\"2000\" height=\"1465\" srcset=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/moa.jpg 2000w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/moa-300x220.jpg 300w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/moa-1024x750.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/moa-768x563.jpg 768w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/moa-1536x1125.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/moa-200x147.jpg 200w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/moa-750x549.jpg 750w, https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/media\/moa-1140x835.jpg 1140w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 2000px) 100vw, 2000px\" \/><figcaption id=\"caption-attachment-3499\" class=\"wp-caption-text\">A look through the Swampfox Justice with a 3 MOA dot.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">How big your dot should be is a topic of much internet debate. MOA refers to the dot&#8217;s size in minutes of angle, which means how much of the target it covers at various distances. Most people, myself included, prefer dots with smaller visual dot size (in MOA). <\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">A smaller dot provides more refined feedback for aiming, which allows for greater accuracy. But if you go too small, the dot can provide excess feedback. Very small dots under 2 MOA can make a shooter try to correct for too much natural movement. Personally, I like a dot around 3.5 MOA.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">However, there&#8217;s an argument to be made for bigger dots, like the triangle reticle in early Deltapoint sights, or the red ring of death in the Holosun. A larger aiming area in MOA will show less wiggle, which means you&#8217;re less likely to try and overcompensate for the dot&#8217;s movement. They can still be used for precise aiming by using the top edge of the red dot\/ring. In the case of the Holosun optics, you can set it to have the large MOA ring with a small dot in the center, to get the best of both worlds.<\/span><\/p>\n<div>\n<h2><b><span lang=\"EN\">Red Dot Roundup<\/span><\/b><\/h2>\n<\/div>\n<div>\n<p><span lang=\"EN\">No matter what your choice of red dot is, or whether it&#8217;s for competition or concealed carry, adding a red dot sight to your pistol will bring you immediate benefits. More accuracy, faster first shots, and the ability to stay target focused are all worth the investment of time and money to master the dot. Once you have purchased your pistol red dot, let us teach you <a href=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/how-to-sight-in-a-red-dot-optic\/\">how to sight in a red dot optic<\/a> so that you&#8217;re zeroed in for range time.<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"b-share-calltoaction\">\n<div class=\"b-share-calltoaction--text b-share-calltoaction-text\">\n<div class=\"b-share-calltoaction-text__header\">\n<h2>Share this article with your friends!<\/h2>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<ul class=\"b-social-icons clearfix\">\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" title=\"\"\n               href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer\/sharer.php?u=https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/best-pistol-red-dot\/\"\n               class=\"social_icon facebook\">&nbsp;Facebook<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" title=\"\"\n               href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/home?status=https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/best-pistol-red-dot\/\"\n               class=\"social_icon twitter\">&nbsp;Twitter<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" title=\"\"\n               href=\"https:\/\/www.linkedin.com\/shareArticle?mini=true&#038;url=https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/best-pistol-red-dot\/\"\n               class=\"social_icon linkedin\">&nbsp;LinkedIn<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a target=\"_blank\" title=\"\"\n               href=\"https:\/\/pinterest.com\/pin\/create\/button\/?url=https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/best-pistol-red-dot\/\"\n               class=\"social_icon pinterest\">&nbsp;Pinterest<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Mounting red dot sights to a pistol slide isn&#8217;t a new trend, but in the past few years has become&hellip;<\/p>\n<div class=\"post-item-meta\"><span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-content\/themes\/generatepress_child\/svg\/clock.svg\" width=\"14\" height=\"14\" alt=\"\"><time class=\"published\" datetime=\"2023-11-14T21:40:33+00:00\">Nov. 14, 2023<\/time><\/span><span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-content\/themes\/generatepress_child\/svg\/comment.svg\" width=\"16\" height=\"16\" alt=\"\">No comments<\/span><\/div>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/best-pistol-red-dot\/\"><span>Read more <\/span><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-content\/themes\/generatepress_child\/svg\/chevron-right.svg\" width=\"18\" height=\"18\" alt=\"\"><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":10,"featured_media":3504,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[3,5,4],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5658","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-competition","category-range-training","category-self-defense"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5658","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/10"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5658"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5658\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5664,"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5658\/revisions\/5664"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3504"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5658"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5658"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.targetbarn.com\/broad-side\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5658"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}