Best Pistol Red Dot Sights: Find the Perfect Red Dot for Your Budget

Below is my list of the best pistol red dot sights. I list the best choices in terms of value, performance, reliability, and cost.

Click on the name to head to the product page, read reviews and check prices or skip ahead to the list of sights.

1. Best Overall: SIG Romeo2

Specs

• Weight: 2.1 oz
• Night Vision Compatibility: Yes
• Dot Size: Three variants with a choice of Circle Dot, 3 MOA, or 6 MOA
• Objective Lens Diameter: 30mm
• Waterproof: Yes, IPX 7 rated (Can be submerged up to 1 meter in water for 30 minutes)
• Water-resistant: Yes
• Price: $909-$1,039 MSRP depending on reticle
• Battery: 1 CR2032
• Battery life: 25,000 hours at medium setting (almost three years)
• Illumination settings: 12 daylight, 3 night vision
• Footprint: Shared Shield RMS/SMS, Holosun 407/507K, Trijicon RMRcc

Pros

• Modular, with 3 configurations
• Long battery life with easy-to-change battery compartment
• Includes optic-specific torque-limited tool
• Huge 30mm window
• Rated for spicy calibers like 10mm

Cons

• Expensive
• One of the largest “micro” red dots on the market

Introduced in 2022 after three years of development, Sig’s premier modular micro red dot is a beast.

With a big 1x30mm lens, it includes two different steel shrouds (half and full) as well as a polycarbonate window with an O-ring, allowing the user to run anywhere from a fully open format while still protected by its integral 7075 aluminum housing, to up-armored with a steel shroud, or fully enclosed into a sealed box format and closed emitter.

Reticle Options

This, combined with the fact Sig offers it with three different reticle options– Circle Dot, 3 MOA, or 6 MOA– gives the user lots of different ways to roll the dice here. Plus, Sig says it is rated for big bores like 10mm Auto, which is something you can’t say about some of the lighter MRDs on the market.

Durability

I found it virtually bomb-proof in testing and, even while the user-built fully-enclosed format isn’t nitrogen filled, had no issues with internal fogging or dusting.

Battery

What I loved is that the battery seemed to last forever and even if it failed the Romeo 2 has a spring-loaded side-opening tray for its commonly available CR2032. Plus, the footprint is common, and Sig ships it complete with a genuinely nice optic-specific torque wrench.

A word of caution though, as this optic is all-American made with domestically sourced components, it is spendy, pushing towards the four-digit mark. The rationale behind this is that Sig is making these for the Mil/LE market, and most of those contracts specify “made in the USA.” That’s a big reason why cool guy stuff like ACOGs and VCOGs are so expensive.

2. Runner-Up: Primary Arms SLx RS-10

When Primary Arms reached out and asked us to try their new MRD, we were more than happy to put it to the test.

They have a reputation for hitting an interesting sweet spot of value and quality, but I have to admit I thought taking on the red dot market was a tall order.

Brands like Vortex,  Trijicon, and Aimpoint have deep histories with the format, but PA really surprised with the new RS-10. So much so that I think it’s as good as higher-priced options but offers a much better value. It’s not a $700 optic, but most folks don’t need something that high-end.

For everyone that wants an affordable MRD to mount on their favorite handgun or large-format pistol, the SLx RS-10 is hard to beat.

Reticle & Accuracy

Our initial series of four five-shot groups at 25 yards were in the 3-4 inch range shooting my Palmetto State AR-V 9mm from our Caldwell Tack Driver bags.

The glass is surprisingly nice, with the dot easy to see at all brightness settings. I could acquire and hit targets at 30-50 yards without fail.

The brightest settings did produce a slight bloom in the viewport in my daylight testing, but backing down 1-2 clicks had things dialed in and still very easy to see in bright, 90-degree sun.

Taking my testing into a darker situation, like a door at the back of my garage, I was pretty taken aback by the amount of bloom you get on the brighter settings with the RS-10. It was bright enough that I had trouble making out the dot and really anything in the viewport.

Mounting

Sighting the RS-10 in was super simple, with straightforward top-mounted height and side-mounted windage adjustments. Granted I was testing a large-format pistol at 25 yards.

The included low-profile Picatinny rail mount was attached to the unit with 2 hex screws, and within 2 minutes of turning, I was ready to mount it and hit the range. I also mounted it on my Shadow Systems MR920, and the simple Docter/Noblex footprint had it mounted and sighted in about 3 minutes.

Durability & Water Resistance

The RS-10 isn’t rated for water resistance, so I didn’t plunk it into a bucket to see if PA simply forgot to note that on the package. On the durability front, after mounting and rattling off our test rounds, I smacked the RS-10 top and bottom, left and right with our trusty Mr. Testy (my 1.5 lb dead blow hammer) and took a look at the state of the cover. It showed no signs of wear and had not shifted in the least.

Follow-on shots were as good as my initial test series, with groups in the 3-inch range at 25 yards.

The Battery

The RS-10 has astonishing battery life at 40,000 hours, plus is uses an “Auto Live” feature that is similar to Holosun’s “Share Awake” feature, so you really never have to touch an on/off button.

The one semi-irritating thing (for guys like me with big, stumpy fingers) is the battery compartment. It’s on the side of the unit (a plus for those of us who hate having to remove an optic to change the battery) and thankfully uses the same hex size as the mounting screw, and the swing-out arm is nice and sturdy — but it leaves the CR-2032 in the unit.

I suppose people with functional fingernails may not find this to be an issue, but I simply could not remove the battery without my trusty Benchmade.

3. Competition Pick: Leupold Delta Point Pro

Specifications

• Weight: 2 oz
• Night Vision Compatibility: No
• Dot Size: 6 MOA
• Objective Lens Diameter: 27mm
• Waterproof: Yes, to 33 feet
• Water resistant: Yes
• Price: $449 MSRP
• Battery: 1 CR2032
• Battery life: 300-1,600 hours depending on brightness, Motion Sensor Technology
• Illumination settings: 8 manual brightness levels
• Footprint: Shared Shield RMS/SMS, Holosun 407/507K, Trijicon RMRcc

Pros

• Great track record
• Wide field of view
• Simple dot system
• Common footprint
• Top-mounted battery tray so you do not have to dismount

Cons

• Short battery life even with motion-sensing battery-saver modes

Leupold introduced their Delta Point Pro line of miniature red dot sights back in 2015 and it was billed right off the bat as being “built for the warfighter,” having been prototype tested with the Green Berets of the 7th Special Forces Group on a real-world deployment before it reached the market.

Pitched by the company as suitable for use on everything from .22s to .458 SOCOM, the DPP is a sort of gold standard for many when it comes to micro red dots.

Reticle & Accuracy

The 6 MOA version was more recently added to the catalog in 2021 with the idea behind the single big dot being ideal for both competitive speed shooting and personal defense, as it excels at rapid, close-range target engagement.

Leupold tells us the 6 MOA has quickly become a favorite and a best seller. I believe them as everything I’ve tried it on seems to act like a laser as soon as it’s zeroed in.

Battery

One thing I love besides the big fat dot was that the DPP line uses a top-oriented battery tray that allows you to swap out its single CR2032 3V coin cell without dismounting the optic and thus having to re-zero.

The bad thing is that you may need to stock up on those CR2032s as our DPP tended to eat them up every few months.

Probably a good idea to change them out proactively, perhaps seasonally (Winter, Spring, Summer, etc.).

4. Budget Pick: SIG Romeo Elite Zero

Specifications

• Weight: 0.5 oz
• Night Vision Compatibility: No
• Dot Size: 2 MOA Red Dot / 32 MOA Circle
• Objective Lens Diameter: 24mm
• Waterproof: No
• Water resistant: Yes
• Price: $239 MSRP
• Battery: 1 CR1632
• Battery life: 20,000 hours (over two years)
• Illumination settings: 8 Daylight Brightness Settings
• Footprint: Shared Shield RMS/SMS, Holosun 407/507K, Trijicon RMRcc, mounting standard.

Pros

• Affordable
• Common footprint
• Very light
• Includes steel shroud

Cons

• Hard to adjust
• Bottom-mounted battery requires sight removal

Sig Sauer’s Electro-Optics division introduced their original Romeo Zero 1x18mm micro red dot in 2019 then followed it up with the slightly bigger (1×24) and a whole lot better Romeo Zero Elite in 2022.

Mounting

The Zero Elite is engineered specifically as a companion for the company’s P365 series micro compact 9mm and .380 ACP pistols, along with the similar P322 rimfire handgun, and it fits both like a glove.

However, as it uses one of the most common footprints (Shield RMSc/Holosun K) on the market today, odds are you are good to go with this little guy on most of the optics-ready pistols on the market.

A big selling point on the Zero Elite is its price– you can often find them sub $200 on sale– which competes well against two low-budget MRD champs: the Holosun 407K and the Crimson Trace 1500 while having a bigger window.

Plus, Sig’s sight has a steel shroud that can be mounted, which adds some protection to the ultralight polymer housing of this red dot.

Battery

Now comes the rocks. The battery compartment is on the bottom of the Zero Elite, which means you must re-zero it every time the single CR1632 goes out.

Granted, they seem to last a while in this little guy, but it is still a PITA. Further, the adjustments to us just feel a little wonky and hard to manipulate.

Reticle & Accuracy

As a final nail, we have run three of these on different guns and, while two held zero, the third just would not for whatever reason we could not nail down.

Sure, that’s a sample size of just three sights, but that’s what we have to report.

5. Premium Pick: Steiner MPS

Specifications

• Weight: 2.05 oz
• Night Vision Compatibility: Yes
• Dot Size: 3.3 MOA dot
• Objective Lens Diameter: 20mm with 21mm window
• Waterproof: Yes (laser emitter is water pressure tight to 10 meters)
• Water resistant: Yes
• Price: $574 MSRP
• Battery: 1 CR1632
• Battery life: 13,000 hours (almost two years)
• Illumination settings:
• 8 brightness levels: 6 day/night modes, 2 night vision
• Footprint: Docter/ACRO

Pros

• Fully sealed against weather and water
• Gucci-level name brand
• Crystal clear glass
• Long battery life, easy-to-change battery

Cons

• Smaller window than many MRDs
• Bulky sight due to “lunch box” style construction
• Less common mounting footprint

Germany’s Steiner, makers of some of the best optics in the world, in 2021 introduced their Micro Pistol Sight or MPS. A lunchbox-style micro red dot with a fully enclosed emitter, the MPS is fundamentally a downsized Steiner Defendu Reflex Sight, the company’s legendary fully enclosed CQB carbine optic.

Durability

Completely sealed with all-metal construction and nitrogen filled with what the company says is the “best in class” shock rating, you never have to worry about fog or weather with this one so long as its walls aren’t busted open.

Battery

You can change the battery without removing the optic, and it has a decent life span and an auto-off feature that shuts it down after 13 hours to keep it that way. Plus, it costs about as much as the “budget” closed emitter MRD (the Holosun HE509T-RD) and is a little cheaper than the Aimpoint ACRO.

However, Holosun’s new EPS Carry sights, fully closed emitters just recently introduced, are seriously less expensive.

Mounting

So, what’s not to like? Well, the Docter/ACRO footprints the Steiner MPS uses are not common, which can leave the user buying a $60 plate from C&H Precision.

Also, due to the high rear roof, it feels very bulky, especially if trying to carry concealed.

6. Picatinny Option: Burris Fast Fire 4

Specifications

• Weight: 1.6 oz
• Night Vision Compatibility: No
• Dot Size: 3 or 11 MOA dot, or MOA and Circle
• Objective Lens Diameter: 27mm
• Waterproof: No
• Water resistant: Yes
• Price: $456 MSRP
• Battery: 1 CR1632
• Battery life: 26,000 hours (almost three years)
• Illumination settings: 3 manual brightness levels; automatic setting reactive to the environment
  Footprint: Shared Docter/Noblex mounting standard, Picatinny adapter

Pros

• Light
• Short
• Modular
• Removable weather shield

Cons

• Footprint is a little less common
• Very small screws for the shield can be easily stripped or lost

Replacing the Fast Fire III this year, the Burris Fast Fire 4 is often overlooked but is a great little optic.

Accuracy & Reticle

Using a removable weather shield that gives it an enclosed emitter in that configuration, it is brighter than its predecessors and comes to the party with four different onboard reticle options.

Versatile, it can be used on pistols, rifles, and even shotguns– it can take the abuse.

Mounting

The Fast Fire 4 also ships with an M1913 rail adaptor so as long as you have a top Picatinny rail, you are in business. That’s a big win for a lot of folks with large format pistols or who are just looking for a red dot for close-up work on a carbine.

I mounted one on an M4 and have used it in a CQB class for 500 rounds with great results acquiring the dot with the 11 MOA Circle dot.

The only thing we could gripe about was the fact that the fine screws that are used to mount the top cover seem a little cheap– we almost stripped them out without even trying– in addition to being so small that they are exceptionally easy to lose during an install/uninstall.

Pro tip: use a magnetic parts tray during installations as much as possible.

7. Also Great: Holosun 509K X2

Specifications

• Weight: 1 oz
• Night Vision Compatibility: Yes
• Dot Size: Circle Dot; 2 MOA Dot; 32 MOA Circle
• Objective Lens Diameter: 20mm
• Waterproof: Yes, IP67 (1 meter of freshwater for up to 30 minutes)
• Water resistant: Yes
• Price: $341 MSRP
• Battery: 1 CR1632 (ships with a Lithium)
• Battery life: 50,000 hours (over 5 years)
• Illumination settings: 12 brightness settings (10 DL & 2 NV compatible)
• Footprint: Shared Holosun K

Pros

• Common footprint
• Exceptional battery life
• Choice of three reticles standard

Cons

• Smallish window

Easily one of the best red dot for the price on the market today, the 509K X2 has just about everything you could want and some nice extras that more expensive sights don’t offer.

Reticle & Accuracy

First off, this open reflex sight comes in a couple hundo less than a Burris Fast Fire 4, Leupold DPP, or Steiner MPS but it is multi-reticle– which is a big plus– offering three different dot sizes/patterns in the same optic.

Mounting

Easy to mount on probably the most common footprint, it is both night vision compatible and waterproof enough for most people that aren’t Navy SEALs.

Battery

Plus, the estimated batter life is half a decade, which is just jaw-dropping. When you do go to change out that battery, the compartment is side-mounted, meaning you aren’t going to lose your zero.

Another nice feature is that the side-mounted brightness settings are lockable while the rear of the deck has a sort of integral backup iron sights. For those who prefer a green dot rather than red, Holosun offers that (HE507K-GR X2) for an extra $25.

The worst thing we can say about the 507K is that the window is on the small side, meaning the user has to kind of fish around a little bit to find the dot.

Advancements in technology and the proliferation of optics-ready pistols have made compact pistol red dots an increasingly popular choice for improved accuracy and faster aiming. Add that to the growing adoption of pistol red dots among military special forces and everyone seems to want a red dot these days.

Now that you have a sense of the best pistol-friendly red dot sights, you may still be wondering – what’s the advantage of mounting one in the first place?

• Faster target acquisition: A red dot sight makes it easier to get on target because it places the reticle and target on the same focal plane. This takes less visual effort than using iron sights – which require you to balance the front sight, rear sight, and the actual target. It can be a little disorienting to use a red dot initially, so look to mount it as low as possible (pre-milled slides are a great option) because the lower the mount the closer it feels to using irons. Once you’ve got it figured out, though, it can feel like cheating.
• Better long-range shooting: The precision placement of the dot means it’s much easier to shoot from distance as it essentially takes all of the guesswork out of aiming. A 3 MOA dot covers 3” of the target at 100 yards – 6” at 200 yards – so while it’s more precise, make sure that you’re selecting the MOA size that’s appropriate for your normal shooting distance.
• Improved low-light performance: Red dots make it much easier to shoot in dim light – especially vs. irons. Plus, some red dots work well in combination with night vision, essentially layering on another level of performance.
• Easier on bad eyes: Older shooters love red dots for the above reasons. As eyes age, focus becomes more challenging – which means shooting also does. Red dots eliminate that need so long as eye conditions (such as astigmatism) aren’t impacting your vision.
• Wider situational awareness: Red dots don’t require you to close one eye because the dot and the target are on the same plane. With both eyes open, there’s nothing to impede the perception of your environment.

When choosing a red dot sight for a carry gun, it’s crucial to consider durability and size tailored to everyday use, as these factors are essential for concealed carry firearms.

• More failure points: Red dots are, at the end of the day, electronic devices. They use batteries, wires, and circuits – which means they’ll fail at some point. Make sure you’re selecting the right product for your application – plinkers may not need a $900 red dot. Also – swap the batteries every couple of months & carry fresh ones with you in your gear bag. Weather can also impede performance if the glass is fogged or the LED isn’t registering clearly on the internal mirrors.
• Requires familiarity: Getting accurate with any handgun requires practice, but due to the fact that a red dot is an additional bit of kit, you’ll need to get to know how your weapon performs with the optic or risk delaying your target acquisition while you try to locate the dot in your field of view.
• Additional costs: As we have seen here – you’re looking at $80-$100 minimum for a budget red dot – possibly $400+ for a more rugged model. Add to that mounts (because you’ll need to mount the optic in a way that suits your shooting style) or adapter plates and you’ll need a MOS-ready (modular optic system) pistol or a separate rail on your pistol.
• No magnification: Red dots offer 1X magnification – which means none. They don’t make your target any larger than the naked eye – so if you like using a red dot but need magnification you’ll need to select a red dot that pairs with other optics (such as a rifle scope) that provide it.

Each of these pistol red dot sights offers advantages for different users, but from our perspective the SIG Romeo2 is the best red dot for most people. It was easy to install, held zero, and is practically bulletproof. It also has all the features that we look for in a pistol-friendly red dot:

• Clear, high -quality glass
• Auto & manual brightness adjustements
• Solid fit on a variety of handguns
• Fantastic light transmission

There are quite a few options out in this category, but we hope this article steers you in the right direction. If you have any questions or feedback please drop us a line. If you’re in the market for optics check out our scope reviews, guide to the best rifle scopes, tips for selecting the best long-range rifle scopes, selection of recommended rimfire scopes, and best budget AR-15 scopes.