We have covered the topic of red dots on handguns in previous articles here at Tyrant Designs discussing some of the more popular ones on the market, but we have never gotten down in the weeds and discussed the nerdy minutia of micro red dots. So, if you are new to the market of red dots on handguns let this be a speed buyer’s guide for you.

When it comes to purchasing a red dot for a handgun – whether it is your 1st or 10th – there are several things you need to bear in mind. Those elements are the brand, whether it is compatible with the “footprint” or cutout of your handgun’s slide, and many other ideas. If you do proper research, you should at a bare minimum find a red dot that is compatible with your firearm: it appropriately fits your slide, is a reliable name in the gun industry, and it is a fair-asking price wherever you might be buying it from. From there, you get into the nerdy stuff.

One of the first things people will discuss is the red dot’s size. The two general category sizes are a 3 MOA (Minute of Angle – Small) or a 6 MOA (Large). When is each valuable to you or when should they be used?... If you are doing precision shooting like firing a handgun at long distances like 25 yards or more then you may prefer a smaller dot (it generally allows for you to be a more precise shooter and covers up less of your target). If most of your shooting occurs at shorter distances, then a larger red dot size may benefit you. For some people, a larger dot size is easier to acquire targets. Often the speed of deploying your red dot can be the difference in success or failure in a pistol competition or defending yourself so speed does matter.

Other things buyers look at is the battery system for the red dot. Is the battery storage easily accessible? Does it require disassembling the red dot; thus, you need to re-zero it when a new battery is installed. How long is the battery life? 10 Hours? 3 Years? All these attributes can vary widely and should be accounted for if you do a lot of shooting.

Another big debate in the community of micro red dot owners is whether to get a red dot that has a closed emitter or an open emitter. The emitter is the portion of the red dot that creates/produces the red dot on your glass. If you have an open emitter (think Trijicon RMR or Leupold DeltaPoint Pro) then debris has the potential to get in the way and obstruct your line of sight of the red dot. With a closed emitter red dot (think Aimpoint Acro) then debris cannot get in the way of the emitter; your red dot will never be obstructed. Closed emitter red dots are often heavier and bulkier so it is a trade of weight and size versus reliability.

Finally, look at the brand you are purchasing. Are they a reputable name in the firearm community? What is their warranty like? Is their footprint compatible with your firearm? All things to consider! Until next time, continually check out our blog, join our newsletter, and watch the website for new and exciting updates! As always, let us know all your thoughts in the Comments below. We love it when you participate in our articles and keep the conversation going!