Current Pecking Order of Pistol-Mounted Red Dot Sights?

**donlapalma** · 03-22-21, 15:04

I have very minimal experience with pistol-mounted red dot sights. I own a Trijicon RMR Type 2, which sits atop a Glock 45. While I've shot this pistol quite a bit, this is the only pistol-mounted red dot sight I've ever owned. The market has more options these days and I see myself setting up more pistol-mounted red dots, but I now wonder what the current pecking order is amongst all the choices out there. I have not yet carried a red dot equipped pistol so my experience so far has only been on the range. Ultimately, any red dot equipped handgun should be suitable for concealed carry if it is going to take up space in my already over-flowing gun safe.

So based on my rather casual research, I've noted the following regarding some of the more popular RDS products:

Trijicon RMR - proven to be durable and reliable. Need to remove from pistol to change batteries. Open emitter design viewed as a negative in the rain. Excellent battery life.

Leupold Deltapoint Pro - Size and battery life seen as disadvantages. Larger window and clear glass. Larger iron sight needed to co-witness.

Aimpoint ACRO - Fully enclosed emitter noted as a positive. Larger in size. Smaller viewing window. Battery life reported as poor.

Holosun - Best bang for the buck? Inconsistent quality.

Trijicon SRO - larger, taller and longer than the RMR. Top loaded batteries. Larger window.

So, after my cursory review of these sights, it seems as though I would just buy another RMR and call it good. Have the ACRO battery issues improved since product launch? Are these larger profile sights really a non-issue for those who concealed carry, especially AIWB? I haven't even begun to think about how mounting options might change the calculus of my decision - any advice on this?

Has anybody else been swayed away from the RMR or took a chance on something else and ended up being pleasantly surprised?

Thanks in advance for sharing your thoughts and experiences.

**VIP3R 237** · 03-22-21, 15:09

I’d highly recommend watching the Sage dynamics videos, no one puts as many rounds through pistol rds’s than Aaron.
According to him the Holosun 509T is top of the pack for enclosed emitters (even over the acro) and for open the RMR and 508T are the ones he prefers.

I personally have used the RMR, Delta Point Pro, 507c, and now the 509T and I prefer the 509T over everything available.

**donlapalma** · 03-22-21, 15:58

Thanks for the heads up on that. I just watched the review and the 509T looks very interesting indeed. Do you carry a pistol with a 509T? How is that working out for you?

Originally Posted by VIP3R 237

I’d highly recommend watching the Sage dynamics videos, no one puts as many rounds through pistol rds’s than Aaron.
According to him the Holosun 509T is top of the pack for enclosed emitters (even over the acro) and for open the RMR and 508T are the ones he prefers.

I personally have used the RMR, Delta Point Pro, 507c, and now the 509T and I prefer the 509T over everything available.

**VIP3R 237** · 03-22-21, 16:26

My edc is a Glock 19 with a 509T that I’ve been using since last fall and I’m a believer. I wish I could say I have the round count Aaron does but for about a thousand rounds it’s held up as advertised. One of the biggest appeal to me about the enclosed design is that I’ve had issues with open emitters getting fogged up and dirty, this eliminates the problem.

Originally Posted by donlapalma

Thanks for the heads up on that. I just watched the review and the 509T looks very interesting indeed. Do you carry a pistol with a 509T? How is that working out for you?

**rockapede** · 03-23-21, 08:58

Originally Posted by VIP3R 237

My edc is a Glock 19 with a 509T that I’ve been using since last fall and I’m a believer. I wish I could say I have the round count Aaron does but for about a thousand rounds it’s held up as advertised. One of the biggest appeal to me about the enclosed design is that I’ve had issues with open emitters getting fogged up and dirty, this eliminates the problem.

I've seen some complaints about optical distortion with the 509T. Have you noticed anything distracting? I see some distortion with every pistol dot (RMR, 507, DPP) I've ever tried, so it's not a huge deal to me unless it's just over the top; I just seem to read more complaints than average about the 509T's optical quality than others.

**dontshakepandas** · 03-23-21, 10:04

Originally Posted by rockapede

I've seen some complaints about optical distortion with the 509T. Have you noticed anything distracting? I see some distortion with every pistol dot (RMR, 507, DPP) I've ever tried, so it's not a huge deal to me unless it's just over the top; I just seem to read more complaints than average about the 509T's optical quality than others.

My 509Ts seem very similar to my RMRs in that regard. There are probably clearer options out there, but I wouldn't say it is overly noticeable unless you are looking for it.

**Biggy** · 03-26-21, 10:35

Looking forward to the ACRO Gen 2 . It may also be in the running.

**Matt in TN** · 04-01-21, 16:26

Originally Posted by Defaultmp3

People have absolutely talked about it, it just wasn't a huge talking point because there were no viable alternatives outside of specialized mounting for T-1s using either the Unity Atom or else something like a 6SM, and it was recognized that even an open-emitter RDS offered significant advantages to iron sights.

And let's face it, most folks don't really shoot in poor weather. How well known is it that a major weakness of the DPP compared to the RMR is just how easily the emitter is occluded in the rain?

It has been a thing in Run N Gun (centerfire biathlon) circles for some time now. Almost every single match we would see at least one open emitter RDS fail because of a single drop of water or mud in the wrong place. It made me hold onto my iron sights until the Aimpoint came out. The Acro is ugly, but it just works. And the battery life isn't nearly as bad as the internet makes it out to be.

**Diamondback** · 04-01-21, 19:49

Originally Posted by Matt in TN

It has been a thing in Run N Gun (centerfire biathlon) circles for some time now. Almost every single match we would see at least one open emitter RDS fail because of a single drop of water or mud in the wrong place. It made me hold onto my iron sights until the Aimpoint came out. The Acro is ugly, but it just works. And the battery life isn't nearly as bad as the internet makes it out to be.

Safe bet that here in the Northwet, "water in wrong place" would be a regular failure mode.