Enclosed Optic recommendations?

[Derek Zeanah]

I keep hearing about the advantages of optics on pistols, but the one pistol I have (a Performance Center M&P 45 Shield 2.0) with its GT red dot was...ok, I guess. But I was always slower with the red dot than I was with the standard sights.

Now, I've been shooting iron sights on pistols for a long time, and I'm used to them, but I've also got astigmatism and I now wear bifocals, so the argument for trying optics again is reasonable, I suppose. Sometimes I struggle to get the front sight reasonably sharp because I'm getting old, and replacing that with a red dot makes all kinds of sense.

So I've got a Kimber KDS9c on order, and once the optics plates come back in stock I'm going to really try to make the optic work.

But I'm looking for a good optic. I don't need to spend lots of money, but I'm going to either adjust to a red dot on this pistol or conclude it's simply not for me based on this trial so I don't want to short-change myself. I don't need a Lamborghini, but whatever I choose should be able to handle well on the track, if that makes sense.

So what should I be looking at?

If you were going to "do it right" here in 2024, what enclosed emitter optic is that? Or is it an enclosed emitter at all?

Would love to hear all suggestions.

 

[ExtremeSquared]

I recommend trying to track down someone with a Primary Arms ACSS Vulcan optic to try.

In every way it sounds like a gimmick. After using it, I don't consider it a gimmick, and won't go back to a simple dot again.
But something not being a gimmick isn't something you can trust the word of some stranger on the internet on, either.

 

[Derek Zeanah]

I recommend trying to track down someone with a Primary Arms ACSS Vulcan optic to try.

In every way it sounds like a gimmick. After using it, I don't consider it a gimmick, and won't go back to a simple dot again.
But something not being a gimmick isn't something you can trust the word of some stranger on the internet on, either.

Actually, ...

1. I called Kimber this morning and pre-ordered the new optics mount.
2. I then ordered a Holosun 509 in red with the ACSS reticle after watching lots of reviews. Had to take out my EOTechs and compare red to green (with my astigmatism the central dot on the green was less clear.)

So great minds think alike. Or there's only one rational choice, or something.

 

[ExtremeSquared]

Actually, ...

1. I called Kimber this morning and pre-ordered the new optics mount.
2. I then ordered a Holosun 509 in red with the ACSS reticle after watching lots of reviews. Had to take out my EOTechs and compare red to green (with my astigmatism the central dot on the green was less clear.)

So great minds think alike. Or there's only one rational choice, or something.

I've been running one of those on a 10mm, partly as a torture test because I trust Holosun QA/QC slightly less than some other options. No problems yet.

 

[doubleh]

I like red dots on the guns I shoot paper, steel, and coke cans with. For an SD gun I am sticking with irons simply because I can get on target quicker. Fun guns are for shooting at longer distances than SD usually.

 

[Micro]

I've used Burris Fast Fires, Trijicon RMRs, Leupold Delta Point Pros, and now and Aimpoint Acro P-2. Now that I have some time behind the Acro, I won't go back to an open red dot sight. Aimpoint quality and battery life is a well known attibute. The sight holds zero. Is easy to adjust. And the window is low enough that you are not going to need really high sights.