11 Best Red Dot Sights [Hands-On]: Rifle, Pistol, & All Budgets

There's a lot of red dots out there. And probably even more GUIDES to finding the perfect red dot.

What sets this guide apart?

We have everything in hand and tested them across tons of rifles, shotguns, and pistols.

By the end you'll know the best red dot for your specific firearm AND budget. Plus some of the great reasons to even use a red dot in the first place.

Red Dot Comparison Chart

How We Chose the Best Red Dot Sights

We've shot thousands of rounds and spent hundreds of hours with red dots over the course of our years of testing guns and gear. So, for this article, we put our collective heads together to come up with the best red dots we've had hands-on time with.

To make the list, we picked a mix of rifle, pistol, and holographic sights that a majority of the full-time editorial team has shot, reviewed, or personally owned. Our criteria included red dots that were:

• Durable & reliable
• Accurate
• Good value
• Features that most users would find useful
• Controls that are intuitive or easy to use

The selected red dots have seen 1,000 rounds minimum through them over a one-year period -- though most have undergone more than a few years of testing and thousands of rounds.

We made sure to link to specific reviews we have on the red dots we chose and also include view-throughs captured during testing.

Best Red Dot Sights For Your Gun

1. Aimpoint PRO - Best Overall Red Dot

Best Overall Red Dot

Aimpoint Patrol Rifle Optic (PRO)

$497

at Sportsman's Warehouse

Prices accurate at time of writing

$497 at Sportsman's Warehouse

Midway USA (see price)

OpticsPlanet (see price)

Amazon (see price)

Specs

• Magnification: 1 x
• Objective Lens Diameter: 38 mm
• Reticle: 2 MOA Dot
• Illumination Type & Color: LED, Red
• Brightness Settings: 10
• Eye Relief: Unlimited
• Adjustment Click Value: 0.6 in at 100 yds
• Emitter Type: Enclosed
• Parallax: Free
• Optical Coating: Multi-Coated
• Light Transmission: 60%
• Battery Life: 30,000 hours
• Operating Temperature: -45 - 71 Celsius, -49 - 160 Fahrenheit
• Water Resistance Level: Waterproof, 150 ft
• Dimensions: 5.2 in x 2.8 in x 3.2 in
• Wavelength: 650 nm

The Aimpoint PRO is our Editor's Pick if you want the best red dot for everything from range plinking to all-out war.

Bomb-proof with 30K hours of continuous use...you can just leave it on and forget it. And then change out the batteries every few years.

Plus, it has a crisp 2 MOA dot (the dot will cover 2 inches at 100 yards), is night vision compatible, is waterproof up to 150 feet, and has an operating range of -49 to 160 degrees F.

If you need more than that...then I don't know what to tell you!

Check out our full-on written review of it where we bash it real good with a hammer. It kept zero and didn't even hiccup. We also have a YouTube review of it after 3+ years of testing and thousands of rounds.

Plus, it looks great on almost anything...

2. AT3 Tactical Alpha - Best Bang-For-The-Buck Red Dot

Best Bang-For-The-Buck Red Dot

AT3 Tactical Alpha

$119

at AT3 Tactical

Prices accurate at time of writing

$119 at AT3 Tactical

Amazon (see price)

Specs

• Magnification: 1X
• Objective Lens Diameter: 20mm
• Reticle: 2 MOA Dot
• Illumination Type & Color: Red
• Brightness Settings: 11 (9 Daylight, 2 Night Vision Compatible)
• Eye Relief: Unlimited
• Adjustment Click Value: +/- 35 MOA (total adjustment range 70 MOA)
• Emitter Type: Enclosed
• Parallax: Fixed
• Optical Coating: Multi-Coated
• Battery Life: Up to 50,000 hours
• Water Resistance Level: Waterproof, IPX7
• Dimensions: 2.9in total length with riser mount

The Alpha is our new bang-for-the-buck red dot after testing several units for nearly for a year.

We've had it on 9mm blowback full-auto guns for over 1000 rounds. As well as on AR-15s and 12ga shotguns.

And the Alpha stayed true the entire time.

It has all the features you get from higher-priced optics, like a 50,000-hour battery life (almost 6 years). As well as a 15-minute shake-awake that raises the life even more.

Plus, we love that it comes with two risers that give you three heights to choose from. So whether you want a low optic on a shotgun or AK to an absolute co-witness or 1/3 co-witness on an AR...you don't need to buy anything else.

The view through is also great with clear glass and a crisp dot. Only knock is that you can slightly see the emitter at the 4 o'clock section. But once you're shooting...you don't even know it's there.

See it in video action here, although the real deal is way crisper:

It also feels overbuilt in hand...and has the performance to back it up with it surviving our 10-drop and water immersion torture tests.

Check out the full review of the Alpha for more info.

3. Sig Sauer Romeo5 - Affordable & Proven

Affordable & Proven

Sig Sauer Romeo5 Gen II

$119

at Palmetto State Armory

Prices accurate at time of writing

$119 at Palmetto State Armory

Amazon (see price)

Primary Arms (see price)

Specs

• Magnification: 1X
• Objective Lens Diameter: 20mm
• Reticle: 2 MOA Red Dot
• Illumination Type & Color: Red
• Brightness Settings: 10 (8 Daylight, 2 Night Vision Compatible)
• Eye Relief: Unlimited
• Adjustment Click Value: +/- 40 MOA
• Battery Life: 450 hours
• Operating Temperature: 
• Water Resistance Level: Waterproof, IPX7
• Dimensions: 2.47 in x 1.50 in x 1.52 in

The Sig Sauer Romeo5 used to be the Best-Bang-For-the-Buck red dot at under $200. And nowadays, we're setting it for around $120.

We've been testing several units for 4+ years, and so far, none have failed.

Clear and crisp 2 MOA dot, 8 daylight settings and 2 night vision modes, and motion on/off.

The daylight settings are enough for our desert days and you get 40,000+ hours of battery life at the medium setting.

There's a slight green hue, but it doesn't bother me at all. When indoors, you can see how crisp the dot is.

Button adjustment is easy on the top, and you can set up shake-awake as well, which really helps the battery life.

Once set, it will turn off after 2 minutes of inactivity and turn on with any movement. This is a great feature that was previously only present in higher-end red dots.

Plus, it comes with a high riser that is perfect for AR-15 platforms.

We've put thousands of rounds through several units, and you can check out the full Romeo5 review here.

What do you think of the Sig Romeo5? Rate it below.

4. Aimpoint Micro T-2 - Best High-End Red Dot

Best High-End Red Dot

Aimpoint Micro T-2

$951

at Midway USA

Prices accurate at time of writing

$951 at Midway USA

OpticsPlanet (see price)

Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore (see price)

Specs

• Magnification: 1X
• Objective Lens Diameter: 18mm
• Reticle: 2 MOA Dot
• Illumination Type & Color: LED, Red
• Brightness Settings: 12 (8 Daytime, 4 Night Vision)
• Eye Relief: Unlimited
• Adjustment Click Value: 0.4 at 100 yards
• Emitter Type: Enclosed
• Parallax: Free
• Optical Coating: Multi-Coated
• Light Transmission: 70%
• Battery Life: 7,300 - 50,000 hours
• Operating Temperature: -45 - 71 Celsius, -49 - 160 Fahrenheit
• Water Resistance Level: Waterproof, 80 ft
• Dimensions: 2.7 in x 1.6 in x 1.4 in
• Wavelength: 650 nm

How about the gold standard in rifle red dots when price is no object?

Then it's got to be the Aimpoint Micro T-2.

This lightweight (3 oz) red dot has a 50,000 hour battery life, is fully waterproof, and comes with 8 daytime and 4 night-vision brightness adjustments.

And of course...the incredible pedigree that is Aimpoint.

I like pairing mine with a Unity FAST mount, which comes with its own irons.

Plus, the height makes it great for reduced neck strain and easier acquisition with night vision goggles.

Unity Tactical FAST Mount

$181

at Brownells

Prices accurate at time of writing

$181 at Brownells

OpticsPlanet (see price)

Midway USA (see price)

5. Trijicon MRO - Runner-Up High-End Red Dot

Runner-Up High-End Red Dot

Trijicon MRO

$594

at Sportsman's Warehouse

Prices accurate at time of writing

$594 at Sportsman's Warehouse

Amazon (see price)

MidwayUSA (see price)

Specs

• Magnification: 1X
• Objective Lens Diameter: 25mm
• Reticle: Dot
• Illumination Type & Color: LED, Red
• Brightness Settings: 8 (6 Daylight, 2 Night Vision Compatible)
• Eye Relief: Infinite
• Adjustment Click Value: 0.5 MOA
• Battery Life: 5 years of continuous use at Day-Setting 3
• Water Resistance Level: 100 ft.
• Dimensions: 1.6 in x 1.7 in x 2 in

Another favorite is the Trijicon MRO, which is around $400 and is in the same price range as the Aimpoint PRO.

However, it comes in a smaller profile AND a larger field of view.

Beefy and now an often chosen duty optic...the MRO gives you 6 daylight settings and 2 night vision with 5 years of battery life at a medium setting.

It survived a lot of punishment in our High-End Optics Torture Test...from water immersion to drop test, heat/cold cycling, and being shot with a variety of loads.

And it took them like a champ with only a slight shift in POA with the drop test.

Want a place where we sum it ALL UP? Check the full Trijicon MRO review plus video:

6. Trijicon RMR Type 2 - Best Pistol Red Dot

Best Pistol Red Dot

Trijicon RMR Type 2

$589

at Primary Arms

Prices accurate at time of writing

$589 at Primary Arms

MidwayUSA (see price)

Brownells (see price)

OpticsPlanet (see price)

Specs

• Magnification: 1X
• Objective Lens Diameter: 0.63 - 0.83 in
• Reticle: 6.5 MOA Dot
• Illumination Type & Color: LED, Red
• Brightness Settings: 8
• Eye Relief: Unlimited
• Adjustment Click Value: 1 MOA
• Optical Coating: True-Color, Multi-Coated Lens
• Battery Life: 4 years at setting 4
• Water Resistance Level: Waterproof, 66 ft.
• Dimensions: 1.8 in x 1.2 in x 1 in

Now we're entering the realm of micro red dots...or red dots that fit on your pistol.

We'll start with the Gold Standard...the Trijicon RMR Type 2.

If you're serious about a red dot enabled fighting/competition pistol...you go with an RMR.

It is trusted by professionals and has the most widespread "cut" for pistol slides, so if you're upgrading your slide, it will likely be an RMR cut.

Up to 4 years of battery life (always keep it on) plus night vision compatible.

Find out more about the RMR Type 2 in our Best Pistol Red Dots article.

7. Holosun 507C X2 ACSS Vulcan - Bang-For-The-Buck Pistol Red Dot

Bang-For-The-Buck Pistol Red Dot

Holosun 507C X2 – ACSS Vulcan Reticle

$280

at Primary Arms

Prices accurate at time of writing

$280 at Primary Arms

OpticsPlanet (see price)

MidwayUSA (see price)

Specs

• Magnification: 1X
• Reticle: ACSS Vulcan
• Illumination Type & Color: LED, Red
• Brightness Settings:  12
• Eye Relief: Unlimited
• Adjustment Click Value: 1 MOA
• Emitter Type: Open Emitter
• Optical Coating: Multi-Coated
• Battery Life: 50,000 hours
• Water Resistance Level: IP67

Looking for the new hotness in pistol red dots with an innovative reticle? We're digging the Holosun 507C X2 ACSS Vulcan that's a collaboration between Holosun and Primary Arms.

It has all the nice things like 20,000 hours battery life with a solar backup, shake awake, night vision compatibility, and extreme durability.

But what really does it for us is its reticle.

A nice crisp chevron that has some built in dropoff indicators...and a large ring on the outside that helps you realize you're off center and quickly correct.

Super useful, especially when you're learning the switch from irons to red dots, and you tend to aim too low in the beginning. And once you get the hang of it...you can choose to turn it off to save some battery life.

We've done an in-depth review of the 507C and have a full video review below.

8. EOTech EXPS-2 - Best Holographic Sight

Best Holographic Sight

EOTECH EXPS2 HWS

$599

at Primary Arms

Prices accurate at time of writing

$599 at Primary Arms

OpticsPlanet (see price)

Amazon (see price)

Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore (see price)

Show all prices

Specs

• Magnification: 1X
• Objective Lens Diameter: 0.85 in
• Reticle: 68 MOA Ring w/ Single 1 MOA Dot
• Illumination Type & Color: Holographic
• Brightness Settings:  20
• Eye Relief: Unlimited
• Adjustment Click Value: 0.5 MOA
• Emitter Type: Enclosed
• Battery Life: 1000 hours
• Operating Temperature: -40 - 140 Fahrenheit
• Water Resistance Level: Submersible, 10 ft.
• Dimensions: 3.8 in x 2.1 in x 2.5 in

This one is technically a "holographic" sight. The technology of showing the reticle in front of your eyes may be different...but it still does the same thing as a red dot.

The EOTech EXPS-2 is my go-to for a serious rifle. As it is for a lot of our military.

EOTech pioneered the reticle that has become synonymous with other holographic sights. Its large 68 MOA circle and small 1 MOA center allow for quick acquisition and precise targeting.

Battery life is less for holographics overall. The EXPS2-0 has 600 hours...but you get a much larger view window and the great reticle.

We took an EXPS model and also subjected it to untold horrors in the High-End Optics Torture Test.

It survived everything (with no POI shift in the cold/heat cycling) until the .22LR Mini-Mag which took down all but one optic.

But due to the holographic technology, which doesn't need the rear glass...it still technically worked.

I run it as my main suppressed night-vision gun since the newer generation tubes are ok with the lowest settings.

Learn more in our Best EOTech Holographic Sights.

9. Holosun 510C - Best Circle-And-Dot Reticle

Best Circle-And-Dot Reticle

Holosun HS510C

$309

at Amazon

Prices accurate at time of writing

$309 at Amazon

Midway USA (see price)

OpticsPlanet (see price)

Specs

• Magnification: 1X
• Objective Lens Diameter: 32mm x 24mm open lens
• Reticle: Multiple Reticle System featuring 3 reticles
• Illumination Type & Color: LED, Red or Green
• Brightness Settings:  12 (10 Daylight, 2 Night Vision Compatible)
• Eye Relief: Unlimited
• Adjustment Click Value: 0.5 MOA
• Parallax: Parallax Free
• Optical Coating: Multi-Coated
• Battery Life: Up to 50,000 hours (Setting 6)
• Operating Temperature: -22°F ~ 76°F
• Water Resistance Level: IP67
• Dimensions: 3.3in x 1.68 in x 1.78 in

And you know I wouldn't leave you hanging without a more affordable holographic option...

Holosun's 510C combines the typical holographic reticle with red dot technology. Now you get tons of hours, a great view window, and the ability for quick snap or more precise shots.

Plus...it even has a solar panel to not use up battery power during the day. Not that you have much to worry about...it's rated for 50K hours.

Check out more pics and videos of the 510C in Best Holographic Sights.

10. Holosun HS507K - Best Micro Pistol Red Dot

Best Micro Pistol Red Dot

Holosun 507K X2

$295

at Kygunco

Prices accurate at time of writing

$295 at Kygunco

Amazon (see price)

MidwayUSA (see price)

Specs

• Magnification: 1X
• Reticle: MRS - Circle Dot, 2 MOA Dot, 32 MOA Circle
• Illumination Type & Color: LED, Red or Green
• Brightness Settings:  12 (10 Daylight, 2 Night Vision Compatible)
• Eye Relief: Unlimited
• Adjustment Click Value: 1 MOA
• Parallax: Parallax Free
• Battery Life: Up to 50,000 Hours Battery Life (Setting 6)
• Operating Temperature: -4°F ~ 123°F
• Water Resistance Level: IP67
• Dimensions: 1.6 in x 0.98 in x 0.95 in

Ok...we do kind of love our Holosuns.

And with the extreme popularity of micro compact 9mm handguns that hold 10+ rounds...there's a whole new category of micro pistol red dots to accompany them.

But our favorite is the Holosun HS507K X2.

A quick comparison of the larger HS507C vs the micro HS507K.

It's got the same things you expect, like it's big bro...50,000 hours, night vision compatibility, great build quality, and a nice reticle.

The dot and circle is one of our favorites and makes it almost cheating to shoot with the HS507K. Get the reticle on target and you'll hit it.

See it in action here:

There are a lot more micro pistol red dots, and we go over all our favorites in our giant Best Pistol Red Dots article. But our go-to for price and performance has to be the HS507K.

11. Holosun HS507Comp - Best Competition Pistol Red Dot

Best Competition Pistol Red Dot

Holosun 507Comp

$369

at MidwayUSA

Prices accurate at time of writing

$369 at MidwayUSA

Firearms Depot (see price)

Kygunco (see price)

Palmetto State Armory (see price)

Specs

• Magnification: 1X
• Reticle: Competition Reticle System - 2 MOA Dot & 8/20/32 MOA Circle
• Illumination Type & Color: LED, Red
• Brightness Settings:  12 (10 Daylight, 2 Night Vision)
• Eye Relief: Unlimited
• Adjustment Click Value: 1 MOA
• Parallax: Parallax Free
• Optical Coating: Multi-Coated
• Battery Life: Up to 50,000 Hours Battery Life (Setting 6)
• Operating Temperature: -22°F ~ 76°F
• Water Resistance Level: IP67
• Dimensions: 1.8 in × 1.3 in ×1.3 in
• Wavelength: 650nm

If you like the 507K, you might love the 507 Comp; there's just so much more to love.

This sight is enormous and the reason why is in the name -- competition. If you're the type that doesn't like to hunt for your red dot on presentation, then 507 Comp might be a good option for you.

Featuring a 1.1” x 0.87” objective lens and new Competition Reticle System, shooters can choose variations between a 2 MOA dot, 8 MOA circle, 20 MOA circle, and 32 MOA circle.

The 507 Comp is built with 7075 aluminum housing and mounts up using the Trijicon RMR/SRO footprint. Running on a CR1632 battery, Holosun says the unit gets 50,000 hours of run time.

The power source is conveniently tray-mounted, so you don't have to remove the optic to change batteries.

For electronics, the dots come in red or green, and there are 8 brightness settings, with the final two being night vision compatible. The 507 Comp also utilizes Shake Awake technology as a battery-saving measure.

We've tested this unit quite a bit and love how easy it is to find the dot, and even keep it during recoil.

Is a Red Dot Worth It?

Now that we've gotten our favorite picks out of the way...why would you even want a red dot? Haven't iron sights worked for hundreds of years?

Well...there's always room for improvement!

1. Eye Relief

This means you don't need to have a set distance of your eyeballs from the sight. More apparent for scopes...but it's also a thing you deal with on iron sights.

2. Parallax Free

This means when you move your head around...the red dot still stays on target. This combined with eye relief gives you a lot more freedom in position.

3. Co-Witness

You always want a backup since electronics can fail...even if you go with the gold standards. Red dots let you either absolute co-witness or lower 1/3 co-witness with your existing iron sights.

I prefer the lower 1/3, so you don't always see the front post in your face until you drop a little lower and WANT to see it.

You can select the specific co-witness height based on models and riser heights. Don't worry...we cover everything in the in-depth articles!

4. Both Eyes Open

Lastly, you can keep both eyes open with red dots which opens up your entire field of view. No more squinting behind your irons and ignoring potential threats on the side.

Why Trust Pew Pew Tactical

Leading the research and testing of this article is Pew Pew Tactical Founder and CEO Eric Hung. Though Eric got into guns later in life, they have become his passion and given him a gateway to put his research and data-driven brain to use. Eric has researched and written over 250 articles on firearms and gear since getting into guns and uses his expertise as an NRA-certified pistol instructor and a USPSA/3-Gun/NRL22 competitor to help him evaluate and choose the best red dot setups for rifles and pistols.

Overseeing all operations at Pew Pew Tactical (and editing the articles) is Editor-in-Chief Jacki Billings -- who runs our experienced team of reviewers. She is a member of the Society of Professional Journalists, ACES: Society for Editing, NSSF, and the Professional Outdoor Media Association as well as holding certification as an NRA pistol instructor. Jacki has a bachelor’s degree in journalism and has worked as a media professional for close to 20 years, specializing in gun media for almost 10 years. With over 2,000 articles under her belt and two book edits, she uses her professional journalism and editing experience to set testing protocols and editorial standards for Pew Pew Tactical. Jacki routinely carries a Sig P365 with a Holosun red dot.

Content Producer Sean Curtis & Jr. Editor Wyatt Sloan, and former Pew Pew Tactical staffer John Currie also contributed to this article.

Final Thoughts

There you have it...our picks of the best red dot (and holographic) sights for all types of guns. Here are the specific articles we referenced if you want to see more in-depth reviews.

• Best Budget Red Dots Under $200
• Best Pistol Red Dots
• Best Holographic Sights
• Best Shotgun Red Dots

How did we do...anything else you'd add to our list?  If you're looking for something with a little more magnification...check out our Best AR-15 Scopes & Optics or more general Best Rifle Scopes post.

LATEST UPDATES

• October 2024: Removed Vortex Venom and STNGR. Added analysis and comparison charts.
• May 2024: Removed Sig MSR & added AT3 Tactical Alpha.