How to Choose A Pistol Optic
Pistol optics have gone from a specialized upgrade to one of the most common additions to a modern handgun. They can make aiming faster, help shooters stay focused on the target, and make accurate shooting easier once you learn how to use them.
Choosing your first optic can be more confusing.
Different footprints, reticles, colors, battery systems and emitter designs can make a relatively simple piece of equipment seem complicated. Fortunately, you don’t need to understand every technical specification to make a good choice.
Start with the pistol you own, then consider how you plan to use it and which features matter most to you.
At Sound of Freedom, Holosun, Leupold, Sig Sauer, and Vortex are some of the optic brands we carry and recommend. These offer excellent choices across different features and price points.
Here are the things we recommend considering when selecting your first pistol optic.
1. Make Sure It Fits Your Pistol
Before comparing features, reticles or price, determine which optics are compatible with your handgun.
Pistol optics use different mounting patterns, commonly called footprints. An optic designed for one footprint won’t necessarily fit a pistol designed for another.
Three of the most common you’ll encounter are:
- RMR – A widely used footprint found on many full-size and compact pistols.
- RMSc – A smaller footprint frequently used on slimline and micro-compact handguns.
- DeltaPoint Pro – Another common footprint supported by a variety of optics-ready pistols.
There are others, but a first-time optic buyer doesn’t need to memorize them.
The important thing is simply knowing that footprints are different. Bring us your pistol model and we can help determine which Holosun and Vortex optics are compatible with it.
Get the fit right first. Then start comparing features.
2. Decide What Features Are Worth Paying For
Pistol optics are available at a wide range of price points. Generally, spending more buys some combination of better construction, clearer glass, improved controls, longer battery life and additional features.
That doesn’t mean you need the most expensive optic available.
Think about how you’ll use the pistol. An optic for occasional recreational shooting doesn’t necessarily need the same features you might prioritize for a handgun you carry every day.
Manufacturers offer options at different levels, which makes it possible to choose based on the features you actually want rather than simply buying the most expensive model.
Buy a quality optic. Beyond that, spend your money on features that matter to you.
3. Find a Reticle Your Eyes Like
Reticle choice is highly personal.
A traditional dot is simple and uncluttered. Larger dots can be easier to acquire quickly, while smaller dots provide a finer aiming point. Some optics also offer circle-dot or selectable reticle systems that let you choose the configuration you prefer.
None is automatically better.
What looks clean and natural to one shooter may look completely different to another. Eyesight — including common issues such as astigmatism — can also affect how a dot appears.
You don’t need an eye exam before buying an optic.
You do need to look through it.
Compare several options and see which reticle your eyes acquire naturally. It’s one of the easiest ways to narrow down your choices.
4. Red Dot or Green Dot?
Red dots are the traditional choice and continue to work extremely well. Green reticles have become increasingly popular and can be easier for some shooters to pick up, particularly outdoors or in bright conditions.
Green versions may also cost a little more.
Beyond that, this is mostly personal preference.
If you’re deciding between the two, don’t make the decision from a specification sheet. Look through both colors under different lighting and see which one stands out more naturally to you.
There isn’t a winner.
5. Open or Enclosed Emitter?
This has become one of the hotter debates in pistol optics.
An open-emitter optic has an exposed light emitter that projects the dot onto the lens. An enclosed-emitter optic places that system inside a sealed housing.
The advantage of enclosed emitters is legitimate. The enclosed design helps prevent rain, dirt, lint and other debris from getting between the emitter and the lens.
Does that mean everyone needs one?
Not necessarily.
Open-emitter optics have been used successfully for years and remain an excellent choice for most shooters. Enclosed optics offer additional protection from the environment, but they aren’t magically indestructible. Drop one hard enough and enclosed optics can break too.
For a typical range pistol — and even many everyday carry pistols — we wouldn’t make enclosed versus open emitter the deciding factor.
Consider it a feature, not a requirement.
6. Battery Life Matters - But So Does Battery Access
Enclosed-emitter pistol optics have received a lot of attention in recent years.
An open-emitter optic leaves the emitter exposed, while an enclosed design seals it inside the optic housing. The primary advantage of an enclosed emitter is protection from rain, dirt, lint and other debris that could obstruct the emitter.
That’s a legitimate benefit, particularly for pistols regularly exposed to the elements.
It doesn’t mean open-emitter optics have suddenly become obsolete.
Quality open-emitter optics have proven themselves for years. Enclosed optics provide additional environmental protection, but they’re still mechanical devices. They can be damaged too.
For most shooters, we consider emitter design one factor in the decision rather than the deciding factor.
Choose based on how you’ll actually use the pistol, not simply because one design is currently getting more attention online.
7. Consider the Warranty
Pistol optics endure a surprising amount of abuse. Every shot subjects the optic to the rapid movement of the slide, and normal use adds bumps, temperature changes, moisture and the occasional unplanned encounter with something harder than the optic.
Warranty coverage matters.
Most companies offer lifetime warranty coverage, but their warranty terms and service processes differ.
Rather than choosing an optic solely because of the words “lifetime warranty,” consider how the company handles problems when they occur.
This is a good reason to talk with our staff. We can explain the differences between the brands and our experience working with them when warranty service is actually needed.
Ideally, you’ll never need it.
If you do, you’ll be glad you considered it before buying.
8. Mounting an Optic Is Usually Straightforward
Once you’ve chosen an optic that’s compatible with your pistol, installation on many modern optics-ready handguns is relatively simple.
Follow the firearm and optic manufacturers’ instructions, use the correct hardware and pay attention to the specified torque values. There are also plenty of good manufacturer and instructional videos available that demonstrate the process step by step.
After installation, you’ll need to zero the optic before relying on it.
If you’re uncertain about compatibility or what you’ll need before getting started, bring your pistol into Sound of Freedom. We can help make sure you’re headed in the right direction.
Final Thoughts: Look Through Them
Specifications are useful, but they won’t tell you everything you need to know about a pistol optic.
Start with compatibility. Then compare the reticle, red versus green, battery system, emitter design, warranty and price.
Most importantly, look through several optics before making your decision.
At Sound of Freedom, you can compare pistol optics in person and see which features actually matter to you. Our team can help identify which optics fit your pistol, explain the differences and help you select one that makes sense for how you intend to use it.
A little comparison before you buy can save a lot of second-guessing afterward.