The greatest advance in concealed carry handguns during the past ten years has been the introduction of reliable optics- commonly called red dot sights- for handguns. There are a number of top rated red dot sights proven in extensive institutional testing. Others have a long record of success in competition. Other are good choices for recreational and target shooting. Lets look at some of the best choices for all around use.
TruGlo
The TruGlo Micro has given good results on the Ruger .22/45.
Over the past few years I have owned and used more TruGlo optics than practically any other. The TruGlo Micro has a lot going for it. (It is called a Micro because it is smaller than optics intended for rifles. ) The red dot reticle is set at 3 MOA. This is an ideal set up combining real speed at modest range with a good mix of accuracy potential. The lens or glass is 23mm x 17mm allowing a good fast sight picture. The Micro features a total of ten brightness settings, easily set by the usual button controls. That is a lot of adjustment for an affordable optic. Windage and elevation adjustments are positive in operation. It isn’t difficult to sight the TruGlo in properly. The aluminum housing is nicely finished. The TruGlo features a sealed body for water resistance. My example is the RMR pattern. This makes for a simple direct mount on many handguns. The sight has given good service on a half a dozen handguns and one rifle over the past few years. This affordable optic has came in handy often in testing handguns and even a few long guns. This sight is provided with a picatinny rail, a good kit for all around use. I like TruGlo and have enjoyed good service. While I am concerned with handgun optics in this report two of my alarm and emergency AR rifles wear TruGlo optics.
This TruGlo mount slips into the dovetail sight of a 2nd generation Glock. This is teaching an old gun new tricks.
The TruGlo sights offers good adjustment values.
Leupold Delta Point Pro
Many experienced shooters have used Leupold optics for all of their lives. Perhaps grandfather did as well. The company has been in continuous operation since 1907. A huge recommendation is that the Delta Point Pro has been adopted by the US Marshal’s Service special team. The SOG is well armed. This is a proven optic with an unassailable reputation. I currently deploy the Delta Point Pro one of my favorite carry guns the FN 509 9mm. A feature I especially like is a top mounted battery. This is a secure battery compartment with a tiny lock holding the battery compartment shut. Depress the lock with the tip of an Allen wrench and the battery compartment opens. The glass is clear and properly coated. With the FN’s suppressor height sights the set up was ideal. The adjustments are top mounted. The Delta Point Pro brightness control button, riding over the battery compartment, is intuitive in use. The dot is 2.5 MOA.
You really should use the RealAvid Torque Wrench in mounting optics.
I did the usual 25 yard sighting in. I have fired perhaps 600 cartridges in this combination and the Leupold Delta Point Pro has not shifted or lost zero. Results are good to excellent and the sight tracks well on multiple targets. A good feature is that the sight turns off after five minutes of inactivity, then shakes awake. I find the Leupold DPP among the best options for all around use. The Delta Point Pro has seen front line use and is respected in competition as well. With the Delta Point Pro and the FN 509 I am as well armed as possible with a handgun and optics combination.
The Leupold/FN combination is a good one.
Vortex Venom
The Venom is among the most widely appreciated and used red dot sights in the United States. The Venom was among the first quality red dot sights I owned. This sight is still an outstanding choice for personal defense use. Build quality is good. Both controls are on the left side making for easy access. In my first experience with a higher quality RDS I learned a great deal with this optic mounted on the FN 509 full size pistol. (I carry a mid size FN 509 these days.) The Venom features a 3 MOA dot. The battery is a top loading design not common in open emitter sights. The Venom is easy to sight in and held zero as expected. The glass is clear and the 1 MOA adjustment dials allow sighting the pistol in with precision. Auto brightness settings proved to be fast and effective as I moved through home defense to bright outdoors drills. The Venom has seen a great deal of use in training with the authors. It has been among the best experiences I have had with red dot sights and carry optics. The Venom was my first quality red dot sight and has led to a long and profitable association with Vortex.
That’s the Vortex Venom mounted on a full size FN 9mm.
Vortex Venom Enclosed Emitter
I was excited to try this new optic. Enclosed emitter sights are not open to the elements but feature an enclosed body with a type of square box design that makes for greater resistances to damage and the elements. This sight was introduced in September 2025 and should be in good supply soon. I have extensively tested among the first shipped. The Venom enclosed emitter Venom uses the Delta Point Pro footprint. This makes mounting simpler than most enclosed emitter types. It is available in both 3 MOA and 6 MOA dot sizes. The sight seems robust and offers a good sized viewing window. The Vortex Venom enclosed emitter sights weighs only 1.1 ounce. After evaluation the enclosed emitter Venom gets a clean bill of health. This sight is a bargain at about two hundred dollars. While affordable the sight has good features. The glass is properly coated and clear. Some smaller sights use the 1632 battery the Venom uses the preferred 2032 type and loads from the side. There are 12 brightness settings including two that are night vision compatible. The Venom enclosed emitter features an automatic shut off at the ten minute mark and shake awake technology. I find no fault in this sight and feel that it will provide good service and offers those of us on a budget a good break.
These sights are good choices for all around use. But don’t ignore training. Without training and practice the advantages of carry optics are not realized.
