Optics on your compact EDC

**Speed_Freak** · 06-10-2025, 14:02

I have carried for years but I'm new to optics on pistols.

What is your preferred choice of optics and why?
Was cost, warranty, reticle type, brand loyalty, reticle colour and or size your reason?

Did a friend convince you or did you test multiple optics before making a choice?

I recently upgraded my G43x non-MOS to a Canik Prime, so Shield RMSc footprint is the format I will be looking at

**Samanjo** · 06-10-2025, 14:49

I am slowly thinking about getting a RDS for my pistol
After our monthly club shoots, I've asked some of the shooters if I can do some dry and/or live firing with their pistols to get a feel for the different RDS and MOA sizes (I want to test several before making a purchase)
Thus far I have shot with a Vortex Defender CCW and a Leupold Deltapoint

**griffin** · 07-10-2025, 13:03

It’s all budget related. If you just looking around for average Joe you could look at the Vortex Defender CCW or Holosun 407CO. Those are around the R7k plus mark. I have a Defender CCW 6MOA on my EDC G19.

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**shooty** · 07-10-2025, 15:47

Ive handled a pistol with one on. And cant say i shoot it faster then iron sights.

So for me too expensive to fit on a self defense firearm.

Can buy another handgun for the price they are sold at.

Or do alot of shooting for that amount of money which will improve shooting way more then the sight can.

**mic** · 07-10-2025, 16:06

I have a Holosum 507C on my G45. I do not think I am faster now than with iron sight, but I can clearly see the sights even at night. My eyesight have deteriorated to such an extend that I cannot clearly see iron sights anymore, but I can superimpose the Holosun's reticle over my target and still be accurate.
With the "shake awake" function the sight turn on automatically the moment the gun is moved. It also comes with an easily accessible battery compartment which makes it easy to replace and lasts a claimed 50k hours. I do replace the 1632 battery every year.

To me, an optic makes a lot of cense.
If you do go for an optic, practice the draw a lot!!!!

**Brendank** · 07-10-2025, 18:52

Originally Posted by Speed_Freak

I have carried for years but I'm new to optics on pistols.

What is your preferred choice of optics and why?
Was cost, warranty, reticle type, brand loyalty, reticle colour and or size your reason?

Did a friend convince you or did you test multiple optics before making a choice?

I recently upgraded my G43x non-MOS to a Canik Prime, so Shield RMSc footprint is the format I will be looking at

I had an Eotech EFLX 3MOA on my G19 Gen5 MOS. Tough and good optic, but the auto-shut off and no shake awake were a downside. However if you get into the habit of checking your RDS before you strap up, you'll be fine. It made the G19 even more accurate then I could shoot with irons when I dropped the dot intensity. I shot clover leaf 127gr +P+ T series at 10m when sighting it in, so I would go that route again.

**A-R** · 07-10-2025, 21:32

I recently got to play with a relative's Canik pistol fitted with a Mecanik reflex sight.
I find it more difficult to see my iron sights and shoot small groups with them. Long ago I could do 2" at 25m. Now my groups are much bigger, simply because the sights are somewhat blurred. I could shoot with my reading glasses, making the sights clear and sharp, but blurring the targets. Not really practical for me, especially in an EDC scenario.

A few observations:
1. The RDS allowing the iron sights to co-witness in the bottom of the window, allowed me to pick up the dot very fast. No transition training needed.
2. Shake-to-wake is the way to go. Fiddling with buttons when I need to shoot something in a hurry is not an option.
3. The dot really amplifies my shakes and wobbles. Not good for confidence...
4. With a typical reflex sight, my astigmatism makes the dot a multi-pointed star. When I turn dot intensity down the "Starburst" effect decreases, but the dot is more difficult to find. The enclosed RDS'es with a longer tube are much better in this regard. No idea what the new enclosed compact sights are like, but I have one for testing.
5. I would not mount a unproven RDS on to the slide of an EDC pistol. Especially the sub-compacts should put a lot of stresses on a sight and it's parts.
6. RDS technology is still improving fast, so sights are getting better, more robust, smaller and more affordable. It may be worth the while to wait a bit and see what becomes available.

**Bjorn881** · 07-10-2025, 21:37

Running a Holosun 507k on my G48 and a Holosun EPS Carry on my G43. Enclosed optics are the way forward IMO. The market has been flooded by a ton of cheap optics however if you're looking for a durable micro RDS I'd stick with the tried and test Shield or Holosun. The latter being more widely available in various colour's. Holosun EPS Carry is also multi reticle, only consideration is that you either need to Drexel the 2 front posts down on the slide or use an optic plate (Holosun do provide one) I opted for the latter as the OEM sights can act as BUIS without obscuring a large view, vs if you direct mount the RDS the OEM sights will give a 1/3 co-witness. Trijicon is also an option if your budget allows for it.

**mic** · 08-10-2025, 03:16

A-R, if you are struggling with Astigmatism, then you should really consider a "Prismatic" sight. Makes for a clear reticle and removes the starburst effect.

**Branden88** · 08-10-2025, 14:27

Originally Posted by Bjorn881

Running a Holosun 507k on my G48 and a Holosun EPS Carry on my G43. Enclosed optics are the way forward IMO. The market has been flooded by a ton of cheap optics however if you're looking for a durable micro RDS I'd stick with the tried and test Shield or Holosun. The latter being more widely available in various colour's. Holosun EPS Carry is also multi reticle, only consideration is that you either need to Drexel the 2 front posts down on the slide or use an optic plate (Holosun do provide one) I opted for the latter as the OEM sights can act as BUIS without obscuring a large view, vs if you direct mount the RDS the OEM sights will give a 1/3 co-witness. Trijicon is also an option if your budget allows for it.

Greetings,

Just a question is the EPS co-witnessing with the factory GLOCK OEM sights on your G43 or did you replace them with something else, if so do you mind sharing what sights did you go with.