#RedDot

Welcome to another edition of Concealed Carry Corner. Last week, we looked at some of the tough realities when it comes to carrying concealed. If you happened to miss that article, be sure to click the link here to check it out. This week, I want to take a deeper dive into what is actually necessary versus what is useful. So many people say the magwell or two-tone coloring on their handgun is an absolute must and then proceed to explain why it's completely necessary when, in reality, most times it's just what they wanted or it can be slightly useful. I decided to take a look at the three top items to see if they're really must-change items to carry safer or if it's just something you want. Let's take a closer look at useful vs necessary concealment items.

Luke C talks with Earle Pope, owner of Chestnut Mountain Manufacturing, at GunCon 2026 about the company's OKP-7 reproduction optic — a faithful recreation of the classic Russian-pattern reflex sight right down to the real Russian manual (obviously translated into English, too). Built for real AK-platform rifles and pistols, not airsoft replicas, the OKP-7 will also be getting an upgrade in the form of a more common battery type and other improved features over the original to make it that much better.

SIG Sauer has added a new entry to its pistol optics lineup with the ROMEO-MDC, a mini open reflex sight built around the needs of daily carry shooters. The name stands for Mini Daily Carry, and the design choices throughout back that up. Let’s take a closer look!

FN Herstal has introduced the FN PUREVIEW, a holographic micro red dot sight built for military, law enforcement, and special operations use. The optic is making its U.S. debut this week at the NRA Annual Meetings & Exhibits in Houston, running April 16-19, before heading to EUROSATORY in Paris in June.

Every now and then, you see products that catch your interest. Today’s Photo of the Day features the Cyelee BULL X PRO, a large-window reflex optic designed for handgun use with an RMR footprint interface. The oversized viewing window, measuring roughly 34.5 × 26 mm, provides an expanded field of view compared to many compact pistol optics.

Vortex is no stranger to budget red dots, but for each year they release a new one, the tech and the presentation seem to get better and better without the price climbing too much. This year’s example is the new 2 MOA Triumph red dot. This new budget-friendly series is meant to appeal to newer shooters or those just looking for an inexpensive red dot to throw on a spare gun. Even though it is in the budget category, the red dot still comes standard with a lot of neat luxury features like a motion-activated auto-off that saves battery, 9 daylight and 2 night vision brightness settings, and a standard Aimpoint micro footprint.

You’re on the range and unbagging your brand-new rifle. The air is still, and the sun is high in the sky. You load and make ready. You aim, and with a press of the trigger, let the perfect shot off. The sweet smell of burnt gunpowder and gun oil enters the air, and the action cycles. For a moment, you’re satisfied with your rifle, until you begin to wonder if you made the right choice in optic type. The debate of a red dot and magnifier combo vs an LPVO has been had by many people, and to be honest, I’m not sure if I’m dedicated to one camp either. Let’s talk about some pros and cons, and why you might want to pick one over the other.

Officially unveiled earlier this week on August 27, 2025, by the Swedish red dot OGs at Aimpoint, the new Aimpoint Duty RDS MR brings new Multi-Reticle (MR) functionality to the compact red dot sight platform that is intended to be a slightly more budget-friendly yet feature-rich version of some of Aimpoint's other legendary red dot offerings. I was fortunate enough to receive a copy of the new sight just a day before launch day, and although my range time has been brief with the new sight. I figured it’d be a great idea to bring you guys a quick “first look” article to see what the new platform is offering vs the old, as well as what people can expect from one of Aimpoint's more affordable red dot options for rifles and shotguns.

The right optic is a cornerstone of your firearm. They can add range, reliability, or target acquisition speed. A gun without an optic is like a car without a steering wheel. There are numerous different optics on the market, but how do you choose the right one for you?

Vortex Optics has announced new Defender Micro Green Dots in their CCW, ST, and XL sizes for all manner of firearm platforms. Whether you are looking to top off a shotgun for turkey hunting, an AR carbine to shoot competition with, or your everyday carry (EDC) pistol for self-defense, these universally popular optics are now available in a green dot presentation.

I've been on a bit of an optics kick lately, adding various sighting solutions to my firearms. When the opportunity came to test out Meprolight's Tru-Vision SR MIL-STD Red Dot Optic, I jumped at the chance to see how this would perform on an equally unique looking firearm. After spending a full day at the range in Minnesota's wonderful 30-degree windy weather, I can say with confidence that this red dot delivers on its promises. Let's dive into the details.

In the increasingly competitive red dot market, closed emitter optics have been gaining popularity for their durability and protection against the elements. The Meprolight MCO PRO is a relatively new entry in this category, promising a combination of ruggedness and versatility. I had the opportunity to test this optic in the field, and here's what I found.

NEW Vortex Optics Crossfire Green Dot & Tan Crossfire Red Dot

Red dot optics are popular these days, and we see plenty of firearms that come pre-cut from the factory to accept RMR bases and other popular optics. But the Williams Gun Sight Company has their own take on this idea, which they showed off at SHOT this week—and it’s a very good take. Their LRS reflex sight, and its new adapters, solve a problem that many shooters have with modern red dots.

Burris Optics has a new affordable enclosed emitter red dot option for your pistol, carbine or shotgun - the new FastFire E.