TFB Review: Aimpoint Duty RDS-MR - The Evolved Duty Red Dot

For transparency, Aimpoint sent me this Duty MR for a three-month trial. To be able to do the testing with the Pulsar thermal clip-on, I also asked for the Aimpoint 3X Magnifier and got a used one (you can see it’s taken some beating). Aimpoint had no impact on anything I’ve written or concluded.

New additions include the Instant-On motion activation (auto-sleeps after 2 hours of inactivity) and the reticle cycling via holding on the brightness-up button.

Hands-On Impressions

Out of the box, the Duty RDS-MR feels immediately familiar if you’ve handled the original. The same compact footprint, same robust rubberized buttons, same flip-up lens covers (solid front, clear rear for emergency both-eyes-open shooting). The glass is crisp with virtually no tint, and the housing has that signature Aimpoint hard-anodized finish that shrugs off abuse. With regards to the paper box itself, it’s pretty advanced for a box.

The controls are simple and relatively glove-friendly: recessed rubber buttons on the left side. Up for brighter, down for dimmer. Hold down to power off manually; hold up to cycle reticles. It selects on your release. No dedicated on/off button otherwise, thanks to the new motion activation. Pick up the gun, and it’s instantly ready. This is a huge upgrade over the original, which required manual power management.

The multi-reticle system is the new star here. I did my best to take photos of it. Cycling through the options is quick and intuitive:

• 2 MOA dot only: Clean and precise for mid-to-long range (50-400+ yards). Perfect for uncluttered threat focus.

• Dot + 65 MOA circle: My favorite for most use. Fast acquisition with the circle for CQB (0-25 yards) while keeping the precise dot centered.

• Circle only: Great for ultra-close, high-speed work or even shotgun patterning. Brackets target quickly without the center dot distracting.

The circle includes subtle hold-over hashes, useful for quick ranging or bracketing at close distances.

Aimpoint has a pretty good image of how the dots can be used.

Testing

I mounted the 39mm version (lower 1/3 co-witness) on a variety of firearms and used them on the shooting range as well as in other testing arenas. The dot is crisp and starburst-free (even for my mild astigmatism).

At close range (7-25 yards), the circle-dot combo shines. Transitions feel fast, and the circle helps with quick target bracketing on multiple targets. Switching to dot-only for precision work at 100-200 yards was seamless, and pairing it with Aimpoint's 3X magnifier (flip-to-side) extended effective range without losing zero.

Below: Comparing the Duty RDS to other Aimpoints, like the T-2 (left) and Comp M5b (right).

While it works, I’m now a senior and I certainly prefer the more magnification I can get if I shoot at longer distances. My motto is that I like to shoot as if the target was 25 meters away, regardless of the distance. That means 8x at 200 meters, but it is also a wish, and those aren’t always granted.

I would probably only use the ring-only for shotguns with clays or drones. I’m unlikely to find myself in the latter position, but who knows what the future holds? 

I also threw it on a few 9mm PCCs back-and-forth. Motion activation worked flawlessly, waking instantly on draw. Durability-wise, it handled hundreds of rounds, bumps, and drops with zero issues. I didn’t expect anything but the classic Aimpoint toughness, and that’s what I got.

Minor nitpicks: Torx adjustments aren’t as field-expedient as capped turrets, and there’s no button lockout to prevent accidental changes. The $649 price stings a bit compared to the original, but you’re paying for the MR versatility and shake-awake.

Durability Water Dive: Submerging the Aimpoint Duty RDS-MR in Water

Reviewing TFB-style: I decided to have a “boating accident”, and throw the brand new Aimpoint into a lake. Actually, that’s the first thing I did, before all the other testing. To get a few good photos, I had to throw it a few times. At the end, I left it submerged at about 100 cm, or about 3 feet, under water for about 30 hours.

The lake is pretty muddy, so I brought it up to the beach to take some photos of it. Note the curious fish swimming around.

I was curious, but not surprised, to see the reticle still working. All other functionality was still there as well, and there’s no fogging, etc. Throwing the Duty RDS-MR into 1 meter of water is about as stressful as a light rain shower for this optic, and I guess this is one of the reasons why Aimpoint dominates duty and military contracts.

Using the Aimpoint Duty RDS-MR with the Pulsar Krypton 2 FXG50 Thermal Clip-On

Pairing a red dot sight like the Aimpoint Duty RDS-MR with a front-mounted thermal clip-on, such as the Pulsar Krypton 2 FXG50, creates a versatile day/night setup that's popular for hunting (especially feral hogs or coyotes), home defense, or tactical applications where you want a rugged, low-magnification optic that transitions seamlessly to thermal without swapping sights or re-zeroing.

A setup like this, looking at a person about 15-20 meters away, will look like this:

Below: White hot on the Pulsar, and Multi-Reticle on the Aimpoint. It’s difficult to take photos like this, but it gives you an idea. 

And below is the red hot thermal.

And, finally, this optical system on a suppressed B&T APC9 (left).

Conclusion

The Aimpoint Duty RDS-MR takes an already excellent platform and makes it even more versatile. The multi-reticle options and motion activation directly address the most common feedback on the original, turning it into a true do-it-all duty sight. Fast for CQB, precise for distance, and always ready when you need it. 

If you’re in law enforcement, home defense, competition, or just want a bombproof non-Chinese red dot that covers all bases without breaking the bank (too much), the Duty RDS-MR is absolutely worth it. If I had the original RDS, which I do, I probably wouldn’t upgrade for the sake of it. It’s not revolutionary, but it’s a thoughtful evolution. 

It’s a pity these features weren’t available years ago, and across most of the Aimpoint product line. Having said that, I’m sure that a vast majority of Aimpoint’s customer base will keep on ordering red dots with red dots only. What’s your opinion? Let us know in the comments.