Nick from United States, SC Public Profile

For years, the Aimpoint PRO was the go-to for professionals and enthusiasts who wanted a quality, reliable red dot sight at an affordable price, but it was bulky and heavy for what it was and the odd battery was somewhat difficult to source. The Aimpoint Duty RDS picks up where the PRO left off, trimming the weight and slimming down into a svelte, streamlined package. Where the PRO could be considered a less-expensive alternative to the COMP series, the Duty RDS seems to be the equivalent in a Micro pattern.

The dot is crisp and the glass is clear with a slight blue tint that acts as a notch filter to increase the visibility of the dot without needing to crank up the brightness and drain the CR2032 battery. Some other reviews have complained about the color of the glass, but my sample wasn't really that noticeable.

The brightness controls consist of a digital rocker button that's reasonably intuitive and easy to use with with my off hand, meaning I don't need to move my firing hand away from the rifle to make adjustments. However, the button is somewhat small and may be difficult to manipulate if you're particularly ham-fisted or wearing thick gloves.

The mount is remarkably mediocre; just a simple block of aluminum with a Torx screw that tightens the clamp. For the intended use of this optic as a duty rifle sight, it's ideal because it reduces the cost and the likelihood that someone will tamper with the optic or remove it from the rifle. I'd have preferred to see a

With most firearm manufacturers making optics-ready slides a standard feature on their handguns, the debate over whether pistol-mounted reflex sights are useful or not has pretty much been laid to rest. Unfortunately, nobody has been able to settle on a standard optic footprint and almost everything on the market relies on adapter plates to fit. This adds a failure point between the slide and the optic, and generally raises the optic to the point that higher iron sights are needed if you want to cowitness. The Holosun SCS series eliminates that problem by mounting directly to the slide with no plates required, and thus sits low enough that it can be used in conjunction with most standard factory sights. It also does away with batteries by using a solar panel to charge an internal capacitor, as well as to automatically regulate the brightness. Holding down the button on the side cycles between the three reticle options and turns the optic off, and you can press it to bump the brightness up temporarily if you need to. The green LED is set to be plenty bright in most conditions and is remarkably easy to acquire. The window isn't particularly large, but it doesn't need to be; it fits well on top of the slide without sticking out over the side and looking like a television on top of your pistol. Its slim profile, simplicity, and battery-free design make the Holosun SCS ideal as a concealed-carry optic that's always ready to go without significantly increasing the bulk of y

While not as bright as some of the larger two-battery weapon lights like the TLR-1 HL, the TLR-7A has a much shorter and slimmer form factor which make it a good choice for mid-size pistols such as the Glock 19 or CZ P-10 C. On most pistols with barrels of about 4", it tucks neatly under the gun and fits flush with the end of the slide. It puts out plenty of light for navigation and target identification in close quarters, but may fall short if you need to penetrate photonic barriers or positively identify at extended ranges. Its best use would be on a bedside home defense pistol or concealed carry gun, supplemented by a more powerful handheld light if necessary. I would not recommend this for use on a full-size duty pistol or open-carry handgun, as there is no need to remain compact and the increased performance of a larger, brighter weapon light would be preferable. Overall, this is a fine addition to the Streamlight lineup and fills its role quite nicely.