Most used red dot - Vortex Defender-CCW 1x25mm Reflex Red Dot Sight

Although all of my other red dots are Trijicon, I picked up this Vortex optic specifically for my everyday carry pistol — and it’s now the only non-Trijicon optic I run. I wanted something that would mount directly to the slide without the need for an adapter plate, and that had the smallest profile possible with an RMSc footprint. This Vortex red dot delivered exactly that.

It sits low on the slide, offers a clean co-witness with my iron sights, and feels incredibly compact and streamlined for carry. The dot itself is crisp, the controls are intuitive, and battery access is well thought out. For EDC, it checks all the boxes I care about: reliability, minimal profile, and direct mounting.

I honestly didn’t expect to like it this much, but it’s earned a permanent spot in my carry setup — which says a lot considering the rest of my optics are all Trijicon. Vortex nailed it with this one.