Within the past few years, the “braced pistol” has exploded in popularity as an entire subcategory of firearms. So it isn’t surprising to see the arrival of the Christensen Arms MPP. These pistols use stabilizing braces in lieu of traditional stocks to avoid being designated “short-barreled rifles” by the ATF. This allows purchasers to avoid the additional paperwork, long wait times, and extra expenses associated with SBRs.

Braced pistols already fill several practical niches as truck guns and home defense firearms, and the Modern Precision Pistol from Christensen Arms further expands that versatility. Based on their Modern Precision Rifle platform, the MPP is a compact, lightweight, and accurate bolt action. Years ago, I would have bent over backward to get this gun for calling coyotes in the foothills and rolling sage brush of southern Colorado.

Christensen Arms MPP Specs and Features

Tyler Freel

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• Christensen Arms 7075 billet aluminum pistol chassis
• V-Block bedding
• Enlarged ejection port and improved bolt release.
• 0-MOA optics mounting rail
• Triggertech trigger with flat shoe
• AICS mags
• Extended magazine release
• Christensen Arms 416R Stainless Steel, Aerograde carbon fiber wrapped barrel
• Match chamber
• Threaded muzzle with adjustable brake
• Carbon fiber free-float M-LOK handguard
• Starting at 4.4 pounds
• .223 Rem., .300 BLK, 6.5 Creedmoor, .308 Win.

Overview

The MPP is available in four different caliber offerings, with slightly varying barrel lengths. I tested one in .223 Remington that has a 1:7 inch twist, 10.5-inch barrel. The build and chassis are very similar to that of the MPR, including the ambidextrous QD sling mounts towards the rear, but the rear of the MPP chassis features a 1913 Picatinny rail to facilitate mounting a pistol brace. The chassis uses AICS pattern magazines and will accept any standard AR grip but ships with a Magpul grip. The MPP also comes with a SB Tactical FS1913A folding brace.

The Christensen receiver includes a zero MOA Picatinny rail mount installed but accepts any Remington model 700 pattern scope bases or mounts. The action features a spiral-cut bolt, slightly over-sized bolt knob, and skeletonized bolt handle. The rectangular carbon fiber float tube is simple and light, but modular and effective. It includes a Picatinny rail/barrier stop on the bottom, and additional M-LOK slots on the sides and bottom.

Ergonomics and Performance

The MPP is very handy and comfortable to maneuver. The folding brace creates a compact package that’s easy to store and transport. Despite its minimalistic profile, the brace is stable and comfortable to shoot from the shoulder. Part of the appeal of the Christensen Arms MPP is its light weight, so for an optic I chose the Maven RS.2 2-10x38mm, which balances well with the MPP. Although precision is in the name, this isn’t a true long-range platform due to the short barrel length, so a medium-magnification optic that minimizes excess weight is ideal. All in with the scope, magazine, and brace, I weighed my MPP at 7 pounds 1 ounce. You could cut some weight with an even smaller riflescope like the Leupold VX-3HD 2.5-8x36mm and by replacing the heavy-duty rail with Talley one-piece ultralight rings.

At the range, my two biggest questions were: 1) How accurate is the platform? and 2) How much velocity loss would the 10.5-inch barrel have compared to something more standard for the caliber? I tested the rifle with three loads from Black Hills Ammunition with the following bullets: Hornady 50-grain V-Max, 62-grain Barnes TSX, and 69-grain Sierra Match King. I shot five groups of five with each at 100 yards.

Although the numbers have the 50-grain V-Max just edging out the other two, that load was more consistently accurate. Of the three groups that measured over an inch, all had a single flyer that ruined an otherwise impressive performance. I have no doubt that a handloader could squeeze even better accuracy out of the gun.

The handling and ergonomics of the MPP are comfortable and intuitive. It’s quick to deploy under field conditions, and because the MPP is compact and centrally balanced, it handles rapid positional transitions with ease. But because it has a brace, rather than a proper stock, and is so light, it isn’t as comfortable, accurate or forgiving as a true precision rig. The loss in velocity that you’ll experience is also a limiting factor when it comes to hunting and effective range. With the 50-grain V-Max load, I saw an average 459 fps velocity loss in the 10.5-inch MPP compared to my 20-inch AR service rifle barrel. The MPP average velocity was 2681 fps, which is more than adequate for coyotes within 300 yards.

The adjustable brake that ships on the MPP deadens recoil, but the muzzle blast from the short barrel is pretty abrasive. You’d never want to shoot it without muffs. Without question, this gun begs to be shot with a suppressor. Even suppressed, the MPP is still handy, maneuverable, lightweight, in addition to being ear-tolerable.

Read Next: M1 Garand: The Greatest Generation’s Service Rifle

Applications of the Christensen Arms MPP

Off the range, the handiness and accuracy of the MPP make it a great candidate for a ranch-type truck gun, shorter-range big-game rig, or in the case of the .223 I tested, a great companion for a predator caller who pounds a lot of boot leather. Using a bipod/tripod system like the kind Spartan Precision Equipment offers would allow you a great deal of stability in a streamlined and mobile package. It may not be ideal for someone who takes mostly long shots in open country, but for a hunter who does a lot of walking, and shoots mostly within 300 yards, the MPP will do about everything you need.

The post Christensen Arms Modern Precision Pistol Review appeared first on Outdoor Life.

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After years of testing hundreds of defensive handgun loads, it became clear the only reliable way to classify their performance was to divide them into two categories; below average and better than average.

This was first reported in my 2013 book, Handgun Training for Personal Protection, where average performance was established at 13.7 inches of penetration with expansion of at least 0.58 inch. Loads exceeding that benchmark are by definition, better than average. Here are ten you can trust.

1) .327 Federal Magnum: 115-grain Speer Gold Dot

This load will exit the barrel of a four-inch revolver at more than 1,400 fps. That means it generates more than 500 foot-pounds of energy. That’s enough to drive this excellent Gold Dot bullet to 16.5 inches, while allowing it to expand to 0.65-inch in diameter. That’s magnum performance without magnum recoil. This load recoils 14 percent less than the .357 Magnum load listed at number 4 and the fireball is just as impressive.

2) .380 Auto: 102-grain Remington Golden Saber

Of all the .380 Auto loads tested only one has achieved better than average performance. This load just barely exceeded the standard when fired from the sub-compact handguns the .380 is so commonly found in. Keep in mind, velocity variances in itty-bitty guns can alter terminal performance. While it might be a best option for the .380, by all other yardsticks, this load is borderline.

3) .38 Special: 135-grain Speer Gold Dot

The .38 Special cartridge is an antique by any measurement. Just the same, much of the ammunition for it as just as old-fashioned in how it performs. However, Speer’s 135-grain Gold Dot has brought the .38 Special into the new millennium. Even out of snub nose revolvers you can expect around 14.5 inches of penetration with the bullet opening up with a frontal diameter measuring about 0.59-inch across.

4) .357 Magnum: 125-grain Sig Sauer Elite V-Crown

Though not as popular for personal protection as it was before the auto-pistol craze in the 1980s, the .357 Magnum is still one of the most effective defensive handgun cartridges ever devised. Recoil is stiff with heavy bullet loads but this 125-grain offering from Sig Sauer won’t break your wrist. In 10-percent ordnance gelatin the bullet will penetrate to around 16 inches and it just exceeds the minimum expansion threshold of 0.58-inch.

5) 9mm Luger: Sig Sauer 124-grain V-Crown Elite

Bullet engineers have learned how to extract the highest level of terminal performance from the high muzzle and rotational velocities the 9mm Luger can deliver. Once considered less than ideal for personal protection, technology has helped the 9mm become one of the most popular defensive handgun cartridges of all time. This standard velocity Sig Sauer load exceeds the better than average standard of 13.7 inches of penetration with the expanding bullet measuring 0.59 inches across its front.

6) 9mm Luger +P: Remington 124-grain Golden Saber +P

At +P velocities the 9mm Luger becomes a different animal. Modern bullet technology has adapted to this speed and this load from Remington is in a class by itself. With only a modest increase in recoil over standard pressure loads, the better-than-average benchmark is exceeded by almost 10 percent in both categories. The Golden Saber’s unique construction also makes this load almost barrier blind, meaning it will perform very well even after passing through things like wallboard or heavy clothing.

7) .40 S&W: Hornady 165-grain Critical Defense

Hornady’s Critical Duty and Critical Defense loads have a great reputation but generally fall just shy of the average expansion standard. What they lack in expansion they most often make up for in penetration. Some suggest this is just as effective or maybe even better at stopping bad guys. Regardless, with 15.5 inches of penetration and expansion to 0.62-inch, Hornady’s Critical Defense 165-grain .40 S&W load easily surpasses the average mark.

8) 40 S&W: 165-grain Federal Hydra-Shok

The Hydra-Shok bullet from Federal is legendary. For years it was the favorite of law enforcement agencies and is still in service with many departments. It performs very well in the 9mm luger and .45 Auto. And, with the 15.0 inches of penetration and 0.58-inch expansion you can expect from the 165-grain .40 S&W Hydra-Shock, it is emblematic of this bullet’s terminal performance, in the 9mm Luger and 45 Auto.

9) .45 Auto: Doubletap 165-grain TAC XP “Mann” Load

The TAC-XP bullets from Barnes are offered in defensive handgun cartridges from a wide array of manufacturers. This 165-grain load from Doubletap Ammunition is unique in that it is a moderately recoiling, non +P offering, capable of penetrating more than 16 inches in 10-percent ordnance gelatin, while still expanding with a frontal diameter of 0.63-inch or more. It is called the “Mann” load because Mike McNett at Doubletap created it at my request.

10) .45 Auto: 200-grain Federal HST

The 230-grain load for the .45 Auto might be the most iconic but it cannot compare to the faster 200-grain offerings. This HST load is ideally adapted to personal protection because it delivers consistent better than average penetration, and expands to a fantastically wide 0.83-inch. Due to the construction of the HST bullet, this performance can be relied upon even after the bullet has passed through most common barriers.

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The recent renaissance of the 10mm Auto didn’t happen overnight but as the cartridge has become a more coveted and viable carry option in the backcountry, gunmakers have taken heed. New 10mm pistols have been popping up more frequently, populating a market the Glock 20 and a few 1911’s had mostly dominated. Even so, options for compact 10mm pistols have been limited to basically one—the Glock G29—until now. Springfield Armory recently introduced its newest addition to the XD-M line, the XD-M Elite 3.8-inch Compact OSP 10mm. It is very close in weight and almost every dimension to the G29. The test model I shot included Springfield’s Hex Dragonfly red dot optic, but the gun is also available without the Dragonfly and is compatible with other optics.

Sharp recoil is the most limiting factor when it comes to a compact 10mm, and it’s likely the reason there aren’t many options in that category. Combine that with the wide variety of defense loads and great 9mm handguns available, and the 10mm probably won’t ever be a big player as an everyday concealed-carry firearm.  However, for those who want a pistol that can pull double-duty as a concealed-carry gun but also a realistic backcountry defense option, the XD-M Elite 3.8-inch Compact OSP 10mm is a welcome sight. As someone who has carried both 1911 and Glock 10mm pistols in the field for years, I was eager to get my hands on this new XD-M. At first glance, it’s a highly versatile handgun with promise to excel where other 10mm pistols have not.

Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 3.8” Compact OSP w/Hex Dragonfly Specs

• Caliber: 10mm auto
• Magazine capacity: 11+1 (flush), 15+1 (extended)
• Dimensions: 4.58 in. (H) x 6.75 in. (L) x 1.2 in. (W)
• Weight: 30.6 ounces (with included optic and empty 11-round magazine with flared baseplate)
• Frame: Black polymer
• Slide: Forged steel, black melonite finish, optics-compatible
• Barrel: 3.8 in. hammer-forged steel, melonite finish, fully supported chamber
• Sights: Fiber-optic front, white “U-Notch” rear
• Optic: Hex Dragonfly red dot reflex
• Trigger: 4 pounds, 10 ounces (tested)
• Safety: Grip safety and trigger tab
• Price: $837

More For the Money

The G29 is a hell of a pistol, but it has room for improvement. The XD-M Elite Compact OSP 10mm is essentially identical in size and weight to the G29, but with a less-blocky profile. The Hex Dragonfly optic makes the XD-M heavier than the G29, but only by a few ounces. The XD-M and the G29 are also similar in that they are both polymer-framed, striker-fired pistols with a similar price tag of about $650 if you choose the XD-M Compact OSP 10mm without the optic. Beyond that, the XD-M Compact OSP 10mm begins to pull away with features that set it apart from the G29.

On the Surface

Springfield’s XD series has been around for over 20 years, and the XD-M line was introduced in 2008. If you’re familiar with them, you won’t find a tremendous amount of difference in the Compact OSP 10mm model. It features a similar grip style to other XD-M pistols and is very comfortable in the hand.

The frame features a grip safety, removable magwell, and three-slot accessory rail. With the pistol come three interchangeable rear grip panels that allow the shooter to choose the profile they prefer. Although the magwell aids in quicker, smoother loading, I found it to be an impediment to my grip. The pistol ships with two magazines that hold 11 rounds each (compared to the G29’s 10-round capacity). The magazines include a contoured baseplate. With the magwell removed, it makes for a much nicer grip. Removing the magwell also allows the shooter to use 15-round magazines that can be purchased separately. With the sleeve that matches your chosen grip profile, these magazines effectively give the pistol a full-size grip. Above the grip safety is a semi-beavertail incorporated into the frame to aid in comfort and to protect the shooter’s hand from slide bite.

The lack of finger grooves on the handle and the contour of the thin trigger guard helps me get a tight, close grip with my middle two fingers, right up against the trigger guard. Pistols with finger grooves will often cause my fingers to settle in less-than-ideal positions, which compromises my grip. Grip texturing is like that of other pistols in the XD-M series, and I would prefer a more aggressive one, like that on the Springfield Armory Hellcat. A compact 10mm produces significant recoil, so you need to hang onto it, and grip texture makes a big difference.

The Compact OSP 10mm also features an ambidextrous slide stop and magazine release, making it friendly to left-handed shooters. Rather than using a more-traditional notch on the side, the magazine is retained by a forward-pivoting tab that secures the magazine via a cutout on the front of the magazine. Pushing the magazine release from either the left or right side will release it.

The forged slide follows the typical XD-M beveled contour and has both forward and rear cocking serrations. The regular Compact OSP 10mm is compatible for optics by using interchangeable mounting plates. The Hex Dragonfly model comes with the red dot installed.

Under the Hood

Along with others in its lineage, the XD-M Elite Compact OSP 10mm is a relatively simple build. It features a rotating takedown lever and is easily field stripped for cleaning. There aren’t any special features that will stand out to most shooters, but there are three key things that appeal to me as a 10mm shooter.

The 10mm Auto is a high-pressure, sharp-recoiling round, and it can be rough on guns if they aren’t built to handle it. The barrel on the Compact OSP 10mm has a well-supported chamber. The stories of Glock 10mm pistols blowing up with high-pressure loads mostly blame unsupported chambers. Especially on older Glock pistols, a portion of the case head was left exposed—and unsupported—during firing. Some semi-auto pistol chambers don’t fully surround the case head, usually to make more room for the cartridge to feed. I’ve never seen an unsupported chamber fail, but I have seen 10mm brass with bulged case heads where it wasn’t supported. It’s common for Glock shooters to buy aftermarket barrels with better-supported chambers for added piece of mind. The chamber on this XD-M Elite provides even more complete case head support than my Lone Wolf aftermarket G20 barrel.

The slide rails were noticeably thicker, and the front slide rails were longer than on my Glocks and Glock variants. The slide rails on the Compact OSP 10mm were just over 1/10-inch thick. The rear slide rails on this pistol are part of the polymer frame and not lined with any metal, but the front slide rails—where most of the stress is—are all steel. The front rails are 1.26 inches long, and part of a single steel insert in the frame, just above the trigger guard. The slide rails on Glocks are thinner and much shorter.

Finally, the contact surface where the slide hits the frame at its rearmost position during recoil is steel, and part of the larger slide rail insert in the Compact OSP 10mm. In the Glocks and Glock variants I’ve shot, this contact surface is simply part of the polymer frame. This is usually a non-issue. However, I have had the polymer begin to crack and deform just in front of the slide rails due to stress from recoil after putting thousands of rounds through one of my frames. Frame or slide rail damage isn’t something to worry about with this gun.

Hex Dragonfly

The variant of this XD-M Compact OSP 10mm I tested included the Hex Dragonfly, a reflex red dot sight. Hex optics is owned by Springfield Armory, and their smaller Wasp red dot is included on this variant of the Springfield Hellcat RDP.

The Dragonfly is a standard-sized pistol red dot with an anodized aluminum housing and anti-glare lens. It features easy windage and elevation adjustments and unlike the Wasp, which stays powered on and automatically adjusts brightness according to light levels, the Dragonfly features an on/off button that is used to select the desired brightness setting.

The sight itself is robust and user-friendly. Sidewalls around the lens are thick, and the top of the housing extends out beyond the glass, adding extra protection and allowing for easy use of the optic to cock the gun on various surfaces without damaging the glass. The dot is quick to pick up and get back on target, and if you’re used to using red dots on handguns, it’s a piece of cake.

The downside of this configuration is that you can’t co-witness the sights with the Dragonfly. I temporarily removed the optic, and the gun has a good set of iron sights—much better than the factory sights on any of the Glock 10mms—but you can’t use them with the optic. With the optic, suppressor-height sights would be better

The XD-M Elite 3.8-inch Compact OSP 10mm On the Range

In my experience, the Springfield XD and XD-M pistols have always been reliable, and the Compact OSP 10mm didn’t give me a reason to change my opinion. When releasing their initial XD-M 10mm variant, Springfield touted a 10,000-round marathon with zero malfunctions. I don’t have that kind of time (or ammo), but I’ve put 300 rounds through this gun without a single hiccup. This included a wide variety of ammunition, from 180-grain FMJ and 200-grain poly-coated lead handloads in a random mix of picked-up range brass, Winchester Defender 180-grain Bonded JHP, Federal Premium 200-grain HST, Buffalo Bore 200-grain hard-cast, and a hot handloaded Lehigh Defense Extreme Defense copper bullets.

In its factory configuration, I found the Compact OSP 10mm to be manageable to shoot. Shooting any 10mm well requires you to control recoil, and I found this one significantly easier to handle than a Glock G29. Any compact 10mm is going to bark when you touch it off, but a better grip makes this XD-M Elite 10mm more manageable than the G29. I was able to maintain A-zone hits on a USPSA-style target from point-blank range to 50 feet at a rapid pace. With two hands, unsupported, I was able to keep 10-shot, 10-second-timed groups about the size of a 3×5 index card.

 I shot the XD-M Elite Compact OSP 10mm head-to-head with my custom Lone Wolf G20 variant, equipped with a Leupold Delta Point Pro, and I didn’t notice a big difference in my speed or accuracy between the two. The grip on my Lone Wolf is more comfortable for me than the standard Glock grip, and the recoil is directed more in a backward direction into my hand. I did notice a bit more muzzle flip with the XD-M Elite Compact OSP 10mm, but at the cost of slightly more time to get back on-target, it was actually a little more pleasant to shoot than the large-frame Lone Wolf.

I found the trigger on the Compact OSP 10mm to be good for a factory polymer pistol. It’s light and reasonably crisp. The trigger on my factory G20 pulls at 5 pounds, 6 ounces, and this Springfield consistently broke at 4 pounds, 10 ounces. It’s got a little bit of travel as you really start to apply pressure before it breaks but that just comes with a factory trigger of this genre, and it’s not bad. The reset is a little soft, and when manually cycling the slide, there is sometimes an audible click before hitting the reset. I like crisp, definitive resets, but I can learn to live with this one. After catching the reset, the trigger break is acceptable.

Configuration and Carry

I spent some time configuring the Compact OSP 10mm in a way that would best suit my needs and make it the most comfortable for me. I removed the magwell, which allowed my grip to sit much more naturally on the frame and contoured baseplate of the 11-round magazine. Removing the magwell also allowed me to use the 15-round full-size magazine. I also added a Streamlight TLR-3 weapon light, and ordered an IWB (inside waistband) holster from Northwest Retention Systems to see how the Compact OSP 10mm would fit as a concealed carry gun.

This XD-M carried comfortably for me, especially with winter clothing. It’s less obtrusive with the 11-round magazine, but it’s not unrealistic to carry a spare magazine—even a 15-round magazine—in a separate carrier depending on your preference. For backcountry defense, there’s no disadvantage in selecting this pistol over a full-size G20 or something similar. Losing an inch of barrel length and having a more-compact frame make for an easier, more-convenient pistol to carry. In the backcountry, the pistol you have is better than the one you don’t, and I’ll take ease and versatility every time in a handgun.

Although the XD-M Elite 3.8-inch Compact OSP 10mm can stand on its own, I did make an aftermarket addition—the GoGun Gas Pedal. Without getting deep in the weeds, it’s essentially a knurled pad for your support-hand thumb that—in the case of the XD-M—replaces the factory takedown lever. It’s only available for some pistol models and by using a slightly unconventional style grip, it allows you to direct pressure in a way that drastically improves recoil management. I was astonished by how much it cut down on muzzle flip—almost eliminating it completely. I’ve never shot a 10mm that I could control this well.

What the Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 3.8-inch Compact OSP 10mm Does Well

This XD-M shoots accurately, and is packed with simple, smart features. It has a good optic and iron sights and ambidextrous controls make it lefty-friendly. The removable magwell and ability to use 11- or 15-round magazines make it a great option for concealed carry, backcountry defense, or someone who needs both out of a single gun.

Where the Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 3.8-inch Compact OSP 10mm Failed

This XD-M has good iron sights, but with an optic, they’re useless, even as quick backups. It could use a set of suppressor-height sights that can be co-witnessed through the optic. I’d like to see a more-crisp reset on the trigger, and more aggressive texturing on the handle, like what the Hellcat has.

Read Next: Kimber R7 Mako 9mm Micro-Compact

Final Thoughts

The XD-M series has been in production for over a decade, but the Compact OSP 10mm is the one I’m most-excited about. I think as a factory gun, it pushes well beyond what it’s only direct competition—the G29—gives the shooter. The robust build and added versatility of a compact 10mm that is also manageable makes it usable in both concealed-carry and backcountry defense applications. Add to that the option of some aftermarket modifications, like the Gas Pedal, and this gun is a true burner. All of that makes it a significantly more-appealing option to me than most full-size 10mm pistols.

The post Springfield Armory XD-M Elite 3.8-inch Compact OSP 10mm w/Hex Dragonfly Review appeared first on Outdoor Life.

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Although few .22 rimfire pistols hit the market with a big splash, the rollout of the Sig P322 early in 2022 has drawn a lot of attention. Sig Sauer has been rolling out line extensions of its popular pistols at a feverish pace for years, but the P322 represents an entirely new effort and is the company’s only currently-manufactured .22 LR pistol.

Creating a successful .22 pistol can be a tricky affair. Long-standing pistols like the Ruger MK series and Browning Buck Marks offer stiff competition. Several smaller semi-autos like the Walther P22 and Browning 1911-22—that are scaled down for the .22 LR cartridge—crowd the field further.

A Modern Trainer

Full-size .22 pistols designed to mimic the feel of popular centerfire models aren’t a new idea, and there have been numerous full-size 1911-22 clones produced—none of which really stand out as exceptional. Walther has produced them under Colt license, as well as other companies like Chiappa. The idea of a full-sized trainer pistol in the relatively inexpensive and soft-shooting .22 LR cartridge has merit, and it’s this niche of the full-size trainer-type .22 pistol that the Sig P322 grapples for. Already, there are a variety of holsters available for the P322, both IWB and OWB, and even competition holsters. Some initial offerings are from Sig Sauer and Vedder Holsters. Having a good holster is important for quality training.

The Sig P322 bears a striking resemblance to the popular P365 series of micro-compact 9mm’s, but is dimensionally a full-size pistol. It’s got just about every contemporary feature to make it a realistic trainer and potentially raise the bar for polymer .22 pistols. It comes right out of the box ready to be outfitted with an optic, light, and suppressor. At around $400, it’s competitive in its class. It’s closest competitor would likely be the Taurus TX 22, and although the Sig P322 is about a hundred bucks more, it does feature 4 additional rounds of capacity compared to the TX 22’s 16 rounds, as well as being optics-ready.

I was eager to hit the range with the P322 and fired approximately 1,200 rounds during the course of testing. I tried more than a dozen different .22 LR loads, and fired the pistol with and without a suppressor, and with and without a red dot optic.

Sig Sauer

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Sig Sauer P322 Specs

• Caliber: .22 LR
• Capacity: 20+1
• Action: semi-auto, recoil-operated, hammer-fired
• Barrel: 4-inch, carbon steel, threaded
• Dimensions: 7 inches (L) x 5.5 inches (H) x 1.4 inches (W)
• Weight: 17 ounces
• Frame: Polymer/ stainless-steel
• Accessory Rail: 3-slot M1913
• Slide: Aluminum alloy, black anodized finish
• Optics: Romeo Zero optics-cut-slide with removable rear sight/cover plate
• Controls: Ambidextrous safety, slide stop, and reversible magazine catch
• Grip: Polymer, stipple-texture, non-adjustable
• Sights: Fiber optic 3-dot, adjustable rear
• Trigger: Interchangeable flat and curved trigger shoes, single-action, 3 pounds, 9 ounces (measured)

Sig P322 Design and Features

Familiar Look and Feel

Externally, the Sig P322 looks like an up-sized P365. It has a nearly identical-looking frame, grip, trigger, and slide. There are several notable differences though—primarily that the P322 is larger than even the P365 XL. Other significant differences are that the P322 has a 3-slot full-sized M1913 accessory rail and polymer fiber-optic sights.

The front sight is screw-attached rather than dovetail, and secured from the inside of the frame. The fully adjustable rear sight is incorporated into a polymer optic cover plate atop the frame. The rear sight is adjustable for windage and elevation via small flat head adjustment screws. Other minor external differences include the takedown lever, slide-stop, safety, and the front cocking serrations on the slide. The front cocking serrations are located on the top half of the slide and provide excellent traction. Front cocking serrations on the similar-looking P365 are located lower on the slide.

The Sig P322 Increases Capacity and Ditches the Magazine Disconnect

One of the banner features of the Sig P322 is it’s 20+1-round capacity. With few exceptions, almost all semi-auto .22 pistol magazines have been limited to 10 rounds due to the design of the rimmed cartridge itself. Single-stack magazines have long been the standard for .22 pistols because of the way the rimmed .22 LR cases stack on top of one another. Most .22 pistol magazines are angled forward to allow the case rim to stack in front of the rim on the cartridge below it. The magazine of the P322 is successful in using a double-stack design and it has a more vertical orientation than most other .22 magazines.

The P322 uses a polymer double-stack magazine with follower buttons protruding from both sides of the magazine body. Use these to depress the magazine spring and easily load the 20 rounds of ammunition. The pistol comes with a spare magazine and loading tool that depresses the magazine follower and will save your thumbs on high-volume days. A 20-round capacity is overdue for .22 pistols, and the Sig P322 magazine seems to do a good job at tackling the challenges of the rimmed case.

In addition to the excellent capacity, shooters will like the absence of a magazine disconnect—a mechanism that prevents the pistol from being fired without a magazine fully installed. Many semi-auto .22 pistols utilize a magazine disconnect, and the lack of one makes the Sig Sauer P322 a bit more shooter-friendly and similar to centerfire pistols.

Ambidextrous Controls and Interchangeable Parts

External controls on the Sig P322 are simple, low-profile, and ambidextrous. The pistol has slide stop and safety levers on both the left and right side, and the magazine catch button is reversible. Aside from the takedown lever—which is located on the left side of the frame—there is no discernible difference in feel between left-handed and right-handed shooting.

The Sig P322 also comes with interchangeable trigger shoes. In the style of many of Sig’s other pistols, the P322 comes with a flat trigger shoe installed, but it includes a curved trigger shoe that’s easily swapped out if that’s what you prefer.

The 4-inch barrel of the Sig P322 is flush with the front of the slide. The barrel is threaded and comes with a small thread protector installed. It also includes a ½x28 adapter that extends beyond the front of the slide for using a suppressor.

Sights and Optics on the Sig Sauer P322

The Sig P322 comes optics ready, with the factory rear sight built into the polymer plate that covers the optics cut on the slide. The slide is cut to fit a Sig Romeo Zero red dot without the use of any adapter plates, and I was able to fit mine with a Holosun HS407K X2.

The fiber-optic sights on the P322 aren’t on the same level as the factory sights of some of Sig’s centerfire pistols, but the rear sight is fully adjustable for windage and elevation via small Allen key screws.

Under The Hood of the Sig Sauer P322

Despite looking strikingly like a large P365, the Sig P322 has an entirely different internal design. The most significant internal design feature is that the P322 use a fixed-barrel. This is common in semi-auto .22 pistols and seems to work well for the P322. The barrel is pinned into a stainless-steel shroud which secures it to the frame. The shroud is what you see through the ejection port when the slide is closed.

Field-stripping the P322 is simple. After you remove the slide, the recoil spring is held in place on the barrel by a small, rounded bushing that’s retained by the thread protector on the muzzle. When you are using the suppressor adapter, the slide cannot be removed from the barrel with the adapter installed. To field strip when using the suppressor adapter, verify the gun is unloaded and lock the slide back. Remove the suppressor adapter and replace it with the original thread protector. That will keep the recoil spring and bushing on the barrel during cleaning.

Aside from the fixed barrel, I noted that the ejector is beveled nearly to a chisel-sharp edge—which seems to result in strong ejection of cases. In fact, when manually ejecting live rounds, it would pitch them out farther than I could catch them. Another variation in design from the centerfire P365 and P320 series is that the P322 does not feature a complete and easily-removable fire control group—something that would be a help when cleaning the pistol.

Another notable characteristic of the Sig P322 is that it’s hammer-fired, not striker fired. It features a concealed hammer in the rear of the frame, which rotates through a hollowed space at the rear of the slide to strike the firing pin. The slide is aluminum alloy but appears to have a steel insert that houses the firing pin, extractor, and supports the case head. The only downside I found to this fixed-barrel, hammer-fired design was that when cleaning with a rod, the cleaning rod tends to scrape on the hammer, and the hammer must be depressed slightly to have good alignment with the bore.

The Sig Sauer P322 In the Hand

The most noticeable handling trait of the Sig P322 is the weight—which is lighter in the hand than centerfire pistols of similar size. Despite being a larger pistol than the P365 9mm series, the P322 weighs just over a pound empty. Its light compared to its centerfire counterparts because of the smaller, lighter barrel and aluminum slide. Although it’s light, the balance of the pistol is good.

I found the P322 to be comfortable to hold, and the semi-aggressive stipple texturing provides a secure grip. Like the P365 and P320 X-series frames, the P322’s frame features a single groove under the trigger guard. This helps the user choke up on the pistol and get a tight grip with the middle-finger without interfering with the magazine catch button.

It’s easy to build a good, repeatable grip with this pistol, and I found it pointed very naturally. My only gripe with the ergonomics is that the trigger is a bit more of a reach than is comfortable. The middle of the flat trigger shoe on the Sig P322 sits almost 3/8 of an inch farther forward from the rear of the grip than the similar triggers on both P320 9mm’s I have. It’s not a deal-breaker but gives a sensation of having to reach forward for the trigger. It’s not easy to get your finger inside the trigger guard without touching the trigger—the movement needs to be deliberate.

The frame features a beveled magwell that makes reloading the Sig P322 a breeze. Magazines are easy to load into the frame and can be seated with little pressure. The grip, magazines, and feel of reloading are similar enough to full-size centerfire pistols to make the P322 a realistic training tool for practicing quick reloads.

The trigger on my sample breaks at an impressively light 3 pounds, 9 ounces according to my Lyman trigger pull gauge. However, the trigger has a large amount of travel—both to the break and back to the reset. Despite the travel, the trigger is smooth through the break, and has good spring tension driving it back to the reset—which is crisp and tactile.

Accuracy and Reliability of the Sig P322

In-all, I fired approximately 1,200 rounds of various .22 LR ammunition through the Sig P322 and found it to be accurate and reliable. I’d had major accuracy issues with the Sig Mosquito pistol in the past, and nearly pitched mine into the bushes after missing a ptarmigan with an entire magazine. I found that the P322 shot well with a variety of subsonic, standard-velocity, and high-velocity ammunition.

The P322 Is Smooth-Shooting and Accurate

The Sig P322 isn’t designed to be a bullseye pistol, so I didn’t treat it like one. I found trigger control to be the biggest factor in accuracy with this pistol. With prudent application of such trigger discipline, I had no problem piling whole magazines into 2- to 3-inch groups on steel at 25 yards with two hands, unsupported. The nearly nonexistent recoil allows for fast and fun shooting—especially on a variety of steel targets.

Loading and Cycling

I found that the magazines loaded easily—and even easier to empty. Despite the dramatic shift from traditional single-stack magazines, the P322 fed perfectly for several hundred rounds at a time. Rimfire ammunition is inherently filthy, and fouling piles up quickly. Once the wax and grime accumulated on the slide and in the chamber, I had some slow, gummy feeding. A few cleaning patches and a quick wipe-down remedied the issue.

I experienced a couple of misfires when the pistol was dirty—potentially light primer strikes due to fouling around the firing pin. I was shooting A Ruger Mark IV alongside the P322, and I had more misfires (and several malfunctions) with the Ruger than with the Sig—something that surprised me. Throughout my testing, I never experienced a failure to eject, and the only malfunctions I saw were due to the pistol being severely dirty—a fact of life with .22 pistols.

Many .22 pistols are finicky and won’t cycle certain brands or loads of ammo as well as others. I didn’t see this kind of pickiness with the Sig P322 and everything cycled smoothly. One load gave me a bore-fouling issue, but cycled just fine. It seemed to digest everything I could throw at it. I used a variety of loads from CCI, including their Standard Velocity 40-grain, Blazer, Mini-Mag, and the high-velocity Stingers shot especially well. It also liked Federal American Eagle, Browning Pro-22 and Norma Tac 22. With a suppressor, subsonic loads like Eley Contact, Norma Subsonic 22, and Sellier & Bellot Subsonic were stupid quiet and abhorrently fun to shoot.

Fouling Frustration—Test Your Ammo

The only frustration I had with the Sig P322 ended up being an issue with one type of ammunition—Winchester Super X 40-grain Power Point. After firing around 100 rounds, accuracy deteriorated rapidly. Quickly, I could hardly hit a 50 percent IPSC steel target at 15 yards. Upon inspecting the bore, I found that the last ¾-inch of the bore was caked with lead fouling. It was so bad that I likely would have had a baffle or endcap strike if I’d been using a suppressor at the time.

I cleaned and brushed the fouling out and accuracy returned, then quickly diminished within 100 rounds as the end of the bore leaded back up. After cleaning a second time, I moved on through my selection of ammunition and didn’t encounter the issue again. I investigated the issue further, firing the Super X ammunition through both the Sig P322 and a Ruger Mark IV 22/45—both starting with clean bores. After 80 rounds, the P322’s accuracy began to decay and fouling was easily visible. The Mark IV never experienced any of the fouling issues, indicating that my P322 and that particular ammo just don’t get along. I didn’t see any fouling issues with a dozen other types of ammunition that I tried. It would be wise to check for this issue before you start using a suppressor on the pistol (or any .22 pistols for that matter).

Read Next: M1 Garand: The Greatest Generation’s Service Rifle

Where the Sig Sauer P322 Excels

The Sig P322 is a fun and reliable pistol to shoot, but also a realistic trainer. It has the feel and function of a full-sized pistol. The 20-round capacity is great, and the magazines handle and reload much like 9mm mags. Optic and accessory compatibility also help make this a great out-of-the-box .22 pistol.

Where the Sig Sauer P322 Could Be Better

It would be nice to have the trigger sit a fraction of an inch back farther on the P322. Needing to reach for the trigger—in addition to its long travel—makes precise trigger control a challenge with this pistol. It also makes it difficult to get your finger into the trigger guard without touching the trigger—especially with gloves. The design isn’t the easiest to clean completely either—.22 pistols need more-frequent cleaning than their centerfire counterparts.

Final Thoughts on the Sig Sauer P322

I don’t believe that the Sig P322 is going to be toppling pistols like the Ruger MK IV from their lofty perches in the dedicated 22 pistol market, but it’s probably the best one I’ve seen for a functional trainer. Great practical accuracy and reliability coupled with its rare 20+1-round capacity make it a strong choice for any shooter, and its out-of-box accessory compatibility make it even better. It’s a good value, strong performer, and damned cool.

The post Sig P322 Review: A .22 Pistol for the 21st Century appeared first on Outdoor Life.

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The first pistol I purchased, at the age of 21, was one of the relatively new Croatian-made Springfield XDs. I used that pistol to dip my toes into the world of action pistol competition, and it served me well. The XD line has been reliable, popular, and enduring over the past couple decades, but hasn’t seen any drastic modifications. The all-new Springfield Armory Echelon is a pistol that changes that, aiming to fill the needs of the current generation. On the surface, it’s another polymer-framed pistol with modern-styled slide cuts and an optics mount, but it features some key departures from other Springfield pistol designs—with some promising optimizations. All the hype in the world is meaningless if a gun doesn’t live up to it, so I enthusiastically accepted a test sample before they were released. I put more than 600 rounds, and many types, of ammo through the Springfield Armory Echelon to tell you exactly what to expect.

Springfield Armory Echelon Specs

Tyler Freel

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• Caliber: 9mm
• Magazine capacity: 17+1 (standard), 20+1 (extended)
• Dimensions: 5.5 in. (H) x 8 in. (L) x 1.2 in. (W)
• Weight: 29 ounces (with empty 17-round Magazine, no optic)
• Grip Module: Black polymer, stipple texture
• Slide: Billet steel, black melonite finish, optics-compatible
• Barrel: 4.5 in. hammer-forged steel, melonite finish,
• Sights: Tritium front, white “U-Notch” rear
• Optic: Compatible with numerous optic styles
• Trigger: 5 pounds, 7 ounces (tested)
• Safety: Trigger tab and striker block safety device
• Price: $679

What Makes the Springfield Armory Echelon Tick?

On the surface, the Springfield Armory Echelon is a sleek, full-size pistol that displays some ergonomic features many shooters like, such as a thin, undercut-style trigger guard and aggressive cocking serrations. But what makes this so different from the XD line, or similarly styled competitors? The Echelon’s design is weighted equally toward modularity and optic compatibility. That’s something that contemporary shooters value, and Springfield has accomplished with this pistol.

The Springfield Armory Echelon’s Removable Chassis

The most notable part of the Springfield Armory Echelon is the employment of a removable “central operating group.” The entire trigger group and serialized portion of the gun are contained in a stainless steel chassis that is easily removed from the grip module, or what we’d usually call the frame.

Read Next: The Best Handguns of 2023

This concept was most notably introduced by the Sig Sauer P320 line of pistols, and also used in the P365 series. We’ve also seen it in pistols like the Taurus GX4 and GX4XL. A system like this is easier to manufacture and modular, allowing for multiple end-user configurations. They are also easier to clean and maintain. 

The Echelon’s central operating group looks similar to the fire control unit of the Sig P320, and both are secured at the front by the takedown pin. However, they are quite different beyond that. The Echelon employs both a trigger bar safety and a striker block safety mechanism to help prevent accidental discharge. 

Modular, Low-Sitting Optics Mounting System

The other most significant feature of the Springfield Armory Echelon is its VIS optics mounting system, which stands for “variable interface system,” not the Polish-designed world-war-II-era VIS pistol. Although many of Springfield’s XD series of pistols are optic compatible, they have a shallow slide cut that uses adapter plates making it difficult to co-witness iron sights through the optic. A high-sitting optic also affects a pistol’s handling, making it slower and more awkward.

The VIS cut is deeper and designed to be compatible with a variety of pistol red dots without needing to use adapter plates. A pattern of holes and removable pins make the slide cut adaptable to a wide range of optic footprints. Mine came with a cover plate and pin sets for the Trijicon RMR, Leupold Delta Point Pro, and Shield RMSc. 

I shot the Springfield Armory Echelon extensively with a Trijicon RMR and the optic sits unbelievably low. In fact, it took some getting used to compared with the higher-sitting optics I use on other pistols. This is partly due to the forward grip angle created by the backstrap, too. It’s similar to a Glock, requiring a forward-pitched wrist. It can be troublesome if you’re switching between pistols, but once I get into “Glock mode,” dot acquisition is fast. I found sight acquisition more natural with a Delta Point Pro, but it obscures the regular-height sights. The iron sights themselves present quickly when using without an optic.

The Springfield Armory Echelon Grip Module

The grip module of the Springfield Armory Echelon earns high marks from me in ergonomics and handling. It’s essentially a polymer shell that the central operating group drops into, and has a four-slot accessory rail in front. The only moving part it houses is the stipple-textured, ambidextrous magazine release button. 

The Echelon’s grip is streamlined and slender for a full-size double-stack pistol. The grip narrows slightly for the web of the hand, and a thin beavertail allows the shooter to cement their grip just below the bore axis. It has a fine-textured stipple finish, like what you’ll see on the Hellcat series of pistols. That surface treatment offers superb purchase for a sweaty palm. The magwell has a slight bevel for smooth loading. 

The gun comes with three interchangeable backstraps of varying thickness, and each has a 2mm punch pin permanently installed into the top. The trigger guard has a thin bottom, typical of what a custom undercut trigger guard would look like, and it’s finished on the bottom and front with the same stipple texturing as other parts. The texture is also present on either side of the grip module, just forward of the takedown lever pin. Both sides of the module (and the tab on the takedown pin itself) are scalloped out to provide an indexing and traction-rich spot for the support hand thumb during two-handed shooting.

Upper Half of the Springfield Armory Echelon

Although the Springfield Armory Echelon has a slide that measures 1.1 inches at its widest point, which is slightly wider than my Glock Gen 3 G17, most of the slide has been slimmed down by removing excess material. The widest points of the Echelon’s slide are at the front and at the cocking tabs on the rear—everything between has been whittled to a skinnier profile. Most notably, the slide has been cut down deeply just forward of the ejection port, and wide, aggressive cocking serrations are milled further into the slide. This gives the pistol superb traction for front cocking or press checking but, because it’s all within the outside dimensions of the slide, it won’t hang up on a holster. It’s one of the coolest and most functional slide profiles I’ve seen on a production pistol.

The slide on my model features a green-dot tritium front sight and white, U-notch rear. Both sights are beveled, durable, and friction-fit into dovetails on the slide. A slender extractor with a large hook peels empty cases from the gun smartly.

The Echelon is initially offered with a flush-fitting 4.5-inch hammer forged barrel, but longer, threaded-muzzle barrels will be available. Models will be available with three-dot tritium sights rather than the white U-notch, and Springfield will be selling suppressor-height sights too.

The recoil system is simple—just a single captured flat spring on a polymer guide rod. The guide rod is ornamentally stipple textured on the front end, and has channels molded along its length. These channels should reduce the bearing surface with the spring. My first impulse is to ditch polymer guide rods faster than a bad date, and the rear surface that bears against the front of the locking lug is already showing some wear. It would likely be fine for thousands of rounds, but it’s something I’d swap at the earliest opportunity. At launch, Apex Tactical will have aftermarket guide rods in stainless and black Armorlube DLC finish available to order.

Magazines

In addition to the interchangeable backstraps, the Springfield Armory Echelon comes with two steel magazines. Both have 17-round witness holes in the back, but one comes with a short polymer extension that boosts its capacity to 20 rounds. The baseplate of the 17-round magazine fits tightly against the bottom of the grip, and the 20-rounder extends about an inch lower.

My Echelon also came with an additional extended baseplate to convert the 17-round magazine if desired. Usually aftermarket mag extensions require more powerful springs, but both magazine springs appear to be identical—and designed to function with the extended baseplates. With the 17-round base plate installed, the spring is discernibly stiffer. To load the magazines fully, it’s helpful to use the included mag loader.

Springfield Armory Echelon on the Range

I immediately noted a contrast between the Springfield Armory Echelon and the XD line of pistols. Sometimes the XDs get a bad rap from internet trolls who can’t actually elaborate on any real problems with the pistols. I’ve always found them to be very reliable, if a little clunky. In the hand, the Echelon feels slender and more like the smaller Hellcat than an XD. The high grip allowed by the beaver tail and undercut-style trigger guard help facilitate a wonderfully soft recoil impulse. In a striker-fired gun, I’m not sure I’ve shot a more easy handling, intuitively pointing, pleasant pistol. 

I’m not a fan of the pistol’s trigger pull and reset though. The trigger shoe is fine. It’s not curved, but angles about 15 degrees forward just below the trigger safety bar pin. The lower two thirds of the trigger shoe form a flat surface when the trigger safety is depressed, and the trigger breaks when that surface is approximately perpendicular to the barrel. The pull isn’t terrible for a striker-fired gun, but it’s a bit inconsistent and doesn’t break crisply. Trigger pull weights varied by a few ounces each time I measured with my Lyman trigger-pull gauge. The reset is softer than I’d like, too. All said, it’s still within acceptable parameters for a striker-fired gun in my book.

I’m a fan of the positioning of the ambidextrous slide stop levers, but I think they could be better executed. They are within easy reach of the shooter’s thumb, but they’re small and a bit sharp. The pressure required to release the slide feels a little different when using the pistol left- versus right-handed. It’s difficult to manually lock the slide open without breaking my grip. More user-friendly levers would be an easy fix.

Accuracy

I found the Echelon’s accuracy to be completely satisfactory for defensive or duty purposes, and it was easy to shoot quickly while keeping shots on target. For some objective accuracy data, I fired 10 five-shot groups using four different types of defensive ammunition: Nosler 115-grain ASP JHP, Federal 124-grain Punch JHP, Hornady Critical Duty +P 135-grain FTX, and Federal Premium 147-grain Hydra-Shok. I fired each group using a bag on a tripod for support, following the same protocol we used at our 2023 gun test. The overall average group size was 1.77 inches, and the most accurate ammo was the Hornady 135-grain Critical Duty, which averaged 1.33 inches.

What the Springfield Armory Echelon Does Well

The Springfield Armory Echelon has excellent ergonomics and modularity, and sports the most versatile optics mounting system of any of Springfield’s pistols. It’s soft-shooting, the slide is easy to manipulate, and the fully ambidextrous controls are great.

Where the Springfield Armory Echelon Could Do Better

I’d like to see this pistol have a stainless or tungsten guide rod, more user-friendly slide stop levers, and a crisp trigger.

Final Thoughts

With so much focus on compact and micro compact 9mm pistols, it’s great to see several modern concepts folded into a full-size pistol like the Springfield Armory Echelon. The versatility of a removable central operating group and the opportunity for a variety of future grip module designs, the incorporation of a modular, no-plate optics mounting system, and the execution of such a soft-shooting pistol all set the Echelon up for success. 

The post Springfield Armory Echelon, Tested and Reviewed appeared first on Outdoor Life.

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Best Overall		Trijicon RMR Type 2	SEE IT	LEARN MORE	Summary Distinct features that set it apart from the rest of the field.
Most Versatile		Burris Fastfire 4	SEE IT	LEARN MORE	Summary The Swiss Army Knife of red dot sights.
Best Enclosed Emitter		Aimpoint ACRO P-2	SEE IT	LEARN MORE	Summary A rugged and reliable red dot.

Narrowing down a list of red dot sights is like determining the best flavor of ice cream. There are a ton of options out there. Most perform really well. Some are excellent. And, rarely, you’ll find a dud among the bunch.

I spent the last few months shooting and evaluating a host of red dots for this review. To help simplify things, I focused on red dots for handguns rather than open the field to those that are purpose-built for other firearms. Even with that fence around the project, it was an enormous undertaking. I’ll cover the Trijicon MRO, Bushnell Trophy TRS-25, Sig Sauer Romeo 5, and other red dot sights for carbines down the line.

One thing that’s clear is that the best red dot sights for you comes down to three main factors. First, what is your intended use? For recreational plinking at the range, it’s difficult to go wrong with any of the sights out there. But when your needs are more specific and demanding, the field narrows. For deep concealment, micro sights are the way to go, but they are more difficult to use than sights with wider windows. If you need your sight to endure extremely harsh environments, then you might need to choose an enclosed emitter unit, which tends to be a bit bulkier and more expensive than open emitters. If competing at a high level in shooting competitions is your thing, you won’t want to cut corners on objective lens size, dot sharpness, and other features.

This dovetails into the second factor, which is your budget. You can pick up a reasonable sight for about $100 or so, including one to mount on a defensive pistol that you’re counting on to potentially save your life. But as you spend more, you’ll get better feature sets, improved quality, and more sophisticated engineering. While you can spend more than $400 on a red dot—and some of the best run in that $400 to $600 range—there are a lot of great sights to be had between $300 and $400.

Lastly, there’s the X-factor of what looks cool to you. As the saying goes, what separates humans from the rest of the animal kingdom is our ability to accessorize. And when we add something new to any of our guns, most of us want it to look good. By that yardstick, some of the best red dot sights have a greater visual impact than others—and it doesn’t always correspond to the price.

• Best Enclosed Emitter: Aimpoint ACRO P-2
• Best for Competitive Shooting: Trijicon SRO
• Lightest Weight: Sig Sauer Romeo Zero Elite
• Great Field of View: Sig Sauer Romeo1 Pro
• Best High-End Concealed Carry Sight: Trijicon RMRcc
• Best Overall: Trijicon RMR Type 2
• Most Versatile: Burris Fastfire 4
• Best Budget: Crimson Trace CTS-1500
• Best Micro: Swampfox Sentinel M
• Best Shotgun/Pistol Crossover: Holosun HE509T-RD
• Best Low Profile: Leupold DeltaPoint Micro
• Best for Fast, Close Shooting: Leupold DeltaPoint Pro 6 MOA
• Excellent All-Around Sight: Vortex Venom
• Ultra-Rugged: Steiner MPS
• Best for an AR-15 Pistol: USO DRS 2.0
• Best RMSc Enclosed Emitter: Holosun EPS Carry

Things to Consider When Buying a Red Dot Sight

Red-Dot Skills

If you haven’t shot with a red dot, you will need to sharpen your skills. Shooting with a red dot sight seems intuitive, but there’s definitely a learning curve. Plan on doing a lot of dry-fire practice if you want to become proficient.

Mounting Red Dot Sights

Then there’s the matter of the different mounting standards, called “footprints.” There are numerous footprints out there and you can usually get a plate that will connect your specific firearm to a given red dot reflex sight, but be sure to do your research before buying one.

For the best handguns, some of the most common patterns include the Docter/Noblex, Trijicon RMR, and Shield.

Battery Life

Most red dots run on either CR 2032 or CR 1632 3-volt batteries. The run times you see published will range from a few hundred hours to several years. What to make of this? The fact is that battery life will vary depending on the reticle size and brightness setting you use, along with other factors. As a rule of thumb, you should swap out the batteries on your red dots once every year, just to keep them fresh and make sure they don’t conk out on you at an inopportune moment.

Best Red Dot Sights: Reviews and Recommendations

Best Enclosed Emitter Red Dot: Aimpoint ACRO P-2

John Snow

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Key Features

• Weight: 2.1 ounces
• Objective Lens Size: 15x15mm
• Reticle: 3.5 MOA dot
• Adjustments: 10 settings, four for NV
• Battery Life: 50,000 hours        
• Battery: CR 2032

Why It Made the Cut

The Aimpoint ACRO P-2’s enclosed frame and waterproofing capabilities make this a rugged and reliable red dot.

Pros 

• Extremely rugged
• Great optical clarity
• Excellent ergonomics

Cons

• Pricey

Product Description

When I was putting together a new handgun for bear protection, I topped it with this sight. The Aimpoint ACRO P-2 checks all the boxes I needed and excels in terms of reliability and survivability.

The main virtue of an enclosed emitter is that it is protected from the environment. I spend a lot of time in grizzly country, both in the mountains and in low-lying river bottoms. Between the snow that’s typical at elevation and the mud and debris that’s part of any river system, there are a lot of ways for a red dot to get clogged with gunk. The ACRO P-2 has flat windows on either side of the unit that can easily be wiped with a shirt sleeve to clear the glass.

The ACRO also has best-in-class waterproofing: it is submersible to 35 meters (115 feet) so you can dunk it without harming it in any way. The P-2 also has much improved battery life over the original ACRO and can deliver up to five years of service on a single CR 2032.

The 3.5 MOA dot has round, crisp edges, though when the intensity level is jacked up to the max (there are 10 settings, four of which are for night vision), the dot has a fair bit of blooming. On the plus side, there isn’t any lighting situation where the ACRO’s dot will wash out. The buttons that control the dot intensity give very positive feedback, which allows them to be manipulated while wearing gloves.

The optical clarity of the unit is among the best in the field. There is very little color distortion and no optical distortion while looking through the sight. Picking up the dot and recovering it while shooting is a snap. It is very forgiving.

All this performance, however, comes at a cost. The ACRO P-2 is among the most expensive red dots out there, but it is a serious professional-grade tool that is well worth it.

Best for Competitive Shooting: Trijicon SRO

John Snow

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Key Features

• Weight: 1.6 ounces
• Objective Lens Size: 26mm
• Reticle: 1, 2.5 or 5 MOA dot
• Adjustment: 8 brightness levels, two for night vision
• Battery Life: 3 years
• Battery: CR 2032

Why It Made the Cut

The Trijicon SRO’s 26mm objective lens makes it easy to reacquire the dot during rapid shooting competitions. 

Pros 

• Generous sized objective lens
• Great ergonomics
• Tough

Cons

• Spendy

Product Description

Looking through the Trijicon SRO is like staring out of a large picture window with mountain views. It’s a thing of beauty. The generously sized objective lens measures 26 mm in diameter making it easy to find and reacquire the dot during rapid shooting. That quality is a big part of the reason why the SRO is my top choice for competition.

In addition to that is the bomb-proof construction and top-notch engineering of all Trijicon’s red dot offerings.

The SRO is offered with three sized dots depending on your needs: 1 MOA, 2.5 MOA, or 5 MOA. I opted for the 2.5 MOA model, which strikes a great balance between size and precision and handles any shooting chore well.

For a larger sight, the SRO manages to sit relatively low on the slide. That makes sighting through the window that much faster and helps the sight co-witness with irons more easily.

The SRO has a tiny bit of optical distortion, but not enough to detract from the sight’s performance. In fact, with its large objective lens, the SRO handled tracking and target transitions better than any other red-dot in the test.

The ergonomics on the unit are fabulous as well. The windage and elevation adjusters have medium-sized slots that can accommodate a regular screwdriver bit or thin coin and offer positive feedback with each click. The sight has 150 MOA of w/e travel with each click moving the sight 1 MOA. The battery tray is easy to access and doesn’t have to be removed from the pistol when putting in a new one.

It has eight brightness levels, two of which are for night vision. The sight can be set to automatically adjust brightness levels as well if you choose.

And, for those of you who want to take your guns underwater, the SRO is rated waterproof to three meters (10 feet) and has drain holes in the side of the housing.

Lightest Weight: Sig Sauer Romeo Zero Elite

John Snow

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Key Features

• Weight: .5 ounces
• Objective Lens Size: 20mm
• Reticle: 3 MOA dot
• Adjustment: Eight settings
• Battery Life: 20,000 hours
• Battery: CR 1632

Why It Made the Cut

The Romeo Zero Elite is a wisp of a red dot, tipping the scales at a dainty .5 ounce. Its compact profile makes it a good choice for smaller concealed carry handguns.

Pros

• Light weight
• Good value

Cons

• Inconvenient control button

Product Description

I’ve been running a Romero Zero Elite on a Glock 19 for a while now and it has stood up to some rough use and a lot of rounds.

It’s a basic unit with a 3 MOA dot with eight brightness levels. It’s also offered with a 2 MOA dot within a 32 MOA circle for those who want a larger reticle. A small button just behind the objective lens controls the unit. While unobtrusive, the button is a little hard to reach, especially if you have sausage fingers, and a bit of a pain to manipulate. If my fingers were dirty—from doing a lot of shooting, say—I had difficulty adjusting the brightness without getting a greasy smear on the inside of the objective lens. Not a deal killer by any means, but it is pesky.

Other than that, I had no complaints with the Romeo Zero Elite. The optical quality of the sight is pretty good. It has a metal shield you can install to give the polymer-framed unit more protection if you like. The zero is easy to adjust via the recessed windage and elevation controls that use a tiny hex key wrench.

Another thing in its favor is its affordability. It’s one of the best red dots for the money. With a CR 1632 on board, it delivers up to 20,000 hours of run time.

Great Field of View: Sig Sauer Romeo1 Pro

John Snow

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Key Features

• Weight: 1 ounce
• Objective Lens Size: 28x17mm
• Reticle: 3 or 6 MOA dot
• Adjustment: 12 settings, 2 for NV
• Battery Life: 20,000 hours
• Battery: CR 1632

Why It Made the Cut

The Sig Romeo1 Pro is a great all-around red-dot sight that can function well for either personal protection or competition/recreational shooting duties. Its generous window dimensions—28mm wide and 17mm tall—make it one of the faster red dots to shoot. It’s easy to pick up the dot on the initial gun presentation and reacquire it under recoil.

Pros 

• Very shootable 
• Good ergonomics

Cons 

• Not rated for 10mm Auto

Product Description

I’ve been using a Romeo1 Pro on my Sig P320 for a couple years, and it has served me well. The housing is made of machined aluminum and has withstood daily use and abuse with only a couple scratches to show for it. The aluminum forms a bit of a lip in front of the sight’s window, so you can bang the housing against hard surfaces without touching or damaging the glass. The molded aspheric glass lens is multi-coated to reduce distortion. The optical clarity of it is very good, though the image does have a slight blue tinge, which is common with many reflex sights.

On the unit’s left hand side are two buttons to pick among the Romeo1 Pro’s 12 brightness settings, two of which are for night vision. The sealed electronics on it are rated to IPX7 waterproofness, which means it can be submerged to 1 meter for 30 minutes.

The battery compartment is located right behind the object lens and can be opened with a slot-head bit or coin. This allows the shooter to change batteries without messing with the pistol’s zero. It uses a CR 1632 and has a published run time of 20,000 hours. To conserve battery life, the unit will power down after a period of time and turn back on when moved.

The sight has a whopping 100 MOA of windage and elevation travel. If you find yourself needing all that, you might want to double check and see that your pistol’s barrel isn’t bent. The sight uses two small slot-head adjusters that move the dot 1 MOA with each click.

The Romeo1 Pro is also available with a 6 MOA dot. It’s worth noting that this particular unit isn’t rated for 10mm Auto use. For that you’ll want to upgrade to Sig’s Romeo2 1x30mm enclosed emitter.

Best High-End Concealed Carry Sight: Trijicon RMRcc

John Snow

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Key Features

• Weight: 1 ounce
• Objective Lens Size: 13mm
• Reticle: 3.25 or 6 MOA dot
• Adjustment: 8 brightness levels, 2 for NV
• Battery Life: 4 years
• Battery: CR 2032

Why It Made the Cut

The Trijicon RMRcc is a beautifully engineered micro red dot with best-in-class ruggedness, and a smart suite of electronic functionality. It’s an expensive, professional-grade sight designed to take you to hell and back, should the need arise.

Pros 

• Extremely rugged
• Smart electronic features

Cons

• Small window
• Expensive

Product Description

The Trijicon RMRcc comes with dots that subtend either 3.25 or 6.5 MOA. For a dedicated defensive pistol, the 6.5 MOA dot would be hard to beat, though a 3.25 MOA dot makes the sight a bit more versatile for precision work.

It has eight brightness modes that can be cycled through with the generously sized buttons on either side of the aluminum housing. The top level of brightness has a retina-burning intensity that allows the sight to function well in the brightest possible conditions. The bottom two are meant for night vision gear.

The electronics allow the user to either lock in a particular brightness level, which is useful for competition and certain hunting scenarios, or it can operate in an automatic mode where the reticle brightness rises and dims in relation to the available ambient light.

The unit is sealed against the environment and is submersible to 20 meters (66 feet), which is one of the reasons that many armed professionals gravitate toward it and its bigger brother, the RMR Type 2. It comes with drain holes on the side of the housing so that water drains away.

The window is a little cramped, which makes the sight a little harder to acquire (and reacquire) while shooting. That means it might not be the best pick for someone with beginner-level skills who isn’t as committed to mastering the platform.

Changing the battery requires the user to remove the sight from the pistol, so checking and possibly readjusting the sight’s zero will be necessary.

The adjustments on the Trijicon RMRcc are more coarse than many other units, with each tick mark moving the point of impact 3 MOA. At 25 feet, that amounts to about ¼ inch shift per click. The slots in the windage and elevation adjusters can accommodate standard size slot-head bits easily or even the back edge of a knife, so no special tools are needed.

This sight uses the Trijicon RMRcc mounting standard.

Best Overall: Trijicon RMR Type 2

Trijicon

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Key Features

• Weight: 1.2 ounces
• Objective Lens Size: .83 x .63 inches
• Reticle: 1, 3.25, or 6 MOA dot
• Adjustment: Eight settings, two for NV
• Battery Life: 4 years
• Battery: CR 2032

Why It Made the Cut

The Trijicon RMR Type 2’s distinctive features set it apart from the rest of the field and justify its lofty price tag.

Pros

• Built for hard use
• Good ergonomics
• Great engineering

Cons

• Expensive

Product Description

After spending months testing this whole field of red-dots, I had to pick one as the winner. It’s a Sophie’s Choice scenario for sure—but rules are rules, and the Trijicon RMR Type 2 got the nod as the overall best red dot sight.

For starters it’s difficult to find anything to criticize about this sight, other than perhaps its price. But you get what you pay for, and when you slap your money down for one of these, you’re getting a hell of a unit.

The RMR sights have a couple of distinctive features compared to the rest of the field. One is the drain holes on either side of the housing that keep water and other debris from collecting around the emitter. The other is the curious shape of the housing, with its concave top. Both these elements hint toward the end users that Trijicon had in mind when developing the sights: serious professionals who rely on them for their lives.

The utility of the drain ports is obvious. Whether Marines are on patrol in a swamp or a Special Operations unit is using scuba gear, they want their sights to be clear and good to go at all times. The shape of the housing mitigates hard impacts and protects the glass from damage. The Trijicon RMR Type 2 is rated waterproof to 20 meters (66 feet).

There are a couple dozen different variants of the Type 2 to pick from with various mounting systems and dot sizes. It can be had with 1, 3.25, or 6.5 MOA dots. Mine, a 3.25 MOA dot, is bright and crisp. The unit has minimal optical distortion (though the glass does have a noticeable blue tinge), eight brightness settings to pick from (including two for night vision), and a four-year run time from a CR 2032 battery. If desired, the sight can be set to an automatic mode that adjusts reticle brightness based on ambient light.

If you’re looking for a pistol or small arms sight that can do it all—personal protection, concealed carry, target shooting, hunting—the RMR Type 2 is it.

Most Versatile: Burris Fastfire 4

Burris Optics

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Key Features

• Weight: 1.7 ounces
• Objective Lens Size: 27x18mm
• Reticle: Four user-selectable options
• Adjustment: 3 brightness levels
• Battery Life: 26,000 hours
• Battery: CR 1632

Why It Made the Cut

The Burris Fasfire 4 is the Swiss Army knife of red-dot sights. 

Pros 

• Multiple reticles
• Versatile design

Cons

• Some optical distortion

Product Description

With the push of a button on the right side of the unit’s housing, you can cycle through four reticles. The reticles include a 3 MOA dot, an 11 MOA dot, an 11 MOA dot surrounded by a 50 MOA circle, and a 3 MOA dot surrounded by a 50 MOA circle with the addition of two “wings” that effectively form a horizontal crosshair.

Each of these reticles has useful applications. The 3 MOA dot is good for precise shot placement and general handgun use. The 11 MOA dot is good for bright lighting conditions and would work well for turkey hunters and slug-gun hunters. The 11 MOA with a circle is good for personal defense and CQB scenarios, and the 3 MOA circle with wings can handle close and mid-range shooting. It can also be a good option for wingshooting as well. The intensity of these reticles is controlled by a button on the left side of the unit, which has three levels of brightness.

As the late-night TV pitchmen say, but wait, there’s more! The Fastfire 4 is also the only sight in this roundup that converts from an open to closed emitter design. It comes with an environmental shield that screws on to the back of the unit and encloses the emitter. While this won’t make the Fastfire waterproof against submersion, it will prevent rain, snow and dirt from clogging the LED.

The Fastfire 4 comes with a cross-slot base so you can easily screw it on to a Weaver or Picatinny pattern mounting surface. With the weather shield installed the weight of the unit is right at 2 ounces. With the base removed the Fastfire has a Docter/Noblex footprint, so with an adapter you can mount it to a handgun and it won’t be too bulky.

The wide objective lens makes reticle acquisition easy, but the glass does have noticeable optical distortion.

Best Budget: Crimson Trace CTS-1500  

Crimson Trace

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Key Features

• Weight: .65 ounces
• Objective Lens Size: 21x15mm
• Reticle: 3 MOA dot
• Adjustment: Automatic
• Battery Life: 20,000 hours
• Battery: CR 2032

Why It Made the Cut

Not only is the Crimson Trace CTS-1500 budget friendly, but it could also win an award as the most idiot-proof ultra-compact red dot sight on the market.

Pros

• Simple design
• Affordable 
• Light weight

Cons

• No frills

Product Description

The 3 MOA dot on the CTS-1500 is a perfect size for general defensive pistol use, and thanks to the unit’s polymer frame it tips the scales at a scant .65 ounces even with the CR 2032 battery on board.

The CTS-1550 doesn’t come with much in the way of bells and whistles, but it does serve its primary function well. The dot auto adjusts to lighting conditions for hassle free use and the battery has a published run time of 20,000 hours. I’ve had one mounted on my Kimber Mako R7 for nearly a year and it’s still going strong.

One nice element of the CTS-1550 is the notch cut into the rear of the housing, which allows the shooter to more easily co-witness with their iron sights. This can help with dry-fire training while getting used to working with a handgun-mounted red dot and also serves as a useful backup should the sight fail for some reason.

It has a J-Point / RMSC footprint, allowing it to attach to any compatible pistol. Since this is a micro compact, the dot can be a bit trickier to pick up in the objective lens, but that’s the tradeoff for its high degree of concealability.

The lack of a gasket between the unit and mounting surface means you need to be careful when using it in wet conditions as moisture can seep into the battery compartment. It’s an easy thing to check, however, by removing the two fasteners that secure the sight to the pistol. You’ll just need to check zero after remounting the sight. Fortunately, adjusting the point of impact is a simple and painless process.

Best Micro: Swampfox Sentinel M

Swampfox Optics

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Key Features

• Weight: .82 ounces
• Size 16x16mm window
• Reticle 3 MOA dot, manual adjustment 10 levels
• Adjustment: Manual
• Battery Life: 12,000 hours. active, 50,000 hours stand-by
• Battery: CR 2032

Why It Made the Cut

Competition among micro-sized red dots is stiff as there are a lot of good options to choose from. In this crowded field, the Swampfox Sentinel M strikes an attractive balance between features, optical quality, and price.

Pros

• Sleek, minimalistic profile

Cons

• Some optical distortion

Product Description

Like other micros, the Sentinel M has a minimalistic profile that will fit well on smaller pistols with narrow slides. Among those are the Glock 43X and Glock 48 MOS, Sig P365XL, Springfield Hellcat OSP, Canik Elite SC, S&W Shield 2.0 Optics Ready, Walther PPS M2 Optics Ready—basically any pistol with an RMSc footprint can accommodate one.

Shooters will argue about the merits of exposed controls on red dots for concealed guns, but I like the easy-to-use buttons on either side of the Sentinel’s aluminum housing, which cycle through 10 different brightness settings. It also has well-marked windage and elevation dials that adjust with the tool that ships with the unit or a small slot-head driver.

It runs on a CR 2032 battery and has a published run time of 12,000 to 50,000 hours. The Sentinel M comes with smart electronics. It will go into battery saving mode after four minutes of inactivity but reilluminates when the unit detects movement. If you turn the unit off, which you do by holding down the “-” for three seconds, the Sentinel returns to your previous brightness setting when powered back on.

Like other micros, the Sentinel M has an exposed battery compartment on the underside of the housing. To help seal it from the elements, it ships with a thin rubber gasket that you place between the base of the sight and the slide. That provides it with an IPX7 waterproof rating (one meter for 30 minutes).

It’s thoughtful touches like these that make the Sentinel M an appealing choice and one of the best red dot sights of its type.

The unit’s optical quality is good—not great—but certainly up to the standards of other micros. And the quality of the dot is clean and sharp enough for the defensive pistol work that it is designed for.

Not that aesthetics are the most important consideration for a micro red dot, but they are a consideration. The finish on the metal, the sharp lettering on the logos, and the attractive shape of the housing are nice elements too.

Best Shotgun/Pistol Crossover: Holosun HE509T-RD

Holosun

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Key Features

• Weight: 2.25 ounces
• Objective Lens Size: 16x23mm
• Reticle: 2 MOA dot or 2 MOA dot in 32 MOA circle
• Adjustment: Automatic or manual with 12 levels to choose from.
• Battery Life: 12,000 or 50,000 hours
• Battery: CR 1632

Why It Made the Cut

The dual reticle options on the HE509T-RD make it a viable option for both pistols and shotguns and even rifles, for that matter.

Pros

• Dual reticle options 
• Enclosed emitter
• Solar backup power

Cons 

• Some image distortion 
• Heavy

Product Description

Holosun has a devoted following among many top-level competitors who run red dots on their guns. The company makes no-nonsense task-driven sights that are rugged and incorporate useful technology at reasonable prices. Many other brands of red dots are manufactured by Holosun, in fact, which is a testament to their quality.

The Holosun HE509-T is an enclosed emitter in a titanium housing. The titanium has a few benefits, including reduced weight, improved strength when compared to aluminum, and resistance to saltwater corrosion.

It has two user-selectable reticle options, a 2 MOA dot or a 2 MOA dot surrounded by a 32 MOA circle with four “positioning points” located at 3-, 6-, 9-, and 12-o’clock. Depressing the “-” button for three seconds toggles between the two. When running the circle/dot reticle, the HE509-T will last for 12,000 hours, while running the dot alone bumps that to 50,000 hours.

These reticles make the HE509T useful for both pistol and shotgun applications, and rifles too, for that matter. It’s a fine red dot for shotguns, especially with the reticle on the circle/dot setting.

The sight can be operated in two modes: automatic and manual. On automatic, the sight adjusts the intensity of the reticle based on ambient lighting conditions, while in manual the shooter sets the reticle brightness. In manual mode, the sight has 12 levels to choose from, two of which are for night vision.

About the only issue with the sight is its optical quality, which has a bit of distortion at the edges.

The sight uses a CR 1632 battery that is in a tray that slides into the right side of the unit and is secured by a single slot-head fastener. This allows the battery to be changed without removing it from the firearm. When the battery runs low the reticle slowly blinks to let you know, which is a nice feature.

Despite its titanium housing, the emitter weighs 2.25 ounces, making it one of the heavier in the roundup. The HE509T comes in two versions, with either a red or green reticle. The green bumps the price by about $35. It has its own mounting dimensions but comes with a RMR pattern plate and an adapter for the Glock MOS system.

Read Next: Best Red Dots for Turkey Hunting

Best Low Profile: Leupold DeltaPoint Micro

Leupold

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Key Features

• Weight: 1 ounce
• Objective Lens Size: 9mm
• Reticle: 3 MOA dot
• Adjustment: Eight settings
• Battery Life: 30,000 hours
• Battery: CR 1632

Why It Made the Cut

The DeltaPoint’s low profile makes it an excellent option when deep concealment is desired.

Pros 

• Low profile
• Enclosed emitter

Cons 

• Limited to Glocks and Smith & Wesson M&P pistols

Product Description

When the DeltaPoint Micro appeared, it challenged the conventional wisdom concerning micro red dot sights. It mounts on the rear sight dovetail the pistol and most of the electronics hang off the back of the slide. The sight itself is a small tube—only 9mm in diameter—that acts like a ghost ring with respect to the pistol’s front sight.

It’s an ingenious design, but one that shooters were a bit leery of because of the small sight aperture. Would it be difficult to pick up the dot on presenting the pistol and after recoil?

Those are valid questions. The answer is that the system works very well. Because the DeltaPoint Micro employs the geometry of the pistol’s iron sights, it is very easy for the shooter’s eye to align with the optic. As a bonus, should the sight go down, the tube can be used as a ghost ring with the front sight.

Among current red dots there isn’t another out there that has such a low profile, making the DeltaPoint Micro ideal for carry where deep concealment is desired and one of the best red dot sights for this purpose.

The system isn’t without its limitations however. The biggest is that it’s currently only available for two types of pistols: the Smith & Wesson M&P and the Glock. Of course, those two account for a huge chunk of the worldwide handgun market, so there’s no lack of potential customers. But if you rock a different model, the Micro isn’t an option for you at the moment.

The other issue is that installation is a bit more involved than with many other red dots, as you have to remove the rear sight to gain access to the dovetail. That’s not a huge deal, but it isn’t as simple as just screwing it onto a mounting plate.

One thing I like about the Micro is that it is an enclosed emitter, so you don’t have to worry about dust and lint getting into the works and gumming it up.

The sight has a 3 MOA dot. I don’t know if it is a function of the sight’s design, but this dot isn’t as sharp and round as other DeltaPoint offerings, but it isn’t so much of an issue that it affects how the sight performs.

The elevation adjustments on it are generous. The DeltaPoint Micro has 100 MOA of elevation and 180 MOA of windage on tap. The point of impact adjusts via two small Allen key fasteners that are recessed into the housing. It has eight brightness settings that the user toggles through with the large button on the battery housing.

Best for Fast, Close Shooting: Leupold DeltaPoint Pro 6 MOA

Leupold

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Key Features

• Weight: 2 ounces
• Objective Lens Size: 20mm
• Reticle: 6 MOA dot
• Adjustment: 8 settings
• Battery Life: 1,600 hours
• Battery: CR 2032

Why It Made the Cut

When it comes to getting lead on steel and paper quickly, no sight performed better in the test than the Leupold DeltaPoint Pro 6 MOA. Its large, bright dot and exceptional optical clarity make it a no-brainer for this kind of shooting.

Pros

• Excellent optical quality
• Large, bright aiming point
• Convenient battery compartment

Cons

• Expensive
• Sits high on the pistol

Product Description

Like all Leupold DeltaPoint’s, this model is wonderfully engineered. The toolless battery compartment/adjustment button is convenient and clever. Pushing on the button allows the shooter to cycle through eight different brightness settings.

The coin-slot windage and elevation adjustments have 60 MOA of travel. They adjust in 1 MOA clicks and give excellent tactile feedback when turned.

The battery life figures that Leupold gives are much lower (and more realistic, to be honest) than you’ll see with other sights, but it’s worth keeping the dot brightness to a lower setting or making a point to turn off the sight when not in use to get more from the battery.

To harden the sight, Leupold encloses it in a metal shield that wraps over the optic. This bumps the weight to 2 ounces, making it one of the heavier open-emitter sights in the test.

Excellent All-Around Sight: Vortex Venom

Vortex Optics

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Key Features

• Weight: 1.1 ounces
• Objective Lens Size: 20 mm
• Reticle: 3 or 6 MOA dot
• Adjustment: 10 settings
• Battery Life: 30,000 hours
• Battery: CR 1632

Why It Made the Cut

The Vortex Venom is one of the most popular red dot reflex sights currently offered—and for good reason. It’s a solid, all-around red dot that works well on handguns, shotguns, AR-15s, and other rifles.

Pros

• Jack of all trades

Cons

• Humdrum styling

Product Description

The Vortex Venom doesn’t bring any fancy technology to the party, but what it does have is a generous window, a crisp 3 or 6 MOA dot that can be adjusted to any of 10 brightness levels, controls that are easy to manipulate and a solid housing made of aluminum that can take a beating.

You can also switch the sight to “auto” mode where it adjusts the reticle brightness according to the ambient light.

The slot-head windage and elevation adjusters are easy to dial in. The sight has 130 MOA of elevation travel on tap and 100 MOA of windage elevation, with each click of the adjusters moving the POI by 1 MOA.

One feature that has attracted a lot of shooters to Vortex’s products is their generous no-questions-asked warranty program. Basically, if you manage to break it, Vortex will replace it. Critics say that’s borne of necessity because the company doesn’t make optics as durable as others. Be that as it may, however, the fact that Vortex does stand behind their offerings and they’ve earned a lot of loyal customers because of it.

Ultra-Rugged: Steiner MPS

Steiner-Optics

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Key Features

• Weight: 2 ounces
• Objective Lens Size: 20x16mm
• Reticle: 3.3 MOA dot
• Adjustment: 8 levels (2 NV)
• Battery Life: 13,000 hours
• Battery: CR 1632

Why It Made the Cut

The Steiner MPS is a rugged enclosed emitter that also has exceptional aesthetics.

Pros 

• Rugged 
• User friendly

Cons 

• Can be tricky to mount on different platforms.

Product Description

The Steiner MPS is arguably the sexiest pistol reflex sight out there. It has head-turning futuristic lines that visually set it apart from this crowded field of the best red dot sights. For that reason, any gun owner who values the aesthetic impact of their gun will want to consider the MPS.

But this sight is more than a pretty face. It’s a rugged and capable enclosed emitter with user-friendly ergonomics and a distortion-free sight picture. And, while not cheap, it runs about $100 less than the Acro P-2, so it has that going for it as well.

The 3.3 MOA dot is round and crisp—one of the sharpest in the test. The MPS has eight brightness settings on tap (two for night vision), that are actuated by the “+” and “-” buttons on the unit’s left side.

The MPS’s battery compartment sits on top of the metal housing and takes a CR 1632 battery that provides enough juice for 13,000 hours of run time. To conserve battery life, the MPS automatically shuts down after 13 hours.

To enhance the MPS’s survivability, Steiner added two beefed-up panels on either side of the sight and recessed the objective lens in the housing. With this added degree of protection, the sight only weighs 2 ounces.

The slot-head POI adjusters give excellent feedback with each click. The unit has 90 MOA of travel in both windage and elevation with each click moving the dot 1 MOA.

The MPS fits an ACRO footprint and comes with a Docter adapter plate. Plates for other mounting patterns are available as well.

Best for an AR-15 Pistol: USO DRS 2.0

USO Optics

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 Key Features

• Weight: 1.9 ounces
• Objective Lens Size: 24x16mm
• Reticle: 6 MOA dot
• Adjustment: 10 brightness settings
• Battery Life: 2 to 3 years
• Battery: CR 2032

Why It Made the Cut

The USO DRS 2.0 is the easy-button for equipping your AR pistol—or any firearm with a Picatinny rail—with a red dot. It comes with a nicely constructed base that has a cross pin that will secure the sight into a Pic rail’s slots.

Pros 

• Simple to use
• Good optical clarity

Cons 

• Need to re-zero after changing the battery.

Product Description

Once mounted, adjusting zero on the DRS 2.0 is simple. It has two well-marked adjustment dials for windage and elevation that offer 1 MOA of reticle movement per click. Click is a relative term, though, because the recessed slot-head dials operate with friction and not with any type of audible or tactile feedback.

The 6 MOA dot is easy to pick up and see in the sight’s objective lens and can be adjusted to any of 10 brightness settings. The dot intensity is controlled with two easy to manipulate buttons on the unit’s left-hand side. The DRS 2.0’s optical clarity really impressed me. It exhibits minimal distortion.

The housing is made of aluminum and to trim a bit of weight it is skeletonize on the sides. Even with the Pic rail mount adapter, the sight only weighs 1.9 ounces. You can ditch the Pic rail mount if you want and get adapters that will let it mount on Glocks, S&W M&Ps, HK VP9, and others. Its base footprint is the Vortex Viper pattern.

The DRS 2.0 runs on a CR 2032 and has a 2-3-year run time depending on how it is used and the dot intensity setting. To conserve battery life, the unit shuts off after 12 hours of inactivity.

Best RMSc Enclosed Emitter: Holosun EPS Carry

Scott Einsmann

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Key Features

• Weight: 1 ounce
• RMS Shield Footprint
• Battery: CR1620
• Max Battery Life: 5,000 hours
• Length: 1.62 inches
• Width: .95 inches
• Height: 1.07 inches
• Window Size: .58 x .77 inches
• Eight brightness settings and four night vision settings
• Dot Size: 2 moa, 6 moa, 2 moa dot with 32 moa ring 
• Red or green reticles available 

Pros

• Bright, crisp dot
• Easy to change battery
• Good option for concealed carry or turkey gun

Cons

• Can bloom if setting is too bright

The Holosun EPS Carry mounts on guns with RMSc, Holosun K, Leupold DeltaPoint Pro, and Sig Sauer RomeoZero optic cuts or mounting plates. It comes with screws of various lengths (use the longest that will work) each with Blue Loctite already on them. Holosun recommends torquing the screws to 15 inch-pounds. 

The battery door is located on the right side of the optic and is accessible without removing the red dot. Holosun says the battery life is 5,000 hours, which is about 200 days. It’s not the five-year battery life of the Holosun 507 K, but changing a battery once every six months is still pretty damn good. 

The 6 moa dot on my EPS Carry is crisp and round. This is exactly how a dot should look, but many red dot sights come up short in this feature. The EPS Carry’s glass has a slight blue hue, which is common on red dots. 

I slammed the front of the EPS Carry into my tailgate ten times to rack the slide on my empty XMacro. Then I dropped the unloaded gun from chest height so that it landed, red dot down, onto a gravel road. I picked up the handgun, loaded it, and confirmed my zero at 25 yards. The only evidence of this round of battery was some slight character marks on the housing. It held zero and functioned great throughout the rest of my range session. After a few hundred rounds, I repeated the test, and once again it was unfazed. 

This isn’t a torture test meant to see if I could break the EPS Carry or to see if it’s worthy of use in the apocalypse. It’s a test that gives me confidence that if the optic takes a hard hit, it will keep its zero and continue working. -Scott Einsmann

Read the full Holosun EPS Carry review to learn more about the optic and see how it held up against the Trijicon RMR in a down pour.

FAQs

Final Thoughts on the Best Red Dot Sights

The best red dot sights bring a lot of benefits. They increase accuracy at all ranges but they’re especially effective beyond 10 yards. Red dots make shooting on the move easier and they’re also helpful for shooters with aging eyes who have trouble keeping the front sight in focus. But to be effective with any red dot sight, you need to practice with it.

The post The Best Red Dot Sights in 2023 appeared first on Outdoor Life.

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SIG SAUER P365			SEE IT	LEARN MORE	Summary The standard-setting micro-compact 9mm pistol.
Taurus GX4XL TORO			SEE IT	LEARN MORE	Summary An excellent value and smooth-shooting pistol.
Smith & Wesson M&P 9 Shield Plus			SEE IT	LEARN MORE	Summary Updated and improved version of the M&P Shield 2.0.

If there is a pistol category that has been a driver of development and innovation in recent years, it’s been the micro 9mm handguns, which are 9mm pistols smaller than what we would traditionally call subcompact. Their small size makes them ideal for concealed carry applications and thanks to new designs, they have impressive magazine capacity. It’s not uncommon for a micro-9 to hold ten rounds. In addition to compact size and capacity, many offer great ergonomics. These guns are popular for personal defense, everyday carry applications, but many hunters and outdoorsmen and women are discovering the practical application that these handguns have for us as well. The best micro 9mm handguns offer many advantages.

• Smith & Wesson CSX
• Taurus GX4XL T.O.R.O.
• FN Reflex
• Kimber R7 Mako
• Smith & Wesson M&P 9 Shield Plus
• CZ P-10M
• Mossberg MC2sc
• Kimber Micro 9 Triari
• Springfield Hellcat RDP
• Ruger Max-9
• Glock G43X
• Sig Sauer P365

Micro 9mm Handguns are Versatile

When it comes to the guns we carry in the outdoors, we often get so particular about what we carry that we overlook practical and effective options. To head off any speculation, I won’t suggest that a micro-9 is an ideal or adequate bear defense tool, but it has its place and is often overlooked. There are many applications that don’t really warrant strapping a .454 to your hip or a duty-sized 10mm to your chest, but having some kind of option for protection is almost always a good thing.

Rather, a tiny pistol tucked into an appendix carry holster might do the trick. Besides, advances in bullet construction have given us the best 9mm ammo we’ve seen, and made the 9mm more effective than ever. If you’re going to carry a sidearm while you’re in the woods or mountains, how well and comfortably that handgun fits into what you’re already doing will play a big role in how useful it ends up being. The gun you always carry is more useful than the gun you only sometimes bring along.

The size of the micro-9s is its biggest advantage. Whether in a waistband holster as your “everyday carry,” taking it along on a jog, or tucked behind your bino pouch, these pistols allow you to have a measure of protection with minimal interference. Most folks don’t have to worry about grizzly bears, and even in country thick with black bears, a 9mm loaded with solids like the Buffalo Bore hard cast, Federal Premium Solid Core, or Black Hills Honey Badger loads will penetrate adequately and provide a reasonable option for most defensive needs.

As mentioned, the great thing about this niche of handgun is the great diversity of options available. Here are a few of the best micro 9mm handguns.

Smith & Wesson CSX

Smith and Wesson

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Smith & Wesson CSX Specs

• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Capacity: 12+1
• Construction: Stainless steel slide & barrel, aluminum frame
• Sights: White Dot
• Ambidextrous controls

The Smith & Wesson CSX is a departure from the striker-fired Smith & Wesson M&P series and is a hammer-fired pistol with an aluminum frame. In the current field of 9mm micro-compact pistols, the CSX is the tiniest. It comes with two interchangeable textured backstraps, and the otherwise smooth frame has abrasive texturing on the front of the grip as well. Plus, it features ambidextrous controls and safety, and although the safety is low-profile, it’s easily disengaged. It comes with flush and extended magazines with capacity of 10+1 and 12+1 respectively. The CSX has a short-take-up, crisp trigger, and is very comfortable to shoot, even for shooters with larger hands. See the full Smith & Wesson CSX review here.

Taurus GX4XL T.O.R.O.

Tyler Freel

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Taurus GX4XL TORO Specs

• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Capacity: 11+1 or 13+1
• Construction: Alloy steel slide, stainless barrel, polymer frame
• Optics ready
• Sights: White-dot front, serrated black rear

Pulling into the wake of removable-chassis pistols like the Sig P365, the Taurus GX4 is an affordable, shootable pistol that outperforms its price point in many ways. It’s a semi-automatic striker-fired pistol with a polymer frame, but like the P365, it has a fully removable fire control group. This micro 9mm concealed carry handgun comes with 11- and 13-round magazines and has a somewhat heavy, but clean-breaking trigger. For the price, it’s nothing to complain about. It has an alloy steel slide and stainless barrel with a slick DLC finish. The TORO acronym stands for Taurus Optics Ready Option, and it’s a nicely-executed layout. The pistols come with a cover plate installed, and the RMSc-compatible optics mounting cut has removable pillars that make the gun compatible with some optics that don’t have both sets of recesses. I’ve shot both the GX4 and GX4XL extensively, and noted that the GX4XL is a little softer-shooting—you can read a full review of it here. It uses the same frame and fire control group, but a longer slide and recoil system. In the field of micro 9mm pistols, this is one of the best values available.

FN Reflex

FN

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FN Reflex Specs

• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Capacity: 11+1 or 15+1
• Construction: Polymer frame, cold hammer-forged barrel, and PVD finish
• Optics ready (MRD version)
• Sights: tritium dot front, white dot rear

The FN Reflex is a sleek and capable micro 9mm pistol that’s designed for deep concealment. FN has a strong pedigree of 9mm fighting pistols, and the reflex promises to uphold their reputation. It’s a polymer-framed semi-automatic pistol, but like a few others, is fired by an internal hammer rather than a striker system. It comes with 11- and 15-round magazines, which put it firmly in line with other contemporary micros. It has a good trigger, and a reversible magazine release, but not an ambidextrous slide stop. The frame has a combination of stipple and more course texturing, and facilitates a secure grip. The slide is rounded so it doesn’t snag, and the pistol comes with three-dot iron sights and tritium front sight. The MRD version of the Reflex comes optics ready with an RMSc optic cut. If you’re already a fan of FN’s full-size or compact pistols, this will be a great one to check out.

Kimber R7 Mako

Kimber

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Kimber R7 Mako Specs

• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Capacity: 13+1
• Construction: Stainless steel slide, polymer frame
• Optics Ready
• Sights: Orange-ring tritium pro night sights

The R7 Mako is new territory for Kimber—known for fine 1911-style handguns. This polymer-framed, striker-fired pistol performs as a heavy-hitter in the micro-compact 9mm market. It features a delightfully contoured and textured frame and, notably, a top-covered ejection port. It’s designed from the ground up as a concealed carry pistol. It’s available both in optics-ready format and outfitted with a Crimson Trace CTS-1500 reflex sight. It comes with two high-quality magazines with capacities 11+1 and 13+1 rounds of 9mm. The extended magazine features a nice baseplate rather than a magazine grip sleeve that many other manufacturers use. Recoil feels a little snappy, but all-in-all, it’s a great micro nine and a top contender in the category. See the full Kimber R7 Mako review here.

Smith & Wesson M&P 9 Shield Plus

Smith and Wesson

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Smith & Wesson Shield Plus Specs

• Caliber: 9mm Luger/.30 Super Carry
• Capacity: 13+1 (9mm), 16 +1 (.30 Super Carry)
• Construction: Stainless steel slide & barrel, polymer frame
• Optics ready
• Sights: Orange-ring tritium night sights

The M&P Shield Plus from Smith & Wesson is an updated version of the Shield and Shield 2.0, with increased capacity. Although it doesn’t include a light rail, the grip texture, handling, and ergonomics of the Shield Plus are excellent. In the rapidly developing field of micro-compact pistols, capacity is important, and the 9mm Shield Plus comes with flush and extended magazines with 10+1 and 13+1 capacity respectively. The M&P Shield Plus really shines in its early adoption of the new .30 Super Carry cartridge from Federal. The smaller-diameter cartridge produces similar ballistic performance as the 9mm but with increased capacity. The .30 Super Carry Shield Plus will hold an incredible 13+1 and 16+1 rounds in its flush and extended magazines. 

CZ P-10M

CZ

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CZ P-10M Specs

• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Capacity: 7+1
• Construction: Steel frame & barrel, fiber-reinforced polymer frame
• Internal slide stop
• Sights: Luminescent white dot

The P-10M from CZ is the scaled and slimmed down version of the P-10, specifically to be a competitor in the micro nine market. Simplicity is what the P-10M is all about. It features a handsomely beveled slide, low-profile luminescent sights, and an absence of external controls. The slide stop is internal and can only be disengaged by racking the slide rearward and releasing. There is also no external takedown lever or mechanism, rather a takedown pin that must be drifted out for disassembly.

Unlike some other competitors, it features a single-slot accessory rail. Capacity is the P-10M’s weak point. It uses double-to-single-stack magazines that hold 7 rounds each. The CZ P-10M does have one of the slimmest grips available in a micro 9mm, especially at the top. It’s slender build makes it a great candidate for an AIWB holster or ankle holster. The texturing on the back of the grip feels pretty aggressive, and a little painful, but that could easily be tamed with some sandpaper. It’s a comfortable and accurate pistol to shoot, and very concealable. See the full CZ P-10M review here.

Mossberg MC2sc

Mossberg

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Mossberg MC2sc Specs

• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Capacity: 14+1
• Construction: 416 stainless steel slide and barrel, polymer frame
• Optics ready
• Sights: Steel white-dot

Mossberg jumped into the 9mm pistol market in recent years, and their new MC2sc makes one of the best values in the category. It’s higher capacity than their earlier MC1sc (11/14+1 in the MC2sc vs. 6/7+1 in the MC1sc). The MC2sc also has an accessory rail and comes optics-ready with a cover plate. It features a comfortable grip design and texture, and flat-faced trigger.

The beveled slide and white-dot sights present a great and fast-acquiring sight picture, and the gun is very controllable for a micro 9mm. The takedown method of the MC2sc is also unique, in that you can easily remove the striker assembly prior to taking the slide off the frame—a safety feature that can prevent accidental discharges that happen more frequently than they should. It also allows you to easily clean the slide completely. The MC2sc might not lead the pack in any single feature, but it brings a ton of value to the table as a great all-around micro-carry gun. See the full MC2sc review here.

Kimber Micro 9 Triari

Kimber

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Kimber Micro 9 Triari Specs

• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Capacity: 7+1
• Construction: Stainless steel slide & barrel, aluminum frame
• Thumb safety
• Sights: Green/red fiber optic

If you’re a 1911 fan, Kimber’s Micro 9 series is an attractive option. New to the series, the Triari features stacked cube texturing on the grip and slide, fiber-optic sights, and a 7-round single-stack magazine that extends below the magwell for additional grip real estate. It features classic 1911-type controls, and surprisingly comfortable ergonomics for such a small handgun. Those ergonomics and grip texturing help make the recoil controllable, smooth, and not snappy, even with heavy 147-grain defensive loads. At 6 inches long, and just over an inch thick, it’s an easy pistol to keep tucked away, and pleasant to shoot, even for those with larger hands.

Springfield Hellcat RDP

Springfield

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Springfield Armory Hellcat RDP Specs

• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Capacity: 13+1
• Construction: Hammer-forged barrel, polymer frame
• Optic: Hex Wasp red dot
• Self-indexing compensator and threaded barrel

Springfield Armory’s popular Hellcat pistol is available with both standard versions and a threaded-barrel compensated model. You can also get it in a factory package with Springfield’s proprietary Hex micro red dot sights that co-witness with the pistol’s regular sights. The OSP version has a removable, self-indexing compensator on the muzzle. Though small, the red-dot is intuitive, and quick-acquiring, and the compensator helps keep the muzzle flip from the short barrel down. The grip texture on the Hellcat, which feels a bit like sandpaper, is also a welcome feature for a polymer gun. It’s actually a bi-level texture, so as to not snag on clothing, that grips your skin when pressure is applied—and a firm grip is an absolute necessity on small pistols like this. The pistol comes with two magazines: one that holds 11-rounds, and another that holds an impressive 13-rounds. Additionally, the slightly larger Hellcat Pro is another great concealed carry pistol, and it’s available with a threaded muzzle too.

Ruger Max-9

Ruger

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Ruger Max 9 Specs

• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Capacity: 12+1
• Construction: Alloy steel slide and barrel, polymer frame
• Optics ready
• Tritium fiber optic front sight

Ruger also brings a strong offering to the table with their own high-capacity micro. The Max-9 features a 3.2-inch barrel, is less than an inch wide, and comes with 10- and 12-round magazines, all in a tiny and easy-to-carry package. It’s a striker-fired pistol that also sports great grip texturing, and a bright fiber-optic front sight. The pistol also comes with a removable plate, and is ready to accept a Shield-pattern or JPoint micro red dot sight that can co-witness with the irons.

Glock G43X

Glock

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Glock 43X Specs

• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Capacity: 10+1
• Construction: Steel slide and barrel, polymer frame
• Optics ready MOS model available
• Sights: Standard Glock white dot front, rear square “U”

Adding capacity to the Glock G43, the G43X incorporates a 3.41-inch barrel, and slim frame with front and rear cocking serrations. It also features a 10-round magazine, a significant boost over the standard G43’s 6 rounds. You won’t find a lot of frills, but if you’re a fan of Glock pistols, you know what you’re getting—a reliable pistol that’s ultra-comfortable to carry and shoot.

Read Next: Best Pocket Pistols

Sig Sauer P365

Tyler Freel

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Sig Sauer P365 Specs

• Caliber: 9mm Luger
• Capacity: 10+1
• Construction: Polymer grip module, stainless frame, nitron-coated slide and barrel
• Optics ready?: No
• Sights: three-dot X-Ray night sights

The Sig P365 is the flagbearer of the modern micro 9mm pistol. It’s small, with good capacity, and highly modular, and it’s the standard against which all other micro 9mm concealed carry handguns are compared. The Sig P365 is a striker-fired semi-auto with a Nitron-finished steel slide and barrel, polymer grip module, and self-contained fire control unit. Although the standard P365 comes with two 10-round magazines, they are compatible with larger 12- and even 17-round magazines. I’ve also had great luck with the +3-round extensions and extra power springs from X-Tech Tactical. There are many different variations and customization options for the P365 platform, and we love the larger versions like the XL and P365 XMacro Tacops too. The original P365 is still a hard one to beat though, and you can read a full review here. 

FAQs

Final Thoughts on the Best Micro 9mm Handguns

It’s not EDC if you don’t carry every day, and in a defensive situation, the gun you have is better than the one you don’t. Although micro 9’s will never be considered the most universally effective handguns, they fill an important niche and are more capable than ever. They bring a continually-increasing level of variety, comfort, shootability, and ammunition capacity, along with fantastic ergonomics. With the increasing options available, the excuses not to stay protected are rapidly diminishing.

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Best Overall		Safariland 6390 RDS	SEE IT
Best for Appendix Carry		Blackpoint DualPoint AIWB	SEE IT
Best for the Backcountry		Gunfighters Inc. Kenai Chest Holster	SEE IT

Holsters are critically important accessories for our handguns, but we often don’t give them the attention they deserve. A holster’s job is to hold your gun securely and safely while keeping it at the ready. The best holster for you will depend on your gun, the application, and your own personal preferences. If you’re carrying a big revolver into the backcountry for bear protection, your holster choice will be much different than your holster for concealing a micro-compact 9mm. Holsters can be leather, Kydex, polymer, or fabric, and there’s holsters to wear just about anywhere on your body. So which holster will be useful, durable, and even affordable? Here are some examples of the best holsters and holster styles that you can get.

• Best Overall: Safariland 6390 RDS
• Best for Appendix Carry: Blackpoint DualPoint AIWB
• Best Universal: Blackhawk Omnivore Holster
• Best for the Backcountry: Gunfighters Inc. Kenai Chest Holster
• Best Value: Safariland Schema IWB
• Best Leather: Bianchi Black Widow Snaplock OWB Holster
• Galco Fastrax Pac
• Mission First Tactical Minimalist holster
• Northwest Retention Systems Outlaw IWB
• Radial Innovations Coreflex AIWB Holster
• Sticky Holsters Ankle Biter Wrap and Concealed Carry Holster
• Blackhawk Stache IWB
• JC Custom Kydex Bino Harness Holster
• Diamond D Custom Leather Guide’s Choice Chest Holster

How We Chose the Best Holsters

Any holster needs to hold your handgun safely and securely, keeping it ready for its intended task. It’s impossible for us to make universally accurate choices on the best holsters for everything, but what we can do is give you some great examples of holsters that can cover just about any task or application. I chose holsters that I’ve used and are good representatives from the most popular categories. There are many custom holster makers out there that produce fantastic products, and if you develop a sense of what will work best for you, you can proceed with purpose and direction. 

Best Holsters: Reviews and Recommendations

These are some of the best holsters and representatives of the best types of holsters for just about any task.

Best Overall: Safariland 6390 RDS

Tyler Freel

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Key Features

• Durable thermal-molded construction
• Safariland ALS locking system
• Red dot sight compatible
• Suede-lined
• Price: $146

Pros

• Rugged
• Secure retention
• Great optics protection
• Versatility with other Safariland carry systems

Cons

• Bulky

The quintessential holster is the hip-carried duty holster, and Safariland’s RDS/ALS holsters are some of the very best. They’re used by many agencies and military units because they’re simple, durable, and dependable. The RDS holsters are specifically designed for pistols with red dot sights, and use their popular ALS locking system. The holster secures the pistol with a spring-loaded locking lever that holds the pistol by the ejection port. It’s released by a thumb lever that is easily reached when drawing your pistol naturally. There’s no hard pull to break the pistol free from its retention like on many Kydex holsters. There are a variety of models available, but mine holds a Staccato P with a flashlight.

This model comes with a medium-ride belt loop attachment, but it’s a very versatile holster. It can be set up with Safariland’s modular QLS locking system, or attached to their chest rig for backcountry use. The Kydex is wrapped fully around the sides with the seam on the back. Many other holsters have seams on either edge of the holster that can let dust and debris in. It features a flip-cover that protects the optic from moisture and debris, but drawing the pistol pushes it out of the way. This and other ALS-style Safariland holsters are tough as hell and functional for duty, concealed carry, and competition. It’s one of the best all-around holsters you can buy. 

Best for Appendix Carry: Blackpoint DualPoint AIWB

Tyler Freel

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Key Features

• Folded single sheet Kydex
• Steel belt clip
• Adjustable retention
• OWB strut loop doubles as concealment claw
• Price: $99

Pros

• Simple and streamlined
• Tough and secure-fitting metal clip
• Can be worn outside the waistband via the strut loop
• Durable and dependable

Cons

• Carry depth isn’t adjustable

My favorite concealed carry holster is the Blackpoint Dual Point. It’s a simple and effective holster that I’ve been using for several months now. It’s constructed from a single sheet of Kydex that’s folded on the trigger guard side to allow the attachment of a strut loop that acts as a concealment claw. Concealment claws stick out from the holster and apply pressure to your belt in order to hold the grip of your pistol against your body and reduce printing or showing the outline of your gun through clothing. This strut loop allows the holster to be worn on the outside of your waistband (OWB) by running your belt through it if you want.

Although the steel belt clip isn’t adjustable, it’s very durable. Sometimes it’s nice to be able to fine tune a holster clip so that the gun isn’t riding too low or too high in your waistband. The Kydex layers are separated by rubber washers, and when tightened, the screws will tighten the holster’s grip on the pistol. It’s streamlined, simple, and effective. In addition to its simplicity, the ability to use this holster in a variety of carry positions, inside- and outside-the-waistband, makes it my top pick for a concealed carry holster.

Best Universal Holster: Blackhawk Omnivore Holster

Tyler Freel

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Key Features

• Polymer construction
• Compatible with over 150 handguns
• Available for light-bearing pistols
• Includes belt loops and paddle
• Price: $63

Pros

• Adjusts to fit many pistols
• Level 2 thumb-released retention
• Good coverage and protection for your pistol
• Can be used on gun belt or with paddle

Cons

• Not quite as smooth-running as some more specialized holsters

Many universal-fit holsters that you’ll see are shoddy, and don’t fit any particular pistol well. The Blackhawk Omnivore is an exception to that. It’s easily set up to fit a wide variety of pistols, and it’s an affordable, good option for a range belt or OWB EDC carry. The Omnivore is available for light-bearing and non-light-bearing pistols, and features a Level 2 retention system that’s released by the thumb button (which is adjustable for an ideal fit). The Omnivore secures a non-light-bearing pistol by gripping the accessory rail, and for guns with lights, the holster grips the designated light. There’s no friction retention on the trigger guard or other parts of the pistol. 

The omnivore comes with both a belt loop and paddle for a variety of carrying conditions and setups, and includes the parts necessary to fit the holster to your specific handgun. With practice, it’s a smooth-drawing holster that offers good protection and coverage of your pistol. 

Best for the Backcountry: Gunfighters Inc. Kenai Chest Holster

Gunfighters Inc.

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Key Features

• Kydex holster shell
• Elastic suspension straps with buckles
• Adjustable tension
• Available for both revolvers and autos
• Price: $139

Pros

• Chest carry is ideal for many backcountry activities
• Can be used under bino harness or backpack straps
• Quick access to your firearm
• Available for many different handguns

Cons

• Adding/removing layers can require you to remove the holster

In recent years, chest holsters have become one of the most popular methods to carry a sidearm in the backcountry. Many hunters, anglers, and hikers find that a pistol or revolver kept on the chest is convenient, easily-accessed, and is generally non-obtrusive for a variety of activities. The usefulness of traditional hip holsters can be nullified when wearing waders or backpacks with waist belts, but chest holsters are less-affected by this. There are many similar chest holsters on the market, but the Kenai from Gunfighters Inc. is one that’s been around for quite awhile, and is often imitated.

The Kenai chest holster is made from two pieces of Kydex, molded and sandwiched together. It’s got adjustable retention, and is held snugly to the chest with wide elastic straps that attach via buckles on the sides. It’s a simple, low-profile holster that can be worn easily under a backpack, personal flotation device, or even under some binocular chest harnesses. They are made for a variety of pistols and revolvers, but the most common pairing is with a Glock G20 10mm auto. You might have to take the holster off to add or remove clothing layers, but generally speaking, holsters like this allow you to do your thing while keeping the handgun out of the way.

Best Value: Safariland Schema IWB

Tyler Freel

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Key Features

• Skeletonized, injection-molded polymer
• Minimalist design
• Concealment claw
• Adjustable cant and clip height
• Price: $40

Pros

• Affordable
• Good adjustability
• Easy re-holstering
• Optic-compatible

Cons

• Cookie-cutter, no custom options
• Only available in right-handed configuration currently

Many good holsters are expensive, and some cost over a hundred bucks, and there’s a sea of cheap holsters that are garbage for anything other than collecting dust. That doesn’t mean you can’t find good, reputable holsters that are more affordable. Safariland makes some of the best holsters on the market, and the Schema is a new generic-but-effective appendix carry holster. It’s a well-designed, good holster that’s very affordable.

It features a skeletonized design and is made from injection molded polymer. The Schema has a concealment claw, trigger guard retention, and a belt clip that’s adjustable for cant and height so you can position your pistol perfectly. It’s available for a variety of guns, and works with most optics, but only comes in right-handed configurations currently. 

Best Leather Holster: Bianchi Black Widow Snaplock OWB Holster

Bianchi

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Key Features

• Slender leather construction
• Snap-lock retention strap
• Close-fitting profile
• High-ride carry for quick access
• Price: $75

Pros

• Functional and good-looking
• Helps conceal full-size 1911’s under long shirt or jacket
• Thumb-break retention is secure, but easy to access
• Leather is soft and quieter than Kydex

Cons

• No adjustability

Despite the overwhelming popularity of Kydex and polymer holsters, there are lots of excellent all-leather holsters. The basic design of the Bianchi Black Widow Snaplock and holsters like it is the quintessential 1911 concealed carry holster—but works well with other pistols too. This OWB holster is worn on the belt, and can be worn with the belt passing inside or around the outside. The half-length shell grasps the gun, covering the trigger guard and ejection port, with the barrel extending below. The snaplock retention is favorable since the less rigid leather can’t be tightened down to hold the pistol’s trigger guard like a Kydex holster can. It can be quickly opened with the thumb as part of a smooth draw.

These holsters fit tight to the body and make it easy to carry a full-size pistol under a loose shirt or jacket. The pistol rides high so that the muzzle doesn’t peek out from underneath your outerwear. The holster isn’t adjustable, but typically, the slight forward cant allows a secure grip and fast draw. The Black Widow marries utility and nostalgia, and it’s an excellent choice for anyone wanting a leather EDC holster. 

Galco Fastrax Pac

Tyler Freel

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Key Features

• Fanny pack design with elastic waist belt
• Carry pouch and accessory pouch with headphone port
• Mesh backing for comfort
• Pull-cord for rapid drawing
• Price: $84

Pros

• Comfortable and low-profile
• Can be worn with any clothing
• Allows quick access to your handgun
• Adjustable to fit your particular model

Cons

• No extra magazine carriers

The renewed acceptance of fanny packs as a somewhat normal clothing accessory coincides nicely with the irritation of carrying a handgun in an IWB holster when jogging, hiking, walking your dog, or simply wearing light clothing. It can be sweaty, uncomfortable, and easier to print or reveal your firearm unknowingly. The Fastrax Pac from Galco is a plain-looking, slender fanny pack with a rapid-access holster built into it. It incorporates a concealed carry holster that keeps your pistol at the ready, but in a more comfortable manner. They’ll fit a variety of concealed carry guns, and are an appealing option.

The pouch itself is made in the USA. It’s got a mesh-padded cordura backer, and a neoprene front accessory pouch to hold your phone, keys, whatever. The main compartment is zippered and houses a fit-adjustable leather holster that rotates 90 degrees upward when the activation cord is pulled. Mine fits Glock G19-sized pistols like the affordable PSA Dagger, and fits my Staccato CS wonderfully. To draw, simply pull the zipper back with your draw hand, pull on the activation cord with the other, then draw the pistol.

Mission First Tactical Minimalist holster

Tyler Freel

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Key Features

• Ultra Slim design covers trigger guard and part of frame
• Safe retention 
• Concealment claw
• Single belt clip
• Price: $28

Pros

• Great for someone who wants the most streamlined fit
• Good, safe retention and trigger protection
• Convenient to use
• Available for some revolvers
• Affordable

Cons

• Doesn’t keep lint off your gun
• Clip isn’t the most durable

In the movies, everyone has always just stuffed their loaded blaster into their waistband and proceeded to kick ass. Reality is, that’s not a safe or smart way to carry a handgun. These minimalist holsters, however, provide a good balance between secure retention and the free-balling feel of not using a full-coverage holster. This holster is simple. It’s a couple molded sheets of Kydex that are pancaked together and grip the trigger guard and the middle portion of your pistol’s frame securely. It’s got a single thin belt clip that allows the pistol to ride low and out of sight. The concealment claw helps keep the butt of the pistol pressed against your flank so as not to show through your screen-print t-shirt. These really are cheap and effective holsters for some applications. 

I’ve used them with Micro 9mm pistols as well as a full-size 10mm, and they’re a great option for someone that wants a safe, but minimally obtrusive holster. Most people will carry them in the appendix carry position, but you could also carry them on your strong side, tucked under a shirt. 

Northwest Retention Systems Outlaw IWB

Tyler Freel

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Key Features

• Kydex outer shell, leather inner shell
• Positive click retention and fully-covered trigger guard
• Single belt clip
• Concealment claw optional
• Price: $110

Pros

• Leather inner shell is very comfortable
• Adjustable cant 
• Can use with or without concealment claw
• Adjustable retention

Cons

• Custom-order only

Most appendix carry holsters are made of Kydex, which is a durable material. However, it’s not always the most comfortable, and sometimes a better barrier between the pistol and your skin is ideal. I’ve used an Outlaw IWB holster from NW Retention systems for a few years for my Kimber Micro 9, and have found it to be ideal when carrying against my skin under a t-shirt. The trigger guard has complete Kydex coverage and a solid-click, adjustable retention—it’s not simply sandwiched between Kydex and leather. You have to custom order it, but you’ll have your choice of color patterns and other bonus options.

Radial Innovations Coreflex AIWB Holster

Radial Innovations

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Key Features

• Attached spare magazine pouch
• Concealment claw and wedge
• Adjustable for depth of carry
• Flexible cordage joint between holster and mag pouch
• Price: $99

Pros

• Carries extra magazine
• Thin adjustable clips can help with positioning
• Optic-compatible
• Lifetime warranty

Cons

• Less flexible for carry position with mag pouch

One common type of AIWB holster includes an attached extra magazine pouch. It’s never a bad idea to carry an extra magazine, and although many folks carry an individual mag pouch, it can sometimes be easier to conceal these combined-style holsters. They’re designed to be worn with the clips on either side of your belt buckle, and position the extra magazine across the buckle from your pistol. The thin clips on the Coreflex allow you to adjust the height and fine-tune your left-right carry position better than wider clips. The magazine carrier and holster are separate pieces connected by flexible cordage that allows some movement and isn’t as rigid and uncomfortable as some similarly-styled holsters. The holster side features a concealment claw, and the mag pouch has a molded-in wedge to press the magazine against your body and aid with concealment.

Sticky Holsters Ankle Biter Wrap and Concealed Carry Holster

Sticky Holsters

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Key Features

• Grippy fabric construction
• Multi-position holster
• Friction retention
• Price: $38 for ankle wrap, $28 for holster

Pros

• Affordable
• Versatile
• Comfortable

Cons

• Less secure retention
• Requires more careful holstering and use

Hard-shelled holsters get most of the attention, but if you look on store shelves, the soft fabric pocket holsters are big sellers—and have been for years. It’s what I started carrying my old Kahr CW 40 with. There are many brands of these holsters, but Sticky Holsters builds them with a grippy outer layer that keeps them from moving or slipping around. It’s a simple fabric holster that has specific models for specific firearms, but fits tightly and securely. 

You can use these holsters in a number of positions. They fit securely in the waistband of your pants, or in a coat pocket. They also make an ankle wrap that allows you to strap your pistol to your ankle. You have to have the gun holstered before installing it on your carry location, but it holds the gun securely, and it’s an easygoing fit.

Blackhawk Stache IWB

Tyler Freel

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Key Features

• Molded polymer construction
• Left- or right-handed modularity
• Polymer belt clip adjustable for height
• Price: $29

Pros

• Affordable
• Available for common handguns
• Lefty-friendly
• Works with threaded muzzle

Cons

• No concealment claw
• Not as durable as Kydex

The Stache series appendix carry holsters from Blackhawk are affordable, user-friendly holsters that are made for a variety of pistols. The basic model doesn’t come with the magazine holder, and is pancaked molde sheets of polymer with adjustable retention via two tension screws that pass through rubber spacers. The premium Stache kit comes with a concealment claw and optional magazine carrier. The belt clip can be attached to either side for left- or right-handed shooters to use, and its easy to set the height as well. This is a simple and affordable holster that pairs well with affordable guns like the PSA Dagger, or if you are looking to try out this style of holster without breaking the bank. 

JC Custom Kydex Bino Harness Holster

JC Custom Kydex

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Key Features

• Kydex construction
• Attaches to the bottom of any binocular pouch with MOLLE webbing
• Adjustable Friction retention
• Available with optics cut
• Price: $95

Pros

• Integrates holster and binocular pouch
• Excellent for bowhunters
• Simple horizontal draw
• Minimally obtrusive

Cons

• Very specialized to use only with binocular harness

Backcountry carry has evolved dramatically in the past several years, moving away from the traditional revolver-on-the-hip, and to more streamlined carry methods. Many hunters, especially bowhunters, find value in carrying a sidearm in bear country, but many holsters just don’t work well with a backpack, and hunters need a holster that will be worn constantly, but won’t get in the way. Chest rigs are a great option, but if you wear a compatible binocular harness, holsters that attach to the harness itself are even more favorable for some folks. They keep the pistol at the ready, and have been employed to stop attacking grizzly bears. 

There are several good options out there, but JC Custom Kydex makes a great bino harness holster. It’s your standard Kydex, adjustable friction fit holster, but it attaches to the bottom of any binocular harness that has MOLLE webbing. This allows it to ride tight against the body, but stay ready for use. It’s available with an optics cut, and for a variety of guns—though you’ll have to custom order it. The holster features an additional stabilizing strap to keep it from flopping around or moving excessively while you’re wearing it. 

Diamond D Custom Leather Guide’s Choice Chest Holster

Diamond D Custom Leather

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Key Features

• Leather construction
• Adjustable fit
• Available in a variety of configurations
• Holds handgun against chest
• Price: $181

Pros

• Comfortable and convenient
• Great option for big revolvers
• Not as loud as Kydex
• Good option for bowhunters

Cons

• Leather can absorb moisture
• Snap over or hammer spur loop retention requires extra movement to release

Before the wave of high-tech, high-speed Kydex holsters and Glock G20’s hit the field, the Diamond D Guide’s Choice chest holster was as good as you could get. It was designed and is still fielded by many here in Alaska—especially those who prefer big revolvers for bear defense. These leather holsters are well-crafted and comfortable. They’re adjustable for fit, and available in a variety of configurations for different handguns. You can get them with ammunition loops or a magazine pouch to keep an extra reload handy, and even with a protective snap-over flap. I’m not a huge fan of the snap-over or hammer-claw-loop retention because it takes an extra movement to draw the gun from the holster, but many folks find that it works just fine for them. Even in a synthetic world, this is an excellent holster for the backcountry. 

Choosing the Best Holster for You

There are thousands of options when it comes to holsters, but to choose the best one for you, you need to consider several factors:

• What gun is the holster for?
• Where on your body do you want to carry the gun?
• What shooting activity or carry application are you using the holster for?
• Do you have a light on your handgun?
• What kind of holster material would you prefer?

Answering these questions will give you some direction in picking the best holster for you. If you need a concealed carry holster, it will exclude many holsters that aren’t meant for concealed carry. As you consider more in-depth questions, it will narrow the field further. If you want to use an appendix carry holster, you’ll have more precise options to consider. Ultimately, you’ll have to try holsters for your intended application to see which ones meet your needs. It’s not a bad idea to try an affordable holster of a certain style, to see if it will work for you, before buying an expensive custom holster.

FAQ’s

Why Trust Outdoor Life?

Since 1898, OL has been a leading authority in testing and reviewing hunting gear, fishing tackle, guns and shooting equipment, and much more. We have more than a century-long history of evaluating products, and we’re now bringing that expertise to online reviews. Our editors are experienced outdoorsmen and women, and most importantly, we’re trained journalists. We prioritize field testing and objective data when reviewing products. We conduct interviews with gear manufacturers and engineers as well as outdoor experts so that our readers have an understanding of how and why a product works—or doesn’t.

Advertising does not influence our gear reviews and it never will. While we always focus our coverage on standout products—because we want our readers to be aware of the latest and greatest gear—we also cover the flaws and quirks of any given product.

Final Thoughts on the Best Holsters

Holsters are often overlooked. When we get a new handgun, a holster is usually an afterthought. If you only intend to use your handgun at the range, that’s fine, but if you will use it for concealed carry, competition, or hunting in the backcountry, you need to make an informed choice. Your handgun won’t do you any good if you can’t keep it securely on your person and easily accessible. It’s often worth investing in a quality holster, but it’s never a bad idea to try out more affordable holsters in a certain style. Ultimately, finding the one that works best for you and your application is what’s most important. 

• Best Overall: Safariland 6390 RDS
• Best for Appendix Carry: Blackpoint DualPoint AIWB
• Best Universal: Blackhawk Omnivore Holster
• Best for the Backcountry: Gunfighters Inc. Kenai Chest Holster
• Best Value: Safariland Schema IWB
• Best Leather: Bianchi Black Widow Snaplock OWB Holster
• Galco Fastrax Pac
• Mission First Tactical Minimalist holster
• Northwest Retention Systems Outlaw IWB
• Radial Innovations Coreflex AIWB Holster
• Sticky Holsters Ankle Biter Wrap and Concealed Carry Holster
• Blackhawk Stache IWB
• JC Custom Kydex Bino Harness Holster
• Diamond D Custom Leather Guide’s Choice Chest Holster

The post Best Holsters of 2023 appeared first on Outdoor Life.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Best Concealed Carry		S&W J-Frame	Check Latest Price	LEARN MORE	Summary The J-Frame is the small and easy to carry revolver.
Best .22 LR		Ruger Single Six	Check Latest Price	LEARN MORE	Summary An excellent revolver for target practice or small game hunting.
Best .44 Magnum		Ruger Super Blackhawk	Check Latest Price	LEARN MORE	Summary In .44 magnum the Super Blackhawk is a reliable hunting revolver.

One of the biggest advancements in firearms was repeating firearms. The revolver was the first successful repeating handgun, and even today, the basic design has remained the same. A revolving cylinder is fitted into the frame with a handle on the bottom. That cylinder has holes drilled in which the charges or cartridges are fitted. This cylinder turns on a pivot pin in the center to align each hole in the cylinder in turn with the barrel and the firing mechanism.

The first recorded revolver is an 8-shot, manually rotated, flintlock revolver made in 1597. It belonged to the officer Georg von Reichwein from Hessen in Germany. It’s a very interesting piece of gun building, but didn’t catch on.

The modern design revolver has been around since 1830 when Sam Colt was bored while crossing the ocean on a slow boat and carved out a wooden model of a revolver. He is arguably said to have invented the modern revolver with that model. By 1836, he was producing the Colt Patterson, named for Patterson, N.J., where he made the guns. A neat feature on this gun was that the trigger was hidden inside the frame until the gun was cocked.

Colt made a huge mistake when he dismissed an idea from one of his gunsmiths, Rollin White. White had an idea of a “bored-through” revolver cylinder to allow the use of metallic cartridges in a handgun. After Colt fired White for daring to suggest an improvement to his revolver design, White took his idea to Smith & Wesson. They patented his invention and blocked Colt from building cartridge firearms for almost 20 years.

It was that concept—drilled-through cylinders to allow the use of pre-loaded cartridges—which launched the revolver into what we see as the modern design. Of course there have been a multitude of improvements and changes, but if you put a revolver from today next to one from the late eighteen hundreds it is easy to tell they are the same species.

The Smith & Wesson Model 1 was the first revolver to use self-contained cartridges. Later, in 1873 after the patent ran out, Colt introduced the Single Action Army pistol, perhaps the most famous revolver in history. It’s the gun that inspired the epitaph; “God created men, Col. Colt made them equal.”

The Single Action Army Colt, along with the .45 Colt centerfire cartridge, solidified American’s love affair with revolvers, one that still runs hot even today, nearly 200 years after Colt carved the prototype.

Here’s a look at what I consider some of the best revolvers for outdoorsmen and women. While these are mostly for outdoorsmen, some of these guns could also be considered the best concealed carry revolvers. Certainly, some of these are perfect for protection against lions and tigers and bears in the wilderness. Many of them work pretty well for two-legged threats, too. For example, I carry a S&W J-Frame in .357 every place I go, that may be woodcock hunting or it may be shopping for dinner. The Model 19 S&W with a shorter barrel was the preferred gun of many law enforcement people and those civilians who carried concealed for many years. Today, in the 4-inch version offered by S&W, it’s still a great carry option. Here are my recommendations for the best revolvers for hunters.

• Best Single Action: Freedom Arms Model 83
• Best .357: Smith & Wesson Model 19
• Best .44 Magnum: Ruger Super Blackhawk
• Best .22 LR: Ruger Single-Six
• Best Comeback: Colt’s Big Snake Guns
• Best Concealed Carry: S&W J-Frame
• Ruger GP100
• Colt Python 3-inch

The Best Revolvers: Reviews & Recommendations

Best Single Action: Freedom Arms Model 83

Bryce M. Towsley

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In the Dirty Harry era, the .44 Magnum was “The most powerful handgun in the world.”

The .454 Casull took that title and when Freedom Arms in Wyoming started making revolvers, I had to have one. It took a while as the Freedom Arms revolvers are not cheap. But they are worth every penny. They are built with the precision of a Swiss watch and the strength of an Abrams Tank.

That first Freedom Arms Model 83 came with a standard 7.5-inch barrel. I mounted a Leupold scope on it with a J.D. Jones T’SOB mount and took it to the woods. I have lost count of the critters I have shot with that Model 83. Deer, bears, hogs plus a lot of smaller game. I have shot it a bunch at the range working up loads and practicing, yet that gun is just as tight as the day I got it 33 years ago.

It once hit a black bear so hard that my pal, Bill Ingalls shook his head and said, “That’s the deadest got’damned bear I have ever seen.” Bill ran bear dogs for decades and had seen a lot of dead bears.

While deer hunting in south Alabama, another hunter in camp and I both shot deer one morning. The two blood trails couldn’t have been more different. While helping the other hunter follow the skimpy blood trail that had given him hours of frustration, it intersected the one from my deer.

“All I could think of was Crocodile Dundee and his knife,” He said. “I actually shouted out loud, ‘Now, THAT’S a blood trail!’”

I have others now. Another 5-inch barrel, .454 that Ken Kelly at Mag-na-Port tricked out for me as a carry gun in bear country, and also Model 83 revolvers chambered for .50 AE and FA proprietary .50 Wyoming Express, a cartridge that I would use to hunt T-Rex if they ever get this cloning thing worked out. I feel confident that nobody will argue when I say the Freedom Arms Model 83 is the finest single action revolver that’s ever been made. If you want the best revolver for hunting that you can pass on to your children, get a Freedom Arms.

Best .357: Smith & Wesson Model 19

Bryce M. Towsley

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The 1935 introduction of the .357 Magnum was significant as it was the first revolver cartridge that was truly suitable for hunting. Sure Elmer Keith was hot-rodding the .45 Colt and the .44 Special, but neither of these were big game appropriate with factory loaded ammo.

The .357 came out in the large frame gun that would later be the Model 27. It was a wonderful piece of gun making art. As an aside, I once had a chance to buy one for a few peanuts. But I had a new job, a new house and a new kid. I had no peanuts. That’s the gun that haunts my dreams. I wish I could go back in time and scrounge up the dough to buy that revolver.

The large frame, called the N frame, is a bit of a heavy handgun in .357. So when in 1957 S&W introduced the smaller, lighter K frame in .357 and called it the Model 19, things changed.

Designed for cops, this was also a gun for hunters and outdoorsmen. It was meant to be carried. The experts all said it would shoot apart with a lot of magnum use, but they really didn’t. Most outdoorsmen never shot that much anyway. Neither did cops, for that matter.

I picked up mine used, it’s a six inch barrel with a Partridge style front sight. I used it for PPC competition with .38 Special wadcutters as well as for hunting with full power cast bullet loads. I recently had a reunion with an old shooting buddy from the seventies and he asked about the gun, “you were always tinkering on that thing, do you still have it?”

I do and it’s tuned to perfection. For many years I carried it whenever I was out and about in the woods. With that handgun and handloaded ammo I have taken every critter legal to shoot in my home state of Vermont, except bobcat and black bear.

I truly believe that cartridges and guns have soul mates. For example the .30-30 and the Model 94 Winchester. They are symbiotic and one would not have survived without the other. They are a perfect match. For the .357 Magnum, the Model 19 is “the one.” S&W foolishly dropped it for a while, but thankfully they came to their senses and it’s back in the catalog.

Best .44 Magnum: Ruger Super Blackhawk

Bryce M. Towsley

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It’s 1955 and Smith & Wesson and Remington are feverishly working under a cloak of secrecy, developing the Model 29 revolver and the .44 Magnum cartridge. I guess they weren’t all that good at the “secret” part because somebody found some spent cases in the trash and they made their way to Bill Ruger’s desk. Ruger called all his friends at Remington to ask about the cartridge and they wouldn’t tell him anything.

In typical Bill Ruger fashion, he said “to hell with them, then” and built a new .44 Magnum Blackhawk by reverse engineering the cases. Ruger got his pistol to market in 1956 ahead of S&W and the Model 29.

The .44 Magnum Blackhawk was in production until 1959 when it evolved into the Super Blackhawk. This beefier handgun remains one of the top hunting handguns ever made. The Model 29 S&W, the gun most associated with the introduction of the .44 Magnum, was a wonderful gun, but it had a few flaws. That it fell to pieces if shot too much was one. That surfaced when Handgun Metallic Silhouette shooting took off in the late seventies. For years, Smith & Wesson refused to admit there was a problem and it wasn’t long before Ruger’s dominated the revolver class.

The Super Blackhawk is kind of like a rock, in that you need to work very hard to break it. One of mine digested about six gazillion full power loads when I was competing and it still functions like the day it was made. It’s the gun I used to shoot my first handgun deer with. I used my other Super Blackhawk to shoot my first ever black bear. For a hunter looking for a .44 Magnum revolver to carry in the wilderness for bear protection or to shoot whitetails in the back forty, the Ruger Super Blackhawk has no rival as the best revolver in .44 magnum.

Best .22 LR: Ruger Single-Six

Bryce M. Towsley

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Speaking of Bill Ruger and his genius, let’s look at his first single action revolver. The Great War was over, Colt had stopped production on single action revolvers and the market was all about automatics and double action revolvers. So Ruger decided to build a single action revolver. All the “experts” told him he was crazy and that nobody would buy it.

With that gun, he introduced investment casting to the gun making world, something that was unheard of. “It will never work,” all the experts were in agreement on that. “Ruger has lost his marbles,” they said. “This will be the end of him and his company.”

Then a well-known writer at the time, Pete Kuhlhoff, ran a small mention in Argosy magazine and it broke the Southport Post Office. Seems Americans did indeed want a single action handgun.

The Single Six is a scaled down single action in a size that works with the .22 LR (and the .22 WMR, as a lot of them came with both cylinders.) Big enough to feel like a real gun and fit in an adult hand, yet light enough to carry on your belt all day. It became the companion handgun of millions of hunters, fishermen, trappers, campers and woods ramblers.

The Single-Six is a delightful handgun, not just light to carry, but extremely accurate. When I first got into Bullseye shooting competition, it was the only .22 handgun I owned. Nobody ever told me it wouldn’t work, well nobody I listened to anyway. My scores were fine. I later updated to a S&W Model 41, the ultimate Bullseye competition gun. A year later I found out that there are pistol shooting competitions that move faster than drying paint and I left Bullseye behind. About that time I also entered my trapping phase. For about four or five years, two of them full time, that little Ruger was on my belt every single early morning as I headed out to tend my line. The gun accounted for a lot of fur and a lot of small game. I even shot a deer with it one time, a finishing shot. Twice it saved me from a pissed-off skunk in a trap. (Who knew they could be so vindictive?)

Best Comeback: Colt’s Big Snake Guns

Bryce M. Towsley

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My first handgun was a S&W .357 Model 28. I was so proud that the next day at work I showed it around the shop. (Different times.) Until one guy said, “big deal, it’s not a Python.”

While I am still a little hurt, he was right. The Python was considered the premier .357 Magnum, double-action revolver of the time.

Colt, of course, blew it and the gun went out of production before I could get my hands on one. No problem, I figured I could always pick up a used one. Then the Walking Dead started showing greasy Rick, holding his Python in his limp-wristed grip and it blew up demand. Prices rose to absurd levels.

So, no Python for me. I did, however somewhere along the line manage to acquire its big brother, the Anaconda, in .44 Magnum.

Finally, the Python is back in production. I shot one recently and fell in love. I was shooting at a moving, “swinger” target, double action and hitting the thing every time. Then I went to work on my MGM plate rack, single action. I was ready to fight the gun’s owner rather than return it. Once again, I gotta get me one.

They ain’t cheap, but the Python never was.

The Anaconda is back as well. This is a fine handgun for hunting and backcountry use. One advantage for bear protection is that you have the double action feature, which is easier to fire than a single action when your leg is being munched on like an Éclair.

Best Concealed Carry: S&W J-Frame

Bryce M. Towsley

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First off, for those who don’t know, the J-Frame is the smallest revolver size that S&W makes. It’s the gun that people often call a “Snub-nose” but it’s made in several configurations and cartridges.

The J-Frame serves as the foundation for the “Kit Gun” in .22 LR. I have one of the early AirLite models that sees a lot of outdoor time. It weighs almost nothing, less than 12 ounces, making it the best revolver for concealed carry. I usually carry it in a holster on my backpack belt or in a pocket of my fishing vest. It has finished deer, shot small game and at least once encouraged a dirt bag to leave me alone. It has also survived a few unplanned river swims.

The true essence of the J-Frame, though, is as a tiny gun in a powerful cartridge. For years most were in .38 Special, now .357 Magnum is common. I like the ultralight Scandium frame in .357. The gun weighs one pound, loaded. It’s a beast to fire, with recoil in the .454 Casull range. With .38 Special +P it’s tamer. Still, I keep the high octane stuff in mine when I carry.

I carry a hammerless model in a pocket holster every day, all day. If I am hunting, sometimes I’ll put an exposed hammer model in a belt holster instead. I have night sights and lasers on both guns. The laser is the key; it brings a new dimension to shooting these little guns.

So what’s the use to an outdoorsman? Well, protection for one.

I know, I know, why do we need a pistol when we have a rifle or shotgun? Well, what if the long gun is gone, out of reach, or taken from you? Also, I have used these little revolvers to finish big game and even to take some smaller game and predators. If you pull off a headshot on a rabbit, I promise you will strut and crow. In a survival situation I would not hesitate to shoot a deer if it’s close. The .357 will also work well against most four-leg predators—cougars, wolves, coyotes, or black bears.

“Coyotes?” you say.

Yup, there have been at least two fatal attacks, one was on an adult. The .357 is a bit light for big bears, but it’s better than nothing. 

Then there are the unconventional uses. It can handle camp maintenance chores like dealing with marauding porcupines chewing on the outhouse or racoons raiding the garbage cans. The J-frame is kinda like the Swiss Army Knife of revolvers. It’s also a great comfort beside your bed when sleeping in a wilderness tent.

The Best Revolvers Recently Tested By OL Staff

Ruger GP100

Tyler Freel

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The Ruger GP100 is a true workhorse of a revolver. It’s not anything noteworthy to look at, but it’s hefty, durable, and always gets the job done. Mine has spent many days on my hip or in a chest holster, and I’ve had to use it to knock down a couple of bears from a few feet away.

The GP100 is a mainstay that’s been around for about 37 years, and was built to replace some of Ruger’s earlier double-action .357 Magnum wheel guns. It has a sturdier frame than some previous models like the Security Six that’s intended to withstand all the full-power loads you can throw at it. Additionally, the crane itself locks into the frame, rather than the ejection rod—which provides a sturdier, more stable lockup

The GP100 is available in a variety of sub-models with different barrel lengths and features, and I’ve been using my 4.25-inch stainless steel model for more than a decade. It weighs 44 ounces empty, and features a serrated ramp front sight, adjustable notch rear sight, and holds six rounds of .357 Magnum or .38 Special. Like other modern Ruger revolvers, it employs a transfer bar system to bridge the gap between the hammer and firing pin, making it safe to carry with the hammer down over a loaded cylinder. My Ruger GP100 still has the factory-installed Hogue Monogrip, but the frame is designed to accommodate a variety of aftermarket and custom grips.

The GP100 displays good fit and finish, although it’s not on par with some high-end revolvers. Mine has a double-action trigger weight of 9 pounds, 12 ounces, and it’s 4 pounds, 6 ounces in single action. It’s a damn tough revolver, and you need not fear putting it to work. —Tyler Freel

Colt Python 3-inch

Tyler Freel

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Although the whole revamped lineup of Colt’s snake guns like the Anaconda and recently released King Cobra .22 lr are all noteworthy, I was especially smitten with the 3-inch-barreled Python that I was able to test (you can read the full review here). The re-launch of this classic design is anything but disappointing. It’s a butter-smooth, beautiful revolver.

Longer-barreled models of the Colt Python are certainly more favorable for target shooting or hunting, but the 3-inch model doesn’t lack appeal. It carries the same notable profile as the longer Pythons, notably the same sights and barrel rib. The fit and finish of this revolver is superb, and the crane seemingly melts into the frame when locking into place. This six-shot .357 Magnum also features slightly more material in the upper rear portion of the frame for added support when shooting full power ammunition.

I found the Python to have an exceptionally smooth double-action trigger pull, and break at a crisp 5 pounds, 7 ounces in single action. The classic-styled walnut grips look good and provide good traction. I could burn through a Bill drill quickly with the Python, keeping all my shots center-of-mass. The 3-inch model won’t give you quite the velocity that longer barrels will, and the full-size grip doesn’t exactly aid with concealment, but it’s an excellent compact revolver—both for the collector and serious shooter. —Tyler Freel

FAQs

Why Trust Outdoor Life?

Since 1898, OL has been a leading authority in testing and reviewing hunting gear, fishing tackle, guns and shooting equipment, and much more. We have more than a century-long history of evaluating products, and we’re now bringing that expertise to online reviews. Our editors are experienced outdoorsmen and women, and most importantly, we’re trained journalists. We prioritize field testing and objective data when reviewing products. We conduct interviews with gear manufacturers and engineers as well as outdoor experts so that our readers have an understanding of how and why a product works—or doesn’t.

Advertising does not influence our gear reviews and it never will. While we always focus our coverage on standout products—because we want our readers to be aware of the latest and greatest gear—we also cover the flaws and quirks of any given product.

Final Thoughts on the Best Revolvers

Revolvers are a timeless firearm for hunting, shooting, and self defense. Whether you choose the .44 Magnum Blackhawk or the .22 LR Single-Six you’ll have an heirloom-quality firearm. You can buy them online by clicking the links above each model and have the revolver shipped to your local FFL dealer to complete the transaction.

• Best Single Action: Freedom Arms Model 83
• Best .357: Smith & Wesson Model 19
• Best .44 Magnum: Ruger Super Blackhawk
• Best .22: Ruger Single-Six
• Best Comeback: Colt’s Big Snake Guns
• Best Everyday Carry: S&W J-Frame

The post The Best Revolvers of 2023 appeared first on Outdoor Life.

Articles may contain affiliate links which enable us to share in the revenue of any purchases made.

Best Overall		Ruger LCP Max	SEE IT
Best Revolver		Smith & Wesson J Frame M&P 340	SEE IT
Best for Glock Owners		Glock 42	SEE IT

While pocket pistols are sometimes derided as ineffective or inadequate for self-defense, it’s also often said that the best gun for self-defense is the one you have with you. That’s almost the entire point of a pocket pistol or micro-compact handgun. They’re so small and so light that you can easily conceal and carry them.

Because of their convenience, pocket and micro-compact pistols are what I most often carry, and practice with. Despite the debate about their viability versus their subcompact and full-size counterparts, I know myself and my habits; I’m more likely to carry the smaller guns. It’s for this reason I have an above average interest in the best pocket pistols. So if you’re like me, and know there’s a place in your self-defense plans for one of these pocket rockets, check out my top picks below.

• Best Overall: Ruger LCP Max
• Best Revolver: Smith & Wesson J Frame M&P 340
• Best for Glock Owners: Glock 42
• Best Pocket Pistol for 1911 Shooters: Kimber Micro 9
• Best Pistol for Shooters New to Optics: Ruger Max 9 with Red Dot
• Best No Snag Pistol: Sig 365 SAS

How I Chose the Best Pocket Pistols

First, we must define a pocket pistol and micro-compact pistol. Aside from the self-defining moniker, these are small handguns (smaller than even subcompact models) chambered in .22 LR, .25 ACP, .32 ACP, .380 ACP, and even 9 mm. There are some funky exceptions, like Derringers chambered in ridiculous cartridges, but most micro-compacts are chambered in the smaller cartridges, with the exception of revolvers in .327 Federal, .38 Spl., or .357 Mag. For our selection I’ll stick with pistols in .380 ACP, 9mm, and .38/.357. We are also including some pistols you wouldn’t likely actually carry in your pocket, so our list will have some micro-compact 9mms.

Read Next: Best Micro 9mm Handguns

Because I often carry pocket pistols, I took the Gunsite Pocket Pistol class. Their course is fantastic for becoming much more familiar and proficient with pocket pistols. It’s also a good place to learn about their desirable features, strengths, and weaknesses. It is not a tactics class, nor does it focus on your method of carrying. It was about shooting to get repetitions with your handgun. We shot targets farther than anticipated, which showed that micro compact pistols are more capable than one would think, but it also showed their limitations. Practical carry experience and lessons learned in class are what helped me make the following choices.

Best Pocket Pistols: Reviews & Recommendations

Best Overall Pocket Pistol: Ruger LCP Max

Ruger

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Key Features

• Caliber: .380
• Under 1-inch wide
• Weight: 11 ounces
• Capacity: 10+1
• Tritium front night sight
• Reversible magazine catch
• Polymer frame, striker fired

Pros

• Snag resistant profile
• Extremely compact
• Tritium and white outlined front sight

Cons

• Its diminutive size may make it tougher to grip for shooters with larger hands

The Ruger LCP helped make semi-auto .380 pocket pistols mainstream when it was introduced in 2008. The LCP Max is an evolution of the original design and the LCP II with increased capacity in the same overall footprint as the original LCP. The LCP MAX ships with a 10-round magazine, and you can buy an aftermarket 12-round magazine for it. The slide is dovetailed to accept steel sights and comes with a tritium front sight. Like the original LCP, the LCP Max fits comfortably in the front pant pocket. The surfaces are nicely rounded to make it snag-resistant. The controls are straight forward including a reversible magazine catch. Read Tyler Freel’s full review of the Ruger LCP Max here.

Best Revolver: Smith & Wesson J Frame M&P 340

Smith & Wesson

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Key Features

• Caliber: .357 Mag/.38 Special
• Scandium frame
• Stainless steel cylinder and barrel
• Capacity: 5
• Weight: 13.8 ounces
• XS Sights Tritium front sight
• Snag resistant, hammerless configuration

Pros

• Lightweight and does carry well in a pocket holster
• Reliability
• Power

Cons

• Limited capacity
• Slow to reload

Even though they’re not the newest hotness, revolvers are still popular because they work. The M&P 340 is a .357 Mag if you’re feeling masochistic, but it is going to get the job done loaded with .38 Spl. + P or even just .38s. If you decide to go with .357 Mag. loads, user beware, because this gun is light, and the barrel is short; it’s going to both bark and bite.

The Scandium frame is what makes this gun so light and sets it apart from other J frames and makes it comfortable to carry in a pocket. The gun unloaded only weighs 13.8 ounces. The comfort of carrying comes at a price. The web of my hand was bloody after the pounding it took after shooting this revolver one full day of the Gunsite Pocket Pistol class. It comes without a rear sight other than the channel in the top strap to use in conjunction with the included tritium night sight.

Best No-Snag Pistol: Sig 365 SAS

Sig Sauer

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Key Features

• Caliber: 9mm
• Weight: 17.8 ounces
• Capacity: 10 + 1
• Flush-mounted FT bullseye fiber-tritium front night sight
• Snag-resistant flat controls
• SIG anti-snag slide treatment
• Striker fired design
• 10 round flush and (one) 10 round extended mag included

Pros

• Snag resistant—like a used bar of soap
• Larger size for 9mm for controllability
• Fiber optic front sight with tritium assistance for low light

Cons

• Short sight radius limits accuracy at greater distances

The Sig P365- SAS is a micro-compact, proven pistol with some extreme anti-snag design features. It utilizes Sig Sauer’s Flush-Mounted FT Bullseye Fiber-Tritium Night Sight, flat controls, and Anti Snag Treatment. The FT Bullseye front sight is actually embedded into the slide, this does away with the front sight protruding from the top.  It is actually part of a sight module that is embedded in the slide where you might find an optics cut. It’s not going to be a precision aiming setup, but it’s not supposed to be. It’s a fiber optic front sight with a tritium insert for visibility in all lighting conditions. 

Read Next: Sig Sauer P365 Review

The slide has gone through their anti-snag treatment, smoothing all the corners and other areas for potential hang-up. What’s really impressive for the non-snag design is the controls are actually recessed. There just isn’t much of anything to snag when drawing this pistol. For a deep concealment pistol that might need to clear multiple layers of clothing as well as the holster, this would be the gun to have.

Best for Glock Owners: Glock 42

Glock

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Key Features

• Caliber: .380
• Capacity: 6+1
• Weight: 12.17 ounces
• Polymer frame, striker fired
• Safe action trigger
• 3.25-inch barrel
• Glock look and feel

Pros

• Glock feel and familiarity for Glock shooters
• Reliability
• Size

Cons

• No optics-ready option

If you want a pocket pistol, are a Glock fan, and like all your pistols to look exactly the same, then the Glock 42 is your Huckleberry. If you were looking at a picture without any reference for size it would appear like every other Glock. It’s going to bring Glock ergonomics and reliability to the party in a smaller and pocketable package. Oh, and as a bonus you can put it next to your other Glocks and call it Mini Me!

All kidding aside, there are no surprises with the Glock 42. This .380 ACP has the same safe-action trigger, tiny slide release catch, and square magazine as its bigger brothers. Fortunately, it also has the same reliability and durability. Plain as they may be, Glocks work, and the Model 42 is no exception. If you want to stay in the .380 ACP class of pistol that you actually could put in your pocket, this is an excellent choice.

Best Pocket 1911: Kimber Micro 9

Kimber

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Key Features

• Caliber: 9mm
• Capacity: 7 + 1
• Weight: 15.6 ounces
• Look, feel, and manual of arms of a 1911
• Aluminum frame
• Stainless steel slide and barrel

Pros

• 1911 look, feel, and familiarity
• Different grip and sight options to choose from
• Size

Cons

• No optics-ready option
• No accessories rail

If something works well, and you need it smaller, why not just make a smaller version? Kimber took this approach with the Micro 9. It looks and feels just like a micro compact 1911, so if you’re a fan of that venerable design, this might be the perfect pocket pistol for you. It has an aluminum frame to keep the weight to a minimum. It’s just under 16 ounces without a loaded magazine. Like traditional 1911s, the magazine capacity is seven rounds. The controls are exactly as you would expect. It’s a single action automatic designed to be carried cocked and locked. Many different models are available featuring different sight options, colors, slide cuts, etc. What you won’t find is an optics ready version nor an accessory rail for mounting a light.

Best Pistol for Shooters New to Optics: Ruger Max 9 with Red Dot

Ruger

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Key Features

• Caliber: 9mm
• Capacity: One 10-round and one 12-round magazine included
• Weight: 18.4 ounces
• Factory mounted Ruger Ready Dot micro red dot sight
• Polymer frame, striker fired
• Tritium fiber optic front sight
• Reversible magazine catch

Pros

• Factory mounted red dot is ready to shoot right out of the box
• 12 round capacity in a very compact pistol
• Tritium fiber optic front sight

Cons

• The dot is 15 MOA
• Ruger Ready Dot is not adjustable

Optics are quickly becoming commonplace on carry guns and for good reason; they work really well in low-light situations and for shooters with less than perfect vision. But if you’re not experienced with micro red dots, it can be confusing to sort out which footprint or mount you need, how to properly fasten it to the pistol, sight it in, etc. Ruger’s got you covered with their new Ruger Max 9 with Ready Dot. While the name isn’t catchy, it’s perfectly descriptive. It’s a Ruger Max 9 pistol that comes from the factory with their own micro red dot installed on the gun.

This is essentially a fixed, red dot sight. There are no adjustments. It’s set up to be accurate at micro-compact pistol engagement distances. It is designed to co-witness with the iron sights. The Ruger Max 9 has a reputation for reliability and more than acceptable accuracy at a great price. Ruger’s Ready Dot is a simple sight that allows them to offer an optics equipped pistol that’s affordable.

Read Next: Best Pistol Red Dots

The Ready Dot is interesting in that it’s a 15 MOA dot. That sounds big because it is. But at 15 yards that means it’s only covering up about 2.25 inches. While that’s not exactly precision aiming, it’s not meant to be. It’s meant for quick target acquisition. The Ruger Max 9 pistol is a micro-compact, not really a pocket pistol, but it is small for a gun packing 12+1 rounds of 9mm.

How to Choose the Best Pocket or Micro-Compact Pistol

Size

A pistol that fits in your pocket is a great option, especially for lighter clothing in warmer environments, but it will realistically limit your choice of pistols mostly to those in the .380 ACP class or smaller—unless you want the J-Frame or similar. Also keep in mind that a pocket pistol only has two advantages. It’s easy to “put on” and carry a gun and if you stand around like a mope with your hands in your pocket like I do sometimes, and your hand can be on your gun ready to draw quickly. But if you don’t have your hand already in your pocket, getting your hand inside your pocket and drawing with any speed just isn’t going to happen. An outside the waistband holster is a good idea for effectively carrying these little guns, even the true pocket pistols.

Cartridge

Directly related to size, of course, is cartridge selection. If you want something in 9mm, then you’re looking at micro-compacts versus something that’s easily carried in your pocket. The benefit of going with the 9mm is there are more options in the micro-compact category than true “pocket pistols”. If you decide to go with a .380 ACP or smaller, then there are very small, lightweight options easily carried in the front pocket.

Sights

A shorter slide equals a shorter sight radius which makes accurate shooting more difficult. But is that really an issue for most of the distances likely encountered in a self-defense situation? In general, no. That said, if you think you might want to use a micro red dot at some point, choosing something “optics ready” needs to be part of your decision process.

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Final Thoughts

In a perfect world we’d all be able to carry a full-size handgun with a couple spare magazines on a duty belt. But as we know all too well, the world isn’t perfect, and sometimes neither is the handgun we choose to conceal and carry. The good news is that there are some great options when it comes to micro-compact handguns. Easy to carry, surprisingly shootable, available with optics or optics ready, these diminutive pistols are a fantastic choice for being armed when larger guns might not be an option.

The post The Best Pocket Pistols of 2023 appeared first on Outdoor Life.

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