What are the best super-micro red dot optics for tiny pistols?

[1KPerDay]

I have a P322 now and so far it kinda sucks, but I'm trying to get it working reliably and my girls like red dots. I understand the SIG Romeo zero is a frontrunner for use on this pistol, and I'm aware of the Shield RMSc and RMSx, but which others in this category should I be looking at?

NOTE: RMRs are too heavy and wide for the tiny micro-compact 9mms and .22s that are coming out lately, so don't bother. I love RMRs on my other guns.

 

[12Bravo20]

The only other one you have not mentioned that weighs less than 1 ounce is the Swampfox Sentinel. It weights 0.6 ounces. If the bigger RMR sized optics are out, then the Holosun 407K and 507K will be too heavy also.

I have a Sig Romeo Zero and a couple of Swampfox Sentinels. The Romeo Zero is 0.4 ounces and the Sentinel is 0.6 ounces. Both have worked fine on my Kel-Tec PMR30, it too is very sensitive to weight. While the Sentinel is 0.2 ounces heavier, I do prefer it over the Romeo Zero. The main reason is that Sig put the ON/OFF/Brightness button right infant of the window and it is hard to access. That button is hard to reach even with my skin fingers without smearing up the window.

Here is some info on weights.

• Holosun 407K and 507K - 1.0 ounces
• Holosun 407C and 507C - 1.5 ounces
• Sig Romeo Zero - 0.4 ounces
• Swampfox Sentinel - 0.62 ounces
• Shield RMSc - 0.57 ounces
• Trijicon RMR - 1.17 ounces

I included the weights of the Holosun 407C and 507 C along with the Trijicon RMR to show that the Holosun 407K and 507K weigh just as much even though they are smaller.

NOTE: The Sig P322 uses the RMSc footprint. To use an optic with the RMR footprint would require an adaptor. Most adaptors weigh 1 ounce. There is no way the P322 would run with the total weight of 2.0 to 2.5 ounces when using a RMR type optic AND adaptor plate.

 

[Stefan A]

I have had trouble with the shake awake feature on my Swampfox Sentinel. On a random basis the red dot doesn't appear when taking the gun from the safe. I have to press one of the buttons to appear. I sent it back to swamp fox and they sent me a new one (I think). I continue to notice the same problem occasionally. However, I have not had the problem when drawing from a holster. Perhaps the constant motion keeps it on. So far not a deal breaker - unless it happens just once from a draw.

 

[12Bravo20]

I haven't had any issues with the auto brightness or shake to wake Sentinels I have. I do prefer the shake to wake over the auto brightness though. The auto brightness model is useless in a dark room even with LED night lights and a weapon mounted light.

 

[1KPerDay]

Reports from the SIG forum are that the 507K works on the p322 so maybe I’m misinformed

 

[JohnB-40]

I'm satisfied with my Swampfox Sentinel,been in use for about a year now

 

[entropy]

I have a Holosun 507Kx2 on my Gx4. No complaints, works well.

 

[12Bravo20]

One has to remember that when it comes to adding an optic to any rimfire pistol that uses a reciprocating slide, every tenth of an ounce matters.

I went through this with the Nelson 44X slide for the Glock G44 and also with my Kel-Tec PMR30. I never could get the Nelson slide to work with any RMR compatible optic. And the same went for the PMR30. Even at 1.1 ounces, that was still too much weight for the PMR30 and CCI Maxi Mag 22WMR ammo. With the PMR30, it would run for 4 mags then start to have major feed issues once the pistol started to get dirty with a Trijicon RMR and Swampfox Kingslayer mounted. The only way I could get the PMR to run with an optic was by going wit the Sig Romeo Zero or Swampfox Sentinel.

So as you can see, 0.4 - 0.5 ounces DOES make a difference when it comes to rimfire pistols with the optic mounted on a reciprocating slide.

 

[Mot45acp]

507k green dot on mine. Direct mount, no issues. I bought 2, one to run a dot, and one to run irons. One would not run reliably and had to get sent back, FCU out of spec, Sig replaced in about a week turnaround.

 

[1KPerDay]

@Mot45acp FCU out of spec... what issues were you having? I'm getting tons of light strikes (known issue) and pretty nasty FTF jams where the nose of the bullet jams into the hood and the rim gets caught under the front mag lips.

 

[Mot45acp]

Light strike was primary malfunction, with some fte/ftf sprinkled in.

 

[Tcruse]

I have a P322 now and so far it kinda sucks, but I'm trying to get it working reliably and my girls like red dots. I understand the SIG Romeo zero is a frontrunner for use on this pistol, and I'm aware of the Shield RMSc and RMSx, but which others in this category should I be looking at?

NOTE: RMRs are too heavy and wide for the tiny micro-compact 9mms and .22s that are coming out lately, so don't bother. I love RMRs on my other guns.

Note that there is a Remeo Zero Elite and that is the version that came on my P-322 from Sig. My Sig P-365 has the Remeo Zero first version.

 

[1KPerDay]

Yeah thanks. By all reports the elite is the one to get if you go this route. I’m looking hard at the Swampfox though.

 

[Jimfern]

I have a SIG Romeo zero on a Glock 43 and while I'm still getting used to using a red dot, it does seem really well made and sturdy.

 

[JasonD52]

Got a Swampfox Sentinel on my G43x. After 5 rounds the dot turned into a "fuzz-ball". Fired the gun and the dot came back. This happened every 10-15 rounds. Ended up sending it back to Swampfox and they sent me a new one. I've put about 300 rounds through it with no issues, but one more fuzz ball and it goes into the trash.

 

[1KPerDay]

Got a Swampfox Sentinel on my G43x. After 5 rounds the dot turned into a "fuzz-ball". Fired the gun and the dot came back. This happened every 10-15 rounds. Ended up sending it back to Swampfox and they sent me a new one. I've put about 300 rounds through it with no issues, but one more fuzz ball and it goes into the trash.

Thanks for the report. Considering this one.