Im not a big pistol guy but got the itch for a full size with a red dot. I got a good deal on a Glock 17 Gen 5 MOS and starting to learn there are quite a few options these days with the tried and true Trijicon RMRs and then a bunch of others - Eotech, Holosun, Leupold, Vortex. This will just be a bedside and range gun, no carry, no hard use. Would the lower cost ones be good enough or do I need to just by the RMR?

Buy once, cry once.

RMR

I saw positive reviews for holosun and got a 507c for a full size 45. I liked it so much I got the smaller 507k for a 22 plinker and so far I’m more than happy. I like that they have “shake awake” where they automatically turn on whenever the optic detects any movement to the firearm. As for the reticle, you can run a single 2moa dot, a 32moa circle, or both at the same time. Another nice feature is you can change the battery without having to remove the optic.

As for Trijicon, they make great products. I ran a TA31RCO on an AR for years and spent a lot of time in the woods with it. Rock solid product made in America. I think it would probably be the Cadillac of red dots, but I’ve never shot with one. Your best bet is to probably go somewhere like scheels where’s they have them all and actually put your hands on them. Let us know which one you get and what you think after a few times at the range with it.

I see two dots in the RMR. Holosun for me. It was Leupold when they were still offering the delta dot . Now it's just the round dot which starbursts for me.

Point is you have to look through them yourself. Say nay to Vortex.

I dont have any issues with Aimpoint or Eotech but good suggestion on looking thru them. Would suck to shell out for a RMR just to find out I see a cluster of hemorrhoids.

SRO if money doesn’t matter.

Then holosun.

Burris/vortex for cheap.

RMR Type 2 06

A little cheaper I would go with Holosun 509T with a closed emitter

To me when you can get a more proven durable unit for $ 1-200 more than do it, don’t pick your boogers

Tons of good reviews and videos on Youtube. I couldn't justify the RMR at twice the cost of the Holosun for my use, so I went with Holosun. The biggest problem I have with the RMR is you can't change batteries without taking it off the gun and then having to re-zero. Holosun you can pop out battery without removing the entire sight.

I dont know much about Holosun. Are they used in military or police? I always likened them to Nc Star but they seem to have a pretty loyal following that usually indicates quailty. That does sound like a pain to have to remove to change batteries on RMR.

Put me in the SRO camp if you have the money. You don't have to pull the sight to change the battery on it either. It's very durable and has a huge lens, relatively speaking. If you don't have the money I would just do a vortex or a burris.

If you were betting your life on it everyday then I would go with the RMR, but you said range and fun or something along those lines. Although realistically The vortex and The Burris is probably fine for the way most people carry

I just bought the Holosun SCS-MOS (Solar Charging Sight) is a direct attachment optic for GLOCK MOS for my new G23. It mounted up nice. I'll take it to the range my next trip and get it dialed in.

I just got an email from primary arms, apparently they're still having their 12% off sale site wide till the end of today. You could get you an SRO for a decent price then

Oh yeah, don't forget sros and rmrs are made in America. They ain't that Chinese crapperware

Pick out 2 or 3 you like best and go bargain hunting. They are all good in their own way. Like you I just want to learn a red dot and understand its capabilities. Perfect for a bedside gun. To me the red dot gives it good low light acquisition. I got a leupy but I was looking for either a holosun or SRO that might have been on sale. When I was ready to buy it turned out that I found a good deal on the leupold and I am happy with my purchase. It is nice with very good glass and no distortions like I have seen in other red dots. That is the one thing I do really like about it. Leupold always has nice glass. You cant go wrong with any of the top 4 or 5 better dots.

good luck with finding one

Well, I have an Eotech Eflx on order. Im not normally one to jump on a new product until they work out the kinks, but I got too good of a deal on it and hoping that Eotechs debacle a few years ago is why this optic has taken so long to hit the market because they were perfecting it. Was an equally great deal on a RMR but the idea if having to remove the optic to change a battery just seemed dumb. I’ll post a review when I get it.

We had several out yesterday at work on slides.
RMR - still my favorite
Leup - to big and don’t like the round top
Steiner - big window, to big
Holo 509 T- My second favorite
RMR mini - ok
Acro 2 - least favorite

My opinion

I don't own an RMR but have several friends that do. The battery changes are kind of a weak argument. They last years. Guy, I work with has had one on his Glock for 5 years with the same battery. Shoots it weekly. never an issue.
Oly person I know who's had to change the battery did so not long after he bought the optic. I've read this is pretty much true across the board. For what its worth none of these guys are LEO or Mil.

For a bedside and range gun the Trijicon SRO would be my choice, the window is better for me than the RMR and it has the top loading battery. RMR is a tank never had an issue with one and I even have one on my .470 double. Just got a Holosun SCS-MOS and it has a feature set that is hard to beat. I have it on a 19 MOS that I might like better than my other 19 with a inletted slide and a RMR. Leupold Delta Point is the only one I’ve ever had to send back for repair and I believe it sets up to high.

The circle dot reticle on the holosuns might be a nice option for some of you to look at. It has dot and circle dot

Picked up the Eotech EFLX about a week ago. Its pretty well built, seems like a great new option to rival Trijicon. Comes in a standard Eotech case so it’s way bigger than the red dot itself. I think I’ll be happy with this red dot.

Threw it on a new Glock 17 I had bought. Quickly realized that if you are not a regular Glock shooter that red dots dont work well with the grip angle. The Glock was nice but everytime I raised the gun and looked through the Eotech, I couldnt find the dot. Sold the Glock and picked up a H&K VP9 instead, night and day difference. Now I raise the gun and immediately have the dot in my line of sight.

What plate did you have with the Glock? Factory? It’s not a grip angle issue

Factory MOS plate -didnt realize that they made plates for the Glock that corrects any issue besides the weak recoil mitigation of MOS screws taking the beating.

I’m 99% sure it was grip angle. Even without the red dot I just did some natural point of aim exercises and every time I had to adjust the gun down so get sight picture. Ive always had that issue with Glocks and had forgotten about it.
I also did not run into any issue once I swapped it over to my H&K, also with a factory plate. Pull the H&K up and Im staring at red dot. Pulled the Glock up and I was staring thru a blank window, adjust gun, oh there’s the dot.

Eurooptic still has their Holosuns on sale 15% off. Ends today, the 23rd. Also, some huge discounts on Trijicon RMRs & SROs

It’s the grip angle. It’s also not that hard to train yourself to index it.