Enclosed Emitter Red Dot Sights
Table of Contents
Hey all, we here at True Shot Academy are going to go over enclosed emitter red dot sights today. While this description may apply to a variety of red dot sights on the market, we are specifically focusing on the micro red dot offerings intended for handgun use. Our goal with this blog post is to provide a brief overview of these types of sights while also delving into things such as their benefits, traits, and features. Without further ado, let’s talk enclosed emitter red dot sights.
What is an Enclosed Emitter Red Dot Sight?
Like the name suggests, closed emitter red dot sights feature an enclosed emitter. This means that the emitter which produces the reticle is enclosed and protected from external factors. While many full-sized red dots and holographic sights feature enclosed emitters, they relatively new to micro red dot sights. Most popular red dots intended for use on handguns feature open emitters. Red dot sights such as Trijicon’s RMR offerings and many of the micro offerings from
Holosun are examples of open emitter sights. Simply put, enclosed emitter red dot sights do what open emitter sights do, just with an enclosed emitter and more bulk due to their larger housings.
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Immediate Benefits of a Enclosed Emitter Red Dot Sight
Enclosed emitter sights are protected from external debris and interference. An open emitter type red dot sight can have its function become hindered due to the emitter being blocked or impaired by debris. An overwhelming majority of the time, one can simply brush the debris out of the emitter channel. With some types of disruptions however, a simple brush may not remedy the issue. For example, if one is shooting in the rain, one my notice that water causes their reticle to become fractured and distorted. While one can wipe away the rain, there is a potential of residual moisture and smudging which can continue to disrupt the reticle.
Who Makes Enclosed Emitter Red Dot Sights?
At this point in time, closed emitter red dot sights are produced by a number of companies. Prominent companies who produce red dot sights of this type include Aimpoint,
Holosun,
Lead and Steel, Steiner, and Trijicon. Many of the companies who produce enclosed emitter red dot sights are already established
optic manufacturers. Specifically, Aimpoint and Trijicon are well-known for their established
optic offerings such as the T2 and RMR lines. At the end of the day, one will be able to browse and choose from a variety of potential enclosed emitter red dot sights.
Are Enclosed Emitter Red Dot Sights Compatible with Holsters?
Due to their enclosed nature, these types of sights are generally bulkier than their non-enclosed counterparts. When enclosed emitters began making waves with shooters, many were concerned that there would be issues regarding
holster compatibility. While many red dot
holsters accommodate a wide variety of slide mounted
optics, some specific models of
holsters had fitment issues with some of the larger enclosed emitter
optics. Many modern duty
holster offerings made for red dot sights, such as the 6378-RDS offerings from Safariland, will now accommodate many enclosed emitter red dot sights. Many custom kydex
holsters, in both outside-the-waistband (OWB) and inside-the-waistband (IWB) form accommodate slide mounted
optics. These types of
holsters, specifically those without duty hoods, generally feature generous cuts, removing bulky material to make way for
optics. Simply put, one will find that many
holsters these days accommodate these types of red dot sights.
What Firearms Accept Enclosed Emitter Red Dot Sights?
Currently, there are a number of firearms which are compatible with enclosed emitter red dot sights. Many
optics ready handguns feature mounting plates and hardware which allow for the mounting of enclosed emitter red dot sights. There are also a variety of direct mount offerings from companies such as Glock and Walther which allow specific enclosed emitter red dot sights to be mounted directly to the slide. The direct mount options do not require plates or additional hardware. There are also a variety of companies who produce mounts which allow these types of red dot sights to be mounted on 1913
optic rails. Simply put, with a 1913 style mount, an enclosed emitter red dot sight can be mounted on anything from a subgun to a lever action rifle as long as an appropriate
optic rail is on the firearm in question.
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Common Mounts with Open Emitter Red Dot Sights?
Due to the unique construction of some of the enclosed emitter red dot sights on the market, there are some that use proprietary mounting methods. For example, the Aimpoint ACRO and Steiner MPS utilize a unique mounting footprint established by Aimpoint which resembles a miniature picatinny rail. While proprietary mounting footprints exist, there is some reciprocity between the Trijicon RCR and Trijicon RMR. The enclosed emitter RCR interfaces with the mounting footprint established by the RMR, meaning that RMR footprint users can easily swap to an RCR without having to purchase new mounting hardware.
Conclusion
At the end of the day, enclosed emitter red dot sights are popular among shooters of all types. These newer types of
optics are becoming increasingly popular among shooters and are well supported by the market. This market support is visible with the various
holster options, mounting offerings, and pistols designed to work with enclosed emitter red dot sights. We here at True Shot Ammo carry some enclosed emitter
optics in addition to the wide variety of
ammunition we stock. Whether you are after one of the optical offerings we carry or some
ammo, we have got you covered. As always, happy shooting.
Need bulk ammo? At True Shot Ammo, we have a wide variety of handgun ammo and rifle ammo available to purchase. Please visit our website trueshotammo.com, call us at (888) 736-6587, or you can email us at sales@trueshotammo.com for more ammo options.
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