If you’re enjoying the reliability and crisp trigger of your 1911, wait until you mount a red dot sight. Today, we will help you find the best red dots for 1911.
Accessorizing your 1911 will help you make the most out of it no matter the application you will be engaged in.
A red dot sight will help increase your speed and accuracy. Moreso, an optic will help you dominate in low-light conditions.
The best red dots for 1911 will boost your speed of target acquisition in any environment, enhance one-handed operation and help you dominate poor lighting conditions.
Adding a quality red dot on your 1911 will also enhance your accuracy and make your shooting expeditions more fun. It is, however, a difficult task to find a 1911 red dot that works for all your needs given the plethora of options available on the market today. Not to worry though as we are here to help.
In our post today, we will show you the best red dots for 1911 and help you find a product that’s right for your needs. We have also taken our time and put up an in-depth buyer’s guide will all the information you need to make the right purchase.
So, without wasting any further time, let’s get started.
8 Best Red Dots for 1911
1) Vortex Optics Venom Red Dot Sights
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Vortex is a renowned and highly respected brand. It makes tough, reliable and versatile optics and the Venom Red Dot Sight is not any different. This red dot sight is one of the best red dots for 1911 as it’s optimized for accuracy for close-quarter engagements. This compact red dot sight harbors a multitude of fine features that make it a top contender among the best red dots for 1911. A defining facet of the sight is the multi-reticle system where you get to choose a reticle that works best for your needs. Better yet, each reticle boasts 10 illumination levels to deliver the most ideal brightness based on the ambient lighting conditions. To help the reticle achieve its purpose, the sight is equipped with fully multi-coated lenses which deliver a wide, unobstructed field of view with stunning edge-to-edge clarity. The lenses are also treated with an Armortek coating which offers additional protection from scratches and abrasions. Furthermore, the Venom red dot sight is built to last. It has a lightweight and durable aluminum housing which is waterproofed to be usable in all weather conditions. It also features a Type III hard anodized finish that is scratch-proof and an impact-resistant design to weather whatever you throw at it. Features
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2) Trijicon RMR Dual Illuminated 9 MOA Green Dot Sight
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Designed to be used with concealed carry, the Trijicon RMR 9 MOA Green Dot Sight is one of the best red dots for 1911 for people with aging eyes. It will add accuracy to your firearm and will help you acquire and take down targets quickly. It offers outstanding brightness in different environments and has a large 9 MOA green dot that is very easy to spot. For high-speed precision targeting, mount this reflex sight and be confident that your shots will be right on target every time. The green dot sight is built to offer outstanding durability. It has a unique housing shape that diverts the force of impact away from the lens. This together with the ruggedized battery contacts and electronics maximizes durability. Besides, the sight is waterproof and submersible up to 66’ to ensure unimpeded field use. What’s more, is that this sighting tool dual illumination to keep the reticle bright in all lighting conditions. It also features True-color multi-coated lenses which enhance light transmission, and easily adjustable windage and elevation to fine tune your accuracy. Features
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3) Leupold Deltapoint Pro Red Dot Sight
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The Leupold Deltapoint Pro Red Dot Sight is perfect for minimizing target acquisition time and boosting your accuracy at close ranges. It features a 2.5 MOA red dot reticle which provides the best balance between accuracy and speed. Leupold optics are known for their legendary ruggedness and the sight is not any different. It is made with lightweight yet durable aluminum and shrouded by spring steel. It also boasts an aspheric lens which provides a large field of view for quick target finding and high-quality image views. This red dot sight is made with ease of use in mind. In addition to having a compact and lightweight design, it is very easy to install. It also features a tool-less, spring-actuated battery compartment which makes battery replacement quick and simple, while still maintaining an industry-leading 66’ of waterproofness. Other essential features included are a locking adjustment system and a motion sensor technology. Features
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4) Sig Sauer Romeo Zero Red Dot Sight
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The Sig Sauer Romeo Zero Red Dot Sight is one of the best red dots for 1911 for beginners and budget buyers. It is designed with a multitude of quality features at an affordable price. It is also very easy to install and use. For extended use on and off the field, this sighting tool boasts 20,000 hours of battery life. In terms of construction, it has a polymer housing that is not just lightweight, but also durable. It also boasts a Spectracoat HD polymer lens that offers 10 times more impact resistance compared to traditional glass lenses. To complement the rugged construction is a highly efficient point source LED emitter which provides a crisp red dot in all lighting conditions. The red dot sight also brings to the table motion motion-activated illumination system for preserving the battery life. Features
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5) Shield Sights Compact Reflex Mini Red Dot Sight
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Applicable in a wide range of applications, the Shield Sights Compact Reflex Mini Red Dot Sight offers unmatched versatility. It comes with an array of features that you need to make all your shooting expeditions more fun with the 1911. It features a large 4 MOA red dot reticle which is easy to spot and highly accurate even at longer ranges. Furthermore, it has a parallax-free design for quick and effortless target finding and anti-reflective lens coating to ensure that the images generated are bright and crisp clear. With this sighting too, you are assured of optimal red dot visibility in different lighting conditions. This is made possible by the variable intensity drive circuit which controls the LED output based on the ambient light conditions. Another feature that makes the sight shine is the rugged construction. It is built to endure 10 times more shock impact than other devices made with similar glass optics. Even better, it has n durable and lightweight aerospace-grade aluminum body that is coated with a scratch-resistant anodized matte black finish. With this sight, you will also get an optional battery drawer where you get to change the battery without removing the sight from the gun. Features
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6) Burris FastFire III Reflex Dot Sight
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Our next red dot recommendation for 1911 is the Burris FastFire III Reflex Dot. This is another quality, low-cost, multifunctional red dot sight that works well with handguns, shotguns, hunting and tactile rifles. In any firearm, it boosts the shooter’s accuracy and helps with rapid target acquisition. The optic has a parallax-free 1x magnification which allows for shooting with both eyes open. This enhances the speed of target finding and increases your situational awareness. Besides, it is compact in size and ultralight so it won’t disrupt your handling or your pistol’s balance. Moreover, the red dot sight has an all-metal construction which enhances its strength and durability in all conditions. This guarantees longevity and a performance that is nothing short of incredible. The reflex sight also has tool-less windage and elevation adjustments to make fine-tuning a breeze and an automatic brightness sensor that adjusts the reticle’s brightness level based on the lighting conditions. The FastFire 2 offers all these handy and fine features with simple handling and easy installation for added convenience. Features
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7) Holosun HE507K-GR X2 Red Dot Reflex Sight
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Holosun makes a wide range of high-quality red dot sights like the HE507K-GR X2. This is a powerful open-reflex sight that is designed specifically for concealed-carry handguns. It employs a green reticle color which is easy to see for all users, even those with aging eyes. The reticle’s brightness is controlled with super LED technology which provides 12 illumination settings, two of which are night vision compatible. Furthermore, the sight comes with a convenient battery tray that lets you change the battery when the sight is still mounted on the firearm. It also features a Shake Awake Technology which powers the optic when it senses motion and shuts down when there is no motion detected. This technology helps preserve the battery life up to 50,000 hours. This pistol’s red dot reflex sight is built to offer unbeatable durability. It is made from 7075-T6 aluminum which guarantees longevity as well as durability. You can also use it in temperatures ranging from -20 to 51 °C and in any weather condition. Features
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8) Riton Optics X3 Tactix PRD Red Dot Sight
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Last but not least, we have the Riton Optics X3 Tactix PRD Red Dot Sight. Adding this red dot to your 1911 handgun will enhance your shooting accuracy and make your expeditions more fun. Riton made this sight with budget-conscious buyers in mind. It brings to the table a variety of quality features and advanced technology such as the Shake Awake motion sensor technology all at an affordable price. Furthermore, the sight boasts an auto-brightness technology that adjusts the brightness of the reticle to match the ambient lighting condition. The 3 MOA aiming point is easy to spot and highly accurate even at longer ranges. Construction-wise, the sight has a rugged construction which includes a body crafted from 6061-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum, a CNC machined one-piece tube and a scratch-resistant Type III hard anodized finish. This optic also features Riton high-density glass which optimizes the clarity and sharpness of the sight picture, and proprietary lens coatings which enhance light transmission. Features
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How to Choose the Best Red Dots for 1911
Whether you are looking to buy your first red dot for 1911 or are in the market for an upgrade, consider the following features before you settle on a specific product.
Intended Usage
The 1911 is a multifunctional handgun. Before you get an optic for it, take into consideration the activity you will be using it for.
Is it for home defense, sports shooting, hunting, plinking, target shooting, or are you in the law enforcement sector? By being activity-specific, you will be able to find an optic that is well-suited for your needs.
Weight
The 1911 is a compact, lightweight handgun that calls for a red dot sight that is equally small in size and lightweight. Any large optic will not just make the pistol hard to conceal, but also difficult to carry around.
Besides, a large and bulky device will affect the balance and handling of the handgun and interfere with its accuracy. So, ensure that you get a product that is lightweight and compact.
Battery Life
Red dot sights use a battery to keep the reticle illuminating. Given that the capacity of batteries is different from one product to the other, look for a red dot sight that is powered by a large-capacity battery.
It will offer outstanding performance and be more reliable, especially when you are using it for a lengthy shooting session.
Construction
Irrespective of the activity you will be using the red dot sight for, you will want it to be well-using premium quality materials.
When making your selection, look at these two things; the type of materials used to make the body and the lens quality.
The best red dot sight for 1911 has its body made from premium quality and impact-resistant materials to shield the optics and guarantee many years of use. It should also have high-quality glass and multi-coated for added protection.
Reticle Size
The size of the reticle in red dot sights varies from one product to the other. Measured in MOA, the larger the reticle is the easier to spot it is.
To achieve the absolute best from your red dot sight, pick a reticle size that blends perfectly with your shooting needs. For instance, you will need a red dot with a small reticle of not more than 3 MOA for precision shooting. It will offer you the perfect balance between speed and accuracy.
On the other hand, a 1911 red dot sight with a large reticle of at least 4 MOA dot size will be better for target shooting and sports shooting where rapid target acquisition is vital. Users with aging eyes will also find the large reticles easy to spot.
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Best Red Dots for 1911 FAQs
1) What MOA Red Dot is Best for Pistols?
This depends on your individual preference as well as what you plan to use the red dot for. Where speed and accuracy are the essential things you need, it is best to get a red dot with not more than 3 MOA. As the red dot increases in size, it starts to lose precision at longer distances.
2) Is It Worth Putting a Red Dot on 1911?
Absolutely. If you shoot with the 1911 regularly, adding a red dot sight on it will increase your odds of placing the shots accurately no matter the environment. The red dot sight will also significantly reduce the time you take to acquire targets.
Final Thoughts
Finding a red dot for your 1911 handgun should not be a hard, unpleasant task. By having the right information, you will be able to find a product that caters to your needs.
Hopefully, this post has all the information you need to choose the right red dot sight for your 1911. Whatever your needs are, there is an option out there for you.
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