NRA Gun Gear of the Week: Pistol-Mounted Red-Dot Optics

by
posted on December 4, 2016
** When you buy products through the links on our site, we may earn a commission that supports NRA's mission to protect, preserve and defend the Second Amendment. **

Of the various disciplines in the shooting world, shooting a handgun is among the more difficult. It requires not only good physical technique, but it is also unique in requiring the shooter to acknowledge three different planes of vision—target, front sight and rear sight—align the three, and hold focus on just the front sight. This task is even more difficult for those with aging eyes. A product proven to make pistol shooting easier is the red-dot optical sight, and many manufacturers of semi-automatic handguns have introduced firearms designed specifically to accommodate them.

American Rifleman's Joe Kurtenbach spends some time on the range introducing some of the basics of shooting with pistol-mounted red-dot optics.

Latest

Sight Alignment
Sight Alignment

Sighted Fire vs. Point-Shooting

A long-standing argument among handgunners revolves around the concept of sighted fire versus point-shooting. A more productive approach is to understand the problem each is trying to solve.

Derya Expands TM22 Family with Timekeeper & Pump Models

Derya continues the expansion of its rimfire line with two new models for 2026, an update of the original semi-auto TM22 and a new pump-action version.

Gun of the Week: Taurus RPC

The Taurus RPC is a welcome addition to the growing marketplace of PDWs, or personal defense weapons, a concept that pairs pistol-caliber cartridges with larger-format firearms.

The Armed Citizen® Nov. 13, 2026

Read today's "The Armed Citizen" entry for real stories of law-abiding citizens, past and present, who used their firearms to save lives.

Review: Kimber 2K11 Pro Comp

Kimber expanded its 2K11 line with the Pro Comp in 2026, providing a Commander-length slide and barrel topped by an integrated compensator.

New for 2026: Bear Creek Arsenal Bear Bolt Pro

North Carolina-based Bear Creek Arsenal, a prolific maker of AR-10 and AR-15 pattern firearms, is combining the modularity of the MSR platform with a traditional turn-bolt action with its Bear Bolt Pro.

Interests



Get the best of American Rifleman delivered to your inbox.