So, maybe you’re wondering what all this fuss about red-dot sights on handguns is about. You can’t help but wonder, “Is a red-dot sight right for me?”
In my case, the answer has been a resounding “yes” for quite a while now. I’ve found the precision of a red-dot sight to be far superior to standard or even upgraded iron sights on my handguns. Let’s do just a little math, shall we? Using a 3-MOA dot, at 25 yards that translates to .75 inch on the target—literally the “X” in the X-ring. For me, most pistol front sights will cover the entire black of an NRA B-8 target, which is the X-ring, plus the 10- and 9-ring as well. That is a pretty reasonable argument, accuracy-wise.
If you want to dip your toe in the red-dot-equipped pistol waters, but without spending as much money as you paid for the pistol, Sightmark’s Mini Shot A-Spec M3 micro red-dot sight might be just what you seek. It uses the popular RMSc footprint for mounting, an optics cut that comes standard on plenty of common concealed-carry-friendly handguns like the SIG Sauer P365X, Springfield Armory Hellcat OSP, Heckler & Koch CC9, Smith & Wesson Shield Plus and many others.
It’s quite simple to mount, too: Remove the cover plate on the optics cut of your handgun’s slide, place the foam insert between the optic and the pistol slide, then use the included screws to secure the sight to the slide. There are two ways to accomplish this goal: Either use a mild thread-locking compound or a mini-torque driver. I recommend the latter, as with the bottom-mounted battery on the unit, you will need to take it off the pistol to change the battery.
A foam insert is placed between the optic and the slide to ensure proper fit, while an included low-profile mount allows the sight to be mounted on a Picatinny rail as a back-up option on a rifle. The plastic cover is needed to power the unit down when stored • Twin projections form a rudi- mentary rear sight for co-witnessing • The unit needs to be removed from the slide to change the battery.
The only thing left to do once the optic is mounted is to zero it. There’s an elevation dial on the top of the back of the unit, with an 80-MOA adjustment range, and a windage dial on the rear of the right side of the unit with a 130-MOA adjustment range. No adjustments were needed after mounting it to the FN Reflex XL MRD pistol on which I tested the Mini Shot A-Spec M3 sight, but your experience may vary. I did not see any change in zero in testing, which while not a brutal 1,000-round torture test, was more than 100 rounds in a variety of conditions and drills.
Other than that, the sight takes care of everything else. It has automatic brightness adjustment, so there’s no fiddling with tiny buttons to increase or decrease brightness. To save battery life, the Mini Shot A-Spec M3 comes with a cover that is to be placed over the sight when not in use, like when the carry gun is placed in a safe at the end of the day. The sight will turn back on once the hood is removed, exposing the sight to ambient light. Power comes from a single CR2032 battery, which is readily available and inexpensive. As mentioned earlier, the battery is mounted under the unit, which does require the unit be removed from the pistol slide to change. This isn’t really a big deal, other than best practice would be to check zero whenever the battery is changed.
Ease of use and its cost make the Mini Shot A-Spec M3 a great “starter” red-dot sight for those who are starting their dot journey. Should you decide to stay on that path, it’s a simple, solid sight that’s shock resistant at a 3-meter drop, water resistant to IP55 standards and has a 6061-T6 aluminum housing. It’s light, simple and just plain works—everything you want in your first micro red-dot sight.
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