Can you put a red dot on a Glock slide ? of course! and it's much easier & cheaper now with the new MOS slide.
In this buyer's guide, we share the best optics for Glock MOS handgun. Some of the top 4 are:
- Holosun 508T X2 or 507C for full size Glocks
- Holosun 507K for best sub compact conceal carry Glocks
- Holosun 509T for best protected housing
- Trijicon SRO for the largest POV
We have tested a handful of sights on handguns and shotguns based on their durability, reticle, battery life and cost.
Don't waste money on a poor optic that will lose zero, get the ones that are already proven to work
Let's check them out...
Buy your first Glock MOS online here. If you don't have one.
Table of Contents
Best Optics For Glock MOS [All Models]
Holosun HE508T X2 - Best Overall
Uses RMR Footprint - No special adapter or milling required! Just use the same Trijicon RMR adaptor plate to mount the optic
Bigger Buttons - Enlarged adjustment buttons for better reach Upgraded from the previous model.
Near Infinite Battery life - The Shake Awake technology saves tons of battery life by deactivating the optic when at rest, then turns it back on upon movement. 2X more battery life than the Trijicon RMR up to 50,000 hours
Side Loading Battery - Access CR1632 battery from the side tray instead of the bottom. This eliminates the need to remove the sight for battery swap and re-zeroing
Solar Power BackUp - Solar fail-safe power kicks in immediately when the battery dies, so the optic will always remain on.
At this price point, which is the lowest it's ever been for a Trijicon RMR alike sight, You'll save a ton of money. Just make sure to click the button below for the best deal.
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Trijicon SRO - Best Large FOV
Why we picked this one - Effortlessly and instantly acquire the red dot in the center of the lens with that enlarged window frame. This means less time spend looking for the reticle or get lost in the window during follow up shots.
Since the FNX 45 Tactical has a 1911 style grip angle, the SRO makes sight picture acquisition way easier. You can also experiment with different size grip backstraps to slightly change the grip angle that's best for you.
Better Follow Up - Increased sight acquisition speed including consistent fast follow-up shots without losing the dot inside the window.
Bigger Window - Get on target fast, and reacquire the sight picture fast after follow-up shots even if the sight picture is slightly off center. When you pick this up the first time you just wish you had it sooner.
Easier Battery Access - Load/Replace battery right from the top! No sight removal or re-zero required
Remembers Last Setting - Last reticle brightness setting is saved to prevent accidental button adjustment
Same RMR mounting footprint - Using the exact Trijicon RMR mounting footprint keeps everything compatible without having to buy special accessories.
Holosun 507K X2 - Best For Sub Compact Guns
Why The HE507K - Made specifically for conceal carry users. The optic has everything the 507C has but reduced in overall size for conceal carry. Sub-compact Glock 43X and Glock 48 users will love this.
Easier Battery Access - Replaces the battery right from the SIDE without sight removal or re-zeroing.
Super Light Weight - Weighing only 1 oz, which is about 50% lighter than the HE407C. For conceal carry people, shaving down any weight is a plus.
Snag free holster draw performance - The NEW Holosun 507K 's rugged exterior housing withstands wear against clothing and provides snag-free draw out of IWB or OWB holsters.
Remembers Last Setting - Last reticle brightness setting is saved to prevent accidental button adjustment while carrying under tight clothing
Saves More Battery - The ShakeAwake technology instantly activates the reticle upon sensing motion & deactivates when sitting in idle to save more battery juice.
Built Like A Tank - Made with 7075 T6 aluminum that matches mil-spec level quality to endure rough handling in the field
Also check out the similar model Trijicon RMRcc
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Leupold DeltaPoint Pro - Best Legacy Optic
The DeltaPoint Pro has a slightly taller and wider lens than the Trijicon RMR, and it's one of Leupold's premium micro red dot optics. It's designed for pistols, rifles, and shotguns
In addition, what we like about it is it's first ever top-battery loading design, which doesn't require tool for sight removal in order to switch to a fresh CR2032 battery. It's a awesome design that has inspired other optics company to do the same.
For the longest time, the DeltaPoint Pro has been people's favorite competition optic because it has a slightly wider lens window than the RMR. It's durable and effective for placing the dot on targets to shoot at.
It's mostly recommended for competition style shooting only for the reason that the it doesn't have a quite user friendly reticle brightness adjustment system, which can be annoying for conceal carry users who just want to simply adjust the brightness relative to the lighting condition throughout their day.
Holosun 509T - Best Protected Housing
Why Pick The HE509T - While the Aimpoint ACRO P1 costs over $600, the HE509T is the best alternative, and it's just as durable and packed with newer technology to keep the sight working longer.
Just like the HE508T model, the 509T is a fully enclosed unit for increased durability and reliability.
Side Battery Access - Access the battery from the side without removing the sight off the slide or re-zeroing required.
Fully Enclosed Body - Fully protected open reflex sight prevents dust, water moisture and other nasty stuff from getting into sight.
Solar Backup - The sight's solar power will keep it working even after the battery dies after 100,000 hrs. It almost feel like infinite battery life
Please not that this optic requires very special clamp based mounting plate. If your MOS handgun isn't compatible, please buy aftermarket mounting plates from various companies
Also check out Aimpoint ACRO P1 here
Burris FastFire 3 - Best For The Money
Also Check Out: Best Micro Red Dot Under $400
Why Buy The Fast Fire 3 - The super light weight Burris FastFire 3 provides a 9mm Glock pistol pinpoint accuracy and fast target acquisition speed for anyone starting out new or experienced shooters.
Auto Brightness Control - The sight adjusts automatically to match the environmental conditions to provide a bright reticle for the shooter
Top Battery Access makes battery swap extremely easy without sight removal, and the automatic time-out feature after 8 hours helps battery last up to 5 years
Auto Brightness Control - The sight adjusts automatically to match the environmental conditions to provide a bright reticle for the shooter
Durable & Affordable - The battery lasts as long as 4+ years and it's by far the most affordable open emitter reflex optic under $250
Be aware of knockoffs copycats of this optic, make sure you click on our links below that takes you straight to the legitimate sellers storefront on Amazon or OpticsPlanet.
If you didn't find what you're looking for, there are other high-end pistol red dot sights available on our site.
Common FAQ
Glock MOS Mounting Plates Compatibility
The Glock MOS adapters include Set 01, and Set 02.
Set 01 fits Glocks with the slide width about 1 inch. Set 02 fits Glock slide width about 1.12 inch.
The adapter plates are for
- Trijicon
- Docter
- Meopta
- Insight
- C-More
- Leupold
Please check out Glock's official website for more info.
What To Look For In A Red Dot For Glock MOS
Glock pistols are reliable and fun to shoot when you mount a reflex sight to it, it helps you shoot faster and aim better only if you practice a lot with it.
It's a double edge sword where it can help you or it can totally slow you down.
Field Of View - Larger Window, Better Dot Tracking
The lens size of the micro red dot is important for picking up the dot fast, and also be able to track the dot on follow up shots.
The bigger the window, so it's subjectively easier to shoot with a faster timer with it, and it's the most important spec that helps shooter solve the sight picture inconsistency problem.
Dot Size Selections - 2 - 8 MOA
For close-range pistol shooting, 2 MOA to 8 MOA size dot is great because they cover a wide area of a target, which means faster sight picture acquisition and better shot placements.
This is useful for competition type of shooting when using a full-size Glock like the 34, 35 and 17L. For defensive shooting, aiming with a dot isn't really necessary because generally, shit happens within 2-8 feet away, point and shoot will be just enough.
1 MOA is generally optimized for precision long-range shooting using a rifle for its refined dot that covers 1" diameter at 100 yards.
Long Battery Life - 30K+ or 100K+ Hours
The industry standard for a micro red dot sight is about 2 years using just 1 CR2032 battery. It varies from optic to optic, based on adjustable brightness settings and the ones with advanced power circuits that extend the battery life even up to 10 years like the Holosun 507C, 407C, and HE508T.
Having a long battery life is always good for a pistol mounted red dot sight. It's always annoying when the red dot optic goes dead when you're ready to shoot or during your range session.
When you have something that lasts extremely long without a battery swap, it gives you the confidence and peace of mind every time you pick it up, you know it works.
Another great feature you should be looking for is the top-loading battery access, which eliminates the need to remove the optic for a battery change, and the need to re-zero your dot.
This is the exact reason why the NEW Trijicon SRO and Leupold DeltaPoint Pro are so much better than the original RMR when it comes to battery compartment access.
Durability - Survives Repeated Recoil & Shock
For defensive handgun shooters... There is a higher chance that you will rack the slide against the red dot one-hand on something like a table, hard edges, belt...etc
Yes, you can do that ONLY if the optic frame is strong enough!
Currently, Trijicon RMR, Holosun 507C, and HE508T can deliver that performance without breaking or lose zero, due to their rugged frame body made with 7075 T6 forged aluminum and Grade 5 Titanium (HE508T).
Tips If You Can't Easily Find The Dot
Before we discuss some optic equipped Glock shooting tips, let's briefly cover what are some of the negatives of using a red dot on pistols.
The biggest issue: Sight picture & dot alignment inconsistency. Hard to find the dot OR Track the dot
Optic pistol shooters have always had love and hate relationships with slide mounted red dot sights, where it doesn't matter how much you practice the draw you will always tend to miss the dot or have to find it, even if you're just a hair off.
Tip 1: Use a bigger window optic for better dot acquisition and tracking
Tip 2: Experiment with a different size backstrap to alter your grip angle, which allows better and sight alignment
Tip 3: Practice, Practice, and Practice
Wrap Up
The Glock MOS series pistol is a great gateway gun into shooting a pistol with an optic. It saves money and the time sending your slide to someone to get it milled.
Right out of the box, it's ready for an optic with mounting plates for Trijicon, Leupold, and other major optic brands.
The Holosun HE508T is our favorite pick for its titanium durability and it's basically a stronger and longer-lasting micro red dot than the Trijicon RMR. It's great for conceal carry and range use.
Our 2nd favorite pick is the Trijicon SRO for its newest improved lens for faster dot tracking... All about the speed!
We hope you find this interesting and be sure to check out other content on our site.
Related Read More: Ways To Mount Optic On Glock Without Slide Milling