Here are the best red dot sights for Ruger Max 9: 

Any RMSc footprint optic will mount directly to the slide without additional aftermarket plates or milling services

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Holosun 507K X2 - Great for Carry 

holosun507 k x2 unboxing inside

Why people love Holosun 507K - The 507K is slim and perfect for The Ruger Max 9 slide width. It's durable as much as the Trijicon RMRcc, and it mounts directly to the Max 9 's RMSc footprint slide (Use short & wide screws provided). 

Combined with a clean trigger break, shooting the pistol with this red dot sight gives the shooter a great experience.

Recoil Proven - Handles regular 9mm and +P ammo like it's nothing.

Better Dot Tracking - The 32 MOA reticle ring option gives the shooter better cue to re-center the reticle even if it's slightly off near the edge of the lens frame

holosun 507k x2 side view

Snag Free Holster Draw - In and out of the IWB and OWB holster without getting in the way of anything

Motion Sensor Reticle - ShakeAwake technology instantly activates the reticle upon sensing motion & deactivates when not in motion to save more battery juice.

No Hassle Battery Change - No sight removal or re-zeroing required. Access battery from the side tray instead of the bottom. 

Pros

  • RMR alike durability in a small sight
  • CCW optimized user experience
  • Long battery life
  • Multiple reticle selections
  • Motion senor saves battery even more for non CCW use

Cons

  • Rear sight cut is too small to aim as backup sights

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Swampfox Sentinel - Best Value

swampfox sentinel in the hood

Will Mount DIRECTLY To Hellcat Optic Ready Slide Without Any Mod

Why Buy This One - The Swampfox Sentinel mounts directly to the factory Ruger Max 9 slide without any modification. It's also one of our favorite go to optic for G43 MOS, Hellcat, P365 and Ruger Max 9.

7075 Body - Hard coated 7075 aluminum body just like the 507K X2 for reliable duty carry but with a much slimmer lens hood profile

Extra Protection - Mount IRONSLIDES SHIELD (Sold separately) to protect lens hood from physical impact, barricade slide racking and drop damage

Low Profile Lens Hood - Aim with both eyes open without thick lens frame getting in the way 

swampfox red dot sentinel front lens

Manual Model -  Highly recommend manual version for indoor low light use with consistent reticle brightness. 

Auto Model - There are no manual controls at all. A photosensitive sensor adjust dot brightness relative to ambient light conditions.

Pros

  • Affordable
  • Tight RMSc footprint fit on the slide
  • Thin lens frame and small for CCW
  • Ambient light brightness adjustment

Cons

  • Reticle distortion in direct sunlight
  • Non positive feedback MOA turret adjustments
  • Hard to tell exact MOA clicks adjusted 

Shield RMSc Best For Astigmatic Eyes

shield rmsc reflex red dot sight

Will Mount DIRECTLY To Ruger Max 9 Without Any Mod

Why use Shield RMSc – It mounts directly to the Ruger Max9, and It has the clearest lens and dot via a polymer lens for shooters with astigmatism

Perfect for single stack pistols - Fits flush on the Ruger Max 9 slide. Looks great, feels great and built tough.

Polymer glass optic for endurance - Withstand up to 10X greater shock impact than glass optics plus minimal lens reflection

Super lightweight for CCW - Carry it any where you go without feeling like there is weight on you. 

The optic is powered by one CR2032 battery that lasts about 2 years (recommended to switch out every year). The dot offers 4 or 8 MOA size dots, which are both great for handgun use, especially for the close distance the Hellcat is roughly designed to shoot.

Faster reticle pick up speed with 4 or 8 MOA makes this a great range optic.

Pros

  • More MOA size selections
  • No on / off button for user simplicity
  • Works great for single stack pistols for CCW like Holosun 507K X2

Cons

  • A bit more expensive for what it does compared to others

Common FAQ

What MOA Size Best For Sub-Compact Conceal Carry Pistol

3 - 8 MOAs are great for sub-compact conceal carry handguns. While most subcompact red dot products on the market are between 3 and 6 MOA, the 6 MOA is recommended.

A larger dot is similar size to a front sight post that superimposes over the target while keeping both eyes open. You can read about it on our site.

In addition, a larger dot is much crispier, rounder and less starburst for shooters with bad astigmatism.

Read More About Dot Sizes Here