Unleash your Smith & Wesson Shield Plus with the Best Red Dot for Shield Plus. In this article, You will get the detailed information you need to make the right choice, from top contenders to size and battery life to the benefits of red dot sights in terms of faster target acquisition and improvement in concealed carry performance.
| 1) Holosun 407K X2 Red Dot |  |
|
| 2) Holosun 507K X2 Red Dot |  |
|
| 3) Vortex Viper Micro Red Dot |  |
|
| 4) Burris FastFire 3 Red Dot |  |
|
| 5) Leupold DeltaPoint Micro Red Dot |  |
|
| 6) Sig Sauer Romeo Zero Red Dot |  |
|
| 7) Trijicon RMRcc Red Dot |  |
What Footprint is The Shield Plus?
There is no dedicated footprint for red dot sights on the Smith & Wesson Shield Plus. This means that it lacks a pre-cut milled area on the slide specifically designed for a particular red dot sight.
However, it is compatible with several red dot sights due to the use of adapter plates. These are individual mounting plates that you can use to attach a red dot sight with a particular footprint to your Shield Plus slide.
There have been two reported footprints that the Shield Plus adapter plates accommodate:
This would:
- Shield RMSc footprint: Compatible with red dot sights like the Shield RMSc, Vortex Viper Micro Red Dot with the RMSc footprint version, and Holosun RMSC sights.
- Holosun K footprint: A few of the new Shield Plus models may come with adapter plates milled for a Holosun K footprint. That will accommodateHolosun K sight models.
Is The Shield Plus Better than The Shield?
Here are a few advantages of the two:
- Shield Plus Advantages:
Higher Magazine Capacity: The Shield Plus pulls ahead in its increased magazine capacity of 13 rounds flush-fit versus the Shield’s 7- or 8-round magazines with an extended magazine. That is more rounds readily available and fewer reloads needed.
Improved Grip Texture: The Shield Plus features an even better grip texture than the original Shield. This can give a better hold on it, especially for sweaty hands or in dynamic situations.
Slimmer Profile for Concealment (Arguable): While the overall size increase is not too drastic, some users do find the Shield Plus conceals just a hair better due to a more streamlined design.
- Shield Advantages:
Lower Price Point: You’ll almost always find the Shield priced a little lower than the Shield Plus. This is what seals the deal for a lot of people who are fiscally responsible.
Possibly Tighter Grip in Your Hand (Depends on Hand Size): Since it is slightly smaller overall, some customers, especially folks with smaller hands, find that the Shield grips ever so slightly tighter.
Best Red Dot for Shield Plus
1) Holosun 407K X2 Red Dot
Benefits
Of all the red dot sights out there, the Holosun 407K X2 seems to be the best one for shooters looking to upgrade their concealed carry pistol, more so on the Smith & Wesson Shield Plus.
Take full advantage of the rugged construction, thanks to its 7075 aluminum build to ensure it can withstand any bumps and scrapes that come its way daily.
This dot is also equipped with a 6 MOA red dot reticle, which is a solid medium ground between when precision for accurate shots and fast acquisition speed in dynamic situations.
Holosun’s Super-LED technology is leveraged for its dot clarity, which is known for its 50,000-hour battery life. It would translate to years of operation from a single CR1632 battery, a common, easy-to-get size.
One of the more innovative features is its Shake Awake function. The ingenuity of this technology places it at a low power setting when not in use but flicks on the reticle with any movement.
It also has an added lock mode that now allows users to turn off the buttons to prevent accidental setting changes if they’re concerned about that happening.
Specifications
- Reticle: 6 MOA dot
- Reticle Color: Red
- Light Wavelength: 650nm
- Reticle Brightness: 10 daylight and 2 night vision settings
- Magnification: 1x
- Parallax: Parallax-free
- Eye Relief: Unlimited
- Window Size: 0.58 x 0.77 inches
- Dimensions: 1.60 x 0.98 x 0.95 inches
- Weight: 1 oz (28.3 g)
- Housing Material: 7075 T6 aluminum
- Battery Type: CR1632
- Battery Life: Up to 50,000 hours
- Power Source: Solar Failsafe and battery
- Shake Awake Technology: Yes
2) Holosun 507K X2 Red Dot
Benefits
Want to take your concealed carry to a whole new level? Then this is where a Holosun 507K X2 red dot sight might just be the most significant improvement you can make to your EDC pistol.
It is built to last, constructed from high-grade 7075 aluminum, the 507K X2 is built rock-solid and just shrugs off bumps and dings for trouble-free performance over the years.
Has fast as-lightning acquisition. The 507K X2 delivers the perfect blend of precision for on-target hits and acquisition speed fast enough for moving targets in any situation. Its clear dot is driven by Holosun’s Super-LED technology, yielding an ‘incredible’ 50,000-hour battery life.
Also, it is always ready, never drained. When not in use, the 507K X2 Ellison drops the sight into a power-saving mode with its Shake Awake™ technology.
Not to forget, it is equipped with 10 daylight brightness setting options for maximum visibility against any view and 2 night-vision-compatible settings when help finally arrives in the dead of night.
Features lock and load with confidence have an advanced locking mode for those concerned about rolling their adjustments in the heat of the moment. Using this easy click will shut off the buttons, so there won’t be any unwanted changes to your adjustments
Specifications
- Reticle: 2 MOA dot and 32 MOA circle, with options for dot only, circle, or both combined
- Reticle Color: Red (available in green for the 507K-GR X2 model)
- Light Wavelength: 650nm
- Reticle Brightness: 10 daylight and 2 night vision settings
- Magnification: 1x
- Parallax: Parallax-free
- Eye Relief: Unlimited
- Window Size: 0.58 x 0.77 inches
- Dimensions: 1.60 x 0.98 x 0.95 inches
- Weight: 1 oz (28.3 g)
- Housing Material: 7075 T6 aluminum
- Finish: MAO (Micro Arc Oxidation)
- Adjustment per Click: 1 MOA
- Windage/Elevation Adjustment Range: ±50 MOA
3) Vortex Viper Micro Red Dot
Benefits
The Vortex Viper Micro Red Dot sight gives tens of thousands of pistol shooters their performance edge exactly where they want it, all without sacrificing a lot of comfort for everyday carry.
Built Like a Tank, Disappears on Your Carry. Its housing is made in a tough, lightweight shell that shakes off recoil and impacts, so it’s there when you need it most. Still, its compact size and snag-free design make it comfortable for concealed carry.
It runs on a common CR2032 battery that’s easily available at most convenience stores. But the real magic happens in its efficient use. It provides 150 hours of life at the highest setting and 30,000 hours at lower settings.
Designed for All Shooters, lefties rejoice! The Viper features ambidextrous controls for power and brightness adjustments. These controls are easily accessible by quick press and let you turn the on red dot or adjust the brightness for any light from anywhere on the firearm, regardless of the firearm support side.
Specifications
- Reticle: 6 MOA dot
- Reticle Color: Red
- Reticle Brightness: 10 brightness settings
- Magnification: 1x
- Parallax: Parallax-free
- Eye Relief: Unlimited
- Window Size: 24mm (approximately 0.94 inches)
- Dimensions: 1.8 x 1.1 x 1.0 inches
- Weight: 1.1 oz (31.2 g)
- Housing Material: Aluminum
- Finish: Hard anodized matte black
- Adjustment per Click: 1 MOA
- Windage/Elevation Adjustment Range: 120 MOA
- Battery Type: CR2032
- Battery Life: Up to 30,000 hours on lower settings
- Power Source: Battery only
4) Burris FastFire 3 Red Dot
Benefits
The Burris FastFire 3 red dot sight is the no-nonsense choice of serious pistol shooters who insist on an aim-and-fire concept of reliability and ease of operation.
At its heart, you’ll find one brilliant, bright red dot reticle. You can select either a 3 MOA or 8 MOA dot size, whichever suits your purpose.
The 3 MOA dot is an excellent all-purpose setup, it finds an exceptional balance between precision and quick target acquisition. On the other hand, the 8 MOA dot enables one to pick up targets even faster when moving quickly from one target to the next.
It is built with a stout metal housing that can easily shrug off the everyday bumps and scrapes of daily carry but also holds up to the rigors at the range.
The FastFire 3 doesn’t give up anything in terms of usability with its intuitive controls. No special tools are needed to change windage and elevation, so sighting your red dot is nothing more than a breeze.
Battery changes are also easy, with a top-mounted battery compartment that keeps it easy to get to. It’s not a problem to replace the CR1632 battery, an extremely common and highly available size, since there is no need to disassemble the sight from your firearm.
And not to forget it represents an attractive price point in the red dot sight market. It’s a pretty attractive offer for the budget-conscious shooter looking to get a reliable red dot solution without overspending on frills they may not use or need.
Specifications
- Reticle: Available in 3 MOA or 8 MOA dot
- Reticle Color: Red
- Reticle Brightness: 3 manual brightness settings and an automatic brightness sensor
- Magnification: 1x
- Parallax: Parallax-free
- Eye Relief: Unlimited
- Window Size: 21mm x 15mm (approximately 0.82 x 0.59 inches)
- Dimensions: 1.9 x 1.0 x 0.9 inches
- Weight: 1.5 oz (42.5 g) with the Picatinny mount
- Housing Material: Aluminum
- Finish: Matte black
- Adjustment per Click: 1 MOA
- Windage/Elevation Adjustment Range: 115 MOA
- Battery Type: CR1632
- Battery Life: Up to 5,000 hours on medium settings
- Power Source: Battery only
- Auto Shutoff: Yes, after 8 hours
5) Leupold DeltaPoint Micro Red Dot
Benefits
The Leupold DeltaPoint Micro Red Dot sight is accomplished with the unique demands of concealed carriers in mind, bringing compact size, exceptional performance, and rugged durability into a single unit.
If you’re looking for a discreet carry setup, the DeltaPoint Micro is hard to beat. Its ultra-low-profile design essentially rides flush with your factory iron sights and remains nearly invisible under clothing.
Despite its minute footprint, it does not lack in performance. It sports a 2.5 MOA red dot reticle that strikes the best balance between a small aiming point for precise shots and a large acquisition window when speed becomes a concern in dynamic situations.
Leupold has a reputation for being ready, all the time, within a packaged design that further protects the main red dot from dirt, debris, and even accidental bumps. With the combination of motion-sensor technology, this sight automatically lights up with motion to ensure it is on and ready the moment one draws their weapon.
While the Leupold DeltaPoint Micro resides at the higher end of red dot sight pricing, this is a direct relationship with its premium materials, cutting-edge design, and staunch dedication to reliability.
If you want a top-class red dot sight for your CCW pistol that will unlock the symbiotic relationship between size and performance, long-lasting in its durability, then look no further than the Leupold DeltaPoint Micro.
Specifications
- Reticle: 3 MOA dot
- Reticle Color: Red
- Reticle Brightness: 8 illumination settings
- Magnification: 1x
- Parallax: Parallax-free
- Eye Relief: Unlimited
- Window Size: Approximately 9mm in diameter
- Dimensions: 2.25 x 1.25 x 0.9 inches
- Weight: 1.1 oz (31.2 g)
- Housing Material: 6061-T6 aluminum
- Finish: Matte black
- Adjustment per Click: 1 MOA
- Windage/Elevation Adjustment Range: 100 MOA
- Battery Type: CR1632
- Battery Life: Up to 3.5 years of continuous use on a medium setting
- Power Source: Battery only
- Auto Shutoff: Yes
6) Sig Sauer Romeo Zero Red Dot
Benefits
The Sig Sauer Romeo Zero red dot sight makes for a great value upgrade for pistol shooters on a budget looking to put an upgrade into their Smith & Wesson Shield Plus for concealed carry applications.
It is an ultralight sight that will not beat you up when carrying concealed 24 hours a day. Its low profile helps reduce snags when drawing your gun from a holster.
While affordable, it does not give up performance. Options include the simple, clean 6 MOA red dot reticle, a hot favorite due to its great balance between an aiming point that’s very easy to pick up in any light conditions and a generous acquisition window, that’s contracted by the.
User-friendly featuring the button access to power on and brightness settings. A quick press of the button turns the red dot on, while press-and-hold light settings allow the user to adjust the dot to the perfect level of visibility.
Also powered by an easy-to-find CR1632 battery, this red dot has good enough battery life for the average shooter. The dot can be hard to see out in the sun on the brightest days for some, though.
All in all, comes together to be a pretty solid option for the value-conscious shooter, combining affordability with size and features that make it very compelling for applications such as concealed carry, target shooting, or tactical use where a practical, no-nonsense red dot sight is called for.
Specifications
- Reticle: 3 MOA or 6 MOA dot options
- Reticle Color: Red
- Reticle Brightness: 8 daytime settings
- Magnification: 1x
- Parallax: Parallax-free
- Eye Relief: Unlimited
- Window Size: 0.72 x 0.61 inches
- Dimensions: 1.6 x 0.93 x 0.93 inches
- Weight: 0.4 oz (11.3 g)
- Housing Material: Weapons-grade, impact-resistant polymer
- Finish: Matte black
- Adjustment per Click: 1 MOA
- Windage/Elevation Adjustment Range: 120 MOA
- Battery Type: CR1632
- Battery Life: Up to 20,000 hours
- Power Source: Battery only
- Auto Shutoff: Yes
7) Trijicon RMRcc Red Dot
Benefits
The Trijicon RMRcc red dot sight is king for concealed carry because of its small size and stout construction.
It’s designed with carry pistols like the Smith & Wesson Shield Plus in mind, featuring a slim profile that can conceal underclothing without printing. The design is snag-resistant to allow for a smooth draw and won’t catch lines on a holster.
Though compact, it is a rugged dot sight. High-grade aluminum used in its build easily shakes off everyday bumps and scrapes.
Runs off a common CR2032 battery, which can be found in almost any store. It has an impressive battery life of up to 4 years on one charge so you know your red dot will be there when you need it most.
Without any doubt, a brand that most users can trust in providing quality and performance. With this, the RMRcc indeed lives up to such an extraordinary reputation. If you’re getting a red dot sight compact enough to be concealedly carried, such that it’s as tough as nails, look no further than the Trijicon RMRcc.
Specifications
- Reticle: Available in 3.25 MOA or 6.5 MOA dot
- Reticle Color: Red
- Reticle Brightness: 8 adjustable brightness settings with an automatic mode
- Magnification: 1x
- Parallax: Parallax-free
- Eye Relief: Unlimited
- Window Size: 0.87 x 0.63 inches
- Dimensions: 1.8 x 0.9 x 1.0 inches
- Weight: 1 oz (28.3 g)
- Housing Material: 7075-T6 aluminum
- Finish: Matte black
- Adjustment per Click: 1 MOA
- Windage/Elevation Adjustment Range: 150 MOA
- Battery Type: CR2032
- Battery Life: Over 4 years of continuous use at brightness setting 4 of 8
- Power Source: Battery only
- Auto Shutoff: No
Factors to Consider When Choosing The Best Red Dot for Shield Plus
Here are a few:
- Size and Concealment:
Check out the discreet carry priority. For example, Leupold DeltaPoint Micro has an ultra-low profile, completely disappearing under clothing.
Also, look out for balanced size and performance. In this case the Holosun 407K X2 and Sig Sauer Romeo Zero both feature compact designs for comfortable carry.
- Performance and Reticle:
In our case, Burris FastFire 3—3 MOA or 8 MOA, Sig Sauer Romeo Zero, 6 MOA, this balance means a clear aiming point with the maximum acquisition window.
For extra accurate shots, for example, the Vortex Viper Micro Red Dot features a clear view with a crisp red dot for accurate aiming.
A red dot with a balance between Precision and Speed is key. The Holosun 407K X2, and Trijicon RMRcc 3.25 MOA all offer some decent middle ground for both fast target acquisition and precise aiming.
- Battery Life and Ease of Use:
A red dot with an outstanding battery life is important. The Leupold DeltaPoint Micro (up to 100,000 hours), Trijicon RMRcc (up to 4 years). Rather long battery life translates into fewer replacements. Also, check out easy-access batteries with Simplified Controls.
- Price:
Look for a budget-friendly variant. In this case, the Sig Sauer Romeo Zero has a more affordable price. Also
value for money is quite important: Vortex Viper Micro Red Dot, Burris FastFire 3 Varied qualities at great prices.
Last but not least, best value. Leupold DeltaPoint Micro, Trijicon RMRcc— only the best materials and performances will cost more.
FAQs
Q: Since the Shield Plus doesn’t have a red dot sight already milled in, do all these red dots require an adapter plate?
A: Yes, all the red dot sights mentioned in this guide require an adapter plate to be mounted on the Smith & Wesson Shield Plus.
Q: I’m new to Red Dot Sights and want an affordable option. What are some good choices?
A: If you’re on a budget, the Sig Sauer Romeo Zero is a great entry point. It offers a balance of affordability, size, and functionality. The Burris FastFire 3 is another good value option with its user-friendly design and decent battery life.
Q: I like the idea of a red dot that automatically turns on when I draw my weapon. Are there any options for the Shield Plus?
A: The Leupold DeltaPoint Micro is the only red dot in this list with a motion-activation feature. It automatically springs to life upon detecting movement, ensuring it’s illuminated and ready the moment you draw your pistol.
Final Thoughts
Settle for no ordinary performance in concealed carry. First, upgrade your Smith & Wesson Shield Plus with the perfect red dot sight from our in-depth review.
We have looked through top contenders, unpacked some of the key factors, and, more particularly, the advantages of red dot sights in faster target acquisition and better accuracy.
Whether budget-friendliness, exceptionally long battery life, or ultra-concealability is what you all want, in this guide, we have put you on track to understand how to make the right deal and unleash the real power of Shield Plus.
Related