Why I Reconsidered An RMR For My Carry Gun
Like many of you, I am a big fan of iron sights, and that includes for both pistols and rifles. I have carried a concealed gun for years, and have never had a ruggedized miniature reflex (RMR) optic for many reasons.
A few of the reasons why I’ve never adopted an optic on my handguns was because holsters were not comfortable or made for them, my handguns were not cut for one, and I didn’t want to rely on battery life in a bad situation.
However, times are changing, and carrying a handgun with an RMR is becoming much more common and practical. Because of that, I am reconsidering my position on not utilizing an RMR for my carry gun, and maybe you should too.
Why I’ve reconsidered an optic on my carry gun:
One of the reasons I have started to look at these more seriously is that irons may not be the best option in lower light, high light, or when a precise shot under pressure may be required.
Additionally, more and more guns, from the Glock MOS series, SIG’s P320/M17, and others are coming with the capability to mount a myriad of optics without needing extensive gunsmithing. This gives both the competitive shooter as well as the concealed carrier a better sighting option than standard sights which can leave a lot to be desired.
I was hesitant with the use of a reflex sight because I don’t like reliance on batteries, as in my military experience they tend to fail when they are needed the most. Many of the optics these days have made significant strides from the Trijicon series which needs no batteries to battery shut-off options after non-use.
I am still more hesitant about the latter, but with a 20,000-hour battery life (833.33 days) without a battery change, it does give a slightly better sense of security.
The final reason for reconsidering an RMR is because back when I started carrying, holsters weren’t designed for anything but the gun. Even now, most mass-manufactured holsters are not specifically designed to accommodate for a reflex sight or are made haphazardly as one size fits some.
That is no longer a problem as many of the concealed carry holsters we sell have an option for the use of an optic.
This ensures much better retention and positive holstering of YOUR setup. This to me makes it much more comfortable and is tipping my hand in training with an RMR. The other side to this is that if you decide to shoot irons instead of the RMR, the magnetic retention will still hold your firearm snug, with the cutout not degrading that capability in the slightest.
Suffice it to say, much more versatility.
Finally, if you are considering an RMR, I would highly recommend looking at the color you are getting. Red tends to be good at night but can be hard to see in bright daylight. I have found in my initial testing that amber and green tend to show up in all conditions better, but like most things, your results may vary.
Author: Ian Bolser
The above blog post was originally published in March 2022.
