I have known about Shield Sights for several years now. I got a close look at their line a few years back at SHOT Show. The sales rep showed me their current line of mini red dot sights and their origins with the OEM sights they manufactured for other companies. Companies many of us are more familiar with like; JP, Trijicon and Tasco. They have been manufacturing mini red dot sights since 1996, starting with the Shield Mini Sight. They design and produce small, no frills optics for shooters

I picked up their Reflex Mini Sight Waterproof (RMSw) with the new glass lens. I included their mounting plate for the Glock MOS and the protective hood. Everything showed up in little foam filled black soap dish type cases with instructions and tools. The sight comes with a protective cover for when not in use, I believe it also saves the battery when not in use since it has an auto-adjusting brightness. There were spare screws for other mounting options and an allen tool cover for assistance with adjusting the zero. I had just bought a G40 Glock MOS and was looking for an optic, so timing was perfect. I was a little afraid the optic would look small sitting on top of the 6” slide. Not too bad.

Shield’s mounting plate for Glock MOS allows the RMSw to be mounted so low you can co-witness with standard iron sights. The posts built into the mount are the key, they extend through the sight creating a solid mount, while providing enough thread contact to secure the optic. The plate fits on the standard Glock frame and the large frame of my G40. The RMSw is the same width as the plate to ensure the gasket seal (provided) is watertight. No need for a separate mounting plate to create a seal, like my RMR. The seal is cut for a custom seal around the battery compartment and emitter that lays in a groove cut in the bottom of the RMSw. It is waterproof up to 20 meters for over 30 minutes. I did not dunk my gun but did shoot a couple days in the rain. Their MOS mounting plate is made for the 9mm/40cal size slide, but fits the length perfectly and is just slightly narrower than the wider 10mm/45cal slide.

Down sides are the same as any sight with similar designs. The battery compartment being located under the optic means removing the sight to change the battery. Which means the mounting screws are the weak point. Especially when you Loctite them for security. They do make models that have a side accessible battery drawer as a response to current market feedback. When I removed the sight to test zero shift after changing the battery, I had very little shift. A couple points of note: I did it at 12 yards, using 40cal in a 10mm G40. Nothing about the test was scientific, however I would be confident to run the gun after a battery swap at a competition. I would guess it has a lot to do with the posts from Shield Sights MOS mount fitting through the sight. Second, is the emitter being exposed allows for dust or moisture to collect or obscure the projection. When the dust does get in with the emitter, there still is a reticle/dot it is just a little starburst. A little maintenance or just blowing it out does the trick. 

Final Thoughts: Another versatile platform to add to your daily or hard use pistols. Even without the protective hood, this glass version can stand up to the torture of being in regular rotation and constant trips to the range in all weather. I liked the smaller 4 MOA dot and how low it was able to be mounted using Shield Sights’ mounting plate. The optic has its own footprint that it shares with the Jpoint. Shield Sights makes just about any mounting or adapter solution you could think of to run on any of the popular handguns, including offset mounts for magnified optics and rifles or shotguns. Battery life is on par with Holosun and Trijicons optics with 2032 batteries greater than 4 years, less in extreme conditions, more if stored in the dark (hence the included optics cover). Priced just over $500 for the hard-coated polymer version and under $600 for the glass lens for the waterproof optics. Shield Sights is a UK company and all of their products are made in England.

By the numbers:

Comfort – 5/5 Not sure how comfort applies to an optic, but it is able to mount to most firearms with the same or similar size lens and with their proprietary MOS plate co-witness the OEM sights. Clean finish and no rough edges to snag on clothing or rub up against your body if mounted on an EDC pistol.

Durability – 4/5 With or without the protective cover it has a glass lens and is waterproof down to 20 meters utilizing an included gasket. Just like many other optics with an exposed emitter they are prone to getting dust or debris in it. And the screws could be prone to stripping after multiple battery changes or mounts. 

Functionality – 5/5 I had zero issues with this optic, even shooting the larger G40. Nor in the rain or while driving around a ranch on a UTV. All the accessories functioned as they were intended and were simple to install with the hex keys provided. It functions like a band name mini reflex optic.

Weight – 5/5 Weight is comparable to an optic of its size made with an aluminum body and a glass lens. It weighs in at 17.50 grams or 0.617 ounces including the battery. A little more when you add their MOS mounting plate (which is thinner and therefore less weight then the OEM Glock MOS) and protective hood. 

Value – 4/5 Price point is on par with similar optics and features. Coming in over a hundred dollars cheaper than the Trijicon RMR family of comparable features. It’s not a steal but you are getting what you are paying for.

Overall rating – 4.6/5 This is a quality optic that will perform and last just as well as all the predecessors Shield Sights originally OEM manufactured for. Lots of options and mounting solutions.

I received this product as a courtesy from the manufacturer via Spotter Up so I could test it and give my honest feedback. I am not bound by any written, verbal, or implied contract to give this product a good review. All opinions are my own and are based on my personal experience with the product.

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