Footprints, Emitters, Reticles, MOA: The Pistol Optics Quick Guide
Introducing the Pistol Optics Quick Guide
Pistol-mounted optics have gone from “weird experiment” to mainstream carry gear in a hurry. And while that’s a good thing for capable armed citizens, it also created a new problem: the marketplace is confusing. Footprints, emitter styles, reticles, dot sizes, compatibility issues… it’s a lot.
That’s why we built a simple, straight-to-the-point resource: The Pistol Optics Quick Guide.
It’s designed to help you make smarter choices faster—whether you’re buying your first pistol red dot or trying to upgrade without wasting money on the wrong setup.
Why We Built This Resource
We kept seeing the same questions over and over:
- Will this optic actually fit my slide?
- Should I go with an open emitter or a closed emitter?
- Which reticle option makes sense for defensive use?
- Is a smaller dot always better, or does it depend?
Most answers online are either overly technical, overly simplified, or quietly pushing a specific product. Our goal here is clarity, practical context, and a clean starting point you can trust.
The 4 Topics Every Shooter Should Understand
The Quick Guide focuses on four fundamentals that matter most when choosing a pistol optic:
- Optic Footprint – What it is, why it matters, and how it impacts compatibility with your slide, plates, and mounting options.
- Closed vs. Open Emitters – How each design works, the real-world tradeoffs, and what matters for carry.
- Reticle Options – Dot-only vs. multi-reticle systems, and how reticles affect speed, clarity, and training.
- Dot Size (MOA) – MOA explained in plain language, plus what dot size can mean for precision and fast acquisition.
You can read it end-to-end or jump straight to the section you need.
Launched Alongside Carry Optics Mastery
We originally rolled this out to our customers and email list during the launch of our Carry Optics Mastery course.
Here’s the relationship:
- The Quick Guide helps you understand what you’re looking at and why it matters when choosing an optic.
- Carry Optics Mastery helps you learn how to run a pistol optic confidently—mounting, maintenance, zeroing, performance, and practical use.
Gear decisions matter. But they matter most when paired with solid training and consistent reps.
Start Here
If you’ve been overwhelmed by the pistol optic market—or you just want a fast reference to keep you from making expensive mistakes—go check it out now:
Read the Pistol Optics Quick Guide
And if you’re ready to go beyond the shopping decisions and build real-world skill with a carry dot:
Train smart. Choose purposefully. And don’t let marketing pick your gear for you.
