

When it comes to protecting your home and family, every piece of gear on your firearm needs to do one thing: work. No gimmicks, no excuses, and no surprises when things go sideways.
So when OLIGHT, yeah, the flashlight company, sent over their new OSIGHT X red dot, I was skeptical.
But I slapped it on my Maxim Defense MD:9, put it through the wringer, and after several range sessions and 1,000 rounds, let’s just say… I didn’t expect to be this impressed.
OSIGHT X Red Dot
Live Inventory Price Checker
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Osight – 1x – 3 MOA – Red Dot Pistol Sight Black |
True Shot Ammo |
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Osight – 1x – 3 MOA – Red Dot Pistol Sight Flat Dark Earth (FDE) |
True Shot Ammo |
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Sig Sauer P365 X-Macro Comp 9mm Pistol w/ Romeo-X Red Dot |
Rainier Arms |
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Sig Sauer 1911 X-Series 45 ACP Full-Size Optic Ready Pistol w/ ROMEO-X Red Dot |
Bereli |
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After a few months of running this optic hard, here’s what I think.
OLIGHT’s Red Dot Enters the Arena and Delivers
Let’s be honest, when a flashlight company decides to throw its hat into the red dot game, most of us raise an eyebrow.
OLIGHT isn’t exactly the first name that comes to mind when you think about rugged optics meant for serious use.
But once I mounted the OSIGHT X to my Maxim Defense MD:9 and started putting it through live-fire reps, the skepticism started to fade.
From dynamic movement drills to target transitions and low-light runs, this optic held zero and performed as an optic should. There was no shifting of the dot, distortion, or hiccups, even in the cooler spring rain storm of Northeast Ohio that decided to join us on the range.

It didn’t just survive the abuse, it performed. That alone puts it ahead of many optics in its price range.
What Stands Out on the OSIGHT X
- Clear, Bright Reticle: You get a 3 MOA dot and a 32 MOA circle (think EOTech vibes). You can run dot-only, circle-only, or both. I stick with the dot for home defense, fast acquisition without clutter.
- Daylight Brightness: The latest version added two more brightness levels, and it’s now fully visible even in harsh sunlight. Indoors, it’s crisp and clean with no bloom.
- Massive Window: The sight picture reminds me of a Trijicon SRO—big, open, easy to pick up in a hurry. That matters when you’re clearing your home at 2am, not punching paper in daylight.
- Magnetic Charging Cover: Yeah, it’s a little different. Instead of a replaceable battery, it uses a magnetic charging dock with a battery meter. You get about 9 years of use per full charge, and the dock itself holds enough juice for three full recharges. I get the hesitation here, I’d prefer a battery backup option too, but it hasn’t let me down yet.
- Built to Fit: It shares the popular 407c/507c footprint, so mounting it on the MD:9 was simple.
- Rugged Enough to Trust: The OAL
material housing (similar to 7075 aluminum) is holding up better than expected. No zero shift, no lens fogging, no cracked glass after several bumps and drops during training sessions.

So, Is It Ready for Defensive Use?
Look, I wouldn’t slap just any optic on a gun meant to defend my home. I’ve had “budget” optics lose zero, wash out under white light, or fail completely after a few hundred rounds.
It mounts easily, zeroes easily, and stays zeroed. The dot’s there when I need it. That’s the kind of boring you want in a home defense setup.

What I’d Change
If I could tweak one thing, I’d add a user-replaceable battery option.
While the magnetic charging system works, I don’t want to be stuck mid-training or mid-incident with a dead optic and no fast fix.



Still, the battery life is solid, and the charging dock hasn’t been an issue yet.
Final Thoughts
The OSIGHT X punches way above its weight class.
For $229, it’s hard to find a red dot this capable, this bright, and this feature-rich. Will it dethrone a Trijicon or Aimpoint? No.
But for those of us who take self-defense seriously and want a dependable optic without dropping $500+, it’s a real contender.
Would I trust it to defend my home? I already am.
About Scott Witner
Scott Witner is a former Marine Corps Infantryman with 2ndBn/8th Marines. He completed training in desert warfare at the Marine Air Ground Combat Center, Mountain Warfare and survival at the Mountain Warfare Training Center, the South Korean Mountain Warfare School in Pohang, and the Jungle Warfare school in the jungles of Okinawa, Japan. He now enjoys recreational shooting, trail running, hiking, functional fitness, and working on his truck. Scott resides in Northeastern Ohio.
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