If you’ve seen a lot of pistol red dot reviews around here recently, it’s because of their increased popularity and the number of manufacturers that are adding to and updating their lines to meet the demand. Primary Arms has been known for good, affordably-priced optics for years and their SLx RS-10 1×23 3 MOA red dot carries on that tradition.
The RS-10 is the first red dot sight Primary Arms has designed entirely themselves. They’ve given this micro red dot pretty much everything the average pistol owner wants in an optic for their defensive carry pistol and they’ve kept the price very reasonable for everything you get.
Primary Arms includes a lot in the box. In addition to the RS-10 itself — which uses the very popular RMSc/Docter mount pattern — and the usual mounting screws and hardware, PA throws in a low profile Picatinny mount, a GLOCK MOS mounting plate and a rubber dust cover.
The Pic mount is a nice add-on and lets you attach the RS-10 to a rifle or shotgun.
Ammunition for this and all TTAG reviews is sponsored by Ammo To Go. You can support TTAG by shopping at Ammo To Go for ammunition and more.
The best red dot designs allow you to access the battery without having to un-mount the sight. That way you don’t have to mess with Loctite, torqueage, and re-zeroing. But that can be difficult in sights small enough for micro-compact pistols like the SIG P365, the Springfield Hellcat and others.
Unlike a lot of red dots that load the battery from the top, the RS-10 is designed with a lateral access door on the side. That solves the problem of changing batteries without un-mounting and re-mounting. The only problem is…getting the CR2032 battery out of there.
The best method I’ve come up with is shoving a round wood toothpick in the forward side of the battery compartment and sort of jimmying it out of there. It’s kind of a PITA, takes a minute or so, but it’s doable.
Pro tip: make sure you load the RS-10 with a fresh battery, close the door and don’t worry about it for a couple of years at least.
Primary Arms rates the battery life at 40,000 of use in typical conditions and brightness. That’s about 4.5 years for those of you who are numerically challenged. On top of that, the RS-10 has what PA calls an autolive function (AKA “shake-awake”) that shuts it down after about three minutes of inactivity so that will extend your battery life.
If you see a ding or two on the RS-10 in the pics here, that’s because I dropped it. On concrete. The good news is, no micro red dot sights were harmed in the production of this review. The RS-10’s 7075 aluminum housing did its job nicely and protected the sight. I remounted it on the FN-509 you see here and it worked just fine.
I also stuck in in the freezer for a few hours and dunked it in water. Once I dried it off, everything worked just as it should.
I also took it from a 70-degree air-conditioned house into my blazing Texas triple-digit backyard (and back again) a number of times. The coating on the lens kept the RS-10 fog-free.
I mounted the RS-10 on my FN 509 Midsize tactical with one of FN’s included MRD plates to raise it slightly. That lets it co-witness perfectly with the suppressor-height sights on the pistol. If you’re mounting the RS-10 on a gun with standard height sights, the RS-10 is low profile enough to co-witness with just about any standard height sights.
Another pleasant surprise is how much edge-to-edge clarity the RS-10 shows. Aspherical lenses give you true clarity across the full field of view, they’re more expensive. That’s why most red dot makers don’t go to the expense of using them.
Mangin lenses are more often used and that means you tend to get some distortion around the edges…more on some red dots than others. The RS-10’s mangin lens is better than most I’ve seen, producing better edge-to-edge clarity than many red dot’s I’ve used from brands you know well costing significantly more.
With eleven brightness setting (including one that’s night vision compatible) the RS-10 works as well outside in bright, harsh noontime daylight as it does indoors. I tried it with the sun both behind and in front of the sight and got a clear, useable view in all conditions.
Again, Primary Arms has done something very impressive here. They’ve designed a tough, well-built red dot sight that gives most pistol carriers everything they need and they’ve done it at a price just about anyone can afford.
Specifications: Primary Arms SLx RS-10 Red Dot Sight
Ratings (out of five stars):
Clarity * * * *
Very good, particularly for a mangin (non-aspheric) lens. Edge-to-edge clarity is better than many red dots costing $100 more. There’s the usual slight blue tint.
Reliability * * * * *
I dropped it on concrete. I froze it. I dunked it. It’s still working. For a budget-priced red dot sight, that’s very good.
Ease of Use * * * *
The SLx RS-10 has everything you want. Simple, standard flat blade zero adjustments. Up and down brightness adjustment on one side. Battery door on the other. One star off for the hassle of getting the batter out, but with auto on and 40,000 hours of rated battery life, you won’t have to deal with it often.
Overall * * * * ½
The Primary Arms SLX RS-10 IS an exceptionally good value in a red dot sight. It’s exactly what the great majority people want in a micro red dot for their carry pistol — a good, clear red dot that’s build well, reliable and doesn’t drain their ammo budget too much.
Those used to be called “suppressor height sights”.
I’d like to see these kind of red dots sights setup with a dock for wireless charging (like an electric toothbrush) where ya don’t have to even touch the battery.
But seriously though. It just seems like a waste to put a red dot on much handguns. This would be more like getting a mounted scope with every revolver.
The only problem with rechargeable sights is that when the battery finally goes dead you have to replace the whole sight. I realize that may be several years down the road but batteries will still cost less than a complete new sight.
The tooth brush analogy was used because its very basic. Its sealed because it’s wet. There is no reason such a red dot sight could not be made to allow battery access for replacement.
When I watch an interview of an individual who in proc. of being held up (perp was drawing his weapon) the victim starts his draw (G43 w RMS) and what happens, RMS snags on his sweater. I’ll pass on the dots for a carry pistol.
Thanks for covering this optic. The more pistol optics coming out the better but reviews of them are certainly welcomed.
Thanks for at least (finally) including country of origin (Chicomland/PLA).
theres little cameras in all the red dot sights.
Every so often a balloon flys over and collects all the pictures.
lol
All they would get from mine a blank black pictures of nothingness since they are all locked up.
possum, possum, possum. It’s not nice to spread fear, doubt and uncertainty. You know full well the guncams don’t talk to spy balloons. Not enough range.
They report back via Starbucks WiFi, just like your car does.
Guys, the RMSc and Docter footprints aren’t the same.
thanks, Dan. Good review.
A suggestion for an article: How about a primer on the various pistol red dot sizes, standards and mounting options? What’s compatible, what’s not, width issues, etc.?