rmsc

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Aimwin PE330

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Aimwin PE330

Review

  Enclosed micro red dots are not a new thing. However, Aimwin is a fairly new company in the optics market. One of their newest editions is the PE330 enclosed red dot. The PE330 red dot comes with an enhanced feature set and mounts directly to RMSc style footprints. 

  As mentioned, the Aimwin PE330 is an enclosed emitter style red dot optic. This gives the PE330 some advantages over open emitter style red dots. It protects the internals from dust, water, and any other debris. It also makes the lenses easier to clean. Living where I live, having an enclosed red dot is a big advantage because of the rain we get in Oregon. The water doesn’t get trapped inside the lens like on an open emitter style. So if you need to wipe the water off, it is just a simple wipe, not a scrub and soak. 

  The exterior of the Aimwin PE330 is 6061 aluminum. 6061 style aluminum seems fine for this type of optic. The hard anodized aluminum exterior helps to make the PE330 pretty durable. The PE330 also is water resistant, nothing is water proof. Aimwin specs it out as IPX7, which is submerged at 1 meter for a 30 minute time frame. This is pretty standard on these styles of red dots. It didn’t leak on me, but I also didn’t swim with it on.

  When dealing with micro red dots, the mounting footprint is super important. The Aimwin PE330 uses an industry standard RMSc footprint. This footprint is what a lot of micro compact pistols use for direct mounting to the slide. Oddly enough, the RMSc footprint is also used on some 1911 and 2011 full size pistols. Having that industry standard footprint really makes the PE330 standout for mounting on various styles of pistols. Included with the optic is a bunch of various size mounting screws. So finding the correct screw for your mounting surface is super easy. I always like it when companies put in those extra mounting screws, that way I don’t have to hunt some down in my screw bin.

  When it comes to powering the PE330, Aimwin uses a CR1620 battery. This is a slightly thinner battery than the CR1632, which is used in a lot of RMSc footprint red dots. Aimwin states a 20,000 hour battery life. So even though it isn’t as long as others, it is still plenty. Aimwin also designed the PE330 with a side load battery. So when you do change that battery, it is super easy to do and will not affect your zero. Something I haven’t seen with other red dots is that Aimwin includes extra battery tray screws. I will probably lose the extra screws before I actually need to replace one, but they are there just in case.

  The PE330 isn’t just a red dot, it is a multi-reticle system. It includes a 3 MOA dot and a 40 MOA circle. You can combine these into a dot only, circle dot, or just a circle. To do this all you have to do is hold down the brightness up button for a few seconds. For brightness adjustment, there is a soft touch pad on the left side of the optic with + and - labels. The PE330 has 11 brightness levels. The lowest 2 are night vision compatible, while the other 9 are daylight bright. To adjust the position of the reticle, the PE330 uses a small standard screwdriver. It also has actual clicks for adjustment, not just the turn and guess style. Each click is 1.5 MOA. 

  Aimwin has their auto on feature called “AIM Awake”. As one can guess, this is Aimwin’s shake awake feature. After a few minutes of not being moved, the PE330 will go into a standby mode. When movement is detected, the dot automatically turns back on at the same brightness level it was adjusted to. This feature gives more battery life to the optic. In today's red dot market, every optic should have this if it uses a battery. I am glad Aimwin includes the Aim Awake feature. 

  For the review, I mounted the Aimwin PE330 on a Tisas 1911 Double Stack. The window size of 23 x 16 mm worked well on this pistol. It is not the largest window, but it was very useful. I also noticed that the dot is very clear. Some of that is probably due to the glass used on the optic. I was pleasantly surprised at how clear the glass was. I couldn’t notice any color change or tint to it. Because the PE330 is a little wider than smaller RMSc red dots, it does hang over the sides of the slide. It is definitely noticeable, but does not hurt anything at all. That is a price you have to pay for a larger’ish size micro red dot on a thin 1911 slide. I don’t really care for the 1.5 MOA adjustment range. Yes it works, but I would like a finer adjustment, maybe something like a 1 MOA adjustment. With that said, I didn’t have any problems sighting in the pistol. I also haven’t had any problems with the sight itself, even with a ton of rounds being shot for the Tisas review itself.

  Anyone looking for a reasonably priced, enclosed, micro red dot should go take a look at the Aimwin PE330. It uses that industry standard RMSc footprint for mounting and has a side load battery. The red dot is very clear on whatever reticle option you choose, may it be a dot or a circle. Plus it is priced right for anyone. From beginners just getting into the red dot market, or experts just needing another dot, the Aimwin PE330 might be the one you're looking for.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Enclosed RMSc footprint red dot with multi reticles

Target Market:

Those wanting an enclosed red dot for their pistols

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Weight: 1.16 ounces

  • Dimensions: 1.61 × 1.2 × 0.98 in (40.8x30.6x25mm)

  • Dot Size: 3 MOA - 40 MOA

  • Adjustment per Click: 1.5 MOA

  • Windage & Elevation Travel Range: ±40 MOA, (total range 80 MOA)

  • Battery: CR1620

  • Battery Life: Medium brightness level - 20000h

  • Brightness Settings: 9 Daylight Levels, 2 Night Vision Levels

  • Window Size: 23 x 16mm(0.91" x 0.63")

  • Housing Material: A6061-T6

  • Hard-anodized

  • Operating Temperature: -30°C~60°C（-22°F to 140°F）

  • Water Resistance: IPX7

  • Footprint: RMS-C

  • Aim Awake auto on/off

  • Side load battery

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

None

What others are saying?:

5 out of 5 stars on Amazon

Great deal

I’ve tried a fair number of pistol red dots over the years, and I picked up the PE330 mainly to see how it would hold up as an enclosed optic. After putting some rounds through it, it’s been solid and predictable, which is really what I want from a handgun optic.

The enclosed emitter definitely helps when conditions aren’t perfect. Dust and debris haven’t been an issue, and the sight picture stays usable without needing constant attention. The glass looks good overall, with no distracting distortion, and once it’s zeroed, parallax hasn’t been noticeable in real shooting.

The reticle setup makes sense. The larger circle helps you find the dot faster, especially when drawing or moving between targets, while the center dot still gives you enough precision for slower, more deliberate shots. Under recoil, the dot is easy to track and comes back into view naturally, which makes follow-up shots smoother.

Battery life hasn’t been a concern thanks to the motion-activated wake feature, and I haven’t run into any random shutoffs. Mounting it on an RMSc-cut slide was quick and straightforward, and it stayed tight and held zero through multiple range sessions.

All things considered, the PE330 is an easy optic to live with. It does what it’s supposed to do, feels intuitive behind the gun, and works well for regular range use or for shooters getting comfortable with enclosed pistol optics.

Link to other reviews:

Chris from the 740 on YouTube  

Price point:

MSRP = $229.95

Retail = $169.95

I need it now! Availability:

Aimwin Optics or Amazon

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Window size

  • Aim Awake

  • Side load battery

  • Enclosed

  • Reticle options

Cons:

  • Battery Type

  • Battery life

Score: 8.00 Great

Favorite Link: Aimwin PE320 Review

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Tisas 1911 Duty B9R DS

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Tisas 1911 Double Stack (2011)

Review

  In the world of double stack 1911 style pistols, or 2011’s as some people call them, there are a ton to choose from. Their prices range anywhere from about $500 up to the $5000'nds. Tisas started making their 1911 double stacks a few years ago. These are value priced, 9mm 2011 style pistols that punch above their price range. Tisas has both a carry and full size version. Since I am not carrying a 2011 style pistol, I opted for the Tisas 1911 Duty B9R Double Stack, which is their full size 5” version.

  The first thing you notice, when you pull the Tisas 1911 DS out of the box, is all the upgrades it has. To start with, the B9R uses a standard style 2011 polymer grip frame with a rail. This means that it is compatible with most aftermarket grip frames available for 2011 style pistols, including metal frames. This frame has a built-in magazine well and some texture around the grip, as do most of these style frames. Being a 1911 style pistol, there is also a high ride, extended beavertail grip safety with a memory bump. Then there is the slightly extended, ambidextrous, thumb safety. This safety has fine lines on it for better grip. The hammer is a commander-ish style. Then there is an extended magazine release. But somehow, the mag release is not checkered or lined, which I did not care for. All of that is followed by a bull barrel and one piece guide rod. The B9R is also cut for a RMSc footprint optic. So as you can see, this pistol has a ton of upgrades already on it.

  Now that we have the base features out of the way, I will get into them a little deeper starting with the slide. The slide on the Tisas B9R resembles any 1911 slide. It has a curved top reminiscent of old school 1911’s. But that is where it stops. Everything else is new school. Tisas put front and rear, angled, cocking serrations on it. These serrations are really nice and grippy so you will have no problems racking the slide. The muzzle end is cut slightly narrower, mainly for looks, because I can’t see any other reason for it. Sitting on top of the slide is a nice set of iron sights. The front is fiber optic and the rear is blackout serrated. The sight picture is nice. Then Tisas cuts the slide for an RMSc style optic. This cut is deep, so much so that the factory iron sights will co-witness with the optic of your choice. 

  The Tisas’ 2011 style frame is nice. Yes, it has a few minor setbacks, but not everything can be perfect in a $800 2011 ish pistol. The only real setback I found is the smoothness of the grip. The texture Tisas uses is a little lacking. I’m not carrying the B9R next to my skin, so give me some more texture. Even the front and rear checkering needs to be deeper. Tisas does offer a “Coarse” grip module, which I may be checking out. The only other disappointment in the B9R’s frame is the non textured magazine release. Please add some texture. The grip also has a small magazine well built into it. It works well enough, but if you are using the B9R for competition, you may want to add a larger one. Everything else on the grip is great. The Tisas has a rail for lights. Both safeties, the grip and the ambidextrous thumb safety, are nice. The grip safety has a memory bump to help always depress it. The thumb safety has a nice texture and size to it. The B9R also has a squared trigger guard similar to most 2011 style frames. 

  Since the Tisas B9R is a 1911 style pistol, we have to talk about the trigger. Tisas uses a flat style trigger on the B9R. It appears to be around “medium” length which works well for this pistol. The trigger broke around 5.5 pounds when I first received the B9R. It has a little take up, maybe 0.100 inch maximum. Then it breaks clean with a little bit of over-travel. It is definitely everything a typical 1911 trigger is. After some use, the trigger breaks about 5 pounds now. The trigger is non-adjustable. For a base model 2011 style pistol, the trigger is better than I expected. 

  The Tisas Duty B9R DS uses industry standard magazines. Any 2011 pattern magazine will work. Anything from the cheaper $25 magazines, up to the elite $100 ones, they all work. The B9R comes with 2 high quality, flush fit, 17 round magazines. I have used a bunch of different magazines, including some 26 round ones. All have run flawlessly in the B9R.

  I found the Tisas 1911 DS to be quite accurate. Okay, I didn’t put it in a rest at 25 yards, but I can consistently hit the headbox of a USPSA target at that range. At 7 yards I can get a 1”, 10 shot, round ragged hole. This accuracy has to be from the fact that Tisas uses a bushingless bull barrel in the B9R. They also use a 1 piece guide rod. Of course, the guide rod does make disassembly of the B9R a little more complicated, but nothing terrible. I was pleasantly surprised at how accurate the Tisas was out of the box.

  Here are some of my thoughts on the Tisas B9R. It is great for the price point it is at. I got great accuracy from the factory bull barrel. It uses standard 2011 pattern magazines, which all worked flawlessly. I have had zero malfunctions in the 956 rounds I have shot through it. That was using about 7 different brands and weights of 9mm ammunition. Are there things that bother me? Yes. The iron sight cuts use 2 different styles. The rear is a Glock style dovetail, but the front is a Tisas dovetail. So good luck getting aftermarket iron sights that work together. But since I expect that most people will put an optic on it, and it is cut for a Holosun K / RMSc footprint, this doesn’t matter too much. I did like the iron sight picture, it gave me light on both sides of the post as opposed to other sight pictures that basically give you no light on the sides of the post. I ended up mounting an Aimwin PE330 red dot on it. Originally I had one of the Primary Arms Classic series on it, but the PE330 came in and has a larger window. Speaking of optics, I was informed, by a friend, that if you use one of the super large window optics like the Gideon Judge XL, you will need a small riser plate so that the optics window doesn’t hit the top of the slide. SDS Arms has this spacer, but it is not listed on their website. I was impressed with how well the B9R felt while shooting it. It is not as smooth as a $2500 2011. But, after about the first 200 rounds, the slide smoothed up nicely and still has a fairly tight slide to frame fit. Probably my most favorite aspect of the Tisas B9R is that it has aftermarket parts compatibility with most 2011 style pistols. So if you want to upgrade the trigger, or that non-textured mag release, you can.

  The Tisas B9R has proved itself to be a fantastic pistol. With all its extras and the way it performs, you can’t go wrong. If you are looking at getting into the double stack 1911 game, I don’t think you can go wrong with the Tisas Duty B9R DS. It performed fantastic for me, with great accuracy and function, all at a great price. Definitely go look at the Tisas firearms and see what you think. They used to be imported by SDS Arms and Tisas’ are made in Turkey, but don’t let that scare you away from a great pistol.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Value priced 2011 style firearm that uses machined parts, 2011 style magazines, has a bull barrel, and is optics ready

Target Market:

Those wanting a 1911 double stack that doesn’t cost a fortune, but still has tons of features

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Forged Steel Frame & Slide

  • Polymer grip

  • 70 Series + Colt/STI® 2011 Compatible

  • Target‑Crowned Bull Barrel

  • Skeletonized Hammer & Trigger

  • Optic‑Ready Co‑Witness Sights

  • Caliber: 9MM

  • Frame/Receiver - Slide Finish: Cerakote

  • Sights: Fixed - Black Rear - White Dot Front

  • Optics Ready/Cut: Holosun K - RMSc

  • Capacity (2 Included Mags): 17 + 1

  • Barrel Length: 5"

  • Barrel Finish: QPQ Tenifer

  • OAL: 8.6"

  • Height: 5.7"

  • Width: 1.5"

  • Weight: 32.5 oz unloaded

  • Safety: Ambidextrous thumb & grip safeties

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Carry Version     

What others are saying?:

5 out of 5 Stars at Battle Hawk Armory   

Benjamin A.

Fantastic Budget "2011" So far this has been a great purchase for the price. Currently at 750 rounds 100% flawless

Link to other reviews:

The Truth About Guns  

Price point:

MSRP = $879.88

Retail = $650 - $750

I need it now! Availability:

Battle Hawk Armory, Guns.com, Primary Arms, or your local dealer

Our Rating: 

Pros:

  • Price

  • Uses 2011 parts and magazines

  • Shoots fantastic

  • Optics ready

  • Bull barrel

  • Light rail

  • Decent trigger

  • Ambi safety

Cons:

  • Grip needs more texture

  • Smooth magazine release

  • Hard to disassemble 

Score: 8.50 Great

Favorite Link:  AimWin PE320 Review 

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N96 Arms FX-9 RP

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N96 Arms FX-9 RP

Review

  There are tons of good handguns on the market today. What someone chooses is really up to them. Fit and features should be high on that list when choosing a handgun. N96 Arms has brought out their FX-9 RP. This imported pistol has a ton of great features, both for the beginner and the professional.

  To start with, the FX-9 RP is a duty sized handgun. So it has a full size grip frame and a 4.1 inch barrel. It comes with decent iron sights and three different backstraps. These backstraps help to make the pistol fit small to large hands. The FX-9 also has an ambidextrous safety. It also is cut for an RMSc footprint optic. Along with that, it comes with 2 - 17 round magazines, a mag loader, paddle holster, a cleaning kit, and an okay carrying case. You really get a lot of stuff for that $379.00 MSRP.

  When describing a pistol, I always try to do the frame first. Mainly because it is the interface between you and your shooting experience. The frame is made from polymer, so all the features are “molded” into it. The grip frame on the N96 Arms FX-9 RP starts with a really good grip texture. On the sides it has a rough stipple like texture. On the front and back are lines with little squares cut into them. Think of a small “frag” pattern, but not quit. The mag release form fits the frame very well and is easy to get to. It is also reversible if you are lefty. Moving to the trigger guard, it is large and has lines on the very front. It is large enough that gloved hands should not have any problems. It is fairly undercut at the rear so you can also get your hand up high on the grip to support recoil. Moving to the front is a 3 slot rail. The rail is a cross between a pic rail and a glock rail. The spacing between the rails is smaller than a pic rails spacing, more like a Glock. When I mounted a light, I had to use the smaller Glock lug, which is how I found out about the spacing. At the rear of the FX-( is a really nice beavertail to keep you from getting any slide bite.

  It is now trigger time. The trigger on the N96 Arms FX-9 RP is really good. It is a curved style with a safety flipper. The flipper is barely noticeable when pulling the trigger. The curve on the trigger is very shallow, somewhere between a standard curved and a flat faced. Total movement is around 0.400 inch. So a little shorter pull length than a Glock trigger. The first 0.300 inch is take up. The next 0.075 - 0.100 inch is the actual break. The break is pretty clean. Total trigger pull weight comes in at 4.5 pounds on my trigger gauge. Reset is also decent. Overall it is a nice trigger for a striker fired pistol. Along with the trigger comes a manual safety. The safety lever is ambidextrous. It is located near the rear of the frame, where it should be. Flip it up for safe and down for fire. The FX-9 RP’s safety has a decent detent, so you shouldn’t accidentally put it on. It also flips off decently easy with your thumb. It is very slim shaped, but I didn’t have any problems releasing it. To go along with the safeties, the FX-9 RP also has a striker indicator. When the pistol is ready to fire, you can see a red painted dot in the middle of the backplate. 

  The slide on the N96 Arms FX-9 RP is nice looking. The machining on it is top notch, which actually surprised me. At the front and rear are angled slide serrations. They work well, but I would like them cut just a little deeper. Most people probably won’t even notice since they work fine. At the front of the slide are 3 holes on each side, and the top. This lightens the slide but also makes it possible for a ported barrel. Or more so, porting the barrel in it. A set of sights, with a white dot front, sit on top. The sights are Glock compatible, so you can upgrade them to any of the various Glock sights out there. I stuck on a set of XS Sights tall big dots. I did this because the FX-9 RP is also cut for a RMSc footprint optic. Be careful when you pull the optic cover plate off, there is a small spring under it that the pistol needs to function properly. Primary Arms sent me one of their Classic Series red dots to use on the N96 Arms. 

  The extras that come with the FX-9 RP are a nice touch. As kind of mentioned earlier, it comes with 3 cleaning brushes. Who doesn’t need extra cleaning brushes? It also comes with a little metal punch for removing pins. Mainly for use when changing the backstraps, as they have a roll pin holding them in. Then comes the paddle holster. It is a level 2 retention holster. So it has a button that must be pressed to release the pistol. Kind of nice, especially for those worried about their pistol staying in the holster. The paddle is adjustable for cant. I did run into a problem, though minor, with the holster. It will not work with the taller sights that I installed. Anyone using this holster probably isn’t putting tall sights on it anyhow, so take it for what it is. The last nice addition is a magazine loader. It is just the “push down over the mag” style, but it works great.

  Now for my experience with the N96 Arms FX-9 RP. The FX-9 RP can rival some US made firearms. Build quality is great. The sights are good from the factory and being able to use Glock replacement sights is a nice touch. As previously mentioned, the trigger is great and lets you shoot fast and accurately. Accuracy is comparable with any other duty pistol. I really like how the grip is short front to back, it gives more versatility for those with smaller hands. Using common CZ75 magazines, that are not very expensive, is also great. I used some of my small frame EAA Witness magazines in the FX-9 RP and they worked fine. Not being able to use common holsters is kind of a bummer, but there is a way around that. Just put a light on it and use a light bearing holster, that’s what I ended up doing with it. Yes, it comes with an OWB holster, but it’s really only good for range use. Actually shooting the FX-9 is nice. I was able to flip the safety off without even thinking about it, thanks to thousands of reps with a 1911 in a past era. I think the FX-9 RP would be a great pistol for someone who is just starting out. Or someone that has just one gun. It could be carried, but I see it more as a bedside gun. Mainly for someone that wants a fullish size pistol, with the extra added peace of mind that a manual safety gives them. Add in night sights and an optic and you have a really good, easy shooting pistol.

  If you are looking for a decently priced pistol, that has a lot of features, go take a look at the N96 Arms FX-9 RP. Don’t let the fact that it is imported shy you away, it is a very good pistol. It has great features and can take aftermarket sights and optics. N96 Arms did a nice job with the FX-9 RP. Check one out over at North 96 Outdoors.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Value priced pistol with a ton of features

Target Market:

Anyone wanting a pistol for home defense, range, or carry

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Style:  Single Action Semi Auto

  • Manufacturer:  Agaoglu Aviation and Defence Industry

  • Caliber:  9mm Luger

  • Weight:  25.2 oz without magazine

  • Barrel Length: 4.1”

  • Overall Length: 7.3”

  • Height:  5.6”

  • Width:  1.38”

  • Mag Capacity:  17+1  Compatible with CZ 75 mags

  • Sights: Adjustable HiViz

  • Material:  Steel Slide, Poly Body

  • Picatinny Rail

  • Manual Ambi Safety

  • Striker Indicator

  • Interchangeable Backstraps - S, M, & L included

  • 2 magazines included

  • Paddle holster included

  • Mag loader included

  • RMSc optics cut with plate

  • Uses Glock iron sights

  • Lifetime warranty 

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Gray, Sand, or Green

What others are saying?:

Nothing found as of publishing

Link to other reviews:

Nothing found, but GB Guns did a very similar review  

Price point:

MSRP = $379.00

Retail = Same

I need it now! Availability:

North 96 Outdoors

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Trigger pull

  • Adjustability due to Backstraps

  • Good grip texture

  • Uses Glock sights

  • Optic cut

  • Uses readily available magazines (CZ75)

  • Comes with extras

Cons:

  • Safety

  • Holster compatibility 

Score: 8.00 Great

GForce Arms Rapture

  I recently ran across the GForce Arms GF9 Rapture handgun. I was intrigued by this new micro-compact handgun as it has a bunch of Glock parts compatibility. So much so that I contacted GForce Arms about getting one for review. As you can figure out, GForce sent out a Rapture to do a full review on. The Rapture surprised me with all its features, especially that it can be found for around $350.

G43 on top of Rapture for size comparison. Rapture grip frame is about 1/2” longer with no magazines inserted. Picture is not a perfect representation

  The Rapture is a small 9mm handgun aimed at the carry market. For comparison, it is roughly the same size as a Sig P365X. So it technically fits into the “Micro Compact” size description. The Rapture’s grip frame is larger front to rear, so it feels good in the hand, at least mine. The Rapture is still very narrow, coming in at 1.12” total. It runs a 3.25” barrel for a total length of 6.6”. The main difference in the GForce Rapture is that it has a bunch of parts compatibility with the G26. Including working in G26 holsters.

  GForce Arms put a lot of work into designing the Rapture. For the polymer frame, they gave it a great usable sandpaper type texture. This texture is on the front, sides, and rear backstrap. It is also toward the front of the frame where you would rest your trigger finger or thumb. Speaking of the backstrap, the Rapture comes with 4 different ones. A 0° that comes installed on the Rapture, then a 2°, 4°, and a 6°. These options help the pistol to fit any hand size, from small to large. On the rear of the Rapture is a beavertail to help lessen the chance of slide bite. GForce Arms kept it on the smaller side, I believe, to keep the pistol compact. It still functions as expected. The grip also has some slight indents where your trigger finger and thumb rest. This aids in getting a proper trigger pull for those with smaller fingers. It also helps with hitting the large magazine release. Being fairly large, the mag release size is nice and very useful. Helping to get rid of that awful Glock knuckle, is a slightly undercut trigger guard. One of the few flaws I found with the Rapture is the lack of a rail at the front of the pistol. But, it also wouldn’t fit in standard G26 holsters if it had one. Lastly, there is a thin slide release. Amazingly, the slide release was way easier to use then I expected it to be.

  When GForce Arms says the Rapture is “heavy in glock compatibility”, it is. All of the internal parts are gen 3 Glock compatible, and some of the external ones. So if you want to change out the barrel, trigger, trigger bar, slide, end plate, and sights, you can. Just use any of the readily available gen 3 aftermarket parts. 

  The trigger in the Rapture is decent. It starts with a flat face with a little hook on the end. Yes, there’s the little safety inside the trigger. The flipper safety seemed a bit strong, but it didn’t keep the trigger from being pulled, so it works fine. I do like the little hook on the end of the trigger. It helps a little bit to keep my finger from sliding all the way down and rubbing against the inside of the trigger guard. Trigger pull is decent, for these types of striker fired pistols. The Rapture’s trigger does have a decent break, not mushy like some gen 3 triggers are. Trigger pull weight was 5.5 lbs on my trigger pull gauge. I thought the weight was decent for a carry gun. Besides, if you want it lighter, there are plenty of parts on the market to make it anyway you want.

  Sitting on top of the GForce Rapture’s frame, is a fantastic slide. Yes, the slide looks kind of blocky, until you get a good look at it. It has front and rear angled cocking serrations, These are fairly deep cut, not overly sharp, and slightly deeper at the top. These serrations work extremely well. They blend into the frame nicely and look good. Inside the slide is a nondescript barrel and dual recoil spring system. Back on top of the slide are metal fiber optic iron sights. The front is red, and the back are green, both feature anti-glare serrations. The Rapture uses standard Glock sights, a big plus if you want to change them out for higher profile ones. Why would you want higher profile sights? Because the Rapture comes cut for optics! But it doesn’t stop there. The Raptures slide is cut directly for both the RMR and RMSc (sheild) footprints. GForce Arms also includes locator pins to use with either optics. These pins also help minimize optic movement under recoil. A nice optic cover plate comes installed if you don’t wish to mount an optic on the Rapture.

  I ordered up a kydex holster for the Rapture. Once it showed up, I began carrying the Rapture on and off. The gun carries nicely with an IWB holster. Being that the Rapture is not big, that helped. Probably what helped the most is the thinness of the Rapture. One thing I noticed while carrying the Rapture was how the magazine's pinky extension stuck out more than I liked. GForce doesn’t have an option for a magazine without the pinky extension. So I proceeded to dremel off the extension on one of the magazines, making it flush fit. This helped a lot in how noticeable the pistol was under just a T-shirt. I thought the sandpaper texture might cause some discomfort when carrying. To my surprise, the texture didn’t feel bad against my skin. It is only a little bit noticeable to me. The Rapture makes a decent carry gun.

Modified flush fit magazine

  The Rapture comes with 2 magazines. I would have liked to see it come with 3. But since the Rapture can be found for under $350, that didn’t hurt me too bad. Plus, extra magazines are only $25. Both the magazines sent with the Rapture are steel and hold 12 rounds each. Both have that aforementioned pinky extension. The Rapture magazines are proprietary. Also not a deal breaker for me. Remember, P365 mags are proprietary also. I have had zero problems with the Rapture magazines. 

  Shooting the Rapture was a pleasure. The first thing I noticed was that it didn’t have as much felt recoil. Or at least less than I was expecting from a pistol this size. I shot it with the fiber optic sights. Those sights are really easy to pick up and fairly fast. I then proceeded to mount an optic up top. I used the RMR cut option and installed a Swampfox Liberty. With this combo, the factory iron sights just peek above the optic. You can still use them as back up irons, but just barely. I ran all different weights of 9mm through the Rapture, with both the irons and an optic. The only problem I ran into was some factory reloaded ammo that wouldn’t go into battery. Not the Rapture’s fault because all the factory new ammunition I used ran flawlessly. So I would say the Rapture has more of a match chamber. In fact, the pistol ran flawlessly with zero malfunctions through about 750 rounds. No, I didn’t clean it either. I didn’t run an accuracy test on the Rapture, but I did run a dot torture with it at 5 yds. The Rapture performed well, I didn’t. I also set up my A-Zone steel at 50 yds. The Rapture didn’t have any problems reliably ringing it. So I’d say it’s more accurate then I am. When shooting and manipulating the Rapture, I also noticed that it doesn’t have any sharp edges on it, at least if you don’t count the front sight. Overall, the Rapture exceeded what I was expecting

  I really hope the GForce Arms Rapture stays around. It is a very well made, American, micro compact pistol. Plus it is affordable, hitting the streets at under $350. It has 12 round capacity, is thin, has lots of Glock compatibility, comes with 4 backstraps, and can mount any of the common red dot optics. I feel you can’t go wrong with the Rapture. Check it out at GForce Arms or your local dealer.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Sub-Compact handgun with a lot of Glock compatibility

Target Market:

Those wanting a quality micro-compact firearm at a decent price

Features, Benefits, and Specifications of this product:

  • Caliber: 9mm Luger

  • Capacity: 12+1

  • Comes with 2 Magazines

  • Frame Material: Textured Glass Filled Polymer

  • Comes with 4 Backstraps: 0°, 2°, 4°, & 6°

  • Optic Cut for RMR or RMSc footprints

  • Sights: Fiber Optic - Red Front / Green Rear 

  • Barrel Length: 3.25"

  • Trigger: Flat Face with hook

  • Weight: 22.5oz with empty magazine

  • Width (Overall): 1.12”

  • Height: 4.7” without magazine

  • Length (Overall): 6.62” 

  • Highly Glock Compatible, most parts are interchangeable 

  • Uses Glock sights

  • Comes with carry case that’s cut for optics

  • Made in USA

  • Assembled and tested in Reno, NV

  • Lifetime Warranty 

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Flat Dark Earth 

What others are saying?:

Nothing found as of publishing`

Link to other reviews:

Outdoor News America

Price point:

MSRP = $379.00

Retail = $329.00 at Global Ordnance or Guns.com 

I need it now! Availability:

Global Ordnance, Guns.com, or your local FFL

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Price

  • Glock compatibility

  • Optic cut with pins

  • Fiber Optic steel sights

  • Backstraps

  • Large mag release button

Cons:

  • No accessory rail

  • No flush fit magazines

Score: 8.00 Great

Favorite Link:  SwampFox Liberty Review   

,

Gideon Optics Judge

,

  Another red dot sight manufacturer has entered the arena. This new sight company is Gideon Optics. Gideon has come on the market strong with an assortment of micro and mini red, and green, dot sights. I’ve known the owner of this new optics company for some years now, so I am excited to get into the “Judge” red dot that they sent out for review. The Judge is Gideon’s micro red dot reflex sight and uses the RMSc mounting footprint.

  When the Judge arrived, I was excited to mount it up. Part of the reason I was excited is because I was looking for a red dot for my G43ish carry gun. The Judge fit that bill nicely as my G43 slide was already cut for a RMSc style sight. The other half of the excitement came from the Judge's auto on/off ability. In today's market, I see no reason why a red dot shouldn’t be auto on/off. Gideon also includes 4 different pairs of mounting screws. So you should have something that fits. More important, in my opinion, is that Gideon also includes a sealing plate with the Judge. This is important since the Judge uses a bottom load battery. The sealing plate does just that, it seals the battery from moisture and dust.

  The Judge has an option for either a red or green dot. I chose the red dot because my eyes just seem to pick it up faster. The Judge uses a 3 MOA dot size, which is a good size for all around use. If you have an astigmatism, like I do, the dot will probably look larger because of the “flare”. Don’t worry, the Judge’s dot is fairly clear in pictures, so I know it’s me and not the sight. To adjust the 10 brightness settings, the Judge has a brightness up button on the left side and a brightness down button on the right side. I actually like this better than the red dots that have both the up/down on the same side. There’s just no doubt which button I am pushing. With the Judge, you get 90 MOA of total adjustment for windage and elevation. More importantly is that the Judge has actual clicks for the 1 MOA adjustments. These clicks are not something you find in competitors' products, but the Gideon Judge has them.

  Construction of the Judge is pretty sound. You get a 7075-T6 aluminum housing, not the less durable 6061. It is also waterproof to 1 meter for 30 minutes plus. Let’s just say that I have not broken it yet. The Judge also only tips the scales at around 0.6 ounces with the 2032 battery. Probably more important to the user, is that the judge has a window size of 16x21mm. This size is really nice for such a small reflex sight. I was able to get a good sight picture fairly quickly. Essentially, the window is big enough to make it easy to find the red dot. 

  The Gideon Judge just runs. I can’t seem to get the Judge to stop. It has given me zero problems since day one. It’s bright with very little tint to the lens. It has held zero through all my abuse. Granted, I didn’t drop it on concrete, but I also don’t want to actually break it just to break it. I love the click adjustments. In all, I have had a good shooting experience with the Judge.

  If you are in the market for a micro red dot, definitely give the Gideon Judge a look. Maybe even judge it compared to others in this market space. It has some great features at a respectable price. I might even give it style points for its looks. Even if you are looking for a different style of red dot, Gideon Optics might have what you want, so go check them out.

Firearms Insider Reviews - Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Small Red or Green dot that fits RMSc slide cuts

Target Market:

Anyone wanting a small red or green dot optic

Features & Benefits of this product:

  • Magnification: 1x

  • Lens Dimensions: 16mm tall x 21mm wide

  • 7075-T6 aluminum body

  • Elevation/Windage adjustment range: 45 MOA (Total 90 MOA)

  • Click Value: 1 MOA per click

  • Circle Dot Reticle: 3 MOA Dot

  • Parallax Free: Beyond 33 yards

  • Red Dot Brightness Setting: 10 levels (8 visible, 2 NV compatible)

  • Power Supply: 1x CR2032 3V Lithium battery

  • Run Time: approx 40,000 hrs

  • Auto Wake/Sleep: 225 Seconds after no movement

  • Shockproof & IPX7 Waterproof

  • Dimensions: (LxWxH) 41mm x 25mm x 24mm

  • Weight (with battery installed): 0.6 oz (approx.)

  • 1913 picatinny rail mount and screws

  • T10 tool

  • Adjustment tool

  • Sealing plate

  • Cleaning cloth

  • One pair each of the following mounting screws: M4 x 0.7 x 10mm, M4 x 0.7 x 8.6mm, M3.5 x 0.7 x 10mm, M3 x 0.5 x 12mm

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Green Dot Version

What others are saying?:

Dan @ OpticsPlanet

Very happy

I purchased this for my PSA 5.7 Rock. Could not be happier clear Len and crisp dot.

Link to other reviews:

Caleb Downing on YouTube   

Price point:

MSRP = $229.99

Retail = Same but use code “GGR” for 10% off at Gideon Optics

I need it now! Availability:

Gideon Optics or JSD Supply

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Bright Dot

  • Actual click adjustments

  • Auto on/off

  • Includes Sealing plate

  • Includes various mounting screws

Cons:

  • Slightly fuzzy dot

  • Bottom Load battery

  • Only a 3 yr warranty

Score: 7.50 Good

Favorite Link:  Patmos Arms Judah slide review

Gowutar A17 Micro red dot

  If you are in the market for an inexpensive red dot, Gowutar is something to take a look at. I had never heard of Gowutar before they contacted me. They sell Chinese manufactured red dots on Amazon. Since a lot of the well known red dots are manufactured in China, that part didn’t bother me. So I headed over to take a look at them before I decided to review one. I then decided that the A17 micro dot might fit the bill. The A17 uses an RMSc footprint and is right at home on smaller pistols.

  The Gowutar A17 has all the same features as the top name red dot’s. Most notably is its Motion Activated Illumination. This functions just like one would expect. After 4 minutes of no movement, the A17 turns off. Just slightly move the A17 and the red dot turns on. This helps give the CR2032 battery a 30,000 hour lifespan. It does use a bottom mount battery, so to change it you will need to take the optic off. There is a built-in seal to help keep moisture out of the battery, but no seal plate. The A17 also comes with a low picatinny rail mount and a bunch of screws for mounting it to different firearms. The various screws were a nice touch.

  Gowutar is using a 2 MOA dot size in the A17. I like the smaller dot size. Being 2 MOA it is easy enough for me to see, but still gives pretty good accuracy at a distance. The red dot inside the A17 is really clear. It also has 10 brightness settings, 2 of which are night vision compatible, so you can adjust it to your liking. To adjust the brightness, on the left side is the “up” button, and on the right side is the “down” button. Zeroing the A17 is easy enough, but the adjustments are just friction and not clicks. The window size on the A17 is 17 mm high by 21 mm wide. I’m guessing that’s where the A17 name comes from. The window size is also on par with other red dots in this class. The A17 is also one of the sight types that has a built in rear iron sight. I like this feature and surprisingly it lined up pretty well with my front iron sight. I was able to get decent hits at 10yds using the rear iron sight on the A17. 

  Construction and durability are always a question of mine, at least for these inexpensive red dots. The Gowutar A17 has an outer shell made from 7075 aluminum, so it’s quality stuff. Gowutar states the A17 is shockproof to 1800G’s. But is it? The first A17 I had started having problems after about 3 months and about 400 rounds of 9mm. It started going off after a shot was fired. Then you had to smack it pretty hard to get it to turn back on. I contacted Gowutar and they immediately sent out another one. The new one has been good so far, with close to the same round count. Since I now had an extra A17 that kind of worked, I proceeded to take it outside and drop it on the concrete from about 8 feet. I did this 7 or 8 times and the glass didn’t break. Now it wasn’t on a firearm, but it still says something about the durability. It even turned on after the drops. Because of this, I wouldn’t recommend it for a “Duty” use application, and Gowutar doesn't sell it as that. But for something you use at the range, it should be a good fit. 

  For an inexpensive micro red dot, the Gowutar A17 is better than I expected. Yes, it had problems, but Gowutar’s customer service was great. The A17 has all the features you want in a red dot, like Motion Activated Illumination and a standard mounting footprint. Plus, it can usually be had for just over $100. I was impressed with its value and features for a range ready micro red dot. If you are in the market for something like this, check out what Gowutar has to offer.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Inexpensive Micro red dot

Target Market:

Those wanting a RMSc red dot for the range

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

  • 2 MOA dot

  • RMSc footprint

  • Motion activated illumination

  • Built in rear sight

  • Lens Height: 17 Millimeters

  • 7075 aircraft grade Aluminum

  • Fully Multi-Coated Ruby Red lens

  • Windage/Elevation Movement Range: ±45 MOA

  • 10 Illumination Settings: 8 Daytime/2 NV

  • Shockproof: 1800Gs

  • Waterproof: IPX8

  • Battery Type: CR2032

  • Battery Life: 160h-30000h

  • Net weight: 25g/0.88oz

  • Length: 37mm/1.44in

  • Width: 24mm/0.94in

  • Height: 26mm/1.02in

  • 3 year warranty

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Green dot   

What others are saying?:

3 out of 5 stars on Amazon  

Decent

I will say if you want a red dot and it’s what you can afford it’s pretty good. My problem is the battery mounts on the bottom and you can see the edge of the battery. To me it’s a little bit too exposed so I decided it would be fine on a gun I am only going to use at the range. Also you could use it on a gun that has a plate like a Canik that seats really well and covers the battery to protect it a little better.

Link to other reviews:

Yellow Belly Tactical

Price point:

MSRP = $118.99

Retail = Same

I need it now! Availability:

Amazon

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Motion activated illumination

  • Standard footprint (RMSc)

  • Uses standard 2032 battery

  • Battery Life

  • Durability - passed drop test 

Cons:

  • Stopped working after 3 months (sent replacement with no problems)

  • Bottom mount battery

Score: 6.50 Okay

Favorite Link:  Magne-Tech Rigel II

Primary Arms Classic Mini & Micro red dots

  Primary Arms has come out with a couple of new reflex sights. Both of these are from their value priced “Classic” line of optics. The two new red dots are the Classic Mini and Classic Micro. Both have 3 MOA dot sizes and are on common mounting footprints, making it easy to mount on various pistol slides.

  I’m putting the Micro and Mini together since they both function the same way. These reflex sights are your common “open” style. The main difference is size, weight, and mounting footprint. But as far as function, they are very similar. To turn them on, just push the brightness up button, marked with a plus sign. For off, just hold down the brightness down button for a few seconds, the one marked with a minus sign. If you forget to turn the sights off, they will automatically turn off after 12 hours of use. If you push a button anytime in that window of time, the sight resets the 12 hours. These two red dots both have 10 brightness settings. From sunny daylight bright down to midnight dark. You really can see and use all 10 of the brightness settings, if that’s what you want. The Mini’s up/down buttons are located on the left side of the reflex sight. The Micro has the up button on the left side and the down button on the right side. This is because the Micro is quite a bit smaller than the Mini.

Classic series MICRO

Classic series MINI

  When it comes to small red dot sights, people seem to want to know about battery life. I would tend to say that this is because everyone hates changing batteries. On the Primary Arms Classic Mini and Micro, the CR2032 battery is located on the bottom of the mounting surface. So battery life is more important because the sight must be taken off to change it. I’m not keen on the bottom mount battery, but since the battery lasts approximately 40,000 hours on brightness setting 5, I’m okay with it. 

Mini 3 MOA dot

Micro 3 MOA dot

  The 3 MOA dot size is a good option for the Micro and Mini. I like the precision that a 3 MOA dot allows. Yet it isn't too small to see on a handgun. I pick up the dot pretty quick with these reflex sights. Surprisingly, the dot on the squarer window of the Micro is easier for me to pick up, even though it is smaller. Don’t get me wrong, the red dot on the Mini’s more rounded window is still easy for me to pick up, but the window size is also noticeably larger. These reflex sights use fully multi-coated lenses to help make that red dot as bright and clear as can be. You do notice a very, very slight tint to them, but it doesn’t distract from seeing your target or the dot. To sight in the dot, they both have 1 MOA adjustment screws at the back and right side of the sights. They use a small allen wrench to adjust them, but they are not click adjustable. 

  The Classic series Mini is mainly for standard size pistols. It uses a RMR footprint to mount the red dot to a slide, or possibly a picatinny riser. The width is about 1.2 inches, when measured to the outside of the buttons, so it fits nicely on most compact and full size pistols. I really like how Primary Arms designed this for the RMR footprint, as it is one of the industry standards. So finding a slide or pistol to mount the Mini on is super easy. The Mini also has a decent sized window, at 24x17mm. This window is also slightly curved at the top to give you a better view of the red dot. This larger window also makes it easier to find the dot, so to speak. Being the larger of the two red dots, the Mini still comes in with a weight of 0.97 ounces.

Mini size compared to a penny, Micro is smaller yet

  Now onto the Classic series Micro. This is the smaller version mainly for use on sub-compact and micro pistols. It measures 1 inch at the buttons, but is actually a little slimmer in real life. Primary Arms uses the RMSc industry standard footprint for the Micro. Using the RMSc footprint is by far the best choice for this red dot. The window size comes in at 21x15mm. Even though the window isn’t very large, the squarer viewing window is easier for me to pick up. I mounted it on a glockish 43 and it looks right at home. The Micro is pretty much half the weight of its larger brother, coming in at 0.56 ounces. The height profile of the Micro also allowed me to use standard height backup sights. It does cut the sight’s viewing angle off some, but they still can be seen fine. So you may not have to purchase new iron sights with the Micro, a definite plus in my book.

  Both the Primary Arms Classic Mini and Micro red dots work great. They both handled recoil fine and I didn’t break them. I would recommend these to anyone looking for a cost effective red dot for range, competition, or just “fun” use. With no way to leave them on continuously, carry use is out for me. Look into the Primary Arms RS-10 if you need something for carry or home defense, as it will always be on. For what they are, the Mini and Micro are both great budget friendly options for a reflex style red dot.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Value packed reflex red dot sight

Target Market:

Anyone wanting a feature packed, low cost reflex style red dot

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

Both:

  • 3 MOA Red dot

  • Includes CR2032 battery

  • Up to 40k hour battery life on medium setting

  • 10 Brightness settings

  • Compact and lightweight design

  • Fully multicoated lens

  • 1 MOA adjustments

  • 6061-T6 aluminum housing

  • Bottom mounted battery

Mini:

  • Fits RMR footprint

  • Large 24x17mm Lens

  • Weight - 0.97 ounces

Micro:

  • Fits RMSc footprint

  • Compact 21x15mm lens

  • Optimized for micro-compact pistols

  • Weight - 0.56 ounces

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

None

What others are saying?:

???

Link to other reviews:

Lynx Defense - PA Micro and PA Mini

Price point:

MSRP = $149.99

Retail = Same

I need it now! Availability:

Primary Arms or Amazon

Micro

Mini

Our Rating:

Pros:

  • Bright dot

  • Price

  • Lifetime Warranty

  • Fits common mounting footprints

Cons:

  • Turns off after 12 hours

  • Bottom load battery

Score: 7.50 Good

Favorite Link:  Kaiser US

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