Viridian has been around for a while and I’m a fan of their green dot reflex sight and optics. One of my favorite reflex sights for the money is the RFX 11 dot sight. This RMSc/Shield footprint green dot is durable, simple, and if you haven’t heard, green is easier to see the red. At least that’s what they say. I can say from my own experience, green is much easier to see during the daylight hours than red. I put this optic on my Ruger Max 9 and love it.
There is still some debate out there about reflex sights with some people liking them and others saying they’re not needed. I have some handguns with optics mounted on them and some without. Like anything, I think it depends on how much you use and train with a particular setup. I used to lean towards old fashion iron sights, but the more I use reflex sights, the more I like them. Here are some of the details about this awesome green dot sight.
About the RFX 11 green dot reflex sight
The first thing I like about the Viridian RFX II reflex sight is how simple it is to use. Many sights have buttons on one or both sides for adjusting the brightness or other settings. While the ability to adjust the brightness or turn shake-a-wake on and off is nice, it’s also more complicated. During an emergency, you can’t stop making an adjustment to the optic. Some companies have a lock setting so the adjustments can’t be changed by accident. But when it comes to concealed carry, I want simple and fast.
The RFX 11 is a 3 MOA green dot with an auto brightness function and instant-on for speed. Don’t worry about it going dead anytime soon because this reflex sight has a battery life of 30,000 hours. You simply mount the green dot on your favorite handgun and it’s ready to go. I didn’t even have to make a windage or elevation adjustment on mine. At 20 yards, it was hitting within a baseball diameter of where I was aiming. For a CCW gun, that works for me.
I mounted my RFX 11 on a Ruger Max 9 and they go great together. Sheild or The RMSc optic footprint is a common footprint of CCW guns, and the instillation was easy. I was able to find a CYA IWB (inside the waist band) holster on Amazon that fit it perfectly with the optic. While I like the Viridian RFX 11, the Holosun 407c or Vortex CCW Defender are great choices too.
Price vs quality on the Viridian RFX reflex sight
One of the biggest difficulties when selecting a green or red dot reflex sight is finding good quality within your price range. Unless you are shopping at the very top of the food chain, reflex optics can range from $40 to $1,000. Many of us want a budget friendly reflex optic for a budget friendly CCW gun. Viridian is a great brand for a quality optic that doesn’t drain your wallet. I’ve tested this one by baking it in the oven at 150 degrees for 15 minutes. I’ve also soaked it in water, frozen, and dropped it multiple times.
It runs on a CR2032 battery so it’s not hard to find extra batteries. Wal-Mart, Amazon, Target, and others all sell them for just a few dollars. With a 30,000-hour battery life, setting up a schedule to change the battery each year should keep it running reliably. Not only is the optic of good quality, but green dots typically cost more. This is just a good optic overall and the price only makes it better.
Can a reflex sight be used on a PCC or rifle?
Even though the RFX 11 green dot reflex optic works great on handguns, it comes with a picatinny mount adaptor for mounting on a PCC (pistol caliber carbine). The adaptor would cost another $30 – $100 depending on the brand so getting one with the RFX 11 is just another plus. I put mine on a B&T for a while just to see how I liked it. Depending on the type of gun you are mounting it to, you may want a riser. The RFX 11 is compact and a little too low on the rail for me. I used a riser with a quick release attachment, and it worked great.
Are you ready for one?
If you are thinking about adding a reflex optic to your CCW gun, I would give this one a try. Especially if you want a budget friendly optic. It’s durable, easy to install, simple and best of all, affordable. Green is much easier to see than red and because this reflex dot adjusts to the light, it’s ready to go when you need it.
Viridian RFX 11 specs
- Footprint: Shield RMSc
- Dimensions: 1.6″ x 0.95″ x 0.89″
- Lens Dimension: 16mm x 22mm
Eye Relief: Unlimited - Lens Coating: Multi Coated Glass
- Maximum Adjustment: 90 MOA
- Reticle: 3 MOA Green
- Power Source: 1 x CR2032
- Battery Life: 30,000 hours (middle setting)
- Settings: Automatic Brightness Control
- Operation: Instant-On with Ambient Light Sensor
- Dimensions: 1.6″(L) x 1.0″(W) x 0.9″(H)
- Weight: 0.44oz / 12.47 grams
- Housing Material: High Strength Thermomolded Polymer
- Environmental: IPX4
- Operating Temperature: -4F to 130F
- Warranty: Limited Lifetime