Red dot sights, or reflex sights, are the best way to ensure fast target acquisition and rapid, accurate follow-up shots. But shopping for the best red dot sight for your pistol can be a challenge if you’re not sure what to look for. At SIG SAUER, our ROMEO series of red dot sights, particularly the ROMEO1Pro, are offered in 3 MOA and 6 MOA. So what does that mean and which one should you buy? Let’s take a closer look.

Pistol mounted red dot sights have become very popular not only with aging-eyed shooters but also with most recreational shooters simply because they make target acquisition easier and help to increase your accuracy. All you need to do is line up the target and the dot, as opposed to lining up the front sight and the rear sight with the target, and pull the trigger. That’s where MOA comes in. So, what is MOA and what does it stand for? MOA, or Minute of Angle, is an angular measurement that represents approximately a one-inch diameter circle at 100 yards. When you look through the glass in your red dot sight, you will see the red dot reticle. When you aim that red dot at your target down range at 100 yards, a 3 MOA reticle will look like a 3-inch circle on the target while a 6 MOA reticle will look like a 6-inch circle on the target.

The most popular MOA size for a pistol-mounted red dot sight is a 6 MOA reticle. The reason you might want to use a 6 MOA on a pistol is because it's easy to find the red dot when you draw and look through the glass, which allows for quicker target acquisition. This is the more common reticle size for most defensive and law enforcement situations. And since most pistol owners aren’t typically shooting further than 100 yards (in most cases it's only 25 yards or closer), 6 MOA usually makes the most sense. With a 3 MOA reticle, it's more difficult to acquire the dot rapidly after the draw, especially if you're shooting at longer distances. However, a 3 MOA reticle may allow you to be slightly more precise within the limitations of a pistol.

The good news is that there's no right or wrong answer here. The choice of a 3 MOA versus 6 MOA red dot sight is entirely up to you and your shooting preference. You may find one works better than the other based on the way you shoot, your eyesight, distance to target or many other factors. Either way, pistol mounted red dot sights should enhance your shooting experience and help make you a better, more accurate shooter.

SIG SAUER Academy Director of Training Steve Gilcreast discusses how to properly find the red dot in your optic when presenting your pistol to the target.

• Blog: The Advantages of Red Dot Sights and Pistol Mounted Optics
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