Colt Electro Optics unveiled its debut lineup of red dot optics on, per a company press release. The Michigan-headquartered manufacturer rolled out three new products at once: the MRS-1 enclosed pistol red dot, the CSQ-1 rifle red dot, and the C3X-1 3x magnifier. Colt Optics notes that all three units are designed, engineered, and assembled domestically in Michigan.
"At Colt Optics, we believe professional users deserve equipment they can trust when performance matters most," said Dennis Finnegan, Chief Operating Officer of Colt Optics, in the announcement.
MRS-1: A Closed-Emitter Pistol Red Dot
The MRS-1 relies on a closed-emitter architecture that shields its internal electronics from dust, debris, and moisture. Compact by design, the unit comes in at 1.85 inches long and tips the scale at just 2 ounces.
Its housing is CNC-machined from 7075-T6 aircraft-grade aluminum for durability without added bulk. The sight is built around a 3 MOA dot with motion-sensing auto-illumination, and it mounts using the widely adopted ACRO footprint, allowing it to co-witness with standard-height iron sights. Colt Optics has priced the MRS-1 at an MSRP of $428.
Full specifications for the MRS-1 are detailed below:
| MRS-1 & MRS-1C Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Magnification | 1X |
| Auto Shutoff (hrs) | 10m |
| Window Size | 20mm x 21mm |
| Shake Awake | Yes |
| Eye Relief | Unlimited |
| Total Internal Travel (Elev. & Windage) | 35 MOA |
| Dot Color | Red 3 MOA Dot |
| Travel Per Rotation (Elev. & Windage) | 40 MOA |
| Battery Type | CR2032 |
| Adjustment Value Per Click | 1 MOA |
| Daylight Bright | Yes |
| Turret Type | Low Profile Exposed |
| Overall Length | 47mm |
| Mounting Footprint | ACRO |
| Weight | 2oz |
| Battery Life (Middle, hrs) | 75,000 |
| Housing Material | 7075-T6 |
| Illumination Style | Push Button |
| Button Location | Top-Mounted |
| Operational Temp | -20°F to +160°F (-29°C to +70°C) |
| Number of Day Illum. Settings | 8 |
| Purged | Nitrogen Purged & O-Ring Sealed |
| Number of NV Illum. Settings | 4 |
| Waterproof | IP68 (20m for 2hrs) |
CSQ-1: A Wide-Window Rifle Red Dot
The CSQ-1 arrives with what Colt Optics calls one of the largest square viewing windows currently on the market. The company says the expanded window is intended to widen field of view and speed up target acquisition in the field.
The optic pairs an aspheric lens with a multi-coated optical system, along with motion-activated illumination, dedicated night-vision brightness settings controlled by a separate button, and a multi-reticle system for varied shooting scenarios. Like the MRS-1, the CSQ-1's housing is built from 7075-T6 aluminum. It carries an MSRP of $824.
Full specifications for the CSQ-1 are detailed below:
| CSQ-1 & CSQ-1C Specifications | |
|---|---|
| Magnification | 1x |
| Auto Shutoff (hrs) | 8 |
| Window Size | 32mm x 32mm |
| Shake Awake | Yes |
| Eye Relief | Unlimited |
| Total Internal Travel (Elev. & Windage) | 80 MOA |
| Reticle Color | Red |
| Travel Per Rotation | 25 MOA |
| Battery Type | CR2032 |
| Adjustment Value Per Click | .5 MOA |
| Daylight Bright | Yes |
| Turret Type | Low profile exposed |
| Overall Length | 3" |
| Mounting Footprint | Aimpoint T2 Footprint |
| Weight w/o Mount | 8.0oz |
| Included Mount Type | Cross Bolt Picatinny Lower 1.3 Co-witness |
| Battery Life Middle (hrs) | 50,000h (Dot only) |
| Housing Material | 7075-T6 Aircraft Grade Aluminum |
| Number of Day Illumination Settings | 8 |
| Operational Temp | (-20°F to +160°F) (-29°C to +70°C) |
| Number of NV Illumination Settings | 4 |
| Purged | Nitrogen Purged and O-ring Sealed |
| Illumination Style | Push Button |
| Waterproof | 66ft (2ATM) |
| Button Location | Top-mounted push-button controls |
| Shockproof | MIL-STD Shock Resistance |
| Designated NV Button | Yes |
| Colors | Black (R105-101/CSQ-1), Coyote (R105-102/CSQ-1C) |
C3X-1: A Compact 3x Magnifier
Rounding out the launch is the C3X-1, a 3x magnifier measuring 2.72 inches in length, which Colt Optics describes as one of the shortest units of its kind currently on the market. Despite the small footprint, it still delivers 85mm of eye relief.
"Every feature had to earn its place," said Jon Meyer, Vice President of Product Development for Colt Optics. "The goal was to create optics that help shooters perform better under real-world conditions."
An ambidextrous flip-to-side mount lets shooters move quickly between magnified and unmagnified views, while an adjustable diopter and included riser plate allow the unit to fit a range of rifle setups. Paired with the CSQ-1, the C3X-1 lets shooters transition between close-range and extended-distance engagements. The C3X-1 carries an MSRP of $604.
Availability
Colt Optics says the MRS-1, CSQ-1, and C3X-1 will begin shipping to authorized retailers in the coming weeks. The launch marks the company's first move into the red dot sight category, following its earlier release of a line of LPVOs and rifle scopes.