The Ruger 22/45 is best outfitted with a lightweight, small optic that is designed for close range shooting—that is, a red dot sight. The optic itself needs to be rated for an actual handgun and not an airsoft or BB gun. The best optics will be able to resist round after round of firing without losing zero. The scope should enhance your abilities, your accuracy, and your ability to transition targets. A red dot should even make it easier to engage targets at longer range.
The following 4 optics have our recommendations for the best Ruger 22/45 red dot sights on the market. Check them out!
Primary Arms Micro Dot
Primary Arms is one of the many companies that can produce a high quality, budget-friendly optic that is extremely capable. The Primary Arms Microdot is a small tubular optic that offers no magnification and uses a simple red dot as its reticle. The Primary Arms Micro dot is very light, short, and compact. The optic itself is designed to attach to a standard Picatinny rail and is equipped with the actual mount to make this happen. This Micro red dot is waterproof but not completely submersible, but it’s highly unlikely you are planning to swim with your Ruger 22/45.
The Micro Red Dot is equipped with 11 different brightness settings. The settings range greatly in terms of brightness level. For example, the first two settings are night-vision compatible, and not visible to the naked eye. The last two settings are bright enough to be used in sunny Baghdad. The dot is a 3 MOA dot, so it rides the line between precise and easy to see. The dot itself doesn’t grow or wash out as the brightness is increased. The Micro Red dot weighs a mere 4.3 ounces, and is only a couple inches long.
Vortex Venom
Vortex has made quite the name for themselves in the optics world and have introduced red dots designed for rifles, magnified optics designed for long range rifles, and micro red dots designed for handguns and as backup red dots. The Venom is a micro red dot. The open design of the system makes it possible for users to keep an open view of the world around them. The design more or less implements the red dot over your natural vision and makes transitioning as natural as moving your arm.
The Vortex Venom (see full specs) is super small, and the weight will be nearly unnoticeable on a Ruger 22/45. The Venom’s is designed to work with a whole host of different mounting systems including Picatinny rails or direct mount via screws. The Venom is sealed to prevent moisture and debris from entering the system. The Venom makes it very, very easy to aim, fire and transition with your weapon. The optic does not impair holstering the weapon, and can co-witness when suppressor height sites are used. The Vortex Venom sits at an excellent price point and is easy to use for shooters of all ages and possibly earns the title of best Ruger 22/45 red dot sight.
Aimpoint Micro H-1
The Micro H-1 is a proud piece of Aimpoint history. Designed by the same company that provides the chosen optic of the U.S. Army, the Aimpoint Pro can do everything its bigger brother can at a smaller size and a generally much lower price.
This small optic (see full specs) is perfect for the discerning Ruger 22/445 user (and one with a relatively deep pocket). This is red dot generally a bit expensive, but it’s for the user that wants to take their Ruger 22/45 through hell and back. The Aimpoint H-1 was specifically designed as a small optic for hunters, and the Ruger 22/45 is an excellent option for those looking to hunt small game.
The Aimpoint H-1 would be perfect for taking a squirrel, rabbits, and other small game and pests. The H-1 s a tube style optic that easily mounts to Picatinny rails. The H-1 is completely water and shock proof and will not lose zero regardless of the rounds you throw at it.
The H-1 is capable of excelling at a variety of tasks and is not limited to simply a hunting optic. The H-1 has a small, and precise 2 MOA dot, which makes it perfect for extended range pistol shooting. The optic has 12 daylight settings and a battery that lasts for over five years when left on. If you want to shell out the bucks, this is the best Ruger 22/45 red dot sight period.
Burris Fastfire 2
The Burris Fastfire is one of the most popular pistol optics on the market. It is renowned for its simplicity, its ease of use, and its effectiveness. The Burris Fastfire mounts directly to the pistol’s receiver or can use a standard Picatinny mount.
The Fastfire is waterproof, has an all steel construction, and is relatively affordable. The Burris has an open top design with a semi-square viewing window and uses a simple red dot as its reticle. The dot uses a 4 MOA red dot that is built for speed, hence the Fastfire moniker. The big 4 MOA red dot is a little more difficult to use at longer ranges but much faster when it comes to transitions.
The Fastfire is the lightest of the sights available and weighs only 1.6 ounces. At 1.6 ounces you won’t even know the thing is there until you start aiming. The Burris Fastfire has a battery that is capable of lasting 20,000 hours, so it won’t die when you need it most. When thrown on the Ruger 22/45, the handgun is perfect for speed shooting, for simple competitions, and for hitting moving targets at close range.
Ruger-Dotted
The Ruger 22/45 is one more legacy firearm attached to Ruger’s name. It’s an excellent weapon that doesn’t need an improvement, but an optic can really expand the weapon’s potential. The best Ruger 22/45 red dot sights increase shooters’ accuracy, their range, and their ability to rapidly engage and transition from target to target. Get the best one you can afford and you won’t regret it.
