Osight Pistol Optics
A Major Change in Red Dots
The Osight Model 1 pistol optic has a host of industry-standard features, but it’s the magnetic charging cover (left),
that really changes how red dots are powered.
Another pistol red dot, eh? Ho hum …
However, if you’re talking about the new Osight brand of pistol optics, those old worn-out promotional terms such as “revolutionary” and “game-changing” actually take on new life. You see, the folks at Osight actually did something eye-opening, and we’re going to talk about it.
Bear in mind this is all prospective as I haven’t even mounted the optic, let alone gone shooting. Instead, in this short article, we’re going to talk about the new technology it brings to the table rather than my impressions of how it works and, more importantly, whether it is reliable. Those tests will come soon enough, but I want to emphasize this going in — I can’t vouch just yet for this optic, but it’s certainly worth talking about.
A Different Game
At first glance, the Osight S Pistol Optic I’m testing seems to join the pack of compact open-emitter pistol optics crowding the market. The body is made from 7075 aluminum and seems plenty stout enough. The construction looks solid and the optics seem crisp and clear, though I always point out virtually everything new from the package looks perfectly usable. It’s only after I get to mistreat a product do I feel semi-comfortable declaring it will withstand the test of time.
The other Osight features, such as the multi-reticle (2 MOA dot in combo with a 32 MOA circle), adjustable light sensor, motion sensor, weatherproofing and low-profile for co-witness of iron sights, are typical for the expected baseline of such sights. What isn’t typical is the power under the hood and how you get all those frenetic electrons inside.
Osight optics stand out because they use a rechargeable battery instead of replaceable button cell batteries like every other optic on the market. If you use a pistol-mounted red dot, you know the pain and anxiety of dismounting the whole shebang to occasionally replace the battery. Some models do come with a slide-out battery tray, but this convenience brings along the concern of the tray popping open at the worst possible moment.
The charging cover is fed via a standard USB-C plugin and snaps on with a magnet for error-free engagement.
Instead, Osight designed a system around a non-replaceable integrated rechargeable power pack. While the system has a claimed run time of 87,600 hours — about 10 years — much like other top-quality optics, it doesn’t need all that power because of the second innovation: a magnetic cover/charger with an integral battery meter.
Instead of replacing the battery, you simply snap the cover over the sight, plug in a USB-C plug and let it recharge. The cover attaches positively because of an integral magnet and a circular charge meter on the top, which lets you know the current state of the system at a glance. Even if you’re not charging, a small switch on the side also allows a quick battery check.
Take Your Time
In practice, I could see charging the battery once a year (such as my normal “battery replacement day” ritual every New Year’s Day). If I understand the literature correctly, this gives you a margin of error of about nine years, something even I can’t mess up! I also love the idea you can pop on the protective cover whenever you have concerns about the power level.
Speaking as someone who has reached for a long gun in a true crisis only to discover the red dot optic battery had died while in the case, I appreciate the fact there is plenty of power in reserve, and you can verify the fact any time you feel so inclined. As this optic will go on a carry gun, I’ll probably do a weekly verification, if not more frequently. Considering the estimated 10-year life, it’s a bit of overkill, but that’s how I roll whenever the possibility of gear failure could get you well and truly deceased.
The Osight packaging is certainly among some of the nicest in the industry.
Brent half-expected to find a new Fruit Phone waiting inside!
The Osight faces headwinds — the niche is already crowded — but this hasn’t seemed to hurt their sister brand, Olight flashlights.
It remains to be seen if the Osight red dot can pull in front of the ever-growing herd of pistol optics but I’ll bet hard-earned money this won’t be the last brand to use this type of charging arrangement. Here at GUNS Magazine, we hate the trite, overused marketing term “game-changing” worse than fruitcake or communism, but for once, the label looks pretty accurate.
MSRP: $249
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