By American Rifleman – NRA Staff
The Trijicon RMR is small, lightweight and tough, and is a very versatile reflex sight compatible with a wide variety of firearms.
As the name suggests, the Trijicon RMR (Ruggedized Miniature Reflex) is both tough and small. Housed in forged aircraft-grade aluminum, it is also lightweight, and all RMRs are rated waterproof to pressures equivalent to depths of 66 feet.
The Trijicon RMR is available in three models with different reticle patterns. The first is the LED version, which is available in a 3.25-m.o.a. red dot and an 8-m.o.a. red dot. The second model is the Dual-Illuminated, which currently is available with one of four reticles: a 13-m.o.a. amber dot, a 7-m.o.a. amber dot, a 9-m.o.a. amber dot, and a 12-m.o.a. amber triangle. The Dual-Illuminated RMRs are battery-free because the illumination sources for their reticles are tritium and fiber optics. The last model is the adjustable LED, which comes with a 3.25-m.o.a. red dot or a 6.5-m.o.a. red dot. We received an adjustable LED model for testing and evaluation.
Powered by a standard CR2032 battery, the RMR’s illuminated reticle has eight brightness settings that can be manually adjusted by pressing the plus button on the left or the minus button on the right side of the lens hood. The reticle also has an auto-adjust mode that can be engaged by pressing the buttons simultaneously and releasing them. Although the RMR can be turned off by simultaneously depressing both buttons for three seconds, it was designed with the idea that the reticle would be powered “on” indefinitely. That was done in the name of simplicity and ease of operation. The sight has no switches or levers to forget to activate under stress because it is always powered on. Trijicon claims a four-year battery life under continuous use at brightness setting number four for the Adjustable LED RMR. When left on at the brightest setting (brightness setting number eight), the battery is said to last around 25 days.
The RMR is just 1-inch tall, but it has a generous 1×1 1/16-inch sight window that aids rapid, both-eyes-open, target acquisition and an unobstructed panoramic view for maximum situational awareness. Its eye relief is effectively unlimited.
The RMR’s non-magnifying lens receives a 28-layer coating that Trijicon calls True-Color. In addition to improving image quality under a wide variety of light conditions, the complex coating system maximizes the efficient reflection of the LED reticle’s wavelength, which extends battery life.
Windage and elevation adjustments are made using flush-mounted slotted dials on the housing’s left-hand side and top, respectively. Clicks are distinctly audible, but there is no tactile response. Each click moves impact 1 inch at 100 yards.
The RMR is a versatile sight that can be mounted on rifles, pistols or shotguns in a variety of different ways. We mated our test adjustable LED RMR with its 3.5 m.o.a. reticle to an ADCOR BEAR semi-automatic rifle in .223 Rem. At the range, the RMR’s zero adjustments proved to be consistent and repeatable. But beware, given its coarse 1-inch, 100-yard adjustments, a few clicks off can mean the difference between a hit or a miss, particularly with small or partially obscured targets. The RMR’s eye box is forgiving but not limitless. The RMR is relatively easy to maintain. To avoid scratching the lens, Trijicon recommends using compressed air to remove any large debris. Once clear of debris ordinary glass cleaner can be applied to the lens. A mild plastic polish will remove minor swirl type scratching. Trijicon also warns that strong solvents, such as bore cleaner, will damage the lens coatings.
All in all, the new Trijicon RMR is a very versatile reflex sight compatible with a wide variety of firearms. Whether mounted on a pistol, rifle or shotgun, it will certainly help the shooter speed up target acquisition and transition when engaging short-range targets. Given its ruggedness and durability, it is suitable for numerous military, law enforcement, competition and hunting applications.
Manufacturer: Trijicon, Inc., Wixom, MI 48393-0059; (800) 338-0563; www.trijicon.com
Magnification: 1X
Reticle: 3.5-m.o.a red dot (tested) or 6.5-m.o.a. red dot
Sight Window: 1″x11/16″
Adjustment (clicks/inches): 1″ at 100 yds.
Elevation Adjustment Range: 157″ at 100 yds.
Windage Adjustment Range: 157″ at 100 yds.
Power Source: 1 CR2032 (Lithium)
Dimensions: (LxWxH): 1.8″x1.2″x1″
Weight: 1.2 ozs. with battery
Lens: tempered glass
Body: forged aluminum
Battery Life: more than four years of continuous use at illumination setting four of eight
Suggested Retail Price: $695
Thanks to the National Rifle Association’s flagship publication American Rifleman for this article. Mike P. Guns & Gear Editor