I was checking out a hellcat in a store the other day and didn't pull the trigger as it was not the optics ready version. I'm beginning to wonder about that choice as I don't think it would be my primary edc gun. My plan would be to grab one for pocket carry when I needed something ridiculously small in which case I feel the added rds height may kill the whole concept anyways.

I'm also not sure about the current options for micro rds at least for the stuff that's currently out there. I'm not sure how I feel about the Romeo zero as it's reportedly all polymer. I've read that the shield micro is fine useage wise but that a drop will likely kill it. This makes me wonder if I shouldnt just stick to irons at least for the way I intend to carry a gun this size. I very much believe in an rds for my normal carry gun but again this would be an uberbug for me.

Anyone else in the same boat? I'd love some input.

Haven’t tried it, but Id think the optic would make it tough to fit in a pocket while introducing a major snag point.

Holosun has announced a mini that drops into the Sig 365xl. It has the same mounting system as the Romeo 0 and is supposed to be an aluminum housing over coated glass lenses. I read that the price is $250-300. Model is 507K. Should also fit the Springfield as well.

And that is why we wait til SHOT I guess. Very interesting.

I bought a hellcat and put the shield optic on it. Not a pocket gun, but easily carries in the waist band.
I'm 63 and have been shooting with glasses for awhile.
The red dot allows me to shoot without glasses out to a reasonable distance.
Already had a 365.
Will it hold up to edc? Need more time. So far well over 700 rounds with the hellcat/sight without issue. It gets dirty fast. Have been dusting it off at the end of the day with one of those scope pen cleaner thing.
I'm sold on dots for edc.

I suppose I could future proof my decision and just get the optics ready version, that way I always have the option but could run it without if that seems better. Its not a huge price difference.

On pistols I've used RMR's, Holosun 507's, and a Shield RMSc and the best experience by far is the RMSc. Checking into it before getting one for my P365XL I never came across any kind of reliability concerns. Shield has been around for a couple decades making optics and if I recall correctly much of it has included making and supplying these optics to the British special forces. Shield products have been rebranded and sold under the names of other big name manufacturers. The only negative I had come across is the use of polymer vs glass and feedback that it can scratch easier, such as while being cleaned. The optic window of the RMSc and the built in backup iron sight makes the viewing area massive vs the others.