Sightmark Mini Shot M-Spec M3: Full Review

The days of being forced to shoot our handguns with iron sights are pretty much a thing of the past. A vast majority of modern handguns now come cut to host a red-dot optic of some kind. In the early days, red dots and other optics mounted on handguns were more of a curiosity than a reliable setup. In fact, many had problems holding zero or even staying on the gun. Technology in the optics world has evolved, however, and pistol-mounted optics have become a viable and popular accessory. They offer distinct and clear advantages over standard iron sights. From the speed of getting sights on target to downrange awareness, the benefits are numerous. As with any new technology, it can be a bit of a challenge to master it and break out of our habits; and this is doubly so with red dots. With that, let’s take a deeper dive into red dots and some tips to help enjoy all of their benefits.

The benefits of putting an optic on your handgun are numerous. First and foremost is the ease of acquisition. When we shoot iron sights, we have several things going on with sight picture and slight alignment. A blurry rear sight, a crystal-clear front sight, and a blurry target. While most of us have done it a million times, it is still a process that takes time. This is especially true with three-dot sight systems. Even if you don’t realize it, your brain is processing all the information you are putting in front of it. When you have multiple sight dots and possibly someone shooting at you, it can get complicated in a hurry. Red-dot-style optics allow us to simply put the dot on our target and go to work. With that comes increased speed. While experienced shooters can get their sights lined up very quickly, most people take a second to make it happen. The red dot does not require any special alignment and in turn, is faster than iron sights.

One other point that is important here with red dots is the ability to use them with both eyes open. While some shooters can shoot iron sights with both eyes open, a majority of people shoot with one eye. The benefits of shooting with both eyes open include greater down-range awareness, which is critical in a defensive situation. By seeing a larger area, we can determine if there is possibly more than one assailant or if there is another person close by who could be hit by gunfire. Lastly, the dot is easier to see. Many of us do not have 20-year-old eyes any longer. As life marches on, the front sight can become less and less “crystal clear.” I have experienced this myself and the red dot allows me to compensate for older eyes.

The red dot market is full of everything from bargain basement airsoft toys to “used by Delta SEAL Team CIA squad 200” depleted uranium moon-verified dots. As a rule, I steer people to good reliable optics that are about performance and not hype. One optic that meets those standards is the Sightmark Mini Shot M-Spec M3 Solar. I like this optic because it features a 3-MOA red-dot reticle, which is decently precise while also being easy to see. The sight also adjusts brightness automatically, improving performance in low-light conditions. This is a major point in my mind because you will not know if you will need your optic in bright sunlight or a dim interior space. Having it adjust on its own is a premium feature. A top-mounted solar panel works together with CR1620 batteries to provide a potential 20,000 hours of operation. While that sounds impressive, it also translates to 833 days, or well over two years, and that's if you kept it on the whole time. Also, an IP67 waterproof rating combined with a fully enclosed design inspires confidence that the sight will last the years. The optic has a common RMSc footprint and comes with a separate Weaver/Picatinny rail mount for various mounting scenarios. It is constructed of aircraft-grade aluminum and is shockproof for drops up to 3 ft. In summary, it is designed to do the job every time.

Red dots do require a bit of training however for those who cut their teeth on traditional iron sights. While it may take some practice, the transition to red dots can be made quickly. Let’s look at a few things to focus on to help us master the red dot. Once again, with iron sights, we have a blurry rear sight, a crystal-clear front sight, and a blurry target. That technique is centered around all of our real focus being on the front sight. With red dots, however, we look at the target itself. As we do that, we lay the red dot in our optic onto the target, and we are ready to shoot. As I mentioned above, this gives us great vision downrange. This can be a challenge though as we are almost hard-wired to watch the front sight. Another thing to avoid is what I call “scope mind”. That is when you are hyper-focused on the red dot as opposed to just looking through the optic. It can be easy to find out if you are doing this because people almost inevitably end up closing one eye like they are looking through a scope. One of the strengths of the Mini Shot M-Spec M3 Solar is its sizeable 20x15mm lens. This gives us a large vision box with little to no distractions.

Another item to help you master the dot deals with finding it. Like you, I too had trouble finding the dot after I presented my pistol. I would then begin the gun wiggle and sway trying to find the dot. The technique I will share with you comes directly from Scott Jedlinski of Samurai Project. His suggestion is to use the pinkie of your support side hand and squeeze the grip down slightly. When it is done correctly, the dot will magically appear in the window. Like anything connected to shooting, it takes practice but works very well. 

Another tip I have is to accept that dot placement inside the optic window sometimes will not be perfectly centered. This is where brain cramps can begin as we are conditioned to center everything. If you present your pistol and the dot is a little low left in the window, but on the bullseye…send it. It is going to hit the bullseye. The same is true for dots being high right or wherever. As long as you have a clear vision of the dot and it is where you want the round to impact, you are good to go. Do not waste precious time trying to get everything perfectly aligned. In time, you will naturally have significantly better alignment, but if it is off, you are still good. While some people will go into the deep weeds on parallax and accuracy, my experience is that has only minute effects at defensive pistol ranges.

The last tip will be to embrace the shake. When you point your pistol in and see the red dot, you may believe it is shaking all over the place. This is nothing new, but it is just easier to see with a red dot. Your mind can be distracted by the motion, and you may perceive it as excessive. It is natural however and not as big a deal as you may believe. Shots fired when the dot is close to the desired impact point may only be very slightly off.  I will digress a moment and mention that dot clarity matters in this respect. I have had the fortune of shooting literally every red dot on the market and the Mini Shot M-Spec M3 Solar dot is one of the clearest. I had mentioned earlier that we want to simplify things for our brain and a clear clean dot helps in that respect. To prove that the motion is not as detrimental as you may believe we will do a drill. Get 7 yards from the target and point the pistol in. Now, intentionally make an infinity, or sideways-figure-eight, motion with the muzzle of your gun. Have the motion cover the center area of your target. Get your finger on the trigger and prepare to fire. As the gun passes the bullseye, press the trigger. Do this five times. What you will find is that the group is about an inch or so in size. You accomplished that with intentional large motions of the gun. Now go back to just static shooting and the dot will look like it’s only barely moving. This is a confidence-building drill and you should give it a spin. 

I know from experience that some people will never make the jump to red dots and cling to iron sights forever. That is absolutely fine and pistol optics aren’t for everyone. I say that because I was one of the curmudgeonly guys who had tried red dots two decades ago and was not impressed. What I did do however was decide to open my mind and give modern optics a try. In truth, my eyes aren’t 20 years old any longer and the front sight was less than crystal clear. Modern pistol optics are revolutionary, and I found them to be significantly faster and more accurate than my iron sights. In short, I joined the 21st century and am happy I did it. Once again, I can’t encourage you enough to take the time to choose the right optic for your pistol. The Sightmark Mini Shot M-Spec M3 Solar is an excellent choice for your first or even tenth pistol optic. Reliable, durable, and priced at a point that won’t break your bank. If you are even remotely curious about making the jump to pistol-mounted optics, my one and only piece of advice is to do it.

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