Blog

Guides, comparisons, and findings from the dataset. Plain answers to which red dot fits what, and why.

• Do You Need an Adapter Plate? A Plain English Guide to Pistol Optic Footprints

  June 25, 2026 · 6 min read

  Sometimes yes, sometimes no. It comes down to one thing: whether your slide's cut matches your optic's footprint. Here is how to check yours.

• We Mapped 134 Optics to 11 Footprints. Here Is What We Found.

  June 25, 2026 · 7 min read

  We mapped every pistol red dot to the footprint it mounts on, with a source on each fit. 134 optics, 11 footprints, 196 pistols. The optic market and the pistol market do not agree.