The enclosed emitter, red dot sight market, is getting packed with options. One of those options is the Viridian RFX45. Because it is from Viridian, it uses a green dot, not red, as green is what Viridian is known for. The RFX45 is mainly designed for pistols, but can be used on rifles. I’m mainly going to focus on it as a pistol optic.

As mentioned, the RFX45 is a closed emitter dot style sight. Some people have nicknamed them “mailbox” sights, since they look like a mailbox sitting on top of your pistol. This is due to the square, boxy shape of the sight. The closed emitter sight has some distinct advantages over the open emitter style. For instance, the RFX45’s emitter won’t get dust or moisture on it. So the image of the dot stays clear. Yes, dust and moisture can get on the outside lenses, but this doesn’t affect the emitter itself and is easily cleaned off. I find enclosed style dot sights are easier for me to find the dot. This is due to it being easier to look down a tube, since my eyes find the center of a tube naturally. I know the RFX45 is technically a rectangle, but it still works better for me. To me there are only two disadvantages, and they really are small ones. Enclosed style sights, like the RFX45, can weigh more than open emitter style. The RFX45 only weighs around ¾ oz more than most open reflex sights. The RFX45 is still light enough that, most likely, you won’t have to change recoil springs, I didn’t. The next disadvantage could be their size. You might be more likely to hit it on something. Or, it might be harder to conceal under a shirt. Other than that, mailbox style sights, like the RFX45, are a great sight option.

Most of the closed emitter sights you encounter will have the ACRO footprint, the Viridian RFX45 is no different. The ACRO style footprint is a little unique, in that it is kind of like a mini picatinny rail. This means that you will need an adapter if your slide is not specifically cut for an ACRO. Do not fear, Viridian has different options as to what adapter plate the RFX45 comes with. Either a MOS, RMR, DOCTOR, or a low or high mount. The high mount is to mount it on an AR style rifle. The RFX45 I was sent had the MOS adaptor as the RMR ones were not out yet. I used a Primary Machine plate and it worked just fine. I do like how Viridian uses an “Industry Standard'' mounting platform for the RFX45.

Bottom dot is from the fiber optic front sight.

The Viridian RFX45 is packed with useful features. First, the RFX45 has Instant-On. So whenever the sight senses motion, it turns the green dot on. If it sits for 2 minutes, the dot goes off until it senses movement again. This feature worked flawlessly in the RFX45. I had zero problems with it. Next up is the 50,000 hr battery life. This long battery life is also attributed to the Instant-On capability and its CR2032 battery. The green dot size is listed as 5 MOA which is slightly larger than some others. Since this is a green dot, the 5 MOA dot appeared to be slightly smaller to me. But either way, the 5 MOA dot size worked fine for everything I did with it. The RFX45 has 10 brightness settings, 2 of which are night vision compatible. At the highest setting, the RFX45 can be seen in direct bright sunlight. During my shooting experiences, some in bright sunlight, I could see the green dot just fine.

Window size can play an important role when choosing an enclosed red dot/green dot sight. The Viridian RFX45 has a 24mm wide x 15.5mm tall window size. This window size is wider than most of its competition. Most are 15mmx15mm. As mentioned previously, this window size makes the sight super easy for me to pick up. This includes under recoil, the draw stroke, and transitioning between target to target. The clear green dot probably helps a little with that too. All I can say is that I pick up the RFX45’s dot faster than my open reflex sights.

Being the RFX45 is one of those mailbox style sights, I better explain some about its style. Yes, it’s square. But more on point is that the battery is housed at the top of the optic. So no removing the sight to change the battery. On the left side is a rubber pad with the up/down brightness buttons. The glass has an ever so slight tint to it. I never even noticed the tint, even on darker days. It’s super clear. Speaking of clear, the dot is extremely clear also. I have an astigmatism, and the dot doesn’t star out as much as some of my other green dots. For those of you with normal eyes, you will get a super clear round dot. I mounted the RFX45 to a Grey Ghost Precision slide that was cut for an RMR. Even with an adapter plate, the RFX45 sits level with the top of my slide. This allows me to still use the tall iron sights that are on the pistol.

So, if you are in the market for a “mailbox” style sight, do take a look into the Viridian RFX45. It may cost a little bit more than some others, but you are getting a quality enclosed green dot sight. I used it quite a bit and it never failed me, something I can’t say about the ammo I was using. You get a lot of high end features in the RFX45. You can check it out at Viridianweapontech.com

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Enclosed Green Dot reflex sight

Target Market:

Pistol shooters of all types, Law enforcement, Concealed carry, Competition

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

ACRO footprint
Dimensions 1.9" x 1.1" x 1.13"
Lens Dimension: 24mm x 15.5mm
Unlimited eye relief
Fully Multi Coated Glass
90 MOA of adjustment
5 MOA Green dot
1 x CR2032
Battery Life: Up to 50k+ hours
Settings: 10 | 8 Visible and 2 Night Vision
Operation: INSTANT-ON + User Controlled brightness
Weight: 1.73oz / 48.19 grams
6061 Aluminum w/ Hard Coat Anodization
IPX6 rated
Operating Temperature: -4F to 130F
Limited Lifetime Warranty
MOS, RMR, Doctor, & Picatinny mount versions

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

None

What others are saying?:

Couldn’t find anything

Link to other reviews:

GunDeals YouTube

Price point:

MSRP = $459.00

Retail = $399.99 at GunMagWarehouse

I need it now! Availability:

Viridian or GunMagWarehouse

Our Rating:

Pros:

Crisp clean dot
Enclosed so dirt and water do not get on emitter
Decent size window
Actual click adjustments
Battery life
Instant on motion activation

Cons:

Price
Needs adapter plate for most applications

Score: 8.00 Great

Favorite Link: Viridian RFX 35 review

Viridian Weapon Tech recently came out with a few pistol mounted green dots. Keeping in Viridian fashion, they only do green, hence the green dot and not a red. All of their green dots have the same features, they just are different sizes with different mounting footprints. They sent out the RFX 35 for me to try out, It uses the RMR footprint and has a huge viewing window.

In the current pistol mounted dot sight market, there are a bunch of important features the sights should have. The RFX 35 has most of these. First, it has an industry standard footprint, a RMR in the 35’s case. Next, I feel it should have some auto on feature. Viridian’s RFX 35 checks this box as it has their “instant-on” technology. What this does for you is turn the green dot on, when any slight movement is detected. The RFX 35 turns off and into this mode after approximately 2 minutes of being stationary. The last option I think these small dot sights should have, is night vision compatibility. I don’t use this feature, but I feel it is worth having. The RFX’s lowest 2 settings are NV compatible.

One of my favorite things about the RFX 35 green dot is its window size. The viewing window is quite large, measuring in at 22x26 mm. This is essentially a 1 mm shorter, and 1 mm wider than its commonly known competitor, the SRO. The window is also very rounded in shape, with a flat spot near the bottom. This means that no matter what you are doing, the green dot in the RFX is super easy to pick up. It also makes transitioning from target to target faster since the target comes into the viewing window sooner. I found it extremely fast to use on my Sig P320.

As previously mentioned, the RFX 35 uses a green dot. Viridian uses a 3 MOA dot size for the RFX. I thought the dot size was very useful. Not too large to cover up close targets, but small enough to be used, when accuracy is needed, on those 50 yard targets. Most people tend to see the green dot better than a red one. For me, I get less of that “bloom” effect with green, that is due to my astigmatism. The RFX 35 uses a “+” and “-” to adjust brightness. The “+” is on the left side, and the “-” is on the right side. I like this layout as you don’t accidentally push the wrong button. There are 10 total brightness adjustments, 8 are daylight and the other 2 are NV. The green dot is easily visible in bright sunlight on the highest setting. To adjust the green dot for windage and elevation, there is a supplied allen wrench. It adjusts in 1 MOA “clicks”, except it doesn’t have clicks, just the turn screws. This doesn’t hurt the functionality, I just prefer clicks to make adjustments easier for me.

Another advantage to the RFX 35 is its extremely low profile. This little green dot sits lower than any of the other RMR footprints sights I own. Part of the reason it sits so low in the slide, is that it has a bottom mount battery. No side or top load battery here. I prefer to not have a bottom load battery, as I don’t like to remove things to change batteries. Is this a deal breaker? No, it’s just a slight inconvenience every couple of years when it needs to be changed. With a 30,000 hr battery life, it’s not like you have to change it all the time.

In the end, I am really liking the Viridian RFX 35. The green dot is crystal clear and is easily picked up with my eye. The window's viewing size is fantastic. Plus, it has that industry standard mounting footprint. The RFX 35 has been a really good sight for me. If you are looking at a large window reflex sight to mount on a handgun slide, or possibly a rifle, the Viridian RFX 35 may just be the ticket. Check it out, along with the other RFX series sights, at Veridian’s website.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Large window green dot sight for RMR footprint pistols

Target Market:

Carry, Competition, Training, and anything else

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

3 MOA Green Dot
22x26 mm viewing window
RMR Mounting Footprint
Picatinny mount included
Auto shut off and INSTANT- ON technology
30,000 + hours battery life at brightness level 5
6061-T6 aluminum body
Designed from the ground up to ensure clarity, solid function, and rapid target acquisition
Designed to fit full size handguns, shotguns, and rifles
8 Visible & 2 Night Vision Brightness Settings
WEIGHT: 1.0 oz
WARRANTY: 7 years
AUTO OFF: 2 minutes

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Other RFX series

What others are saying?:

4/5 stars on Amazon

Pretty nice if you get it on sale

500 rounds through my pistol with this dot and it went from being a safe toy to my EDC. I got the 35 and it turned my pistol into an entire new machine. Easier to sight in than my holosun, and over $100 less. Will be getting the 15 for my smaller pistol and ditching the holosun 507k I have on it. The green dot is super easy to see. Honestly surprised how much better I like it over my holosun.

Was honestly surprised by the dot. I expected it to be crap after seeing the glass fell out of both the reviews I watched. Ended up being a great purchase. My only gripes are the fact it has to be removed to replace the battery and that it's kind of difficult to remove the wrench used to adjust. Would be so much better if they used the same style screws as pretty much every other big-name dot to adjust. I never have an allen wrench on me, but I always have some kind of small device that can be used as a flat head.