New Product Highlight: Colt Optics
You read that right – Colt is now in the optic game. Come check out the legendary brand’s red dots, magnifiers, LPVO, and rifle scopes.
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For many of you, Colt represents a historic gold standard set by iconic service rifles and pistols of the U.S. military. Now, the brand is branching out.
Behold Colt Optics.
It’s too early to declare these optics the worthy successors to the Colt name, but early signs look extremely promising.
Let’s check them out!
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Colt CSQ-1 Specs & Features
Specs
- Magnification: 1x
- Objective Lens: 32 mm x 32 mm
- Reticle: CSQ (red)
- Illumination: 8 daylight, 4 night vision
- Battery: CR2032
- Weight: 8 oz
- Country of Origin: USA
- MSRP: $824
Features
- Dedicated button for night vision modes
- Versatile BDC-style reticle
- Giant window
Since most of you are AR-15 shooters, let’s start with the Colt CSQ-1 carbine red dot.
It’s a duty-ready enclosed unit with a beefy aluminum housing, massive viewing window, and cleverly designed reticle.
The red CSQ reticle features a center aiming dot, a speed ring for fast focus, and elevation holds for longer shots (you can also use the 1.5-MOA dot by itself).
There are eight daylight and four night vision brightness settings, with glove-friendly buttons up top and a dedicated button to switch between daylight and night vision modes.
The CSQ-1 automatically powers down after 10 minutes of inactivity, and shakes awake with the last mode you used.
Colt lists an MSRP of $824 for the CSQ-1 red dot.
Colt C3X-1 Specs & Features
Specs
- Magnification: 3x
- Eye Relief: 75-85 mm
- Mount: Flip to side, crossbolt
- Weight: 6 oz
- Country of Origin: USA
- MSRP: $604
Features
- Outstanding eye relief
- Flips to either side
- Adjustment turrets center the reticle
If you’re concerned about positive identification or making longer shots, the lineup also includes the Colt C3X-1 3x magnifier.
Right off the bat, this magnifier has an impressive 3- to 3.3-inch eye relief. That makes it one of the easiest red dot magnifiers to get behind and make a shot without adjusting your head position.
Elevation and windage turrets let you center the CSQ-1’s reticle in the magnifier without affecting the point of impact.
When magnification isn’t required, you can flip the C3X-1 to either side.
Colt lists an MSRP of $604 for the C3X-1 magnifier.
The lineup also includes the VMR family of rifle scopes:
- VMR 1-8x28 LPVO
- VMR 3-18x44 DMR scope
- VMR 4.5-27x56 long-range precision scope
All three feature first-focal-plane MRAD reticles, 0.1-milliradian adjustment values, and 34-millimeter tubes.
And, lest you think Colt forgot that it’s in the business of combat, there’s also a $2,700 laser aiming unit. The LP5X-P features a green laser, infrared laser, adjustable IR illuminator, and flood IR illuminator.
Finally, there’s the MRS-1 pistol red dot, a rugged enclosed-emitter unit that uses the ACRO footprint and two massive brightness adjustment buttons on the top of the optic.
Colt is hitting the optic market with an extremely strong opening haymaker. What do you think, are you in?
What do you think of the new Colt Optics? Let us know below. Want to know about all our favorite glass, from red dots to LPVOs and prism optics? Check out our guide to the Best AR-15 Scopes & Optics!