If you watched any of the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) infantry combat footage coming out of Gaza over the last year, you’ve seen Meprolight optics in action. Their tritium/fiber-optic powered M22 is standard on rifles and machine guns. Meprolight, a division of SK Group, is now and has always been an Israeli company. The Meprolight MPO line of optics leans on this military influence and experience.

Meprolight: Military Mindset & Quality Defenders

Similar to Israeli Weapons Industries (IWI), they were once a state-owned entity at the service of the military. But it then morphed into a private firm with a global customer base. Its core mission remains providing the IDF with the best possible combat optics to defend the Jewish state from the many determined enemies bent on destroying it. In my book, that’s a pretty hardcore mission! Then as now, the optics they provide to the IDF are designed and made in Israel by men and women who have served in the IDF. However, under SK Group, Meprolight is more than just military optics.

Thanks to cooperation with their American partners at Meprolight USA, their optics lines have broadened substantially with the addition of American developed and engineered micro-red dot sights to appeal to the civilian self-defense and sporting markets, as well as military and law enforcement customers. Meprolight is one of a small and elite group of red dot optics manufacturers with a battle proven track record. Their American partners manifested that combat mindset across the new product lines in simple controls, rugged construction and practical design, allowing the shooter to quickly deliver accurate fire on the target.

MPO Closed Emitter Red Dots

For the last several months I’ve been experimenting with Meprolight’s newer open-emitter and closed emitter red-dot MPO (Mirco Pistol Optic) offerings on various handguns and carbines. Standard features on these compact, lightweight sights are automatic brightness control (usually with manual override), battery saving automatic off and “shake-awake” for instant readiness when the sight senses movement. They come with compatibility with night vision devices, shock, dust and fog proof construction, aluminum alloy casings for the best impact resistance, on-weapon battery compartment access so you don’t have to lose your zero to change your battery, and a high degree of resistance to water if submerged, The open emitter optics are IPX7 rating, which means they protect against liquids when fully immersed at depths up to 1 meter for up to 30 minutes. The closed emitter optics come IP67 rated, meaning they withstand submersion up to a meter deep for half an hour.

Here’s a rundown of their open emitter red dots in order of their size. Like most red dots, Meprolight’s sighting windows are basically rectangular, but they use two distinct styles that differ in the way the top is arched. The more compact style has a rounded arch on top. The style with slightly more sighting area uses a faceted arch on top.

MPO-DS 

The MPO-DS comprises Meprolight’s smallest unit intended for sub-compact and thin pistols. It measures 0.9 inches wide, 0.9 inches high and 1.6 inches long. The rounded arch sighting window measures 0.82 inches wide and 0.58 inches high. A rearward sloping casing delivers a snag-free draw while protecting internals. It weighs 0.6 ounces, features +/-80-MOA windage and elevation adjustment range, and runs 30,000 hours on as single CR2032 battery. A 3.5-MOA dot reticle features automatic adjustment. Finally, a conventional rear sight notch in the rear of the casing provides a backup. It comes with an RMSc/J Point footprint and retails for $209.99.

MPO-S 

Ideal for most full-sized concealed carry pistols, the MPO-S measures 1.04 inches wide, 1.02 inch high and 1.63 inches long. The faceted arch top sighting window is 0.78 inches wide and 0.6 inches high. An extremely thick casing, sloping rearward like the MPO-DS and MPO-F, protects the window and encourages a snag-free draw. It weights 0.8 ounces and incorporates a +/- 30-MOA windage and elevation adjustment range in 1-MOA clicks. It runs for 20,000 hours on a single CR1632 battery.

The user switches between three reticle options: 3.5-MOA dot, 33-MOA open bottomed ring, and the dot and ring combined to form a bullseye. A pair of buttons allow manual cycling up and down through 10 daylight and two NV brightness settings or just allow the sight to automatically select the brightness. It includes a conventional rear sight notch at the rear of the casing. It features an RMSc/J Point footprint and retails for $259.99

MPO DF 

Intended for general use on full size handguns or long guns with the included, compact, Picatinny rail mounting adapter, the MPO DF measures 1.3 inches wide, 1 inch high and 1.6 inches long, with a rounded arch top sighting window 0.89 inches wide and 0.68 inches high. This is Meprolight’s only micro-red dot sight that doesn’t have the reward sloping casing. Instead, the sighting window shielding is vertical, in back, making it better suited to openly carry handguns or long guns.

It weighs a mere 1.2 ounces and delivers a +/-50-MOA windage and +/-70-MOA elevation adjustment range in 1-MOA clicks. The MPO DF runs for 15,000 hours on a single CR1632 battery, comes IPX7 rated and withstands temperatures ranging -4 to 158 degrees. It has a 3.5 MOA dot reticle and eight brightness levels that you cycle through manually with a side mounted button or allow the sight to set the brightness automatically. It utilizes an RMR footprint. In my opinion, this sight and its Picatinny rail adapter are the screaming deal of the Meprolight MPO line. MSRP is $189.99

MPO-F 

Ideal for large-sized concealed carry handguns, the MPO-F measures is 1.3 inches wide, 1 inch high and 1.85 inches long, The larger, faceted arch top, sighting window is 1.26 inches wide and 1.09 inches high. A thicker casing, rearward sloping, protects the window. It weighs 1.4 ounces and delivers +/-30-MOA windage and elevation adjustment range in 1-MOA clicks. The unit runs for 20,000 hours on a single CR1632 battery. It comes IPX7 rated and operates at temperatures ranging -4 to 158 degrees. The user switches between three reticle options: 3.5-MOA dot, 33-MOA open bottomed ring, and the dot and ring combined to form a bullseye. A pair of buttons allow you to cycle up and down through ten daylight and two NV. A conventional rear sight notch in the rear of the casing provides a backup.  It comes with an RMR footprint and an MSRP of $319.99

For the professionals who must carry their guns regardless of rain, sleet or snow, Meprolight has two sealed emitter optics engineered to match the durability of their military M21, M22 and M5 optics.

MPO PRO S

The MPO PRO S measures 1.05 inches wide,1.07 inches high and 1.67 inches long. The faceted arch top sighting window is 0.78 inches wide and 0.60 inches high. The window is protected by an extremely thick casing to resist direct impacts. It weighs 1.4 ounces, has a +/-30 MOA windage and elevation adjustment range in 1 MOA clicks, runs 20,000 hours on a single CR1632 battery, is IP67 rated, with an operation temperature range from -4 to 140 degrees.

The user switches between three reticle options: 3-MOA dot, 33-MOA open bottomed ring, and the dot and ring combined to form a bullseye. A pair of buttons allow manual cycling up and down through 10 daylight and two NV brightness settings or just allow the sight to automatically select the brightness. A conventional rear sight notch is incorporated into the rear of the casing. It utilizes an RMSc/J Point footprint and retails for $279.99

MPO PRO F

Slightly larger and heavier than the PRO S, with a larger sighting window, the MPO PRO F measures 1.19 inches wide,1.26 inches high and 1.85 inches long. The faceted arch top sighting window is 0.95 inches wide and 0.70 inches high. The window is protected by an extremely thick casing to resist direct impacts. It weighs 1.8 ounces, has a +/-30 MOA windage and elevation adjustment range in 1 MOA clicks, runs 20,000 hours on a single CR1632 battery, and is IP67 rated, with an operation temperature range from -4 to 140 degrees.

The user switches between three reticle options: 3-MOA dot, 33-MOA open bottomed ring, and the dot and ring combined to form a bullseye. A pair of buttons allow manual cycling up and down through 10 daylight and two NV brightness settings or just allow the sight to automatically select the brightness. A conventional rear sight notch in the rear of the casing provides a backup system. It comes with an RMRJ Point footprint and retails for $359.99

Closed Emitter Benefits

Unlike open emitter red dots, which can loose their effectiveness if water gets on the rear-mounted emitter glass, difussing the reticle projection before it gets to the sighting window, a closed emitter sight has the emitter sealed inside, protected from the elements. The trade-off for that 100% reliable reticle projection is the extra bulk of the rectangular casing. For this reason, closed emitter red dots are more popular with police officers who carry their guns in open holsters than they are with civilians who conceal carry.

The Meprolight MPO line impressed me with its feature set, quality of materials and ease of use. Incorporating a solid, seemingly overbuilt construction, the price point and country of origin add greater appeal. Rather than enrich the enemies of freedom to save a few bucks, Meprolight USA uses respected, ANSI certified manufactures in friendly Taiwan and the Philippines to build its optics.

For more info, visit Meprolight.com.