https://youtu.be/4nyj9dGJCM4

Most of us ‘Muricans ain’t familiar with SHIELD Sights, but we probably should be. They’ve been making firearms, suppressors, optics, and more — primarily for the British military — for 30-some-odd years. In fact, they manufactured Trijicon’s first red dot, and they make the JP Rifles JPoint that I speak highly of. Well, it’s time to get to know SHIELD directly, as their products are going to be available in the U.S. this year. We got a close look at a few brand new ones . . .

First up is the RMS (click to download product PDF), or Reflex Mini Sight. It’s basically an updated JPoint — which is sold in other countries as the SMS, or Shield MiniSight, by the way — in an aluminum housing (instead of polymer). It also adds the option of a slide-out battery tray.

shield5

Despite that aluminum housing, it only weighs 0.61 ounces (17.5 grams). There are three reticle choices: 1 MOA dot with 65 MOA ring, 4 MOA dot, and 8 MOA dot.

shield4

Of immediate interest to me is the slim mount for the JPoint / RMS. As mentioned in that G19/G17 MOS review, my JPoint barely co-witnesses just by a hair with the factory sights and factory MOS mounting plate. With SHIELD’s slim plate, I’ll really be in business. Definitely picking up one of these ASAP, at which point I’ll drift the factory GLOCK rear sight off the slide and just use the integrated sight notch in the JPoint as my rear backup sight.

shield6

And finally we get to the 2.1 oz SIS, or Switchable Interface Sight. It’s the same, military-proven SHIELD CQB/CQS with the addition of a manual brightness adjust and four switchable reticles. There are two models, the CD or BD, and each can switch between any of its four reticles seen below.

shieldreticles

A 1 MOA dot is pretty awesome for accuracy, and even pumped up to full brightness I found that it stayed crisp and didn’t halo or wash out like most. While a manual brightness mode has been added, the auto-adjustment still works, and works well. Check that video up top to see it in action. Most optics auto-adjust to the level of lighting where you are, rather than where your target is (a big issue if you’re in dark shade but your target is out in the sun), but SHIELD plays this game a little better and its system is pretty decent at metering off the target brightness.

Bullet Drop Compensation Measurements

The standard mount for the SIS is composed of a base on which skeletonized spacers can be stacked. Add or remove spacers to adjust the height of the optic.

Pictured with 2 spacers
Pictured with 2 spacers

Even with multiple spacers, the center remains open for co-witnessing with iron sights.

shield

But, if co-witnessing isn’t a priority, the SHIELD Battery Mount will increase the one year of life you can expect with normal usage from the SIS’s single, CR2032 battery to…wait for it…8-to-10 years. It looks like a fairly standard riser mount, but it holds a CR123A.

shield3

The battery goes in the rear compartment, and that rubber junction thing on the right side piggybacks the power from the mount up to the optic.

shield2

I’m hoping to get my hands on an SIS to check out. Apparently the British military chose it over Aimpoint after they kept on trucking when the Aimpoints failed. I’m sure my requirements aren’t quite as rigorous, but for $449 it’s nice to know this military-grade hardware can shrug off some serious abuse.

RELATED ARTICLESMORE FROM AUTHOR

37 COMMENTS

  2. Pretty cool. I like the spacers idea. You would think somebody here (the US) would have thought of this already. Seems like every time I add and optic device I have to add a 1/2 -1 inch high clamp on rail with the $hitty quick release that works loose after 8 shots. (big bore toys) I wonder how these handle “Man Calibers” .308,45-70,12ga,454 Casul. Awaiting a return email from see all sights reguarding the use of their sights on the .454. I’m guessing it’s a no-go but I figured I’d ask before I got another and stuck it on. Then see it “blow up”.

  4. Please, please, PLEASE have constant-on capability.

    Auto-shutoff is simply *not* acceptable on a modern combat optic. 1+ year battery life, and a red dot that’s already on when the rifle is picked up – this is a minimum requirement IMO.

    The changeable reticle should be a game-changer (yes, I said it). Speed in a pistol red dot requires at least a 3 or 4 MOA dot, but the 6MOA dots lack any precision which is one of the primary benefits of a slide-mounted red-dot.

    A reliable, always-on, slide-mounted red dot that can quickly switch from an 8MOA dot to a 1MOA dot?? SHUT UP AND TAKE MY MONEY!

    • The stated battery life is always-on. There’s no “off” mode. They auto-adjust so if they’re in the dark, the dot is going to be very dim. Battery life estimates guess at “average use,” which means it’s probably stored in the dark sometimes. Since my G19 MOS is carried IWB under clothing, that dot should be pretty darn dark all of the time. When I take it off and store it, I put the included cover on top of the sight and that puts it in total darkness (the LED in that case would be in a very dim, night vision compatible sort of a mode).

      You’d probably get a couple-few years out of the CR123 mount one even on full brightness 24/7 haha

  5. So close to being sold. That JPoint on the G19 MOS looked promising, but there were just two derpy things about it — having to use gigantic suppressor sights when it was SOOOO CLOSE to not needing ’em — and having to remove it every six months to change the battery which likely means a bit of re-sighting in. Derpy.

    This seems to fix both. And if it can be used as a rear sight instead of the Glock standard rear sight, well, that moves the whole thing further back and makes it an overall less bulky package. I’m rootin’ for this one, let us know how it performs (and how it fits on that G19 MOS!)

    • I probably won’t be testing out the RMS. I’m planning on borrowing or buying an SIS though. For what it’s worth, I’ve had the JPoint on and off a few times and did not have to re-zero. It indexes on two pins on the MOS plate and it’s a snug fit and snaps in place. Once clamped down with the bolts, it has proven to end up back in the same place each time. At least, no discernible difference inside of 25 yards. The tray is certainly handy, though (even if batteries last a year or more).

  6. Looks like a nice line of products. Given the current state of UK politics, I’d just as soon buy firearms products from the Taliban or China, but it’s hard to boycott or penalize a company that’s trying to do right. Maybe they need to open a US production facility in Cheyenne or Bozeman?

      • This company does not white label products from anyone else. They are the designer and manufacturer of everything they sell. Other companies absolutely do white label their products, though. That said, I believe the RMR is entirely Trijicon’s doing.

        • The design barring a few cut outs seems almost identical. Have not held one of these, have held an rmr.

        • Not gonna lie, I’m actually not seeing it. Obviously the general form factor is really similar like it is for most all of these little reflex sights, but there are tons and tons of differences in pretty much every single aspect of it down to the fact that the RMR is a glass lens and the Shields are polycarbonate and the electronics and controls are different and the elevation and windage adjustments are different and in different locations and the RMR doesn’t have a rear sight cut and etc etc etc…

          But, as mentioned up in the post, Shield did actually develop and manufacture Trijicon’s first red dot, so it’s certainly possible there is still communication and collaboration between the companies. I’m not privy to that, though.

  7. The fact that it’s British and firearms related is enough to insure I will never, ever buy one of these, regardless of how good it might be.

    • Why? Are you anti British? They fight the same wars. Side by side. Many hundreds of Brit soldiers have died supporting The US .

    • So Jason, what have us Brits done to offend you so badly? As Michael correctly states we tend to have been on the same side in most major conflicts since the First World War 1914 – 1918. We even have our SAS guys working in Vietnam alongside the Aussies and yourselves.

      • I’ll bite

        Brits are virtually disarmed

        They are being purposely genocided via 3rd world invasion. London is now majority muzzie, crimes against white Brits are at record levels and the politicians are traitors

        Hate speech laws there mean you can’t even speak out about the 3rd world invasion

        Sexual degeneracy rampant

        One more thing.. I see a lot of tech chatter about these sights, with zero explanation of what is required to simply mount them on say, a Glock 21

  9. Any idea where I can pick up one of the slim mounts you mentioned below for my JPoint on G19MOS???

    Of immediate interest to me is the slim mount for the JPoint / RMS. As mentioned in that G19/G17 MOS review, my JPoint barely co-witnesses just by a hair with the factory sights and factory MOS mounting plate. With SHIELD’s slim plate, I’ll really be in business. Definitely picking up one of these ASAP, at which point I’ll drift the factory GLOCK rear sight off the slide and just use the integrated sight notch in the JPoint as my rear backup sight.
    Thanks
    Dennis

  10. Any idea where this RMS and slim mount can be found? I finally got my G19 MOS which was no easy feat and was already settled on a Jpoint but all the better if I can get an even lower mount with the sight notch. And with switchable dots and battery access. I’m ready to go. Where are they?

  11. So where can I purchase the RMS-D with slim glock mount and the SIS with the various mounts; in the USA?

    • I’m not sure if the RMS is available yet, but I’ve seen the SIS and a couple other models at Brownell’s (or Midway but I think Brownell’s). I’ve had one in for testing for about a month now… Going swimmingly.

    • Only the little pistol reflex sight isn’t fully sealed. It can still be submerged and will not be damaged, but if it’s in water it may not function. Moisture and generally being a bit wet is fine, just total submersion where water fills the battery area and solidly connects both the + and – contacts is what will cause it to turn off until it clears most of that water out.

  13. Hey Jeremy,

    Love that article, as always. Just curious; any new word about this slim mount? My ears really perked up when I saw this.

    I visited Shield’s site. No battery tray and no slim mount mentioned yet. Wondering if you’ve heard something. I’ve sent them an email and waiting for reply. If I hear anything, I’ll post here.

    Thank you

  14. After reading your article I checked them out via their website. Per their website the RMS-D had been slated for a release in Q2 of 2016 and now their website states Q4 of 2016. I too have emailed them without any response which is a shame as this product is so unique. Why they dont respond to USA customers is beyond me. I did purchase their SIS from Brownells and it’s a fantastic sight. The reticle is very quick for the eye and the ability to change reticles is icing on the cake. Think Eotech circle reticle in a Trijicon RMR on steroids (due to the larger size). I cant wait for the RMS-D!

Comments are closed.