Launched in early 2023, the Sightmark Mini Shot M-Spec M3 Micro Solar is a fully enclosed red dot sight – with its electronics and LED emitter completely contained within a metal chassis and two lenses on both sides – launched to expand the brand’s own Mini Shot product line with a brand new, extremely compact, extremely lightweight alternative that is certified for recoil resistance up to .45 caliber, making it perfect for handguns, pistol-caliber carbines (PCCs) and pistol-caliber short-barrel rifles (SBRs).

Built around a matte black 6065-T6 lightweight aircraft-grade aluminum alloy chassis, with two 20×15mm optical glass, multi-coated anti-reflex lenses, the Sightmark Mini Shot M-Spec M3 Micro Solar red dot sight shares the same footprint as the popular Shield RMS-C, making it drop-in compatible with most optic-ready pistol slides; alternatively, an additional interface can be used for installation on Picatinny rails.

As its own name implies, the key feature of the Sightmark Mini Shot M-Spec M3 Micro Solar red dot sight is the built-in solar power source on top of the body. Solar-powered sights have been around for the best part of the decade, although initially most of them were merely gimmicks, with the solar collectors doing little more than contributing to the battery’s output.

Sightmark, one of the first brands to venture in the field of solar-powered small arms optics, spent years refining the technology, to a point when Sightmark’s Solar line of optical sights – and the Mini Shot M-Spec M3 Micro is no exception – can operate to the top of their capacity even without a battery if the environmental light conditions are sufficient.

The main power source of the Sightmark Mini Shot M-Spec M3 Micro Solar red dot sight, however, is a commercial 3V CR1620 battery, located within the turret on the left side of the body.

Technically speaking, the Sightmark Mini Shot M-Spec M3 Micro Solar red dot sight is always on. A built-in sensor, embedded in the ront face of the sight, detects the level of environmental illumination, automatically setting the brightness of the center dot, which turns to the lowest possible intensity when it detects that environment light conditions are such that the sight, and the weapon it’s mounted on, are likely to be in storage and thus not in use.

This system allows a single CR1620 battery to offer up to 20,000 hours of continuous runtime, and automatically sets the brightness level to the best possible visibility if the solar panel detects that the environment light is such that the sight, and the firearm it’s mounted on, are likely to be in use. 

It must be stressed, however, that since the built-in solar panel is powerful enough to power the device even without a battery, the sight can be stored without one, and in field conditions the battery life is dramatically increased by the efficiency of the solar power source.

The red dot can be adjusted for elevation and windage on a 60 and 90 MOA range respectively, through a set of two built-in turrets which need a tool for adjustment and feature no audible click. It’s thus highly recommended that the firearm is put on a cradle or another stable mount before zeroing your Sightmark Mini Shot M-Spec M3 Micro Solar red dot sight, but on the plus side they’re flush-fit enough to prevent accidental loss of zero in case of friction or careless handling.

Standing in at 4,1 cm / 1.61” in overall length, 2,9 cm / 1.14” in height, 2,8 cm / 1.1” in width, and weighing in at barely 45 grams (1.5 oz), the Sightmark Mini Shot M-Spec M3 Micro Solar red dot sight, is IP67-certified for resistance to impact, shocks, and immersion in water up to 1 mt (3 ft) for one hour; it is also certified as capable to operate at extreme temperatures, ranging between -30°C and +50°C (-22 to 122 °F).

The Sightmark Mini Shot M-Spec M3 Micro Solar red dot sight is available at a manufacturer’s suggested retail price of €359,99 in Europe and $199.97 in the United States.