US retail availability of the Meprolight M5 was officially announced this year at SHOT Show. Tim did a on-the-floor review of the sight here. While it is by all accounts a great sight, the price was disappointing (at least to those of us with a good memory). Back in 2010 rumors circulated the internet claiming the M5 would retail for under $400. It is currently retailing for about ~$620.

Apparently what happened was that while the original prototype met the IDF specifications and tests, they requested additional features that increased the price. So four years later the final product is over 50% more expensive at retail.

We have just gotten word that Meprolight is about to announce a new sight called the Mepro TRU-DOT RDS. This sight is based on that original M5 prototype and will retail in the USA for under $400, making it the first red dot sight under $400 that is truly “mil-spec” (built to survive IDF testing).

Mepro TRU-DOT RDS prototype.

I have been told that the Mepro TRU-DOT RDS will only be sold in the USA to civilians and police and will not be exported to any other market. As soon as I find out the product specifications and retail price, I will blog it.

On a side note, I just noticed that OpticsPlanet list the Meprolight M21 as discontinued. The M21 retailed for about $530. No doubt the TRU-DOT RDS is replacing it, at least in the USA, at a much lower price point.  UPDATE: No, the company just emailed us to say its not discontinued. Opticsplanet’s website is incorrect.