When it comes to the growing category of micro red dots, whether they are being outfitted on handguns, shotguns, or even modern sporting rifles with a riser, the bar has always been set by the Trijicon RMR. Whether you lost your hammer and you need to build a deck this weekend, or you are using the red dot for its intended purpose of actually shooting, the Trijicon RMR is as tough as the nails you could pound with it. Its next closest competition is a coin flip among several reputable and good manufacturers… until now. Now its closest competition for red dot superiority comes in-house. So, in this head-to-head Celebrity Deathmatch of popular miniature reflex sights, we will take a close-up look at the gold standard in the Trijicon RMR and its newest in-house rival in the RMRcc.

size matters: Trijicon RMR vs NEW Trijicon RMRcc

The RMRcc has just been debuted so not everyone may be acquainted with it yet in comparison to the traditional RMR. There are a few measurements that people will want to bear in mind when looking to purchase either one of them though. Each one offers small, but meaningful differences in the way they will mount, the footprint they will have on your firearm, and you will need to decide which might be best for you.

One measurement that is surprisingly the same from the RMRcc to the original RMR is the length from front to back. That measurement comes in at 1.8″ (48mm). This measurement we discussed in our full review of the RMRcc as essentially being inconsequential because all the firearms these could be mounted on – pistol, shogun, or rifle – will always have more than enough slide or rail space necessary to accommodate the less than 2″ footprint.

The next size change of note is the height. The height of the RMRcc is 0.9″ (23mm) versus the RMR listing as 1.0″ (25.4mm). How significant is this? By the numbers alone, really not that significant. What it does do though is change the positioning of the glass lens in the housing of the reflex sight. If you look at the image above, the lens on the RMRcc is higher in the body than the RMR. In fact, it is perfectly in line with the ledge on the rear of the red dot (where the elevation dial is).

From my personal experience shooting both, I point and position the red dot in the center of the glass more quickly on the RMRcc because of this. As a result of some deliberate and meaningful drills taught to me by Scott “Jedi” Jedlinski of Modern Samurai Project at a Trijicon shooting event, I learned a better way in which to ‘drop’ all red dots on the target I am engaging. So, regardless of the window size, you can quickly and easily catch your red dot, and with the center of the red dot window being higher on the RMRcc, I obtain my sight picture milliseconds more quickly.

The most noticeable difference in size for shooters will likely be the width. The width of the RMRcc is 0.9″ (23mm) while the RMR is 1.1″ (27.9mm). Visually, this is the most important dimensional alteration for shooters because the latest trend in the firearm industry is red dots on carry guns. With the RMRcc you can get your Springfield Armory Hellcat, Glock G48, Smith & Wesson Shield, (insert popular carry gun HERE) mounted up with an RMRcc and there will be no detrimental overhang of the slide. This means easier insertion/draw from a holster, less potential of snagging anything, and an authentically better fitment to your firearm.

Another consequence of the width being tightened up by 0.2″ (5.1mm) is that it altered the placement of the battery and the RMRcc screw hole pattern. By narrowing the footprint of the RMRcc that much it forced Trijicon to change the positioning of the circuitry to run it; thus, the battery storage position had to be moved. This in turn affected where the screw holes would be. Some consumers will incorrectly want to believe Trijicon changed the screw hole pattern from the RMR to the RMRcc just to be unique, and that is flatly wrong. In order to achieve their overall desired size for the NEW Trijicon RMRcc, it was required to make these necessary changes.

who should buy what?: Trijicon RMR vs NEW Trijicon RMRcc

While the differences between the RMR and RMRcc are only expressed in the smallest tenths of an inch, they both have pretty specific target markets. Could you put an RMR on a tiny .380 Auto? Yes. Could you stick an RMRcc on a full-size 10mm? Absolutely. Those two given examples would not be the best solution for your firearm though.

The Trijicon RMR has cemented its standing in the optics community as being a fantastic glass solution for anything full-size. Whether you are running it on a rail for a home defense shotgun, bumped it up on a riser for an AR-15, or are flexing on your friends by outfitting your gucci Glock with an RMR, it is a robust full-size problem solver.

Conversely, the new kid on the block in the Trijicon RMRcc is positioned to corner the market on carry guns. The nauseating problem with large red dots on carry guns is that they are cumbersome, look out of place, destroy the aesthetic lines of a small carry gun, and tend to snag, bump, and rub into everything. The RMRcc, on the other hand, is not a red dot just haphazardly slapped onto carry guns. It is a red dot produced by one of the most prominent red dot manufacturers in the world specifically for concealed carry handguns. The full name of RMRcc is “Ruggedized Miniature Reflex Concealed Carry,” after all.

final thoughts: Trijicon RMR vs NEW Trijicon RMRcc

If you are in the market for a new red dot because it is the latest trend in the firearm industry, the RMR or RMRcc will not disappoint. What did we say as kids, “Everybody’s doing it!” The biggest question you need to ask yourself is what size firearm am I looking to outfit? If it is a small carry gun, the Trijicon RMRcc is going to be your jam. Nearly anything else and the original papa RMR can get it done.

The MSRP for either one is currently set at $699 and they fit dozens of makes and models of firearms as shown specifically for the RMRcc below. In closing, we want to say thank you to Trijicon, Scott “Jedi” Jedlinski of Modern Samurai Project, and Federal Premium for providing TFB the products, training, and ammunition to bring you fresh new content surrounding the announcement of the NEW Trijicon RMRcc. As always, let us know all of your thoughts in the Comments below. We always appreciate your feedback.

 

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