Smith and Wesson M&P 2.0 10mm is a small gun that packs a lot of energy. The gun is made by S&W as you guessed already. It’s one of the few handguns that you can freely hunt with. On top of that, the gun excels in competitive and self-defense tasks as well.
While S&W does offer different types of mounting plates that just slides on the top of the gun and allow you to mount different types of sights, the gun at stock doesn’t come with any sights.
I hope you know by now that a stock iron sight of a pistol is not the best thing to have. We are not John Wick here nor do we have digital magnification attached to our eyes. As a normal human being who loves to shoot handguns, a red dot is the only solution for this problem.
Well, what are we waiting for? Let’s find out the best red dot for M&P 2.0 10mm. Let’s see if the red dot is really good or if it’s overhyped.
What Size Of Optic To Go For?
As S&W gave you the freedom to go for full-sized red dot or compact red dot made for handguns, you can go for anything you want. That includes sights like Holosun HS510c and Trijicon RMRcc (more on that later). Here is a picture of the plates that are supported by M&P 2.0.
Best Smith And Wesson M&P 2.0 10mm Red Dot
1. Trijicon RMR Type 2 3.25 MOA Red Dot Sight
Trijicon makes great red dot sights and there is no way of denying that. They make both full-sized and compact red dot sights. This one is part of their compact red dot made for handguns. This tiny sight can also sit on top of your riflescope if you are into that. As there is a mounting plate available already that supports the RMR Type 2 on your M&P 2.0, you will not need to buy a different one.
As for the sight, it’s made out of high-quality machined aluminum. CNC machining nowadays is flawless. If your sight by any chance has a dent out of the box, you can ask for replacement and Trijicon is more than inclined to offer you such. The lens on the optic is not made out of plastic.
It’s a fully multi-coated lens that is scratch-resistant to a degree. As it’s not made out of sapphire, it will scratch if you scratch it with a sharp object. The sight is also fully waterproof and shockproof. Recoil from M&P 2.0 won’t even tickle it, let alone break it.
It fancies a 3.25 MOA illuminated red dot reticle. You can adjust the brightness of the reticle through the setting button on the side. Battery life is impeccable and changing one on the go is no issue either. Yes, the battery compartment is also waterproof.
Why is this a good Smith and Wesson M&P 2.0 10mm red dot?
Well, Brent, you said all the good things about the sight and why it’s a good choice in general, why do you recommend it for M&P 2.0? That’s a very good question, my friend. First of all, you will not need a gunsmith to install it on your M&P. Second of all, the sight is incredibly sturdy and has great after-sales service. Third of all, it synergizes well with the gun. Not many adjustments are needed once you zero it out.
Where does Trijicon make their sights at?
After seeing so many counterfeits of Trijicon in the gray market and Chinese websites, you might be wondering about the true existence of Trijicon. Well, Trijicon is an American company that designs their product in-house and they also produce their product in their factory as well. In short, it’s an American product through and through.
Do I need to buy a mounting plate for this?
Unfortunately, yes. The sight does come without any mounting plate. You will need to buy a mounting plate compatible with your weapon like this. Thankfully, this mounting plate is compatible with multiple other sights I’m about to mention down below.
2. Holosun 507C X2 Red Dot Sight
When it comes to affordable red dot sights, Holosun has a market saturated with multiple different options. One might even think they are making too many sights. I kind of agree with that sentiment. But this is also a good thing. As they keep making more sights, other manufacturers need to make new sights to capture the market as well. And that is a win for my friend.
The sight is made out of high-quality aluminum. It’s made from a billet that is machined with CNC. It’s an unibody design with no visible creases. The optics body is then anodized in matte black to make it look and feel classy. Anodization also protects the optic from unwanted scratches if you were to drop it.
The lens on this optic is fully multi-coated and it’s extremely bright. It gathers plenty of light for the optic to work with and it also offers an illuminated reticle. There are a total of 12 adjustable brightness settings present on the optic that you can use. The button that you use to adjust brightness is fairly tactile. You won’t mispress it.
As the sight is somewhat of a full size and can be later used on a rifle as well, it is a good idea to invest in one. It secures your present and gives you headroom to upgrade your weapon in the future. While the sight comes with its mounting system for Picatinny housing, you will still need a plate like this if you want to install this on your M&P 2.0.
Is Holosun an American Brand?
Unfortunately, no. They are not American brands. They are located in China and they operate from there mostly. But as they have sales centers in America, they gathered quite a bit of users in the country. Their warranty and replacement policy is rather straightforward compared to lots of other companies.
Is this a good optic for hunting?
If you are hunting close-range, yes. It’s a great optic for hunting but you cannot push it beyond 50 yards. That will make it lose credibility. Beyond 50 yards, red dots are more of a guessing game than accurate claims.
Should I go for HS507C green or red?
That’s up to you. If you like red dots then stick to red dots. If you don’t like red dots and want to venture a different way, Holosun also makes the same sight with green dots instead of red.
3. Leupold DeltaPoint Pro Reflex Sight
Can Leupold do anything wrong? I don’t think so. This company has been giving the shooters a sigh of relief for decades now. Their optics are used all over the place for different purposes. Just like their scopes, this red dot sight is also a “budget” oriented product for handguns. Then again, the budget varies depending on who you ask.
The sight is made out of aluminum. One surprising thing is, it’s not black only like the other sights I mentioned so far. The sight has a khaki/dark earth tone that looks fantastic. Of course, you have the classic semi-glossy black if you want to have that as well.
The sight is water, fog, and shockproof. It also features a fully multi-coated lens. It’s plenty bright for a good low-light performance. The adjustable brightness reticle is 2.5 MOA in size. Adjusting this is quite easy and it doesn’t take much effort either. Thanks to the light management system of Leupold, this sight is one of the best hunting red dots for M&P 2.0.
Just like most other red dots that are priced similarly, this one is available in multiple different options to choose from. You can for one with a mounting plate or you can go without it. Depending on the configuration you end up going for, it will either cost you more or less.
Is Leupold Chinese?
No, they are not. From designing to manufacturing, everything of Leupold is done in the United States.
Is there any difference between dark earth and black color variants?
No, there is 0 difference between dark earth and black variant besides the obvious appearance.
Is Leupold DeltaPoint Pro good for hunting?
It’s not made for hunting. But as I mentioned above, the light management system paired up with an illuminated reticle makes it a good hunting sight. But the main purpose of this sight was competitive shooting and self-defense.
4. Vortex Optics Viper Red Dot Sight
We all know Vortex makes killer riflescopes for hunting. Did you guys also know they make sights for smaller guns as well? This compact red dot sight is part of their much well-known Viper. Under this line, Vortex sells various products including scopes, spotters, etc.
The red dot is made out of high-quality machined aluminum. It’s the same type of aluminum that you see in higher-end Vortex products. The housing is anodized in black color. It’s not available in any other colors. The sight is fog, water, and shockproof. That’s right, you can use this on a rifle if you want to.
Usually, lenses are where Vortex Optics shines. They make lenses for other brands as well. This one uses their fully multi-coated lens system. It’s not like a scope, so it doesn’t have multiple lenses. The single lens is scratch-resistant to some degree but not quite. Brightness is not an issue as it gathers plenty of light.
On top of that, it features an illuminated reticle. The reticle is powered by a small lithium battery that you will find in any shop. The exact battery model is CR 2032. Battery life is respectable as well.
Does this optic come with mounting accessories?
It does come with a mounting plate for handguns. If you are planning to use it on a Picatinny rail or other styles, then you will need to buy the respective mounting platform for those rails.
Is Vortex American?
Yes, they are. But all of their products are not made in America. Some of their higher-end models are made in Japan, South Korea, the Philippines, and the like. While their budget segment is mostly made in China.
Is this a good red dot for M&P 2.0 10mm?
Yes, it is. The sight is durable and lightweight. It’s not too big of a size either. It’s compact enough to sit on the rails of your M&P 2.0 with the right adapter. And synergy with the gun is quite good. So, it’s a good choice.
5. Swampfox Sentinel Micro Reflex Red Dot Sight
Just like Holosun Sights are packed with features such as solar failsafe, shake to wake, etc. Swampfox also includes technology in their sights. The Sentinel is available in multiple different configurations. One of them features an auto-brightness sensor. There is a photosensitive sensor placed on the body. It senses the environmental light and adjusts the brightness of the reticle.
The sight itself is made out of high-quality and lightweight aluminum. It’s quite durable and lightweight as well. The chassis of the optic is fogproof, shockproof, and waterproof as well. That includes the battery box as well.
The lens is fully multi-coated. It gathers plenty of light and is bright as well. While the optic doesn’t have its light management system like Leupold for example, it still manages the light it captures. The red dot reticle on this optic is completely illuminated as well.
The optic uses a CR 2032 battery to operate. The battery is readily available almost everywhere and you will find one in the package as well. You can expect around 2 years of realistically use with one battery. And that’s plenty if you ask me.
Where are Swampfox optics made in?
Swampfox is a Colorado-based manufacturer. They design and build their products in their factory. Which is why they are quite popular among veterans as well. Their after-sales service is really good as well.
Is it a compact red dot?
Yes, it is. It’s made to fit handguns. It stays within the rail diameter of your full-sized M&P 2.0 10mm.
Do I need a gunsmith to install this?
No, you do not. The package is equipped with an Allen key that you will need to install the screws. And it already comes with the right size screws packed in. As long as you have support for mounting rail, this will fit without any tinkering.
6. Vortex Optics Venom Red Dot Sight
Yes, another optic from Vortex. After all, the company can’t stop making bangers. The Venom is a lot like the Viper but it’s priced more appropriately for newbies. The sight is also packed with features.
The body of the optic is made out of CNC-machined aluminum. The aluminum is durable and lightweight as well. The chassis is water, fog, and shockproof as well. Making it the ideal choice for outdoor sports shooters.
The lens of the optic is fully multi-coated. It’s extremely bright and it gathers plenty of light during low light situations as well. Just like the Viper, this one also fancies an illuminated reticle. You can choose either 3 MOA or 6 MOA red dots. That will depend on what range you usually shoot at.
The brightness is also illuminated. You will find 10 brightness levels to choose from. 1 being the lowest and 10 being the brightest. Yet, it’s not night vision compatible. It’s not like you can install an NVD on a handgun either.
Should I go for Viper or Venom?
While both of them are identical and share nearly the same price, the Viper is slightly smaller than the Venom. Meaning, if you want a compact sight with a smaller total length, then you need to go with Viper.
Does this optic have a shake to wake?
No, it doesn’t have any shake-to-wake feature. Nor does it have a rapid battery saver. The auto-brightness turn-off is set for roughly 10 hours.
Is this optic made in China?
While it’s true that some of the Vortex optics are made in China, this one isn’t one of them. It’s made in the Philippines.
7. Sig Sauer Romeo Zero Red Dot Sight
While the Romeo 5 is one of the most recommended red dots in the market, that one is not made for handguns. However, that doesn’t mean Sig didn’t have anything for the handgun community. The Romeo Zero is mostly made for Sig Sauer handguns, it’s used by various other gun owners as well.
Unlike the other sights I mentioned thus far, this one is not made out of aluminum. Which might be a bit off-putting for some. But it’s not poorly made at all. The reinforced polymer on the optic is incredibly sturdy. It will outlast most other similarly priced aluminum sight due to the craftsmanship superiority of Sig Sauer.
The sight is waterproof as you expect it to be. It is also fog and shockproof as well. That doesn’t mean it’s recommended to use this optic with rifles. The recoil of your M&P 2.0 won’t be able to break this sight.
The optic is equipped with MOTAC. It’s a sensor that turns on when it senses a bit of movement and it turns off after two minutes when it doesn’t sense any movement. This way, it saves a lot of battery and gives you the freedom of turning it on without pressing any buttons.
Is this a good optic for hunting?
The sight is not made for hunting. It’s made for sports shooting and CQB. While it can do a bit of hunting if it’s a close quarter, it’s not possible to hunt beyond 30 yards.
Where is this made in?
Sig Sauer is an American brand. All of their optics are made in the USA. That does include this optic as well.
Is it really that durable?
Yes, it is. Despite not being made out of any metallic material, this one is one of the most durable red dot sight in this price bracket. Simply put, the value of this optic is unbeatable. I’m well aware that there are quite a few other aluminum options available for the same price, but this one is too good of a value to pass on.
How To Choose The Best Sight For S&W M&P 2.0 10mm?
Now that you know what are some of the best optics for your gun, how do you select one from them? Allow me to act as your buying guide. Down below, I will mention some pointers that I generally follow while purchasing new optics for any gun.
Footprint
First and foremost, the footprint. If your footprint doesn’t match then you cannot install it on your handgun. So, the footprint is the most important part. So, make sure that you have the right one.
Build Quality
The next big thing is the durability of the optic on topic. This is the part where you emphasize the building materials as well. See if it’s made out of nylon, polymer, or aluminum. Aluminum is really good when it comes to longevity. If the optic is not durable, it will not last you that long.
The Right Size
Size is important folks, don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. What are you thinking? I’m talking about the size of the sight, duh! Jokes aside, the full-sized M&P 2.0 is capable of handling Holosun sights like it was made for it. So, there is no wrong size when it comes to the gun. The wrong size will depend on you. If you are okay with the size or not. If you remember, earlier I mentioned Holosun HS510c and Trijicon RMRcc. Both are good sight and they are viable options for M&P 2.0 as well.
The HS510C is a “full size” red dot optic and the RMRcc is a compact optic made for handguns. While you can use the HS510C on a handgun as well, that doesn’t necessarily mean you should use it. Full-size optic covers a larger area on the top which can be a minor inconvenience to some. If it isn’t to you, then all red dot optics is a good size for you.
Don’t Forget The Money
The next big thing is your budget. Don’t forget about it. Having a budget in mind will keep your brain at ease and make the process of making the right decision much easier. If you want to go all out, by all means, go for it. But if you want to save some money and get a budget-oriented choice, you can go for it as well.
Summary
To sum everything up, tons of red dot sights support the M&P 2.0 footprint and there are too many compact optics that perform decently with the gun as well. So, it was a hard ask to sum up only 7 for you. But I tried my best.
I know you are still a bit confused, but you shouldn’t be. After all, any of the optics you choose from the list is good enough. Depending on your needs, you might want to go for one above the other.
I hope the guide was clear enough for you to understand and fun enough to follow entirely as well. That’s all for now folks. Appreciate spending your time with me. Will be back with more, till then take care and have fun.
Sights: 44 Magnum | Ak Ultimak | Benelli M4 | Beretta APX | Beretta 92FS | Beretta NEOS | Browning Buckmark | Canik Mete | Canik TP9 Elite SC | Canik TP9SFX | CX4 Storm | FN 509 Tactical | FNX 45 Tactical | Galil ACE | Glock MOS | Hellcat | H&K MP5 | H&K VP9 | Kel-Tec Sub 2000 | Kel-Tec KSG | Kriss Vector | Micro Roni | PS90 | Ruger 57 | Ruger Mark III | Ruger Mark IV | Ruger PC Carbine | Scorpion Evo | Sig MPX | Sig P320 | Sig P365 XL | Stribog | S&W Victory | Tavor X95 | Walther PDP
Hi, I’m Brent Hansford. A writer turned hunter & now sharing my love for the sport through writing. As I practically breathe weapons, I firmly believe I’m capable of providing you with new knowledge about firearms and hunting. My mission is to help more people get better at hunting & master the weapons. Let me help with unleashing the beast within you!
