There are about as many optics at SHOT as there are guns, lights, and any other type of gear. Each year, a common trend seems to dominate each category. With optics, the focus is often on smaller overall sizes and longer running times. But this year, it feels like someone stuffed the optics world down the barrel of a shotgun and sent it scattering into the abyss.
Moving from one optics company to another, everyone was doing completely different things. This made for a much more exciting show during SHOT 2026. Most of the optics I found interesting were handgun optics as opposed to rifle optics, although there were plenty of those as well.
Here are some of the coolest optics I found during SHOT 2026.
Eotech EFLX CE
I never thought we would wait until 2026 to see an enclosed handgun optic from Eotech. But I guess perfection takes time, right? Coming from such an iconic optics manufacturer, I have no doubt the EFLX CE is built like a tank.
It has shake-awake activation, multiple reticle options, and my favorite, a built-in rear backup iron sight. Eotech used an aggressive texturing on the front that reminds me a little of the Vortex Defender line, and the battery installs on the side via a screw-down cap. I like the battery placement because it makes it super easy to change when needed.
They placed the control buttons on top of the optic, so they are out of the way, but easy to reach for adjustments.
It has five daylight settings, one ultra-bright setting, and two night-vision settings. The estimated runtime on the CR2032 battery is 25,000 hours.
Since the show, the EFLX CE has been sold out on Eotech’s website, so they may be hard to find for a while. But when they are in stock, the retail price is hovering at just under $500, which isn’t bad for an Eotech optic.
Infitac FML19: Thermal Mini Sight
Infitac makes a lot of thermal optics that look like you just stepped into the future. During SHOT 2026, they displayed the Fast Mini FMP13, and Fast Mini FML 19. Both optics are part of their Fast Mini series of thermal handgun optics. These optics are IP67 waterproof and rated for 1200g recoil. Both models run on a CR2 battery, which will run the optic for up to five hours of constant on.
The Fast Mini Series optics use an RMR footprint, one of the most popular mounting options on the market.
When you first see the FML19 on a handgun, it looks a lot like any other enclosed emitter optic. But when you see the technology, it’s rather surprising.
The touchscreen, yes, I said touchscreen… can be used to zoom in and out, and you can swipe to the side for other options. There are buttons on the side that control it as well, so you don’t have to use the touch screen.
I only had a few minutes to play with it during SHOT, but this is one I’m looking forward to writing a full review on.
Holosun 507 Pro-Max-RD-PRS
If you want options, you can’t find any more than with Holosun. They make so many optics, I’m not sure how they keep track of them. But the new 507 Pro-Max-RD-PRS kind of stands out. Like it literally stands out because it’s sooo big, almost as big as its name.
I’ve noticed over the past year or so that larger window optics are starting to become a trend. Vortex, C&H, and others have released larger window optics recently. Competitive shooting and hunting are fueling a growing demand for these larger widow optics.
There are multiple choices of reticles that include a 2, 8, or 20 MOA dot, and a 32 MOA circle. You can use the circle on its own, or with a dot in the middle. Holosun provided these options so you can match any stage or shooting style during competitions.
The 507 Pro-Max-RD-PRS uses the RMR footprint and runs on a CR1632 battery. Because it uses Holosun’s Solar Failsafe technology, it has an estimated run time of 100,000 hours. Of course, it also has a Shake-Awake feature and multilayer reflective glass to help reduce glare.
For those who want a maximum window view in their handgun optic, this thing rocks.
Aimwin PE322 GL
Have you heard of Aimwin before? I have never owned any, but a friend of mine has several and loves them. During SHOT, they had a new optic on display that will be released in the near future. Based on their PE320 enclosed emitter optic, the PE322 GL will have a green laser built into the top of it.
Adding lasers to optics appears to be a trend this year, and is one I like. This one specifically does change the overall size of the optic, so I’m wondering about holster compatibility for handguns. But for PCCs this thing would be great.
The PE322 GL will have multiple reticle options that include a dot, a circle, and a dot with a circle. It has a solar guard built into the top to extend the battery life, which is rated at 50,000 hours.
Like Holosun, it uses a sled-style battery tray that loads from the side. With an RMR footprint, it will work with a wide variety of full-size handguns.
They didn’t give me an exact release date, but it sounds like it could be soon. The version without the laser retails for about $300, so I’m guessing this new version will run somewhere between $350-$400.
Holosun ARO-EVO-DUAL
I had to put at least one rifle optic on this list. Even though there were a lot of great choices for rifles and PCCs, it was another Holosun that stood out to me. The ARO-EVO-Dual is an optic that combines several things into one. First and foremost, it’s a red dot optic with a 2MOA dot and 65 MOA circle.
Even though it looks like a compact optic, it also has a visible green laser and an infrared laser built into the main housing. Because it has both a red dot and a green laser, zeroing it is much easier via coaxial alignment.
It’s built from 6061-T6 aluminum and is rated for IPX8 waterproofing. According to Holosun, it has a 1000G vibration resistance as well. This optic also has internal cable routing for a remote pressure switch.
Just about anything that works on an AR-15 platform gets my attention, but a lot of the optics out there are similar. I like this one because of the built-in laser and how compact it is. Holosun is listing the ARO-EVO-DUAL for the small sum of $588.22.
Questions and Answers
What are some of the physical features of the Eotech EFLX CE?
The EFLX CE features an enclosed design, aggressive front texturing, a side-loading battery cap, and a built-in rear backup iron sight.
How is the user interface on the Infitac FML19 thermal optic unique compared to traditional red dots?
The FML19 has a touchscreen that allows users to zoom and swipe through options, though it also includes physical side buttons for manual control.
What specific shooting market is the Holosun 507 Pro-Max-RD-PRS designed for with its oversized window?
The optic is primarily designed for competitive shooting and hunting, where a maximum window view helps shooters find the reticle quickly.
How does the Aimwin PE322 GL differ from the previous PE320 model?
The PE322 GL adds a green laser built into the top of the housing while maintaining the enclosed emitter and RMR footprint of the original.
What makes zeroing the Holosun ARO-EVO-DUAL more efficient than a regular optic?
Because the red dot and green laser use coaxial alignment within the same housing, zeroing one helps align the other more easily.
