Today, we are looking at a great little enclosed emitter red dot sight for handguns, the EDC Enclosed, from C&H Precision Weapons.
Enclosed emitter red dots are becoming increasingly popular for handguns. These optics are sealed, protecting the internal emitter from dust, debris, and moisture.
While this design makes them more reliable, one common complaint is the bulk that comes with them. I often hear people refer to some enclosed emitter optics as small “bricks” mounted to the handgun.
Even though that is a bit of an exaggeration, some of the enclosed emitter optics are on the larger side. This is why it’s nice to see some compact versions coming out. If you plan to carry an optic on a compact handgun, you probably don’t want a gigantic optic mounted to the top of it, right?
I’ve been able to spend some time with the EDC Enclosed, so let’s take a look at the pros and cons of this compact optic.
The EDC Enclosed: Features
As I mentioned above, the EDC Enclosed is a compact enclosed emitter red dot for compact-sized handguns. Its compact size doesn’t mean you can’t use it on a full-size gun, but I think it works better on compact models.
It’s made of 7075-T6 aluminum housing, so this helps keep it light and durable at the same time. This material is commonly used in aerospace applications, meaning it can take a beating without compromising performance.
There are multiple brightness settings to choose from, as you would expect. It gets plenty bright enough for those days when the sun is in full view. You can adjust the brightness setting using the two small buttons on the side.
Multi-reticle options
The multi-reticle feature is impressive on the EDC. You can choose from a single 3 MOA dot, a 26 MOA circle, or both the circle and dot together. Just press the up arrow for a few seconds to change the reticle type.
I kept mine on the circle with a dot in the middle for most of my time with the EDC. I thought it made target acquisition easier during high-speed drills.
Side-loading battery
When it comes to the battery, there are things I like and one thing I didn’t care about as much. The C&H EDC Enclosed is powered by a CR1620 battery. According to the company, it has a 50,000-hour battery life, which is about as good as it gets.
Opening the battery compartment door was one thing, however, I wished it were different. To open the side loading battery door, you must remove a tiny screw with the provided flathead tool. I dropped the small screw while taking it out.
Luckily, I was in my shop and didn’t have a problem finding it. But this isn’t a battery I would change in the field. Having said that, I will point out again that it has a 50,000-hour battery life, so it’s not like you must replace the battery all that often.
In general, I do like batteries that can be switched out without taking the optic off the gun, so that is a great feature about this design.
To turn the EDC off, just press the down arrow for a few seconds and it will power down. The optic features an auto-on/off mode to help preserve battery power when you’re not using it. This kicks in after 5 minutes, which I think is a great time frame.
Specifications
- Material: 7075-T6 Aluminum Housing
- Reticle: 3 MOA red dot
- Battery Type: CR1620
- Battery Life: 50,000+ hours
- Brightness Settings: Multiple for various lighting conditions
- Weight: 1.4 oz
- Dimensions: 1.6″ x 0.9″ x 1.1″
Perfect for concealed carry?
As I mentioned before, some people complain about the full-size enclosed emitter optics because they are so bulky. Most of these are made for full-size handguns with duty holsters. So, of course, you probably wouldn’t want to try concealing one on a compact gun.
The overall size of the EDC is what I would call an average size optic, regardless of whether it’s open or enclosed. For comparison, the Veridian RFX II optic is one of the most compact open emitter optics I’ve seen, and the EDC is just a few millimeters taller than it is.
I mounted the EDC Enclosed on my Taurus GX4 Carry because I needed a new optic for this handgun. I’ve found the GX4 Carry to be a great handgun for self-defense. It’s just large enough to get a good grip on, but it’s not a full-size gun either.
The EDC and GX4 Carry use the RMSc footprint, so mounting it was simple. You can adjust the elevation and windage using the same small flathead tool you use to remove the battery door.
Aside from the Taurus GX4 Carry, the EDC red dot would also work great on some other popular compact handguns. The Glock 43X, FN Reflex, Shield 2.0, Hellcat, and others would all be great paired with this optic.
On the Range with the C&H EDC Red Dot
It didn’t take long to sight in the EDC Enclosed. For concealed carry guns, I like to sight them in at 10 yards, as this is a more realistic distance for self-defense incidents. Once it’s sighted in, I test it out at 20 yards to make sure it’s still hitting the target.
The EDC Enclosed was just about on target before I changed any settings. My first few shots were just left and low of the bullseye. After a quick adjustment, I was in the center. I did get a couple of high shots on there, but that was me, not the gun or optic.
After that, I ran holster drills and speed drills to get used to the optic. This is where I really started to appreciate the larger circle/dot reticle on the EDC.
AmmoToGo.com provided Federal 9mm American Eagl 115 grain FMJ ammo for the review, so a shout out to them. They are one of the fastest ammo companies I’ve ever seen when it comes to getting your orders shipped out. So if you need ammo, give them a try.
Why Choose an Enclosed Emitter Red Dot?
The EDC Enclosedd Red Dot doesn’t really have that blocky look of most enclosed emitter optics. But if the somewhat boxy look of enclosed emitter optics is what you don’t like, consider the benefits.
Because the emitter is sealed inside the housing, external debris, water, or dirt cannot obstruct the beam. This design is especially valuable for those who carry daily or train in less-than-ideal conditions such as rainy weather, dusty environments, or just rough handling. Enclosed emitter optics have a reliability factor that traditional handgun optics do not.
It’s a keeper
The EDC Enclosed red dot didn’t really have to grow on me, I liked it from the get-go. It’s a great size, it appears to be extremely durable, and I love the reticle in this thing. It retails for about $220 unless you select a dot only, which is a little cheaper.
It should work with about any holster system that is made for standard optics, although I would still double-check.
C&H Precision also makes competition-grade optics, so if you are looking for a handgun optic, check them out. Their optics range in size from small to extra-large duty optics.
