Colt Michigan (June 29, 2026) – Colt Electro Optics LLC (“Colt Optics”) today announced the launch of its first family of red dot optics, including the MRS-1 enclosed-emitter pistol red dot, the CSQ-1 rifle red dot, and the C3X-1 3x magnifier.
Modern shooters demand speed, reliability, and confidence in their equipment. Whether mounted on a duty pistol, patrol rifle, or personal-defense firearm, an optic should help the shooter focus on the target, not fight the limitations of the sight itself.
The MRS-1, CSQ-1, and C3X-1 were developed around a common philosophy: help shooters acquire targets faster, maintain awareness, and perform with confidence in demanding real-world environments. These products also represent the first optics in the Colt Optics lineup to be Designed, Engineered, and Assembled in Michigan, USA.
“At Colt Optics, we believe professional users deserve equipment they can trust when performance matters most,” said Dennis Finnegan, Chief Operating Officer of Colt Optics. “Every design decision behind these products was driven by real-world shooter needs. For the MRS-1, CSQ-1, and C3X-1, we are proud to say they are Designed, Engineered, and Assembled in the USA by our team in Michigan. We didn’t set out to build products that simply check boxes on a specification sheet. We set out to build optics that help shooters perform better.”
Designed, Engineered, and Assembled in Michigan, USA, the MRS-1 was developed to deliver the reliability advantages of a closed-emitter optic without compromising the size, weight, and handling characteristics shooters expect from a modern handgun.
Built around a rugged 7075-T6 aluminum housing, the MRS-1 protects critical optical components from environmental contamination while maintaining a compact footprint of just 1.85 inches and a weight of only 2 ounces. A generously sized viewing window provides an expansive sight picture, helping shooters quickly acquire the dot while maintaining awareness of the target and surrounding environment.
The optic utilizes the popular ACRO footprint, features motion-activated illumination, and incorporates a crisp 3 MOA aiming dot designed to balance speed and precision. The low-profile design also allows co-witnessing with many standard-height iron sights, providing an additional layer of confidence and redundancy.
Designed, Engineered, and Assembled in Michigan, USA, the CSQ-1 was built around a simple question: how do we help shooters get on target faster?
The answer begins with the sight picture.
Featuring one of the largest square viewing windows available on the market, the CSQ-1 was designed to maximize field of view and situational awareness. The expansive sight picture helps shooters acquire and stay on targets more quickly while maintaining awareness of everything happening around them.
An advanced aspheric lens design minimizes distortion while a multi-coated optical system delivers exceptional clarity across a wide range of lighting conditions. The optic also features motion-activated illumination, dedicated night vision settings with a dedicated NV button, and a multi-reticle system designed to support both close-range and extended-distance engagements.
Built around a rugged 7075-T6 aluminum housing, the CSQ-1 was engineered to withstand demanding environments while delivering the performance professional users expect.
The C3X-1 was developed to extend the capability of a red dot sight without sacrificing the speed and simplicity that make red dots so effective.
At just 2.72 inches in length, the C3X-1 is one of the shortest 3x magnifiers available on the market. Its compact footprint helps preserve valuable rail space while reducing overall system bulk. Despite its compact size, the C3X-1 provides an industry leading 85mm of eye relief that helps shooters get behind the optic quickly and maintain a comfortable, forgiving shooting position.
An ambidextrous flip-to-side mount allows rapid transitions between magnified and non-magnified viewing, while an adjustable diopter and included riser plate provide flexibility for a wide variety of rifle configurations and shooting applications.
When paired with the CSQ-1, the C3X-1 allows shooters to transition seamlessly between close-range speed and target identification at distance.
“Throughout development, we focused on how these products would actually be used in the real world,” said Jon Meyer, Vice President of Product Development for Colt Optics. “Every feature had to earn its place. Whether it improved speed, awareness, durability, or ease of use, the goal was to create optics that help shooters perform better under real-world conditions.”
The MRS-1, CSQ-1, and C3X-1 will be available through authorized retailers in the coming weeks.
For more information, visit www.coltoptics.com.