A Star Light

Though it was designed for use on carbines, the MRDS would make a dandy addition to any competition pistol.

I reviewed Insight Technology's weapon-mounted Procyon light in this column last year. It was a bright, robust unit that performed well in my testing. But as good as it was, the folks at Insight felt the 125-lumen Procyon needed more power. The latest addition to the Procyon line, the WX150, does just that, with an eye-melting 150-lumen output and impressive 90-minute run time on just two CR123 lithium batteries.

The WX150 employs a high-intensity LED to pump out all that power. LED's are great because they last longer, are easier on batteries and handle recoil much better than incandescent bulbs. I also prefer the cleaner, whiter light LEDs emit.

The WX150's machined aluminum body is hard-coat anodized. It is robust, yet compact and light weight. Weapon mounting is via an integral, adjustable slide-lock interface that adapts to fit most pistol accessory rails. I got to mount it on only a few pistols, but my first test unit went on every gun in my safes with the exception of the Springfield XD. I had to tighten it up a bit to get it solid on my M&P Pro, but that's the point of having an adjustable setup.

The new light shares the original Procyon's ambidextrous back plate with independent rocker switches and four power settings. Depress either toggle switch down for momentary activation. Toggling the switch up is the "constant on" setting. Double-tap the switch down for momentary strobe or rock the switch down then up quickly to lock in the strobe.

Operating that switch is not as complicated as it sounds, but it does take a little practice to learn the settings. To make things easier, I stick to the momentary-on and constant strobe features, which are the only two I can ever see myself using in the real world.

That's not all Insight has to offer. Its new MRDS (Mini Red Dot Sight) was designed to be mounted on soldiers' carbines. However, competition shooters who use mini red dot sights will benefit from the tiny, .85-ounce unit's rock-solid, grunt-proof construction.

The MRDS looks very much like competing mini red dot sights and shares the same footprint of at least one of the more popular models. But unlike most of its competition, the Insight unit was designed from the ground up to exceed military specifications for special operations personnel in combat conditions. That includes grueling shock, recoil and vibration testing, as well as the ability to be submerged to 66 feet for two hours.

The WX150, foreground, is the latest weapon-mounted light from Insight. The compact HX120 (center) emits 120 lumens on just one battery, while the two-cell HX150 puts out 150-lumens.

Its strength and light weight are achieved with high-tech materials. The lens is made from a lightweight, impact-resistant polymer with an anti-reflective coating. The housing is also molded from robust, lightweight polymers. It is available in non-reflective black or tan.

The MRDS is available with a 3.5 m.o.a. or seven m.o.a. dot reticle. Dot intensity is automatic, but it may be manually adjusted. Settings range from bright, daylight-only settings to a low-powered setting designed for use with night-vision goggles. It runs for up to one year in the auto mode on a single 1632 battery. Windage and elevation adjustments are via positive, one-m.o.a. clicks.

The MRDS was intended for carbine use, so mounting is typically via an optional Picatinny-spec rail mount. However, if your pistol is already set up for a Docter Optics unit, the MRDS will drop right in. If not, any competent pistolsmith can mount the optic on your favorite competition blaster.

At a suggested retail of $650, it's not cheap, but if you want a sight that combines speed, accuracy and toughness, the new MRDS would be darn hard to beat.

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