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The Osight X red dot didn’t show up with fanfare—it showed up with baggage. I’ve had a rocky history with Olight’s marketing, and honestly, I wasn’t excited to test this. But if I’m going to talk optics, I have to face my own bias. So here it is: no strings, no filters, just what actually happened when this optic hit my bench.
Real-world tested with live rounds, drills, and dry fire
Solid value if you’re okay being the guinea pig on Gen 1 bugs
Why was I skeptical about the Osight X?
Years ago, I had a bad experience with Olight. Not the products, but the people behind the curtain. I didn’t like how they handled creator relationships. So when the Osight X landed on my bench, I wasn’t exactly rolling out the red carpet. No promises were made. No money changed hands. Just me, an optic, and a chance to see if it could win me over.
I decided to give it the same treatment I give everything else: mount it, run it, and tell the truth.
What problems did I run into with the Osight X?
The very first unit I got had insomnia. Literally. The optic wouldn’t sleep. I activated shake-to-wake, and nothing happened. It just stayed on. If you’ve ever tried debugging firmware on a gadget that ignores you, you’ll know what this felt like.
I tried cycling through reticle options: dot only, ring only, both. The optic always flashed like it accepted the programming, but it never actually went to sleep. It reminded me of setting up a VCR in the 90s. Button mashing, blind faith, and a false sense of success.
And here’s the wild part. I still have that first unit. I never swapped it out, and they never asked for it back. The shake awake never worked—not once—but everything else always has. Reticle options respond, brightness adjusts, it holds zero. Just don’t expect it to nap when you set it down.
There’s no firmware to touch and no reset to try. The optic simply stayed awake no matter what. Olight did send a second unit for testing, but I continued to run the original side by side. Aside from shake awake, everything else on that first unit worked—and still does. That same insomniac unit is the one still riding my slide today.
How did I mount and set up the Osight X?
First up was theTimberwolf 17. It’s a Glock Gen 3-compatible slide I use for optics testing and competition. RMR footprint matched up perfectly. Screws torqued down cleanly. No need for custom plates or shims.
I used a Real Avid torque wrench to dial in the mounting screws. If you over-torque these, you’re gonna have a bad day. Or worse, a cracked optic body.
What happened with the replacement X series unit?
Olight sent out a second Osight X to replace the one that was acting up. That replacement came with the optional Picatinny riser. I installed it on an 80% AR test mule for further testing. Same clean install. No wobble. It locked up solid on the rail and didn’t shift during zeroing or live fire.
I also mounted the original unit on a Lone Wolf Alpha slide riding a Glock 17 frame. That’s where it lives now.
How did the Osight X perform in real range conditions?
I ran this optic through the same drills I use to vet anything I might carry:
3 to 10 yard speed draws
Transitions between targets at 7 to 15 yards
Controlled pairs at 25 yards
Rifle zeroing at 50 yards
Ammo used included my 115gr reloads, Winchester 115gr, Lawman 124gr, and for the second unit, 147gr .308 ball ammo. Lighting conditions ranged from full Montana sun to shaded underbrush near berms, and temperatures varied from snow-on-the-ground cold to full-on spring warmth.
The dot tracked clean. Brightness stepped up without lag when I came out of the shade. Motion activation worked every time after the unit “settled.” The auto-brightness feature is subtle but helpful in shifting light conditions.
After about 800 pistol rounds and 300 rifle rounds, I still haven’t had to re-zero it.
What’s the battery life and charging process like?
The charging case is clever. The optic connects magnetically for charging, and there’s no cradle or lid—just a simple cover. The internal battery in the case gives you several recharges without needing wall power.
In daily carry use, I’d drop it in the case once every few days. Charge time felt fast—under an hour to top off the red dot’s internal battery. There’s no guesswork thanks to the case’s LED indicators showing charge level.
How does the Osight X compare to other red dots I’ve used?
I’ve run optics from Gideon, Crimson Trace, Holosun, and each has strengths.
Holosun wins on polish and long-term reputation
Crimson Trace brings aggressive pricing and bold reticles
Gideon impressed me with dot clarity and features for a great price and has become my go-to
But the Osight X surprised me by competing in usability and outshining others on charging innovation. The case alone is a value prop. And once I got it stable, it felt just as reliable as optics I’ve trusted for years.
That said, this is gen one. Holosun’s had years to iterate. Time will tell if Olight sticks the landing long-term.
Would I trust the Osight X for carry or training?
At this point, yes. It hasn’t failed me in drills, dry fire, or live fire. The reticle hasn’t washed out in daylight. The second unit wakes up when I need it. The original still has insomnia. And neither has wandered off zero, even with different ammo types.
This isn’t a duty optic for patrol work or professional security. But for the average armed citizen who trains regularly and wants reliability without spending $400 to $600? It checks a lot of boxes.
The bugs I hit early on aren’t ideal. But they were real. And while the original never fixed its sleep issues, everything else has stayed solid. That’s a compliment in red dot land.
What’s my final verdict on the Osight X red dot?
The Osight X showed up with every reason to fail. I didn’t trust the brand. The first unit was glitchy. And the interface made me question whether it was ready for prime time.
But I gave it a real test. On a Timberwolf, an AR, and a Lone Wolf Glock. And today, it’s still mounted.
That doesn’t happen by accident. It happens because the core design holds up when you strip the marketing away. If you’re curious about open emitter-style dots, want flexible mounting options, and appreciate never messing with coin batteries again, the Osight X is worth trying.
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Original Content by The Rogue Banshee / My Rogue Solutions LLC. Credit: Jason Schaller Email: [email protected]
About the Author: Jason Schaller is a former FFL holder and founder of Eagle Eye Shooters Supply in Helena, MT, where he provided professional gunsmithing services and guided customers on all aspects of firearms ownership. Today, he teaches DIY gunsmithing at The Rogue Banshee and serves as a Chief Instructor at Freedom Crew University. With over a decade of hands-on professional experience with firearms and nearly 30 years in IT, Jason also holds top cybersecurity certifications including CISSP, CISA, and CRISC. When he’s not geeking out, he’s helping others build self-reliance, critical thinking, and firearms proficiency through real-world content.
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