Nowadays, most clued-in shooters will agree that mounting micro red-dot sights on handgun slides serves as a force multiplier. It augments both the shooter’s and the pistol’s basic capabilities. No, I’m not about to write another in favor of red-dots article, because I’ve already written that last year–and I am very much in favor of them!
Protecting Your Optic with the Aegis Shroud
I think most can agree on the consensus that with the right training and understanding of its use, the slide-mounted red-dot sight can serve as a cheat code.
In spite of the great benefits they provide, carrying a handgun with a mounted red-dot does come with the risk of damaging said optic from either dropping the pistol or bumping into a hard surface. Especially if the optic itself is on the larger side and/or it tends to ride on an open belt holster that sits on some kind of hanger, slightly away from the body. (Think either competition rig or Safariland 6000 series “bucket”).
To prevent damage and protect reflex sights from becoming duds, certain red-dot designs (the Leupold DeltaPoint Pro comes to mind) are organically designed with an outer metal shroud. I’m also aware that SIG-Sauer offers specific shrouds that are compatible with some of their own Romeo series red-dot optics.
However, Texas-based Arise Manufacturing is a notable outfit that provides a third-party, sophisticated, comprehensive, combined red-dot protective shroud and mounting plate solution for some of the industry’s most popular “big window” red-dot sights. This includes the Trijicon SRO and the Holosun HS507 Comp.
Arise MFG has been diligently developing different shrouds and newer plates for additional makes and models. But I’ve installed two of their classic offerings on two of my pistols—my Glock 34, which currently wears a Trijicon SRO, and my Canik Rival-S mounted with a Holosun HS507 Comp.
Currently, most of Arise Manufacturing’s plates serve either the Trijicon RMR pattern footprint or the Leupold DeltaPoint Pro footprint.
The Arise Manufacturing Aegis System
Fundamentally, Arise’s Aegis System consists of a proprietary optics-mounting plate. It accommodates a specially shaped protective steel shroud over the optic for the purpose of providing an external barrel to protect the optic from impacts or blunt force.
Arise Manufacturing currently offers shrouds for the Trijicon SRO, Holosun 407/507, 507 COMP, Primary Arms Optics RS-15, Vortex Defender ST, and Vortex Defender XL. All shrouds are precision machined to allow clear access to the power/brightness buttons in addition to the dials. So, it does not interfere with the regular operation of the red-dot sight itself.
On the Holosun-specific shrouds sitting in front of me, even the right-side battery tray is accessible without having to remove the shroud.
Aegis mounting plates are machined from aircraft-grade aluminum while also being designed thicker than customary for standard optics plates. The extra material serves to provide enough space needed to drill and tap the four extra screw holes that exist to anchor the shroud in place.
Because they easily screw into place over those four corner edges of the Aegis plate, Aegis shrouds are designed to be easily replaceable. Arise Manufacturing officially recommends that if a shroud takes an impact large enough to dent or bend it, that it be replaced with a new one.
Aegis System Installation
Installing the Arise Manufacturing Aegis System is quite straightforward. Anyone with the skills to install and mount a standard optics plate and red-dot to a pistol slide can easily install the Aegis system. Don’t forget your thread locker and torque wrench!
Arise Manufacturing deserves some kudos for not only clearly labeling everything but also for including extra useful items like T8 and T10 Torx bits, paint pens for witness marks, and small vials of blue Loctite threadlocker. Their packaging is also quite attractive and is indicative of deliberateness, effort, and attention to detail.
Both of the Aegis kits I installed on either a Glock 34 or a Canik Rival-S showed signs of quality and a clean fit and finish. Keep in mind that when installing the Aegis kit, it is imperative to set aside all other hardware and screws and use only the hardware that Arise includes as it is specific to all of the Aegis’ components.
Shooting With The Aegis System
I’ve done most of my shooting with the Trijicon SRO-equipped Glock 34, starting back in early December when I attended a Glock Sport Shooting Foundation match south of San Antonio.
Post GSSF match, I carried this Aegis-equipped Glock in an AIWB holster some. I also brought it to The Way Forward’s Defensive Performance Handgun course, where I had another chance to shoot vigorously while pushing my own limits of performance in training.
Shooting-wise, I really don’t have much to add. The Aegis system is passively protective by nature. It stays out of the way and allows the end-user to shoot with their dots as they normally would. It functions as a guard to protect from blunt impacts.
Even though the Aegis specific optics plate is thicker and thus makes the optic sit slightly taller, the delta in height was imperceptible. In fairness, I seem to be shooting a different handgun and optic combination every other week. So, it would be hard for me to complain about the nuances in dot presentation with this system installed.
After shooting several hundred rounds aggressively in The Way Forward’s intensive 2-Day Defensive Performance Handgun course and at the GSSF match last December, I noticed no issues with the Aegis system on my Glock 34. Mind you, I properly torqued everything and applied thread locker as instructed, and nothing has budged.
For those interested, I run the standard factory RSA on my Gen5 Glock 34 and shoot standard pressure 115-grain or 124-grain range ammo. The “extra weight” of the Aegis shroud was no cause for concern. (I’ll admit I was curious about this, as I load my 115-grain training and practice ammo on the lighter side.)
Carrying An Aegis-Equipped Handgun
The Aegis system would not cause any issues when carried on an open holster off a hanger that can accommodate slide-mounted optics. Especially those holsters that are designed to be completely independent from the red-dot.
Due to my needs and habits, I tend to work from concealment almost exclusively. So, I made it a point to carry my Aegis-equipped Glock 34 in one of my AIWB holsters. I noticed that the shroud and screws had a tendency to dig in a little into the flab of my waistline. On the one hand, it’s not a critical issue because extra width from both edges of the shroud is something to expect. On the other hand, proper concealment is highly individual.
Depending on the person and their body, the propensity to print against a cover garment may or may not be exaggerated by the extra thickness of the shroud. It’s something to be aware of, that’s all.
The “Crumple Zone”
I am never one to deliberately abuse gear for the sake of a review, so I didn’t run over any Aegis shrouds with an armored personnel carrier. Gear is expensive, and there is no need for me to f___ around and find out and break it. Given how thick Aegis shrouds are, I am positive they will reasonably protect optics from most ordinary bumps, shocks, drops, and falls.
If mounted properly, Aegis shrouds are designed to leave enough clearance between their inner surfaces and the outer housing of the optics. In a sense, this spacing serves as a potential “crumple zone.”
Even though I did not use the Aegis system with a Safariland 6000 series holster, Arise informed me that the shrouds are mostly compatible. A handful of holster models may require slight modification.
The Takeaway
Arise Manufacturing prices the full Aegis kit at $169 retail. It’s not exactly cheap, and I’m sure readers might be wondering if it is worth it. I cannot make that choice for anyone. It would be wise for the end-user to consider the totality of their circumstances, the optic they are shooting with, and how they shoot.
For an exposed open-emitter red-dot sight like an SRO on a working beat cop’s belt holster, or maybe that serious competitor tearing up the local USPSA matches every weekend, the additional protective benefit of the Arise Manufacturing Aegis Shroud system makes some sense. Doubly so when the optic in question is an expensive model.
For the fairweather casual shooter whose handgun lives in a safe and only rides to and from the occasional range trip? Maybe they don’t really need it.
Think of it this way–what kind of phone case do you personally put on your phone? Apply that logic to your red-dot sight and decide accordingly.
For more detailed information about the different handgun models and optics compatible with the Arise Manufacturing Aegis Shroud system, please consult Arise’s website directly. Arise Manufacturing’s products are 100% American-made. They also source American-made raw materials and hardware and incorporate them into their finished products. Likewise, Arise Manufacturing stands behind its products with a solid warranty.
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