The Self-Illuminated Meprolight Mepro M21 Gets a New Reticle

Earlier this year, we reported on the new Mepro M21 self-illuminated reflex optic from Meprolight (below). The optic utilizes fiber optics and tritium for dual illumination without the need for batteries. And now, the company has partnered with OpticsPlanet to add the OPMOD HC reticle to the list of options.

The Meprolight Mepro M21 with OpticsPlanet OPMOD HC reticle

Designed by Clayton Jenkins, Senior Manager of Supply Chain Development at OpticsPlanet, the new reticle promises faster target acquisition. The 3 MOA dot sits within a high-speed bracketed design, enabling the user to frame the target faster. Likewise, just below the dot is a chevron to allow for longer-range shots.

The OPMOD brand of OpticsPlanet gear is a no-B.S. brand designed by those who know what they need to get the job done, according to the company. For this reason, many OPMOD products are covered by a limited lifetime warranty.

“We are excited to bring this new red dot variation to our customers. We think the shooter will enjoy this exclusive 3.0 MOA dot with high-speed bracketing reticle, for faster target acquisition and accuracy. We’ve worked with Meprolight® for several years and this new collaboration continues to show our belief in their products and brand. We are excited to see the market response,” said Jenkins.

On March 6, 2023, Personal Defense World reported:

I personally like red dot optics for their fast target acquisition, but they require maintenance. Specifically, having a schedule for changing the batteries is a good idea. However, there’s still the possibility you may forget, or even get a bad battery that dies faster than it should. For this reason, an optic that doesn’t require batteries, like the Meprolight Mepro M21, allows you to set it and forget it.

The Meprolight Mepro M21

Featuring a durable aluminum body construction, the M21 can handle rugged use in harsh environments. Likewise, designed to withstand water submersion and drop testing to MIL-SPEC certification requirements means your optic can handle hard use. In fact, the M21 was developed for the Israel Defense Force (IDF) and remains on active duty today. So, it has been combat-tested and proven to hold up under adverse conditions.

The dual illuminated 1X reflex sight provides instant, all-light aiming without batteries. The M21 pulls available ambient light for a bright reticle by utilizing fiber-optic illumination during the day. Correspondingly, the sight uses tritium at night to ensure a bright reticle in low and no-light scenarios. Additionally, according to the company, the transition between the two systems is instantaneous and automatic.

The M21 features a large 30mm window for greater FOV, allowing you to shoot with both eyes open. Housed within the window are five amber-colored reticle options. You can select between Bullseye, 4.3 MOA dot, X, 5.5 MOA circle with a dot, and the Triangle. According to the company, the 5.5 MOA circle/dot and Triangle are the most popular.

The Mepro M21 is suitable for Night Vision Goggles or scopes, including those with Gen III tubes. Likewise, placing a magnifier close to the optic shows no decrease in the field of view. Because of the battery-less operation, there are no buttons, on/off switches, or maintenance.

Editor’s Note:

Although the self-illuminated feature is great for always-on operation, it comes at a cost. Since the optic uses tritium as its light source at night, it will eventually lose its illumination. However, according to the company, the tritium illumination is guaranteed for ten years.

So, it might be a non-issue, because who knows what kind of technology will be available in ten years, and you might be ready to switch anyway. But it is still worth being aware that the sight has a shelf-life of only ten years.

I recently got to shoot a rifle with the Mepro M21 at our recent Athlon Outdoors Rendezvous and was very surprised at how bright it was. The dual illumination provides a reticle that is highly visible, even in bright daylight conditions. If I didn’t already know that it didn’t use batteries, I would not have believed it.

Availability

The Meprolight Mepro M21 is available now with an MSRP of $479.99. For more info, please visit Meprolight.com.

Meprolight Mepro M21 Specs

Magnification: x1
Lens Diameter: 30mm (1.1811 in.)
Field of View: Unlimited with both eyes open
Power source: Fiber optic and Tritium
Aiming Point Diameter: 4.3 MOA/ 5.5 MOA/ Triangle/ Bullseye/ Open “X” *some options might not be available
Dimensions: (L x W x H): 114 x 55 x 70 mm (4.48 x 2.16 x 2.75 in.) with Picatinny adaptor
Weight: 372 g (13.12 oz.) with Picatinny adaptor

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