An aiming device is provided including a body, an illumination device associated with the body and an optical element, where the illumination device is operable to selectively display a dot on the optical element being visible to a user. The optical element can include an upper edge and a lower edge, and the dot can display closer to the upper edge than to the lower edge, in some cases in the upper half or one third of the height of the optical element. The device can include a protective frame to which the optical element is joined, and the optical element upper edge can be unconcealed by any part of the protective frame above the upper edge, falling within an open top span of the frame. The optical element can be removable and replaceable relative to the protective frame, with a retainer plate temporarily securing the element to the frame.