Welcome to the addiction!
I currently run a Trijicon SRO and chose that based on my direct observation and conversations as a range safety officer in USPSA. They are considered robust and don't seem to fail too often.
If you ever would consider trying USPSA, then the best choice for optic mounting on the TS2 is to slide mount it as that is the only legal way you can mount an optic in the limited division. The TS2 is a dedicated limited division gun and would be an excellent platform for limited optics. If you are going to slide mount the optic, then I'd consider the RDS plate system from CZ Custom. They should be able to make you a fixed sight plate and thus you would be able to convert the gun between fixed sights and optic whenever you wanted. A call to CZ Custom would help answer any questions.
I don't have direct experience with other brand optics but I've heard the Vortex optics are not as durable. Looking at the USPSA gear survey from the 2022 nationals, it looks like the prevailing popularity for carry optics:
Trijicon - 46%
Sig - 28%
Leupold - 11%
Holosun - 4%
Vortex - 4%
https://uspsa.org/magazine/view//2023-00#page=1It's interesting to see the other divisions don't completely align but that could be due to whether the optic is slide mounted or frame mounted? Open and PCC optics don't get abused as much since they don't reciprocate with the slide (generally).
As for a load, that will also be dictated by the competition you plan on entering. USPSA has power factor scoring so you have to meet a minimum power of 125 to get a score. I.E. a 95gr bullet would have to be travelling 1316 fps to meet minor PF (ideally faster than that to give a buffer). Power Factor = Bullet weight*Velocity/1000
Most folks settle on heavier bullets to help soften the recoil impulse. 9mm was developed around the 124gr bullet and that is as good a starting place as any for load development. Generally you will find that the TS2 is plenty accurate and it's girth minimizes felt recoil well.
Cheers,
Toby
