Handgun Optics Thread

[Airborneguy]

Let’s discuss handgun optics in a dedicated thread.

I just ordered the Vortex Venom from Amazon. $229 and no tax (I “seller shopped” until I found one, FUAC).

Now I have to decide once and for all what I want to do as far as mounting options.

I am leaning towards a dedicated cut and nice cerakote job, but I am wary that cutting the slide locks me in to one particular mounting option where my gun will outlast technology upgrades. So I may go with the dovetail mounting plate option instead.

Furthermore, to make matters worse, I’m on the fence whether I really want to put money into my Glock 21 or if I want to get a 19 MOS to make into a dedicated race gun.

 

[Edwardteach72]

Let’s discuss handgun optics in a dedicated thread.

I just ordered the Vortex Venom from Amazon. $229 and no tax (I “seller shopped” until I found one, FUAC).

Now I have to decide once and for all what I want to do as far as mounting options.

I am leaning towards a dedicated cut and nice cerakote job, but I am wary that cutting the slide locks me in to one particular mounting option where my gun will outlast technology upgrades. So I may go with the dovetail mounting plate option instead.

Furthermore, to make matters worse, I’m on the fence whether I really want to put money into my Glock 21 or if I want to get a 19 MOS to make into a dedicated race gun.

Slide milled any day of the week, many more benefits.

But if you are still on the fence (and you will probably be even more on the fence the first few outings with the optic, there is a learning curve, be prepared to spend a lot, a lot, of time just presenting the gun to see the dot)


This may cost a little extra at first but a rear dovetail mount does give you the option to try the optic without any modifications to the slide and if you like it you can always then send off to get it milled, this also leaves you the option to change to a different optic if you want.
This works with multiple optics (not including the RMR)

https://dueckdefense.com/shop/handguns/rbu-multiple-red-dots/

 

[Edwardteach72]

Looking forward to following your adventure into the red dot pistol world

 

[Airborneguy]

That looks interesting, but I'm pretty set on no backup sights. I'm really on the fence just buying a Glock 19 MOS. Ugh lol. I'm so bad when I get going.

Thing is, I'm reluctant to dump money into the Glock 21 then figure out that I don't like shooting .45 in competitions.

 

[Edwardteach72]

I know the struggle when I find something that peaks my intrest I usually go full bore.

I havent figured out how this works yet but looks like for 30 bones vortex has their own slide mount option for glocks.

Vortex Optics - Razor Red Dot Handgun Mounts Glock 10mm and .45
Maybe not?

 

[Marine Cpl]

It sounds like you can't lose trying it out first with the dovetail mount. You can always mill later but you can't unmill if you later decide that a red dot entirely isn't for you or that particular red dot isn't for you but another one is.

 

[Edwardteach72]

It sounds like you can't lose trying it out first with the dovetail mount. You can always mill later but you can't unmill if you later decide that a red dot entirely isn't for you or that particular red dot isn't for you but another one is.

Can always put a cover plate on the slide if you choose to take the optic off after milling. But the downside is like mentioned you are locked into one optic once the slide is milled.

 

[FLA45fan]

How's about SIG P320 or 226's View attachment 37848 View attachment 37849

 

[FLA45fan]

Those prices are gun and mounted optics . . .

 

[FLA45fan]

I dunno $579 for a Sig Sauer p320 compact (Glock 19 sized) with a Sig Romeo 1 or $629 for a full size 320 with red dot . . .
Hey anyone wanna buy a fixed mag M1A . . .? Daddy needs a couple of new range toys!

 

[Airborneguy]

It sounds like you can't lose trying it out first with the dovetail mount. You can always mill later but you can't unmill if you later decide that a red dot entirely isn't for you or that particular red dot isn't for you but another one is.

The red dot is DEFINITELY for me, I've been messing around with a few other people have at my range, but I'm definitely concerned with having a slide cut to fit just one model considering the slide will last 40+ years and I doubt red dots will look the same then if I decide to upgrade. UGH.

 

[Airborneguy]

I dunno $579 for a Sig Sauer p320 compact (Glock 19 sized) with a Sig Romeo 1 or $629 for a full size 320 with red dot . . .
Hey anyone wanna buy a fixed mag M1A . . .? Daddy needs a couple of new range toys!

Those are pretty good prices actually but I'm sticking with Glock for this one. I don't want to deal with buying new mags. If I go with modding the Glock 21, I have 9 10rd mags. If I go with a new Glock 19, I honestly am not even sure how many mags I have but it is a lot.

 

[Airborneguy]

I just "built" an entire P80 compact in my "cart" at Lone Wolf. With the cut, cerakote, upgraded barrel and serial number etching on the 80% lower:

$732!

 

[Edwardteach72]

Never, never, never get a sig romeo 1

 

[FLA45fan]

Listening . . .

 

[Edwardteach72]

Listening . . .

The are one of the if not the least durable optics on the market, most break from a simple drop onto a table or floor.

Hell they are so subpar most companies that mill slides DONT offer a romeo 1 option (to be honest I dont know of a single company that will mill for one) one company goes so far to even say the optic is not up to par with any other optic and not worth milling, but will also offer cuts for say a burris fast fire

 

[Edwardteach72]

Hell the RMS Shield and the new Holosun handgun optic even got the not a bad option from the review process

 

[MilesTeg]

I will add because this is your first outing with an optic having backup sights are recommended. The reason being you can lose the dot on target and you've already trained your body to find the front sight. Iron sights can be a key indexing point and help with the learning curve.

 

[Podmonkey]

@Airborneguy, so you already have a feel for a red dot on a pistol then?
I ask because I have read and heard that having irons cowitnessed with the red dot is an aid to finding the dot while still adapting to a pistol red dot. Also mounting a pistol on a reciprocating pistol slide is not the same as it is on a stationary long gun receiver. The amount of stress the rapid motion this causes, it would seem to me, would not lend itself to the kind of bulletproof reliability one would want to trust one's life to.
Unless it's a range gun then fuck it.
Otherwise my strong personal preference would be to have the cowitnessed irons. Also for that reason I would go with a milled slide, the plate systems like the Glock MOS use put the red dot up too high to cowitness.

 

[Podmonkey]

The are one of the if not the least durable optics on the market, most break from a simple drop onto a table or floor.

Hell they are so subpar most companies that mill slides DONT offer a romeo 1 option (to be honest I dont know of a single company that will mill for one) one company goes so far to even say the optic is not up to par with any other optic and not worth milling, but will also offer cuts for say a burris fast fire

Well that's a real shame. I had thought the P320RX package was very appealing. Especially since they don't use a plate and actually mill their red dot in.

 

[Edwardteach72]

Well that's a real shame. I had thought the P320RX package was very appealing. Especially since they don't use a plate and actually mill their red dot in.

When I first heard about them doing the rx I will admit I was interested as well. With that being said if the P320RX mounting is the same as the xm18 I personally would also pass even if the optic itself was better

 

[Edwardteach72]

Well that's a real shame. I had thought the P320RX package was very appealing. Especially since they don't use a plate and actually mill their red dot in.

And at the same time, FN knocked it out of the park with the 509 tactical and their mounting system is actually awesome and even on par with a milled slide

 

[Edwardteach72]

Oh and before I get called a sig hater or what ever, their other romeo optic (I believe the romeo 5) is actually pretty decent

 

[Podmonkey]

When I first heard about them doing the rx I will admit I was interested as well. With that being said if the P320RX mounting is the same as the xm18 I personally would also pass even if the optic itself was better

Please expand on the issues with the mounting itself.

And at the same time, FN knocked it out of the park with the 509 tactical and their mounting system is actually awesome and even on par with a milled slide

The FN pistols have never really been on my radar. Perhaps they should be.

 

[Edwardteach72]

Please expand on the issues with the mounting itself.

The FN pistols have never really been on my radar. Perhaps they should be.

So the sig mounting has the screws go from the bottom of the slide up, vs the traditional down from the top.

Off chance after say 1,000 rounds or any other made up number, screw becomes lose it's going to fall right down into the inner workings of the gun vs just falling on the ground.


And the 509 itself seems to be getting pretty decent reviews, I sadly haven't had the chance to hold one, but I would really like the "tactical" one obviously I'd need to change out the threaded barrel.

But at the same time the 509 seems slightly big, I dont have Steve Fisher hands and in some other peoples hands it does seem to have a higher bore axis than a glock or even an M&P but not nearly so high as say a XD.

But then again the 509 tactical wasnt designed as a carry gun (but would work just fine as such) but designed as a full on duty gun so the size isnt an issue

And I belive FN was the first ones to see the future of Red dots on pistols and came out with the FNX Tactical, which I want to go out on a limb and say was the first commercially available red dot ready handgun from the factory

 

[Podmonkey]

So the sig mounting has the screws go from the bottom of the slide up, vs the traditional down from the top.

Off chance after say 1,000 rounds or any other made up number, screw becomes lose it's going to fall right down into the inner workings of the gun vs just falling on the ground.


And the 509 itself seems to be getting pretty decent reviews, I sadly haven't had the chance to hold one, but I would really like the "tactical" one obviously I'd need to change out the threaded barrel.

But at the same time the 509 seems slightly big, I dont have Steve Fisher hands and in some other peoples hands it does seem to have a higher bore axis than a glock or even an M&P but not nearly so high as say a XD.

But then again the 509 tactical wasnt designed as a carry gun (but would work just fine as such) but designed as a full on duty gun so the size isnt an issue

And I belive FN was the first ones to see the future of Red dots on pistols and came out with the FNX Tactical, which I want to go out on a limb and say was the first commercially available red dot ready handgun from the factory

Eh, FN uses the plate style mount. Not interested. Also I did lay hands on their poly .45.
Bery bulky.

 

[Edwardteach72]

Eh, FN uses the plate style mount. Not interested. Also I did lay hands on their poly .45.
Bery bulky.

Yes but their plate style mount is completely different on the 509 tactical.

Their plate mount is similar or exactly the same as the Unity Tactical "Atom Mount"

 

[Podmonkey]

Yes but their plate style mount is completely different on the 509 tactical.

Their plate mount is similar or exactly the same as the Unity Tactical "Atom Mount"

I would want the red dot dovetailed and screwed directly into the slide with nothing in between.

 

[Edwardteach72]

I would want the red dot dovetailed and screwed directly into the slide with nothing in between.

Oh dont get me wrong that's my preferred choice, but as far as plate mounted the Atom mounting and subsequently the 509 system is the best out there

 

[Jaywmustang]

I wish I could find a g40 slide with a decent mount for a red dot. I have my g40 with a Leupold deltapoint pro using the stock mos. The mos isnt the greatest system from what I have read.