Over the stretch of the last decade, if you’ve kept a keen eye on the evolving landscape of defensive and competitive shooting hardware, chances are you’ve clocked the burgeoning pivot toward the incorporation of snazzy slide-mounted mini red dot sights (MRDS), sometimes dovetailing with, sometimes outright replacing the traditional iron sights.
The roster of handgun producers now brandishing at least one specimen in their lineup that boasts a built-in red dot haven has swelled, and the holdouts? They’re fielding a growing swell of consumer clamor to hop on board.
The catalysts behind red dots sprouting up with increased regularity on handguns (and our inkling is that it’s only a hop, skip, and a jump away from becoming the new gold standard) dovetail neatly with the whys and wherefores that have made these nimble sights virtually de rigueur on the rifle scenes devoted to tactical engagement and dynamic competition: to put it plainly—firearms tricked out with red dots present a more user-friendly experience, cut down on the learning curve and allow for quicker target acquisition. New Glock slides, in particular, have become prime canvases for optic integration, promising improved aiming precision and operational efficiency.
We’re now witnessing what might just be the Magna Carta of fads within the gun trade—the allure of handgun optics—Lead and Steel optics. Patrons are scouring the land for firearms pre-milled for optics, and aren’t shying away from shipping their precious slides off to bespoke gunsmiths revered for their masterful RMR slide alterations. And it isn’t solely the realm of the modern, polymer, striker-triggered models; even the classics I hold dear, like the Beretta 92 and the 1911, are stepping out in swanky, optics-prepped attire.
Chances are, you’ve been guilty of snapping an add-on onto your firearm without so much as a cursory glance at the instructions that tagged along—and you can bet your bottom dollar your clientele are apt to do the same when they roll out the door, giddy with their shiny new optic in tow.
Alas, that’s a concoction that might just court disaster. Hence, let’s delve into the nuts and bolts of optics mounting (sprinkled with a handful of “don’t even go theres”) to ensure you’re poised to guide your customers down the right path as they wade into the red-dot mania.
Key Advantages of a Handgun Red Dot Optic vs. Traditional Iron Sights
Single Point of Focus
Given that our human eyes can only fixate on one point at once, using traditional iron sights on a handgun can be a bit challenging. Typically, we are advised to concentrate intently on the front sight, which inevitably leaves the rear sight and the target a bit out of focus.
However, reality often paints a different picture. Under stress, our biological instincts lean towards a “threat focus”. This means you’re more prone to zero in on an attacker (especially their weapon in a defensive scenario) or the target in a time-pressured competition, rather than maintain your focus on the front sight. This, of course, unless you have committed significant time practicing the contrary.
This is where the MRDS optic takes the upper hand, as its use involves a single focal point: simply keep your eye on the target. If you handle your handgun correctly, the projected red dot falls directly on the targeted location. Gone is the challenge of juggling three focus points or the constant shuffling of focus from the target to the front sight and back again.
Expanded Field of View
The utilization of traditional iron sights, particularly the popular “center hold” where your bullet makes contact with the target just above the front sight, often results in covering the bottom half of your target to achieve accurate sight picture and alignment. This leaves you taking aim at only the top half of the target, with the sight itself and your firearm obscuring the lower region.
Conversely, a red dot, even with the comparatively small window given by an MRDS on an arm’s length-held handgun, remarkably expands your view of your target, point of aim, and the area beneath it. Depending on how far your target is, you might even catch the entire target and much of its surrounding area within your sight window.
Many sharpshooters will attest that they barely perceive the MRDS housing, instead seeing their target with the dot seemingly suspended in the forefront when they achieve a focused state.
Accelerated Shot Transitions and Shooting
There’s a reason why “open guns” used in handgun competitions nearly always include an optical sight. The advantages in terms of speed and precision are unquestionable. Even those initially skeptical of the “innovative” MRDS often find themselves won over after practicing with it and taking consecutive shots using a shot timer.
Shifting your aim from one target to another becomes remarkably quicker and easier when you don’t have to juggle alignment of your front sight, rear sight, and your target. The proof is in the numbers… where time is a major factor, the red dot reigns supreme.
Mounting Plates
There is no standardization between companies when it comes to optic mounting systems. That means it’s not possible to just secure any optic on any gun. Each manufacturer has its own designs. Fortunately, most RDO handguns come with an assortment of mounting adapter plates, making it possible to use most gun/sight combinations. But mounting an optic is a little more than just selecting the correct adapter and screwing it into place.
The screws aren’t the only thing holding optics in place. There are also protrusions between the plate and the optic that serve multiple purposes. First, they ensure that the optic is properly aligned with the bore. Second, they help secure the optic to the slide during the immense recoil forces involved.
Powerful Forces
If you’ve ever brushed shoulders with the term “G-force,” it might’ve been whispered through discussions involving fearless pilots or spacefarers braving breakneck climbs or hairpin turns in their mechanical beasts. Picture it as Earth’s gravitational pull setting the baseline—a benchmark we dub 1 G-force. Climbing the scale, imagine gravity’s mimicry doubling your corporeal heft at two G’s, or quadrupling it at four—feeling like a lead suit draped over your shoulders.
Translating this to armaments, we enter the realm of “gun and optic G-force,” a similar metric gauging the stress endured by, say, a semi-automatic’s slide and its affixed accouterments during a shot’s explosive birth.
Allow me to paint a startling picture for you: visualize a 9 mm cartridge, cozied up in a 5-inch barrel. A 115-grain slug, unassumingly nestled within, is catapulted at a swift 1,050 feet per second. Brace yourself – that yields an earth-shattering force of 500-plus G’s. Should an optic mount falter under this Herculean stress, it could very well dance away from the firearm – an unforgiving ballet to the tune of customer dismay.
Envision, if you will, the chagrin of your clientele as their prized $500 optic bids adieu on its inaugural flight, or the sullen march to the repair shop to salvage a wounded slide.
Returning to the oft-neglected instruction manual, we find solace in its directives. The quest for the right plate is paramount, as is selecting screws with the precision of a watchmaker—length and torque settings hand-in-hand.
Skirting around the proper torque settings is akin to flirting with disaster. Neglect could see these steadfast screws retreat over time; overzealousness leads to undue stress, culminating in the most unwelcomed spectacle of aerial optics.
Diving into the mire of non-standardization, we confront an array of torque specifications. Witness the Trijicon’s call for 12 inch-pounds, next to Sig’s prescription of 9, alongside Holosun’s decree of 15, and Leopold’s unyielding demand for 25—a cacophony of numbers where precision is king.
Screws tightened with an uneven hand will tell a tale of woe under recoil’s unyielding scrutiny, possibly crippling the optic. Discourage guesswork; advocate for the acquisition of a trusty torque tool.
March forth with a thread-lock compound as your ally. My go-to is the Blue Loctite, tailored for grip not meant to be fleeting. Red Loctite, though? Avoid it as one avoids fire—it’s the final kiss of permanence, incompatible with the routine intimacy of battery replacements for some optics.
Wisdom dictates a stash of spare screws, for they do grow weary, stretching and complaining after a few dance rounds of disassembly and re-tightening. No gospel from manufacturers on this, but when delicate inches and pounds drive your precision, caution morphs into virtue.
After all, who among us hasn’t felt the sting of a scatterbrained moment, as tiny metallic sprites—screws, pins, springs—slip through our fingers? An ample supply of understudies ensures the show goes on, uninterrupted.
Range Time
After successfully installing an optic, it’s imperative that your clients dedicate a substantial chunk of range hours to cultivate the kind of predictability in their performance that’s vital before incorporating the fresh configuration into their carry routine.
Casually firing off a handful of rounds may breed a false sense of assurance, but for those ingrained with traditional sighting methods, a considerable period of adjustment is necessary to become attuned to the novel dynamics of the firearm and to shatter the instinctive compulsion to align iron sights.
It’s peculiarly jarring to grope for non-existent sights when your optic design doesn’t support co-witnessing. This hiccup in reaction timing could be detrimental in situations where rapid defensive actions are paramount.
Many firearms engineered for optics are furnished with suppressor-ready sights that harmonize the functionality of both the optic and the iron sights. Yet, this isn’t universally the case (take my Glock outfitted with a Leupold optic, which essentially usurps the role of the rear sight). The debate between the merits and drawbacks of co-witnessing setups is ongoing and largely hinged on individual preference.
For me, the ability to co-witness is desirable, though, as with my Glock scenario, it isn’t always feasible. Decision made, your patrons will need to navigate the learning curve associated with their choice, hence thorough training cannot be overstated. Pair each optic sale with a recommendation to invest in around 500 rounds of practice ammunition.
These pointers might strike as second nature to the initiated gun store maven, so there’s a temptation to expect a universal appreciation for them. Resist the presumption that all customers inherently grasp the criticality of sticking to essential protocols. That holds true even for seasoned marksmen.
As a firearms instructor with decades under my belt, my recent foray into handgun optics has been enlightening. I’m not one to gloss over a good manual or scrimp on drill time. It’s incumbent upon you to impart wisdom to your clientele. Ensure they fully comprehend what gear, gadgets, aids, and training must accompany their acquisitions.
Ticking these boxes not only assures a favorable impact on your bottom line, it also guarantees a satisfied and well-prepped customer base.
