Wanting a red dot on a compact pistol.

[clutch]

I started looking for a new compact pistol with a red dot. After looking for a while and seeing availability I starting thinking about having my S&W Shield 9mm (V1) and my .40 S&W Compact cut for a dot. If I buy a new pistol these are likely going to be safe queens.

So, has anyone had the above guns modified? Who did it? What sight did you put on it and why. Did you think it was worth doing?

Thanks,

Clutch

 

[sevt_chevelle]

Sending my 1st gen shield as we speak to get cut.

On the shield am using a holosun 407k green dot with 6 moa dot. It will retain the factory iron sights and have a lower 1/3 to 1/4 witness.

The holosun K models are smaller in size and fit the smaller slides better. Holosun has probably the toughest mini red dot on the market. Others are made with plastic bodies and lenses.....NOPE!

On the compact, Id run a full sized dot like a rmr or holosun C model.

I hate true co-witnessed sights, they block half of the sight and obstruct the target.
Floyds custom is doing the work, 125 for the mill and about a week turn around, they specialize in M&Ps.
The shops that do good M&P work are floyds, primary machine and maple leaf.

If the wife likes it when it returns, her shield plus will also receive a cut job.

So I have a shadow 2, Sig P220, and CZ P09 with red dots, love them no regrets.
Have a spare slide for M&P compact and CZ 97 that will be getting dots added, for me it's a game changer.

 

[clutch]

I'm planning on having DP Custom Works LLC do the work for me. I'll send the shield out first for a 407K and consider your comments on what to put on the compact at a future date. I was going to send the compact in first until I read your thoughts.
Thanks,
Clutch

 

[CapnMac]

After (lucking into) my SIG 365X with Romeo Zero, I simply cannot imagine "going back."

I know folk who have had their existing slides milled, and often it's down to their expectations and the ability of the gunplumber for how well the sight cutout fits. Sadly, there's not quite enough uniformity (yet) to be able to have a single standard to hold to.

 

[DTL]

I have the Holosun 407K V2 green dot on my new Canik Mete.

 

[brutus51]

After (lucking into) my SIG 365X with Romeo Zero, I simply cannot imagine "going back."

I got the 365XL because I wanted to try out a red dot. Wasted about a thousand rounds through it before deciding red dot's weren't for me.
Love the XL with it's standard night sights and I don't even like striker fired guns. Made an exception with the XL due to it's manual safety, says the old 1911 kinda guy.

 

[clutch]

I got the 365XL because I wanted to try out a red dot. Wasted about a thousand rounds through it before deciding red dot's weren't for me.
Love the XL with it's standard night sights and I don't even like striker fired guns. Made an exception with the XL due to it's manual safety, says the old 1911 kinda guy.

I've shot red dots on various .22's and air pistols. I think irons are faster but with my 64 year old eyes craning my head to where I can see is ruining the speed advantage.

When I shoot action pistol at the club I'm using single focal glasses that give me a hard focus on the front sight and my Xdm 4.5 to get enough sight radius. Not the pistol I'm likely going to carry. Working on finding something that works for me.

Clutch

 

[clutch]

After (lucking into) my SIG 365X with Romeo Zero, I simply cannot imagine "going back."

I know folk who have had their existing slides milled, and often it's down to their expectations and the ability of the gunplumber for how well the sight cutout fits. Sadly, there's not quite enough uniformity (yet) to be able to have a single standard to hold to.

I did a bit of looking around to see If I could find specs on the mounting cuts. I do have a bridgeport mill out in the garage. I didn't find any info. It sounds like the 407K/507K is a modified version of a shield profile. Not sure I wanted to do the work myself, I've done some crowning and I d&t'd one of my Ruger MKII pistols for a weaver rail.

 

[CapnMac]

see If I could find specs on the mounting cuts.

From my (admittedly cursory) research, each sight seems to have a unique base. Which is a present limitation, to my thinking. Eventually, the base situation will wind up sorted. We will see.

 

[12Bravo20]

Here is a good source on the different optic footprints that are in use right now.

https://optics-info.com/footprints-on-red-dot-sights/

 

[Tom-R2]

Last year I bought a Ruger Max9, it's already cut for an optic. I had a Holosun 407K on it before I took it to the range the first time. I really like it for concealability.

 

[Tilos]

Here you go, cheap enough to try without breaking the bank:
SCCY CPX-2 9mm Pistol with Black Frame/Stainless Slide and Crimson Trace Red Dot | Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore (sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com)
Kind of like buying the red dot and getting a free gun to put it on
jmo,
.

 

[shoobe01]

I have an old Kahr P9, didn't want to change guns for this so sent it off to Galloway Precision, who specializes in all sorts of neat stuff for small guns. Spectacular work. The RDS feels like it would stay there with no screws!


Even that small one is a tidge wider than the slide, but I can't tell.

My two carry pieces. Both are IWB mostly, no problem at all with the dot and light. I was surprised how little impact it had on concealment or comfort. And the shooting? Amazing. It is cheating. 25 yd headshots and 50 yd hits with the compact.

If I take my time, every time.


I run a Jpoint because the dot looks good to my eyes, is small, and light. I do not love holosuns because of the thick frame, even aside from Chinese optics, politics. Some others are that size, Docter, Shield, etc.

 

[Lo-Profile]

I have the Holosun 407K V2 green dot on my new Canik Mete.

Anywhere vote for this RDS.
Have one on my 365xl

 

[airfoil]

IMO, just get a handgun with the slide already milled for a RDS, or better yet, RDS included.

 

[Wireguided Marine]

I sent out the slide for my M&P .40 compact (1.0) to DP Customworks in November for milling an RMR cut. I ordered the options of a Glock rear sight cut behind the red dot and had the slide nitrided as well. Got it back early and they did great work.

I too didn’t want to buy something else and then have this become a safe queen. Especially because I like M&P.

 

[clutch]

I sent out the slide for my M&P .40 compact (1.0) to DP Customworks in November for milling an RMR cut. I ordered the options of a Glock rear sight cut behind the red dot and had the slide nitrided as well. Got it back early and they did great work.

I too didn’t want to buy something else and then have this become a safe queen. Especially because I like M&P.


View attachment 1060968 View attachment 1060969

Which Trijicon sight did you put on it? How many rounds have you put through it? Are you using the stock front sight? What height rear?

I put an apex trigger in my 40c, I like it a lot.

 

[giggitygiggity]

From my (admittedly cursory) research, each sight seems to have a unique base. Which is a present limitation, to my thinking. Eventually, the base situation will wind up sorted. We will see.

The different footprint situation is rather annoying. It is rather similar to the M-Lol vs Pic Rail vs key-mod debate. For micro red dots, it seems like the Shield RMS footprint is the most widely used. For the regular red dots, it seems that the RMR footprint is the most widely used (probably because Trijicon’s RMR is the standard to which it seems most people compare pistol red dot sights). I’m not sure if we will see every manufacturer converge on only one footprint, but I suspect that as more and more optics manufacturers develop pistol red dots, they will gravitate towards the RMR footprint for regular red dots and the Shield RMS profile for micro red dots. This is similar to how M-Lok appears to be the pack leader in rails and mounting solutions, although key-mod and pic rail are still options.

 

[beagler]

Ok… Silly question here. I have never ran an optic on a handgun. I am used to irons and having to line up two separate sights. With a red dot, do you need to center the dot in the field of view, or just put the dot on the target and let er rip?

 

[CajunBass]

Here you go, cheap enough to try without breaking the bank:
SCCY CPX-2 9mm Pistol with Black Frame/Stainless Slide and Crimson Trace Red Dot | Sportsman's Outdoor Superstore (sportsmansoutdoorsuperstore.com)
Kind of like buying the red dot and getting a free gun to put it on
jmo,
.

I bought one of those for that very reason. I wanted to try a "dot" but didn't want to carve up one of my existing guns, or spend a bunch of money on somehthing I might not like. The little SCCY fits the bill perfectly. Yea, the trigger is long and has a long reset, but I'm an old revolver shooter, so it's not that different. Actually it's not as heavy as I expected from all the internet talk. The gun has functioned perfectly so far, although it's not like I've put thousands of rounds through it. Couple hundred tops. I haven't had to touch the sight adjustments. It pretty much hits where I'm looking, as long as I do the job with that trigger.

 

[Stefan A]

Ok… Silly question here. I have never ran an optic on a handgun. I am used to irons and having to line up two separate sights. With a red dot, do you need to center the dot in the field of view, or just put the dot on the target and let er rip?

Just put the dot on target. Of course, you will have to sight it in like any optic. It still takes practice to find the dot. Dry firing helps.

 

[KentuckyJack]

I have a M&P shield 9mm. It has been my primary carry for years. I’m switching to my newly acquired P365X RomeoZero. So far I really like the Red dot. I also really really like the grip. The grip feels amazing for my hand. The shield will be seeing a lot less use now. However the shield without an optic is still pocketable. I have a couple coats that have an inside pocket that fits my shield perfectly in a leather pocket holster. I think the shield will fill that role moving forward.

 

[Tilos]

I bought one of those for that very reason. I wanted to try a "dot" but didn't want to carve up one of my existing guns, or spend a bunch of money on somehthing I might not like. The little SCCY fits the bill perfectly. Yea, the trigger is long and has a long reset, but I'm an old revolver shooter, so it's not that different. Actually it's not as heavy as I expected from all the internet talk. The gun has functioned perfectly so far, although it's not like I've put thousands of rounds through it. Couple hundred tops. I haven't had to touch the sight adjustments. It pretty much hits where I'm looking, as long as I do the job with that trigger.

View attachment 1061765

Thanks for quoting my post and adding your own experiences.
Mine does not have the optics though, no local dealer would accept a shipment from Outdoor Super Store at that great price, so I bought one without it.
With some background in da revolvers, I too was willing to deal with "that" trigger, but my Kahr (also DAO) carry guns have spoiled me.

I found the SCCY trigger to be way stiffer than my Kahrs and went on the hunt for a remedy and found this trigger spring kit:
Custom SCCY CPX-2 Trigger Upgrade | SCCY CPX-2 Accessories | SCCY CPX-3 Trigger Job (mcarbo.com)
I read the 600+ reviews and decided to give it a try and admit it was a great investment of $24.
Some of those reviews mentioned some reset problems that was remedied by putting the OE trigger return spring back in.
Based on that, I did not install the M*Carbo spring kit trigger spring.
jmo,
Edit: SCCY displayed a new model at the shot show that has a "better" trigger, thinner grip front to back, a "rail" in front of the trigger guard, a shorter reset, milled for a red dot with a cover plate, etc.
Due for release 2nd Q 2022.
just sayin',
.
.

 

[CajunBass]

I've put a couple of MCarbo kits on other guns. Most noticable improvement was to a Smith and Wesson SD9VE, which dropped the trigger to 5.5 pounds. I don't know what it was before, but it feels like a dramatic improvement.

After I fool with the SCCY a bit more, I might give one a try.

I've seen several U-tube video's on the new striker fired SCCY. Interesting, but I'm about full up on this type gun.

 

[Throwbackguy]

Okayyy... Milling for an optic gives me the shivers. Seems I'm fine with the usual 'home gunsmithing' options, but when it comes to milling out the slide (and the re-anodizing-or-whatever that goes with it), I hold there.

I've got a full-size M&P9 (2.0), and a Shield .45, both with Apex trigger jobs; and I simply got an optic plate and banged out the rear sight to 'experiment' with. Nondestructive; and I can go back if I wish. I started with the full-size pistol; per S&W, the rear sight dovetail is the same on both (the Shield simply has a shorter rear sight, so it doesn't extend over the rear of the slide). I put a Vortex Venom on the full-size, and loved it till I got a complete spare PC slide from Ed Brown (someone's turn-in); I've since removed the Venom and replaced it with irons on the full-size, and I'm next gonna bang out the Shield's, and install a See All Open Sight (tried it, liked it; in tritium for night). Lets me focus completely on the target (like a RDS), and not back-and-forth with my slow-to-focus eyes...!