Slide mounted red dot sights

January 31, 2012
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I’m fascinated by slide mounted optics on pistols, and a quick search of the archives shows that it’s a subject we’ve touched on several times. Of late it’s really started to take off, with multiple serious defensive pistol instructors recommending optics on pistols. There was talk at SHOT about a major PD adding Trijicon RMRs to their guns as well.

So I decided to join the party. I’ve heard good things about the Burris FasFire II, and Lone Wolf has been mounting them on their open gun builds for a while, but no one has put serious rounds through one. The gun above started life as a Glock 34, but it has changed since then.

  • Grip stippled and textured by Southpaw Custom.
  • Sevigny Speedway by Southpaw Custom.
  • Lone Wolf extended barrel
  • Glock factory slide release replacing the extended model
  • Pre-cut slide from Brownells.

When I opened up the slide package, I wondered why they included a drill bit with the slide.  Then I found out – the mounting holes in the Burris need to be drilled out to make them fit on the mounting pegs on the slide.  If you own a cordless drill and have a steady hand, it’s a 10 minute job.

Once the optic is mounted to the slide, make sure the mounting screws are tight so that it doesn’t shift around when you’re trying to get hits.  I’ll be taking this to the range this evening to get it zeroed and dialed in.  This won’t be replacing the Glock 21 as my primary carry and shooting gun, but I’m hoping to get at least 5k rounds on the platform through the year to test the durability of both the Burris FastFire II and the pre-cut slide.

This entry was posted on January 31, 2012 at 09:07 and is filed under Carry Optic, Glock. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.

8 Responses to Slide mounted red dot sights

  1. Ben on January 31, 2012 at 11:07

    I’m def lusting for a dual Ill RMR. Or 5.

    That Glock is one sweet “assault pistol”. LOL

  2. P. Allen on January 31, 2012 at 11:15

    You’re not running a BUIS? I would think that having BUIS would make it easier to track the dot in recoil.

  3. Driften on January 31, 2012 at 12:14

    Having the ability to get slides precut for an optic like that is one of the reasons I got a Glock 17 for my entry into IDPA/USPSA. Not that I can use one there but with 50 year old eyes it could help in the future. Its more of a someday option… I like having options ;)

  4. Brett on January 31, 2012 at 17:12

    I have a Springfield XD 9mm. Will any of those optics work for my gun?

  5. Dave B on February 1, 2012 at 07:25

    My understanding is that the factory sights are still usable on the ones (TSD) pitched by Gabe Suarez

  6. Janet on February 1, 2012 at 16:43

    I’ll be interested to hear about your experience zeroing the Burris FF. I’ve always found it to be bad enough to prevent me buying another FF.
    .

  7. Shepard Humphries on February 20, 2012 at 16:34

    Curious how the FF holds up after thousands of rounds?