Red dot sights have become popular in pistol shooting, allowing fast target acquisition. Choosing a suitable mount for your firearm can significantly affect accuracy and comfort.
A red dot optic uses a reticle to provide precise aiming without magnification. This type of sight is often more durable and resistant to recoil and shock than traditional iron sights.
The Mounting Plate
As red dot optics become increasingly popular in handgun shooting, an entire subculture has sprung up around them. Despite the voodoo and sorcery surrounding mounting them, they are easy to use and provide many benefits to a shooter, including speedy target acquisition, reduced tunnel vision, and increased situational awareness.
There are three main ways to use RDO mounts, and understanding how each works can help you determine which type of sight is best for your needs. One method is a dovetail mount, which attaches to the holes left by the rear iron sights on your gun. This is an excellent option for those who don’t want to keep it.
Another option is to purchase an aftermarket slide with a cut-out for the specific red dot sight you want to mount. These slides are available for various pistols and are often lighter than the factory slide on your firearm.
The Mounting Screws
The mounting screws are used to attach the red dot plate to the firearm. They should be tightened to the manufacturer’s torque specs. They should not be overtightened, or they may damage the threads and compromise stability.
It is important to remember that the position of your red dot optic can significantly impact accuracy and situational awareness. Mounting the optic as far forward as possible can reduce tunnel vision and increase peripheral awareness by as much as 30%.
Some red dots are designed with the ability to be mounted in several different positions.
The Fasteners
There are many different types of fasteners, and they come in various shapes, sizes, and materials. Some are designed to be permanent, and others are meant to hold materials together temporarily. There are even fasteners that are designed to leave a portion of the threads exposed to allow for increased load-handling capabilities.
Regardless of the fasteners you use, it is essential to understand how they work and their limitations to ensure that your manufactured parts are secure and robust enough to meet your requirements. Fasteners are also often coated in various colors and materials to prevent corrosion or other damage.
Some guns already have specific spots milled into the slide or receiver to accommodate red dot sights. For other firearms, the best option is to buy a rail mount that matches the footprint of the red dot sight you want to use and then attach the two using the included hardware and a screwdriver.
The Sight
Red dot sights are the future of handgun sightings. They provide superior targeting, are lightweight, and require less body movement to aim. They allow shooters to keep both eyes open and are used by top-tier end-users worldwide.
As red dot optics have become more popular, an entire subculture has sprung up around mounting them to pistols. Unfortunately, much of this is needlessly complicated, leading new shooters into unnecessary confusion.
