Pistol red Dot angles

Dre_sa · May 28, 2019, 11:27 PM

Right, so i'm thinking of mounting a reflex red dot sight to the slide of a pistol. Thinking in generic terms at the moment, since make and model of pistol and sight are (I think) irrelevant at this stage of the thought experiment.

When cutting the relief in the slide for the sight to sit in, should the cut be done in such a way as to tilt the sight down slightly?

Think of an moa rail on a long range precision rifle, it's angled slightly down towards the front.

Would it be good practice to do this in a pistol with an RMR? Is the effective range not great enough to worry about it? Am I over thinking things?

Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

**4V50 Gary** · May 29, 2019, 05:56 AM

How good are you with a pistol? Most of us don't or can't shoot long range with one. It's easy enough for a gunsmith to do. It's a matter of clamping the slide at an angle in the mill vise but remember, once the metal is removed, the slide will always have a canted dovetail cut.

NoSecondBest · May 29, 2019, 06:27 AM

You're way over-thinking things. I've been using red dots on pistols and revolvers for going on thirty years now. I also shoot long range handgun and have for years. A red dot sitting on top of your handgun (like it should be) is effective to as far a distance as you or anyone else can reasonably shoot. Also, they aren't adjustable like a scope with a turret or mil dots. The dot is set for one distance and that's it. I can take several of my hunting handguns with dots on them and shoot deer, or targets, out to a couple of hundred yards simply by using known hold-over. Having met and knowing literally hundreds of the best shooters in the country I've never seen any of them do this. It's not just me, it's just not being done. However, it's your gun and if you want to start a trend, go for it. Just remember, the practical range of any handgun using any type of red dot sight is much, much less than a rifle.

Mobuck · May 29, 2019, 06:48 AM

Put the thing on straight and level.
We shoot subsonic 22lr from pistols at 100 yards and beyond using various brands/types of red dots and haven't run out of adjustment on any of them.

May 28, 2019, 11:27 PM	#1
Dre_sa Senior Member Join Date: April 19, 2005 Location: Left coast Posts: 610	Pistol red Dot angles Right, so i'm thinking of mounting a reflex red dot sight to the slide of a pistol. Thinking in generic terms at the moment, since make and model of pistol and sight are (I think) irrelevant at this stage of the thought experiment. When cutting the relief in the slide for the sight to sit in, should the cut be done in such a way as to tilt the sight down slightly? Think of an moa rail on a long range precision rifle, it's angled slightly down towards the front. Would it be good practice to do this in a pistol with an RMR? Is the effective range not great enough to worry about it? Am I over thinking things? Sent from my Pixel 2 XL using Tapatalk

May 29, 2019, 05:56 AM	#2
4V50 Gary Staff Join Date: November 2, 1998 Location: Colorado Posts: 21,841	How good are you with a pistol? Most of us don't or can't shoot long range with one. It's easy enough for a gunsmith to do. It's a matter of clamping the slide at an angle in the mill vise but remember, once the metal is removed, the slide will always have a canted dovetail cut. __________________ Vigilantibus et non dormientibus jura subveniunt. *Molon Labe!*

May 29, 2019, 06:27 AM	#3
NoSecondBest Senior Member Join Date: December 7, 2009 Location: Western New York Posts: 2,736	You're way over-thinking things. I've been using red dots on pistols and revolvers for going on thirty years now. I also shoot long range handgun and have for years. A red dot sitting on top of your handgun (like it should be) is effective to as far a distance as you or anyone else can reasonably shoot. Also, they aren't adjustable like a scope with a turret or mil dots. The dot is set for one distance and that's it. I can take several of my hunting handguns with dots on them and shoot deer, or targets, out to a couple of hundred yards simply by using known hold-over. Having met and knowing literally hundreds of the best shooters in the country I've never seen any of them do this. It's not just me, it's just not being done. However, it's your gun and if you want to start a trend, go for it. Just remember, the practical range of any handgun using any type of red dot sight is much, much less than a rifle.

May 29, 2019, 06:48 AM	#4
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	Put the thing on straight and level. We shoot subsonic 22lr from pistols at 100 yards and beyond using various brands/types of red dots and haven't run out of adjustment on any of them.