Glock 19 with red dot sight questions

[gunny2]

Was looking at getting a Glock 19 and saw the "optic" version which has a slider ready-made for optic sites. My first question it's almost $100 more than the regular Glock 19; do I need that to mount a red dot sight? If not, what's the appeal of the optic version?

My second question is I'd be looking for the most affordable red dot sight possible...I might pay a little more for one that's notably better, but I'd like to keep it under $100 if possible.

Appreciate anyone experience with such purchases and insights. Thanks!

 

[Larry in wyoming]

There's not much in the way of red dots that are less than 100 bucks. Keep an eye out at optics planet and euro optics for demo models and other sales. I just got a swamp fox justice for about 120. I've got it mounted on a PSA dagger (glock gen 3 clone.) I'm going to sight it in tomorrow.
Having the slide already milled gives a low, clean mount without extra parts. The down side is that you have to match the "cut" and the sight. My slide is milled to RMR specs so I had to get an RMR sight. Unfortunately there were numerous RMSc size sights on sale at the time which don't fit RMR.

I also have a sig romeo zero on a 1911. I had to remove the rear sight and install an adapter plate to mount the adapter. It works well but it's not as clean and there is no backup if the dot fails for any reason. Batteries anybody?

The cost of the adapter negates the cost of the factory slide cut. Or close to it anyways.

 

[gunny2]

Thanks. At the risk of sounding dense, so you think buying the "optic pre-cut" Glock 19 for about $100 more is worth it? Or buy a basic Glock 19 and get whatever adapters are needed?

 

[tarosean]

Thanks. At the risk of sounding dense, so you think buying the "optic pre-cut" Glock 19 for about $100 more is worth it? Or buy a basic Glock 19 and get whatever adapters are needed?

milling and taping the slide cannot be done under 100 bucks unless you are the machine shop.

 

[Dan-O]

Cheapest is to buy the slide already milled from the factory. Like others have said, swampfox makes a dang good dot, but you probably won’t find one for less than $100.

Found an off brand on fleabay for right about $100, but they are few and far between, and I wouldn’t recommend going cheap on something that you might depend on to save your life. Chances of actually using your gun in a defensive situation is probably slim…..so I like to think of optics as a training tool and a way to increase hits on target, which helps muscle memory, etc.

 

[trackskippy]

You might as well just get the MOS version and be done with it. It will give you more options too. Just looking around, it looks like its going to cost you the same $100+ to have a non MOS milled, and then you have to deal with all that.

Glock used to give you a number of different adapter plates, but now seems to have narrowed it down to the RMR plate. Others are available too, and other people are making them as well .

Holosun now has a series of sights (SCS_MOS) that mount directly to the Glock cut-out without an adapter plate. The sight is smaller, and sits lower, and you can use the factory iron sights with it, and don't have to buy suppressor height sights, assuming you want BUIS.

As far as the dots and their cost goes, I learned early on with my rifle dots, spend the money you don't have and get as good a sight as you can. It will pay for itself in the long run.

That said, if you arent sure and don't want to dump a lot of money into it, Id avoid the "cheapest" you can find and at least go middle of the road. Trijicon seems to more or less be the gold standard here, but Holosun seems to be gaining in reputation and the cost can be a couple of hundred cheaper, if not more.

I went with the Holosuns to see if it was something I wanted to do, and haven't had any issues with them, and I have one of gun that has over 5K rounds on it now. Battery life has been good, and they are easily accessed and changed if you need to. You don't have to remove the sight to replace the battery.

If you're going to mount the sight yourself, youre going to need a torque wrench/screwdriver in in/pds and the appropriate torx bits. They are easy to mount and zero, but you still need to do your homework.

Be prepared for a bit of a learning curve shooting with them too. They take a little getting used and figuring out, so don't get frustrated and give up too soon. The time and effort you put in will be well worth it, but it will take a little time. Dry fire is your friend here too. There are also several good videos on YouTube to help you out too.

 

[jmr40]

If you even think that in the future you'll mount a dot sight in it go ahead and get the MOS version. Dot sights on pistols are the future. I believe that in another decade they will be common on the guns in LE officers holsters.

Some guns are easier to mount an optic on than others. I tried it on a Sig M17 and had to pay another $70 for an adapter plate in addition to $300 for the sight. I could never make it work well for me on the Sig. For whatever reason the dot just didn't line up for me quickly. I had to hunt for it. I took the dot off and went back to irons.

I have one on a Smith M&P in 10mm. The Smith came with everything I needed to mount the optic and it works great on that pistol. I think a big part of that was that with the Sig the rear sight has to come off to mount a dot. The rear sight is still on the Smith and I subconsciously use it to get the dot aligned. I can also see the front sight and could still use the gun if the dot failed.

I don't have a Glock with the cut, at least not yet. I'm trying to locate a G21 MOS. Local gun store says they have a big shipment of new Glocks coming in any day now and will have one for about $600 OTD. The rear sight stays on Glocks when you mount a dot so I think that is a plus.

I do have a Shadow Systems pistol which is a Glock clone with the cut. It comes from the factory with everything you need to mount a dot and I'm pretty sure Glock does too. I'm going to put the dot that I took off the Sig on that pistol later today.

 

[LiveLife]

looking for the most affordable red dot sight possible

There's not much in the way of red dots that are less than 100 bucks

Viridian RFX-11 micro reflex green dot sight comes close at $126 - https://www.midwayusa.com/product/1025146085?pid=816779

 

[Jim Watson]

A hundred bucks extra for a MOS model seems not too bad.
As said aftermarket installation will cost more.

under $100

I conclude this is to be a "centerfire plinker" not something for self defense or serious competition.
The EGW base that fits the rear sight dovetail is only $50 and so what if it is taller over the gun.

 

[gunny2]

Appreciate all the replies...re red dots, I saw a Bushnell that a site recommended for $75 that I think works.

 

[railroader]

Slide mounted red dots get banged around from cycling slide. Get a red dot with a decent warranty. I have a few Vortex Venoms that had issues over time and they were replaced free quickly.

 

[Spats McGee]

I bought a Bushnell TRS-25 for about $60* to put on a rifle. It didn't agree with my astigmatism, but that was an eye problem, not a product problem. I'm not sure I'm ready to trust a red dot for SD, but for plinking it worked pretty well (when I remembered to check batteries, bring extra batteries, etc...).

*=That was the sale price. Looks like they're about $100 online right now.

 

[Ks5shooter]

Better to have and not use ,than to want later .

 

[gunny2]

Better to have and not use ,than to want later .

Amen to that! Granted, if I ever need to use this in self-defense, it'll likely be in close quarters anyway, but I'll take all the help I can get - and who knows, someone seeing that little laser dot might be a deterrence before they get that close - they'll have Terminator flashbacks

 

[Shodan]

You'll likely get more information than you want, but look up Sage Dynamics on YouTube. Unless you shoot VERY infrequently, I think you'll be disappointed with a budget RDS.

 

[Larry in wyoming]

Amen to that! Granted, if I ever need to use this in self-defense, it'll likely be in close quarters anyway, but I'll take all the help I can get - and who knows, someone seeing that little laser dot might be a deterrence before they get that close - they'll have Terminator flashbacks

Wwwweeeeelllll it doesn't project any kind of dot on the target. You see the dot super imposed on the target in the site. Maybe if it's pointing at you you could also see the dot..... but I don't know.

 

[Shodan]

Amen to that! Granted, if I ever need to use this in self-defense, it'll likely be in close quarters anyway, but I'll take all the help I can get - and who knows, someone seeing that little laser dot might be a deterrence before they get that close - they'll have Terminator flashbacks

Respectfully, I think you have some research to do before buying a RDS, regardless of price point.

 

[gunny2]

Wwwweeeeelllll it doesn't project any kind of dot on the target. You see the dot super imposed on the target in the site.

Sorry not following the diff?

You'll likely get more information than you want, but look up Sage Dynamics on YouTube. Unless you shoot VERY infrequently, I think you'll be disappointed with a budget RDS.

I shoot very infrequently.

 

[Spats McGee]

Better to have and not use ,than to want later .

I’m going to go out on a limb and guess that this (or something very close) is very common among THR members. Our mantra here at the house was always “better to have it and not need it, than to need it and not have it.”

 

[Larry in wyoming]

Lasers actually project the dot onto the target itself. The target looks down at his shirt and he see a red dot.
Red dot sights have a red dot on a glass screen. The shooter sees the dot but the target itself doesn't actually have a dot on it.

Make sense?

 

[ericuda]

Get the mos version and spend more than 1 bill on a red dot. Lots of good options if you are patient.

 

[Lo-Profile]

I bought a second slide for mine, cut for the optic (Holosun K series) I was going to use. Didn't want to use a adapter plate.

 

[Spats McGee]

If I were in the market for a G19, I'd go ahead and get the MOS version, if for no other reason than possible resale value.

 

[JTQ]

If I were in the market for a G19, I'd go ahead and get the MOS version, if for no other reason than possible resale value.

I tend to agree. The only downside to the MOS versions is that some sight options get eliminated. However, the Glock MOS has been around long enough, and Glocks are so popular, most sight options have been made available for the MOS versions.


Edit to add: Plan ahead. If you want to put Warren Tactical's or Heinie's on your G19, they may not be available for the MOS option. If you like Trijicon, Ameriglo, or Dawson, you probably can find MOS options.

 

[Wildbillz]

The MOS Glock 19 is well worth the extra hundred if you think you want a red dot sight. In fact I think I would look at any of the Glock MOS's if I were looking for another Glock. I would save a bit longer and get a decent sight though. I think PSA runs a sale on the Vortex Venom every now and then. It's been a pretty good sight so far for me. I am looking to step up to one of the Holosun SCS one next, but I need to save up some dough on that one.

WB