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Optic milling experience

11K views 80 replies 16 participants last post by  El Sucio  
#1 ·
For those of you who have sent your slides to get milled for an optic, what has your experience been?

What places are the best in your opinion?
 
#2 ·
JagerWerks (completed): G19 gen3 and G19 gen5. Trijicon RMR rear iron sight forward with nitride. RMR cut 0.125" deep. Excellent experience.
JagerWerks (in progress): G45 and Compact Dagger™. Trijicon RMR rear iron sight forward with nitride. RMR cut 0.125" deep. Current lead time is 8-12 weeks with an additional 1-3 weeks for nitride.
Battle Werx (completed): G43 and G48. Trijicon RMRcc rear iron sight forward with nitride. Excellent experience. RMRcc cut 0.190" deep. Current lead time is 10 days for machining only or 4-6 weeks for machining and nitride.
 
#5 ·
If you opt to refinish your slide (e.g., JagerWerks charges $50, Battle Werx $60), it's the entire slide.

In the "olden days", JagerWerks would apply Tool Black and Rustilick 631 to the exposed metal. However, customers complained when the exposed metal still developed rust.

Your G45 has an nDLC finish. Most shops don't offer DLC. IMO, the JagerWerks nitride is as good, if not better than OEM Glock nDLC. I've had three OEM Glock gen5 slides milled. I had the exact same concern as you. However, I was absolutely thrilled with the nitride finish.

It's important to understand that Glock didn't switch to nDLC because it's a better finish. Glock switched to nDLC because the tree huggers were concerned with the impact of nitride on the environment.
 
#19 ·
So here’s what I’m thinking.

-Ameriglo GL-429 sights
-Holosun 507c
-Jagerwerx optic cut (remove rear sight dovetail, mill out dovetail in front of optic cut).

Good setup?
I run six sets of Trijicon Bright & Tough (green trititum) suppressor-height sights. However, I can't recommend them (and no longer recommend tritium with an MRDS). I run Amerigo sights on my RMRcc-cut G43 and G48. I don't own a Holosun, but based on feedback from across the Internet, I'm confident you'll be happy with a HS507C.

Of course, you're after the Trijicon RMR footprint. As we've discussed, I'd spend the extra $50 on nitride. Glad to see you're spending the extra $10 on rear iron sight forward.

JagerWerks has long lead times. It's kind of like waiting for an eForm 4. But know that you're getting the best MRDS cut money can buy.
 
#23 ·
Ok, so I’m still leaning towards the option of having my slide milled. But another thought comes to mind. Sell my never fired like new in box G45 and pick up a G45 MOS. I purchased the G45 to use as a range gun, occasional carry (cold months), and basically because I liked the concept.

Thoughts?
 
#24 ·
Ok, so I’m still leaning towards the option of having my slide milled. But another thought comes to mind. Sell my never fired like new in box G45 and pick up a G45 MOS. I purchased the G45 to use as a range gun, occasional carry (cold months), and basically because I liked the concept.

Thoughts?
MOS = No Bueno

Unless you intend to run a Holosun SCS,
  • an adapter plate is an added point of failure. Many (most?) community members run an aftermarket adapter plate, rather than an OEM Glock adapter plate.
  • the MRDS sits higher than necessary, requiring taller than necessary backup iron sights.
Glock MOS is not available rear iron sight forward (which it would seem you'd already settled on).

Stay the course.
 
#28 ·
I used them for my G19 and G26 and I think they did an excellent job (I can post pics later when I get home). I had them move the rear iron sight in front of the optic and had the slides nitrided. I believe they also outsource the nitriding, but it looks great and the overall turnaround time was pretty good.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#27 ·
Whomever you choose, the most durable mounting will have the pocket cut to your specific optic body instead of just the largest known tolerance range from a manufacturer's model. If they are doing this you will be required to send in the optic. But doing it this way puts all the stress on the optic case and not just the screws or the sight bosses, assuming they are hopefully milling those in too.

I'm not sure of what options everyone else is offering nowadays so may offer this option too, but I went with ATEi on 5 pistols so far because of this. With their ProCut service you send the optic in with the slide so they can measure it and custom cut to size. Racking the gun off the optic a lot and pulling the optic to change batteries in the RMRs once a year on all of them hasn't affected zero. My original ATEi slide has 4.5 years and around 50,000 rounds on it now, and it has been beat to hell in training, not just clean range shooting. It is as solid a lockup as when new and the black nitride is still looking good. In fact, I've seen someone shoot a couple rounds without mounting screws at all on the optic with a ProCut as a demonstration, and it stayed put. It's that tight and secure a pocket even before adding screws.

Universal, any size will fit, are ok. But for best durability I would want a pocket that is cut to size. ATEi was the OG shop in doing these cuts and arguably is still the best in the business. Another choice you should consider. They are not the fastest or the cheapest though.
 
#29 ·
So I was looking around for the best price on a Holosun 507c-X2. Stumbled across this place called covert tactical out of Ocala, FL. I sent a message about pricing and he replied that it would be $260 shipped. Claims he runs his own small business and doesn’t have any overhead since it’s out of his house. All brand new in box with factory warranty. He also has an FFL. Anyone ever heard of this place? Seems like a newer business. I feel like it’s legit, just a bit skeptical as to how he can charge so much less.

507C-X2 $260 for red and $290 for green
 
#30 ·
So I was looking around for the best price on a Holosun 507c-X2. Stumbled across this place called covert tactical out of Ocala, FL. I sent a message about pricing and he replied that it would be $260 shipped. Claims he runs his own small business and doesn’t have any overhead since it’s out of his house. All brand new in box with factory warranty. He also has an FFL. Anyone ever heard of this place? Seems like a newer business. I feel like it’s legit, just a bit skeptical as to how he can charge so much less.

507C-X2 $260 for red and $290 for green
I'd definitely contact Holosun to ensure Covert Tactical is an Authorized Reseller, otherwise, Holosun won't honor the warranty.
 
#34 ·
They installed the iron sights, but I did the optic myself after I got it back. The milled pocket is very precise and the Holosuns fit exactly, with neither any looseness, nor fiddling needed to squeeze them in.
For the iron sights, I went with Trijicon on my 19 (orange front, black rear) and AmeriGlo on the 26 (black front and rear).


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
#42 ·
For anyone on the fence about getting their slide cut, there is another option. Mainly because I didn't want to wait for my slide to be cut and refinished, I got a Dueck Defense platform to mount my optic. This is a "no gunsmithing" option that replaces the rear sight on your Glock and replaces it with a machined platform on which you can mount your optic. I have 3 of them mounted on an old Glock 21 I've had for many years, a Glock 26 and now my Glock 29. My Glock 40 is MOS. All of the mounts have worked flawlessly and it comes with (very short coupled) back up sights, so basically you install the mount and your optic and you're good to go. I have had no function issues with the stock springs, although new recoil springs have since been installed. You can buy them from the Glockstore or directly from Dueck. If you wish to avoid the wait or just don't want to get your slide machined, this is a viable option to mount a red dot on your Glock!
Cheers,
crkckr
 
#44 ·
So I sent my slide off to the shop and then I saw a shadow systems MR920L listed for sale on here. Honestly, I would have rather had the SS because it has all of the goodies. Oh well. I’m sure my G45 will be good enough for me. Mine will be returned in a few weeks. Never fired RMR cut, nitride coated G45.
 
#48 ·
As received from Maple Leaf

Image


It was packaged extremely well and included screws.

Image


The 407K fits just fine and the screws thread in just fine. I used a stainless brush on their "tool black" and applied my own blueing.

My only complaint is they re-installed my rear sight in its stock orientation. (I sent it to them with the black toward the shooter, as I do with some of my carry Glocks.) I'm not sure whether I'm going to remove it and use the Holosun as the emergency rear sight.
 
#52 ·
This is crazy, but I pre-adjusted the sight windage by centering the rear iron in the dovetail, aligning the irons, then moving the dot over to the center. Figured windage would be close and I would spend some time adjusting elevation. Didn't even boresight it like I usually do. Went to the range and it was dead on at 10 yards, hit the letter A in a USPSA metric target. Moved out to 27 yards and rang a 2/3 size steel repeatedly. Never touched windage or elevation adjustments.