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Red Dot Evolution - Glock 19 RMR
By Uli Gebhard
Suarez International Staff Instructor CaliforniaWarriortalk about mounting small red dot sights to the slide of a pistol. The ideas looked promising. First pictures emerged of a Glock with an Aimpoint H-1 mounted to the rear of the slide. Test results from this approach proved fast target acquisition, reliable operation of the pistol, enhanced long-range accuracy and – that this setup was too bulky to be truly feasible for CCW use. But it was a start.
In July 2010 I helped teaching an AK-course in Prescott and later filmed the Lever Action Gunfighting DVD with Gabe Suarez. He had the prototype of a pistol with a Trijicon RMR mounted in a specially milled recess in the slide. In addition to the optical sight, the pistol also had suppressor sights installed – combined with the lowered profile of the RMR they were tall enough to co-witness them through the optics. The aiming point sat a bit higher in the window, but the irons were clearly visible.
Profile comparison - the camera focused on the slide hence the out-of focus dot.
The sight picture was crisp and hitting targets out to 50 meters was easy. Later I got the chance to shoot a Glock 17 with an RMR installed in a similar fashion. Gabe pointed to a steel silhouette 100 meters away and handed me the pistol with the comment “hit it!”
“100+ yards with a handgun – yeah-right!” was pretty much my first thought. I centered the dot about shoulder level and pressed the shot off. A clear “PING!” rang from the steel a split-second later. That was easy! The key to the successful shot was that the dot is much smaller than the iron sights and that the full target remains visible. I planted a couple more shots on the steel before handing the pistol back.
Several other instructors shot the RMR-Glock with similar ease before it went back into its holster. No, it had not traveled to the range in a custom-fit pelican case – this was a CCW gun that had come in its owner’s appendix carry holster.
Shooting this pistol was cheating in style – just as it has been with my rifle-mounted red dot. In close quarters I did not even have to go for the dot – the aiming window bracketing the target was sufficient to get combat-accurate hits in the torso area while moving aggressively off the “X”.
With increasing distance and more time available to get the first shot off, it was easy to acquire the red dot. I did not have to bring my focus back to the sights since the focal plane of the dot is far enough forward. The only adjustment I had to make was to lower the position of the pistol a bit to allow for the slightly higher position of the dot above the top of the slide.
The suppressor sights are a suitable back-up in case the optics go down – a well thought-through system all-in-all!
Three weeks ago I was finally in a situation to upgrade my Glock 19 with an RMR. The slide went out to TSD. The turn-around was so fast that when I called in to add a new appendix holster to the order, the slide was already on its way back.
Glock 19 modified by TSD for an RMR and factory stockThe cutout in the slide matches the curve of the RMR perfectly!
Time to run dry practice drills! I had to adjust my grip on the slide to rack it. Nothing major, just a little further forward than with the factory pistol to stay clear of the RMR's aiming wingow. As mentioned before, I also needed to lower the pistol slightly to allow for the higher position of the aiming dot. This came natural after a couple of repetitions.
In a low-light setting the RMR provides much better aiming than night sights: there is just one dot to go for, less obtrusive than the night sights and easier to work with since the focal plane of the RMR is forward of the shooter.
I’m planning on running the pistol through a lot more dry-practice to make sure that the lower position is second nature, live-fire it extensively and then making it my primary self-defense gun.
As far as carrying is concerned, I used a Kydex belt holster for the initial drills and did not notice any disadvantages compared to the standard Glock 19. The sight is so small that it does not add any significant bulk to the gun and does not increase the tendency to print. The only point to consider is that the suppressor sights are tall and will require a holster with an appropriate channel for the front sight.
Glock 19 RMR and Cold Steel Recon-1: a nice self-defense combo
With family visiting and lots of things planned together, I have not yet had the time to take the RMR Glock out for a live-fire test. I should be able to get to this phase early next week and post a range report as soon as possible.
Suarez International Staff Instructor CaliforniaWarriortalk about mounting small red dot sights to the slide of a pistol. The ideas looked promising. First pictures emerged of a Glock with an Aimpoint H-1 mounted to the rear of the slide. Test results from this approach proved fast target acquisition, reliable operation of the pistol, enhanced long-range accuracy and – that this setup was too bulky to be truly feasible for CCW use. But it was a start.
In July 2010 I helped teaching an AK-course in Prescott and later filmed the Lever Action Gunfighting DVD with Gabe Suarez. He had the prototype of a pistol with a Trijicon RMR mounted in a specially milled recess in the slide. In addition to the optical sight, the pistol also had suppressor sights installed – combined with the lowered profile of the RMR they were tall enough to co-witness them through the optics. The aiming point sat a bit higher in the window, but the irons were clearly visible.
Profile comparison - the camera focused on the slide hence the out-of focus dot.
The sight picture was crisp and hitting targets out to 50 meters was easy. Later I got the chance to shoot a Glock 17 with an RMR installed in a similar fashion. Gabe pointed to a steel silhouette 100 meters away and handed me the pistol with the comment “hit it!”
“100+ yards with a handgun – yeah-right!” was pretty much my first thought. I centered the dot about shoulder level and pressed the shot off. A clear “PING!” rang from the steel a split-second later. That was easy! The key to the successful shot was that the dot is much smaller than the iron sights and that the full target remains visible. I planted a couple more shots on the steel before handing the pistol back.
Several other instructors shot the RMR-Glock with similar ease before it went back into its holster. No, it had not traveled to the range in a custom-fit pelican case – this was a CCW gun that had come in its owner’s appendix carry holster.
Shooting this pistol was cheating in style – just as it has been with my rifle-mounted red dot. In close quarters I did not even have to go for the dot – the aiming window bracketing the target was sufficient to get combat-accurate hits in the torso area while moving aggressively off the “X”.
With increasing distance and more time available to get the first shot off, it was easy to acquire the red dot. I did not have to bring my focus back to the sights since the focal plane of the dot is far enough forward. The only adjustment I had to make was to lower the position of the pistol a bit to allow for the slightly higher position of the dot above the top of the slide.
The suppressor sights are a suitable back-up in case the optics go down – a well thought-through system all-in-all!
Three weeks ago I was finally in a situation to upgrade my Glock 19 with an RMR. The slide went out to TSD. The turn-around was so fast that when I called in to add a new appendix holster to the order, the slide was already on its way back.
Glock 19 modified by TSD for an RMR and factory stockThe cutout in the slide matches the curve of the RMR perfectly!
Time to run dry practice drills! I had to adjust my grip on the slide to rack it. Nothing major, just a little further forward than with the factory pistol to stay clear of the RMR's aiming wingow. As mentioned before, I also needed to lower the pistol slightly to allow for the higher position of the aiming dot. This came natural after a couple of repetitions.
In a low-light setting the RMR provides much better aiming than night sights: there is just one dot to go for, less obtrusive than the night sights and easier to work with since the focal plane of the RMR is forward of the shooter.
I’m planning on running the pistol through a lot more dry-practice to make sure that the lower position is second nature, live-fire it extensively and then making it my primary self-defense gun.
As far as carrying is concerned, I used a Kydex belt holster for the initial drills and did not notice any disadvantages compared to the standard Glock 19. The sight is so small that it does not add any significant bulk to the gun and does not increase the tendency to print. The only point to consider is that the suppressor sights are tall and will require a holster with an appropriate channel for the front sight.
Glock 19 RMR and Cold Steel Recon-1: a nice self-defense combo
With family visiting and lots of things planned together, I have not yet had the time to take the RMR Glock out for a live-fire test. I should be able to get to this phase early next week and post a range report as soon as possible.
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