EDC OPTICS
THE TIME HAS COME
At age 57, I have come to the end of the irons only era due to eyesight issues. I’m not sure when I stopped having the ability to see my front sight clearly, but I noticed it recently while trouble shooting my poor performance on the NO FAIL DRILL.
Granted I stopped shooting on a regular basis 15+ years ago and stopped competing in IDPA/USPSA/3GUN in 2006-ish, so I knew my shooting skills were very dull at this point.
But it’s a “bike” I plan to get back on this year, competing in local USPSA matches again at least every 3 months, if not monthly at the Rifle & Pistol Club I just joined last week.
NEW DIVISON CATEGORY
Checking the documentation on Shooting Divisions in USPSA today, I was pleasantly surprised to see a new one called “Optics Carry” that my carry gun now fits in perfectly. No penalty for an optic, 22 round mags (17+5 Arrendondo extensions) or stippling and flattening of the Glock hump like I use on my Glock 17.
Heck, they even allow APEX carry now! That was unheard of back when I was shooting in the early 2000’s.
You can see from the image above that I decided to spare no expense and went with the advice an LEO Instructor who sees hundreds of students come through his range annually, gave me. He said flat out “the 509T is the best on the market” and since he has done a good job of spending my money on quality gear so far, I listened!
Thanks again “Disturbed”!
CUTTING THE SLIDE
Getting a slide cut for the 509T is the only way to go, as using adaptor plates on an RMR cut slide makes it sit way too high over the bore.
It’s bad enough learning to use the higher over bore alignment with a dot, let alone one that is another ~1/8” higher because of another base plate in the middle.
Another tip I got from “Disturbed” (on the TG group listed on top menu of this site) is to concentrate of the strong arm pushing and weak arm pull dynamic. Which when I just do that and look at the target, the dot appears in the right spot 80% of the time now and with a little practice, soon will be 99% of the time, I hope.
Another thing about the RMR cut setup is it’s known weak point with its two screws taking the brunt of the recoil and being known for breakage.
The 509T mount is probably the most solid option out there today. The cut is basically a thin “weaver style” rail with horizontal divots to prevent forward/backward movement along with a lateral squeeze plate on the sight to make for a rock-solid mounting system.
Finding someone that does quality work on the milling of your slide in a timely manner seems to be a problem though, often taking an 8-month turnaround.
Glock Slide Milling for Holosun 509T/509ACSS (dotechne.com) $100.00
Red Dot Optic Cut (glockstore.com) $200.00 (Free if over 10-day turnaround.)
The exception the Glockstore.com which guarantees a 10-day or less turnaround is what I went with. That included shipping and they did make the turnaround just fine.
I was willing to take a chance with Glockstore.com since the G17 is my only “battle gun” and I wanted to make it my EDC this Fall/ Winter and start competing with it immediately, not next year. They only make the cut and cold blue it, no Cerakote options, etc. If you are looking for “functional” over “Safe Queen” quality, they are your guys if you need it in a hurry.
GLOCKSTORE RESULTS
While the glockstore did get the slide back in time, I noticed as soon as I removed the slide from the box that it looked off-center to the shooter’s left.
Measuring the cut, I found it offset by .0095”, almost 10 thousandths. While minimal, a matchbook cover is .0150”, I felt it should be exact since it’s a CNC operation.
I sent the above pictures in an email to the glockstore and this is the response I got.
We received your communication regarding your recent 509T optic cut, thank you for the photos and measurements.
Would you be able to send us photos with the optic mounted? While there may be an issue, the 509T optic is not symmetrical and so the cut is intentionally offset. Aligning the cut to the slide makes the optic less aligned to the slide. The overall optic body is heavier on one side due to the battery tray protrusion and clamp shape. This makes it so the Optic Body, Optic Window, and Cut have different center points.
My response…
I see what you mean now, the cut is offset in the correct direction.
I did not depth gage it with the sight on, and it's an optical illusion when just looking at it from the end with the irons in front being offset the other direction.
Everything is functional and zeroed though, so I thank you for the explanation!
I will pass this on my blog and those who ask about your services in the future.
NEW HOLSTERS
Adding an optic required new holsters also, since the standard ALS does not have a cutout for an optic and my EDC holsters were not made for suppressor height sights.
That meant a new Safariland ALS with optic cut for the Battle Belt and a nice leather Vertical Speed Scabbard w/Snap from Ritchie Holsters.com for the EDC holster.
I use a VSS from Ritchie for my Sig 365XL as my summer EDC rig. I have the non-snap version for it and since it rides at 3:00, I have to thread a belt loop into the middle of the holster tunnel loops, which is a pain.
This time around I got the snap version for my G17 to eliminate the threading issue. As usual, Ritchie Holsters.com did a fantastic job of fitting the holster.
The gun draws without having to break in the leather and after a few months will fit like a glove an draw smooth enough you don’t notice drag at all. Few leather makers have this part down pat like Ritchie who apprenticed under Lou Alessi, one of the GOATs in the field.
In summer, unless it’s scorching hot, I run an unbuttoned lightweight fishing shirt as a cover garment. You can see that the rig hides under a moo-moo size shirt though, and in fall/winter a puffy jacket can hide a shotgun if needed.
Positioned just forward of 3:00 the gun really tucks in and is a natural draw stroke.
CURRENT EDC
TACTICAL DRIP DROP
Previously I had used the G-Code RTI MOLLE Attachment method on my Gadsden Dynamics Enhanced War Belt (looks to be discontinued now) but decided to go with the Safariland QLS system since the holster came with the male connector and the components of that system are cheaper than the RTI stuff with just as much reliability.
Unfortunately, Safariland does not have a MOLLE solution that is acceptable to me as you can see in the image above their MOLLE clip sucks for the belt and doesn’t add a lot of confidence that it will not pull out of a plate carrier if the gun were to get snagged or fought over. If I do use this on the PC (doubtful) I would zip-ty the bottom barbs to the MOLLE.
As you can see from the mage above, the gun is paced way too high on the belt using this attachment method.
GETTING THE DROP
True North Concepts Modular Holster Adaptor ($82.50 – $129.95) is one solution, but a little pricey for what you are getting.
While you can get an Airsoft version for $35.00, I would not put my gun’s security at risk with such as its heavily skeletonized, meaning the metal needs to be of good quality, something rarely found in Airsoft gear. The TrueNorth is made of 6061-T6 aluminum.
In the end, I went DIY and bought some USA made 6063-T5 (slightly stronger, practically the same as 6061-T6) flat stock in 2” and 1/2” widths at the local hardware store, then used through-drilling to secure it with binder posts from my Kydex sheath building supplies.
No aluminum threads to strip out and the posts are quality made from Knifekits.com verses the Chinees crap sold with the Amazon airsoft version. The actual posts used to mount the receiver are what came with it from Safariland and have excellent contact with the plastic receiver piece.
Total cost $12.00
GETTING TO ZERO
One issue that the Safariland ALS system has is there is a built-in forward cant of about 15% which is old school thinking. Allowing for zero cant or even negative cant for optimal draw stroke and presentation of the weapon is something they really need to address.
IPSC Shooters have known for years that the fastest and most consistent draw comes from forward of the hip and a zero or negative cant. They didn’t figure it out on their own though, they got it from western speed draw exhibitionists. Don’t believe me, “Google” Bob Munden and check out his setup.
I’ve carried a Sig 365XL in a vertical speed scabbard for the past few years as my EDC and am sold on the zero cant holster but was having to switch to the 15% FBI on my SHTF Battle Belt setup since Safariland has no solution to getting their ALS to zero.
While looking for a way to attach a TQ to the front of my ALS, “Disturbed” spent more of my money by turning me onto the Black Box Customs NCP-E for Safariland Holsters adaptor which allows ZERO and NEG cants.
While pricey at $65.00 delivered, and there is also a $12.00 knock off on eBay, you can be assured that the Chinese version is probably “pot metal” and likely to break easily.
Since there is only one hole actually attached to the holster with a binder post (the 3/8 marked one) it’s likely not a critical issue, but…
The Black Box is made of stainless and then Cerakoted, I did buy the Chinese model for comparison, and it does work, you can decide which is a better fit for you. Worst-case scenario with the knockoff would be the TQ breaking off IMO as the connection to the holster has two screws passing though the bracket’s holes and one of three attached to it via a binder post.
MADE IT PURDY
After finding the cant I wanted and before lock-tightening everything down, I did Gucci the drop-down adaptor by epoxying some 500D Multicam material over the aluminum.
SIGHT IN
I did get everything sighted in and ran a NFD without time.
The NFD was reasonable times and almost 100% with only a few days of dry fire.
THAT’S A HUGE DIFFERENCE FROM PREVIOUS RUNS!
NET RESULTS?
So, in the end, did the optic increase my ability to make hits? From the NFD above I would say there is a definite improvement. Stay tuned for the next attempt on the TIME CHECK post to find out more.
Great write up! Getting a pistol optic is in my short list too. My eyes are starting to hit that point.