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Optimal height to mount red dot

Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2016 12:26 pm
by 1319
Does anyone have any insight into the pros / cons on the mounting height (distance away from the gun's slide) of a red dot sight?

I would like to keep it further away from the rail (approximately 1") to reduce the impact of ejected casings (potential jams and constant impact to the red dot housing) but know that mounting further away from the rail increases the amount of change in the actual POI as the distance from the sighted in POI increases.

Thanks!

Re: Optimal height to mount red dot

Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2016 12:54 pm
by Rover
If you're shooting 2700s, it doesn't matter. I have also seen sights so small they fit in the rear sight cut-out. It doesn't interfere with ejection, and you can't get any lower than that.

Re: Optimal height to mount red dot

Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2016 1:35 pm
by dronning
1319 wrote:Does anyone have any insight into the pros / cons on the mounting height (distance away from the gun's slide) of a red dot sight?

I would like to keep it further away from the rail (approximately 1") to reduce the impact of ejected casings (potential jams and constant impact to the red dot housing) but know that mounting further away from the rail increases the amount of change in the actual POI as the distance from the sighted in POI increases.

Thanks!
Is this on a 1911, slide mount or frame mount? The dot on my 1911 is less than 1/4" above the rail. No issues with brass hitting the dot, no jams, etc.. gun runs perfect.

You really want it as close to the rail as possible especially if it's a slide mount. Having a dot 1" above a the slide on a slide mount may make it more difficult to recover during sustained fire.

If your brass is ejecting too high you may need work on your ejector/extractor.

- Dave

Re: Optimal height to mount red dot

Posted: Wed Apr 27, 2016 7:00 pm
by Murph
The 1911's can be tuned to eject directly sideways. Nice low mounts are more common than not.

Re: Optimal height to mount red dot

Posted: Tue May 03, 2016 4:56 am
by gitkrunk
as low as possible

Re: Optimal height to mount red dot

Posted: Tue May 03, 2016 9:27 pm
by Rreid
The lower, the better.

If the dot is mounted high, any wrist or arm movement is multiplied. Makes it difficult to pull the trigger smoothly.

Re: Optimal height to mount red dot

Posted: Thu May 05, 2016 2:14 am
by jackh
Just a thought. Scope height can influence the arm height/angle at the shoulder. And maybe even the head position. Just like everything else in Precision pistol, there is an ideal range for this too. You have to set your own priorities.