-
Forum Update: We've upgraded the software to improve security, performance, and the overall experience.
👉 Read why we made the change | Support the Forum
M&P Red Dot Mount
- Thread starter Jimk45
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
Really only two options: either send the slide out to have it custom milled (a lot of shops offer this service), or get a M&P CORE slide, which is already milled for red dot sights.
ETA: disregard this post. I misread what you were looking for. Sorry.
ETA: disregard this post. I misread what you were looking for. Sorry.
Last edited:
rck281
Member
Have you checked with Burris for a mount?
I don’t know if this applies to the OP, but please—
Don’t “try out” the red dot concept by finding the cheapest way to mount the cheapest red dot and then see if you like it. You won’t, so don’t bother.
A properly set up red dot sight on a quality pistol is a new way to aim and shoot. It is a joy to use after a fairly short learning curve if you are already a decent, consistent shooter.
If you degrade any of the components of a proper set up, what you get will be harder to learn to use, less adaptable and more frustrating. This is truly one of those technologies that does not have a low end entry point that works.
I’m all for people doing what they want and spending their budget as they see fit. However, I dislike budget minded folks expecting to get top tier performance from a tier four investment and without understanding what they are missing.
The best way is to find someone with a proper RDS set up and shoot that gun. You’ll like it.
Don’t “try out” the red dot concept by finding the cheapest way to mount the cheapest red dot and then see if you like it. You won’t, so don’t bother.
A properly set up red dot sight on a quality pistol is a new way to aim and shoot. It is a joy to use after a fairly short learning curve if you are already a decent, consistent shooter.
If you degrade any of the components of a proper set up, what you get will be harder to learn to use, less adaptable and more frustrating. This is truly one of those technologies that does not have a low end entry point that works.
I’m all for people doing what they want and spending their budget as they see fit. However, I dislike budget minded folks expecting to get top tier performance from a tier four investment and without understanding what they are missing.
The best way is to find someone with a proper RDS set up and shoot that gun. You’ll like it.
Well, I may or may not understand your question and my answer coincides, sort of, with another.
If you have an M&P Core, use the correct baseplate that comes with it from the factory. If you don't have a core and thus need to have the slide milled. Have it milled for the specific red dot you intend to use. In that case (a slide that needs to be milled for a specific red dot), no adapter will be or should be required.
Sight Mount Home
I have used this mount on both my Shield and my Full size. Rear sight dovetail same size.
I have used this mount on both my Shield and my Full size. Rear sight dovetail same size.
If you do not have a CORE, you can use the existing dovetail with no milling needed. One example is here:
FastFire™ Mounts | Burris Optics
You lose your rear site.
FastFire™ Mounts | Burris Optics
You lose your rear site.
jejb
Member
I used the dovetail mount from Outer Impact on my 5" M&P 2.0. It accepts many different red dot sights. Has worked great for me so far, with a Vortex Venom. It's not quite as nice as my Sig's that have the slides factory milled for a red dot, since it sits up higher. That impacts the point of impact a little more at varying ranges.
I may end up getting the slide milled at some point. I just hate to invalidate the lifetime warranty by doing that. And for a range gun, the Outer Impact mount works fine.
https://outerimpact.com/shop/red-dot-adaptermount-smith-wesson-mp-pistol-m-r/
I may end up getting the slide milled at some point. I just hate to invalidate the lifetime warranty by doing that. And for a range gun, the Outer Impact mount works fine.
https://outerimpact.com/shop/red-dot-adaptermount-smith-wesson-mp-pistol-m-r/
Imshootin
Member
I'll second the Outer Impact mounts. I have them on several different pistols and have had no issues. Their mounts will work with most of the popular miniature red dots.
My 5" M&P with a Trijicon RMR mounted and my MK IV Hunter with a Burris Fast Fire 2.
My 5" M&P with a Trijicon RMR mounted and my MK IV Hunter with a Burris Fast Fire 2.
Last edited:
Rosco Shooter
Member
If you do not have the CORE Model M&P, check out the Carver Custom Red Dot Sight Mount.
Adding all that framework that attaches to the bottom, to accommodate a sight on top seems too cumbersome for me....
This is the kind of cheaper compromise to which I referred in my earlier post. It will achieve the goal of mounting a RDS. It will not yield maximum effectiveness of the potential of the RDS system.
Kind of like putting undersized wheels and tires on your car—for show, not go.
I'm still on the hunt for a C.O.R.E. slide, but in the meantime, after looking closely at the Outer Impact mount, I decided on the ADE Advanced Optics Red Dot Mounting Plate.
You order the corresponding mount for the M&P, and remove the rear sight. A mounting dovetail slips snugly into the sight dovetail, and you secure the RDS to the mount. Takes about 5 minutes at most.
I chose it over the Outer Impact for two reasons: first, it's concave, so it sits more securely on the top of the slide. From the side, it looks like a "thicker" mount, but because it's concave, it actually sits as low or lower on the slide than the Outer Impact. Second, it has four "locator pins" on the mount, and the Outer Impact uses just two.
When you look at the "thickness" of the mount, make sure you measure from the top of the slide.
Not perfect, and the hunt for a slide goes on, but for $20, it's a surprisingly good (and stout) mount, and it'll do for now.
You order the corresponding mount for the M&P, and remove the rear sight. A mounting dovetail slips snugly into the sight dovetail, and you secure the RDS to the mount. Takes about 5 minutes at most.
I chose it over the Outer Impact for two reasons: first, it's concave, so it sits more securely on the top of the slide. From the side, it looks like a "thicker" mount, but because it's concave, it actually sits as low or lower on the slide than the Outer Impact. Second, it has four "locator pins" on the mount, and the Outer Impact uses just two.
When you look at the "thickness" of the mount, make sure you measure from the top of the slide.
Not perfect, and the hunt for a slide goes on, but for $20, it's a surprisingly good (and stout) mount, and it'll do for now.
Last edited:
I haven't seen only the slide for sale (unless you find one on ebay), but I did buy a Ported CORE slide kit for about $350. Assembled slide, ported 5" barrel, rds plates, and CORE backstraps. The slide has the suppressor height sites and the "improved" striker block.
I topped mine with an RM06
I topped mine with an RM06
I've seen (and missed) a couple, on the "other" site, as well as some others. I keep looking.
I've seen a lot of the ported CORE slides, but I don't want the ports.
On the hunt...
Helpful advantages (among others) of a complete RDS system include:
1. Iron sights, elevated to co-witness (20-25% in bottom of window) with the dot through the RDS. Fastest learning curve to use aligned irons as you have always done to “find the dot”. Lack of iron sights = dot only focus. Learning curve longer and harder. No backup sighting system if RDS fails.
2. Lowest mounting of the RDS above the bore as possible (works with #1; easier to sight over a broader range of distances). The higher the RDS, the more difficult it is to use. Your natural pointing will be significantly different than using traditional iron sights. This makes “finding the dot” slower and harder. CORE + plate = extra elevation over milled only slide. Millimeters make a difference. May require even taller irons if using an adapter plate, and thickness is an issue. Screws have less “meat” to grab. Lose-lose.
3. RDS securely mounted with ridges fore & aft, as in a slide milled specifically for that sight. Mounting pins in addition to screws work well also. Screws alone on a mounting plate are the least secure as they are only two shallow points of anchoring, unless the mounting bracket is thick and therefore tall.
Brackets that mount to the rear sight dovetail often eliminate the rear sight, or at least offer only a very compromised and very tall alternative that requires a corresponding tall front sight. If the sight mounts to the bracket with only two screws (not usually the case any more, pins) shearing of the screws under recoil can be a problem.
1. Iron sights, elevated to co-witness (20-25% in bottom of window) with the dot through the RDS. Fastest learning curve to use aligned irons as you have always done to “find the dot”. Lack of iron sights = dot only focus. Learning curve longer and harder. No backup sighting system if RDS fails.
2. Lowest mounting of the RDS above the bore as possible (works with #1; easier to sight over a broader range of distances). The higher the RDS, the more difficult it is to use. Your natural pointing will be significantly different than using traditional iron sights. This makes “finding the dot” slower and harder. CORE + plate = extra elevation over milled only slide. Millimeters make a difference. May require even taller irons if using an adapter plate, and thickness is an issue. Screws have less “meat” to grab. Lose-lose.
3. RDS securely mounted with ridges fore & aft, as in a slide milled specifically for that sight. Mounting pins in addition to screws work well also. Screws alone on a mounting plate are the least secure as they are only two shallow points of anchoring, unless the mounting bracket is thick and therefore tall.
Brackets that mount to the rear sight dovetail often eliminate the rear sight, or at least offer only a very compromised and very tall alternative that requires a corresponding tall front sight. If the sight mounts to the bracket with only two screws (not usually the case any more, pins) shearing of the screws under recoil can be a problem.
