C.O.R.E Optic threaded holes

bushhog750 · Feb 11, 2017

I just purchased a brand new Ported M&P C.O.R.E 9mm Friday. Went to install a Vortex Viper on it today and found that the optic screw holes are fouled from the manufacturer.

Anybody happen to know what size and thread pitch the optic screw holes are threaded?

I would rather buy a tap and chase them myself verse sending the slide back to S&W. I cant use the screws to chase the holes as the slide is much harder so they wont clean them out, I don't want to risk breaking one off in the slide. Any help greatly appreciated.

Bkreutz · Feb 12, 2017

bushhog750 said:
I just purchased a brand new Ported M&P C.O.R.E 9mm Friday. Went to install a Vortex Viper on it today and found that the optic screw holes are fouled from the manufacturer.

Anybody happen to know what size and thread pitch the optic screw holes are threaded?

I would rather buy a tap and chase them myself verse sending the slide back to S&W. I cant use the screws to chase the holes as the slide is much harder so they wont clean them out, I don't want to risk breaking one off in the slide. Any help greatly appreciated.

I'll check tomorrow (if you haven't gotten an answer by then).

bushhog750 · Feb 12, 2017

Bkreutz said:
I'll check tomorrow (if you haven't gotten an answer by then).

#6-32 for future reference. I fixed it this morning. Good to go now.

Mryamaha19 · Feb 13, 2017

Have You Installed Yet. Can You Co Witness With Sights I Know Not With Venom. Viper O.K.

JISSAC · Feb 13, 2017

I went the extra mile on this item and even subsequently purchased a Vortex Torque Wrench. However, based on an assumption on my part, it "appears" that there isn't a size included in the attachments to use on my installation. Can someone provide me the information as to the size/type hex/torx bit I will need to remove the cover from my C.O.RE. as well as installing the Viper screws. I was told to use a T-10 but it appears too large.

Arndog123 · Feb 14, 2017

I hope you have better luck with your Vortex Viper. Looks like I got a lemon that randomly flickers on/off. Sending it out for the second time today. Giving it one more chance and seriously considering a Trijicon instead.

JISSAC · Feb 14, 2017

I found my manual and it says to use a 5/64 hex.

bushhog750 · Feb 15, 2017

Mryamaha19 said:
Have You Installed Yet. Can You Co Witness With Sights I Know Not With Venom. Viper O.K.

Yes I have it installed now, I had to chase the threads and it went right on. And yes you can Co-Witness with the viper.

bushhog750 · Feb 15, 2017

JISSAC said:
I found my manual and it says to use a 5/64 hex.

That's the size of the Allen wrench you use. Not the thread pitch of the screws used to affix the optic to the slide. The thread pitch is 6-32 and that size screw that Vortex includes with their optics takes a 5/64 Allen/Hex key.

bushhog750 · Feb 15, 2017

Arndog123 said:
I hope you have better luck with your Vortex Viper. Looks like I got a lemon that randomly flickers on/off. Sending it out for the second time today. Giving it one more chance and seriously considering a Trijicon instead.

I'm willing to give the Vortex a try. If it fails I will let them fix it once and try it again. If it fails a second time I will purchase the Trijicon RMR also. I'm more disappointed in the slide threads being fouled from the factory. That's not very typical of S&W so I'm not to concerned with that either. It was a cheap easy fix.

Steved13 · Feb 15, 2017

I tried the Viper, and it's not bad and for the price seems great. I decided I wanted a manually adjustable and went with the Trijicon. The manually adjustable, can be set to automatic, but not vice versa. In some conditions, it's nice to be able to tap the brightness up or down.

I was also disappointed that I had to shim the viper,and haven't had to on either Trijicon I've used, on the same gun.

bushhog750 · Feb 15, 2017

Steved13 said:
I tried the Viper, and it's not bad and for the price seems great. I decided I wanted a manually adjustable and went with the Trijicon. The manually adjustable, can be set to automatic, but not vice versa. In some conditions, it's nice to be able to tap the brightness up or down.

I was also disappointed that I had to shim the viper,and haven't had to on either Trijicon I've used, on the same gun.

What did you have to shim? I don't see how any shim could be needed when paired with the correct backing plate S&W includes in the CORE models and then snugged down properly.

Steved13 · Feb 15, 2017

bushhog750 said:
What did you have to shim? I don't see how any shim could be needed when paired with the correct backing plate S&W includes in the CORE models and then snugged down properly.

I have to apologize, I misspoke, I tried the Vortex Venom, not the Viper. The Viper is only available 6 MOA and I wanted smaller, and the top mount battery, made me want to try it. Actually I think the Viper is adjustable, might have been a clue, I was incorrect.

You shim under the optic. When trying to zero it in the dot would not go low enough to be sighted properly, so you have to shim under the rear of the Venom. I contacted Vortex, and they said it is not uncommon, and directed me to the site that sells the delrin shim. The shim, goes full length of the sight and starts at 1 mm thickness, down to almost nothing. The Shim goes, between the plate and the Venom.

It's not all that difficult to understand, you can tighten it down, and use the proper plate, if the sight isn't square, or the dot is adjusted too high, it has to be shimmed. You run the adjustment all the way down, it doesn't go down any further, you have to shim it.

FYI, you can't use the wrong plate, or not tighten it down properly and use the gun with the sight. It either wouldn't mount or wouldn't hold any kind of adjustment at all.

I should add, the shim wouldn't be a deal breaker for me, it solved the problem, it was just one more thing. If you end up needing one, and all else is good, I wouldn't let it bother you.

jim46ok · Feb 16, 2017

bushhog750 said:
#6-32 for future reference. I fixed it this morning. Good to go now.

You lucked out! Usually firearm threads are somewhat unique, like 6-40, 6-48, etc...and most hardware stores don't carry taps like that.

bushhog750 · Feb 16, 2017

jim46ok said:
You lucked out! Usually firearm threads are somewhat unique, like 6-40, 6-48, etc...and most hardware stores don't carry taps like that.

Man you aren't kidding, I wasn't expecting it to be as easy as it was for sure. But my local Industrial supply store is awesome and they carry damn near everything as far as fasteners go, and if they don't have it they can get it in a couple days tops.

C.O.R.E Optic threaded holes

bushhog750

Member

Bkreutz

US Veteran

bushhog750

Member

Mryamaha19

JISSAC

Member

Arndog123

Member

JISSAC

Member

bushhog750

Member

bushhog750

Member

bushhog750

Member

Steved13

Member

bushhog750

Member

Steved13

Member

jim46ok

Member

bushhog750

Member

Similar threads

Latest posts