Optic cut M&P

Ok guys, I was looking at the M&P compact optic cut version, this comes with 7 mounting plates for various red dots. Now..I also see they sell the compact optic cut with a red dot already installed from the factory. But...it doesn't look like any extra mounting plates are included in the box if you wanted to change it!! So, does anybody know if they sell the mounting plates anywhere for the optic cut versions or do all red dots come with their own mounting plate specifically for the optic cut pistols??

S&W does not sell typically optics plates. If you decide to switch optics, you could try calling them to see if they will provide you with the correct one. Otherwise, OEM plates are sold on ebay and other marketplaces. There are 3rd parties that make mounting plates like Outer Impact and others.

As far as I know, red dots typically come with no mounting plate. However, many share the same footprint so if you swap from a compatible footprint, you reuse the mounting plates.

You can see from the S&W manual, what Red Dots fit which plate. For an expanded list, see:

Footprints/Mounting Standards on Red Dot Sights - Optics info

Saudade said:

Footprints/Mounting Standards on Red Dot Sights - Optics info

Click to expand...

This is a great resource link, although perhaps overly long and complex for a beginner because it includes all red dot sights and numerous mounting options, like on revolvers, not just reflex sights like I believe the OP is interested. It also covers all mounting systems as individual cuts into a slide, but not the universal cuts that allow different sight footprints to fit in an oversized slide cut with special adapter mounting plates.

A pistol slide machined for a specific footprint reflex sight eliminates the need for stabilizing recoil posts. The front and rear ledges on the machined slides, along with the two mounting screws typical for almost all reflex sights, secure the sight 100% without an additional mounting plate or recoil posts. This is the ideal mounting method as long as you know what sight you want since it allows the sight to be mounted as low as possible into the slide. This makes cowitnessing iron sights easier. You can only have one set of screw holes for this mounting solution.

However, generic slide cuts that are oversized to allow fitting many footprints through the use of adapter plates are a less desirable method. Such plates will always raise the height of the sight and if the design has the mounting screws going into the thin plate only, instead of deep into the slide, the mount is somewhat less secure. In this case, plates with recoil pins and if possible front and/or rear ledges are helpful. S&W CORE pistols have such a generic cut with most plates included. I don’t think that is what is being offered for the Compact because it is not listed as a CORE model.

Now, I believe the original question is what reflex sight does S&W offer, mounted, and therefore what is the footprint. I don’t know on the Compact model mentioned, but a call to CS should clear that up.

I suspect it is the same as the Shield slide cut offering, where S&W also conveniently hides from the specs what sight/cut they use. However, it has been determined that it is a Shield (English manufacturer) equivalent of a J-Point, a low end sight that has been in service, even rebranded by other manufacturers, for almost 20 years. It is a decent entry level sight, especially when mounted in a good slide cut. It is small and low, making cowitnessing irons possible often with standard height sights.

The Shield footprint is common to their whole line, and a couple of other manufacturers. Especially if only the front to back measurements and screw hole locations are in play on a machined slide (no recoil pins) there are usually more options. The higher end Shield sights are very good—maybe not Trij RMR quality for ruggedness and longevity, but good value for the money.

So, it might be desirable to buy the gun with the slide cut and then buy one of the higher end Shield sights. It depends on your intended use and budget, which we don’t know. You should ask S&W CS if they supply a filler slide plate for the cut so if you don’t have a sight mounted the slide will look normal. They should.

On a compact gun the Shield line of sights is a good choice because they are generally smaller than most everything else. Many reflex red dot sights are rather large, either wide and/or tall. Those may detract from the purpose of a compact gun.

There are many threads on this forum about choosing and mounting red dot reflex sights. Try the search feature.

Good luck.

I have a full size optic cut. It came with the plastic S&W optic plates. I elected to purchase a CH Precision plate to hold my optic on the slide.