MOUNTING A REFLEX SIGHT ON 3rd GEN PISTOL???

[UNCLE PAULY]

Bought a 4506-1 with adjustable sights and am waiting for the MD. state background check before FFL will release to me. Meanwhile I was looking at newer 45 ACP pistols with reflex sights (red dot) and got to wondering if anyone studied the possiblity of mounting a reflex sight on a 3rd gen pistol?

Trijicon RMR reflex sights measure 1.8" x 1.2" x 1.0" or 46 x 30 x 25mm (L x W x H).

Not having the 4506 in front of me, I'm going by pictures and the exploded view of schematic # 468.
If the adjustable sight assembly was removed would there enough room for a mounting plate that size?

Don't think I'd want to do this, just curious to see if anyone has tried this or not.

Thanks, Paul

 

[BruceB]

I've never used one of those types of sights, but I have a few questions.

It seems like that would be a lot of mass sitting on top of the slide, wouldn't that affect the perceived recoil quite a bit?

Also, it seems like it wouldn't be a good thing for the sight to be slamming back and forth, and would lead to premature failure.

Wouldn't a frame mount of some sort be better? I recall that being one of the selling points of the Model 41 in it's day, that the sights didn't move with the slide, although in that case they are firmly fixed to the barrel and shouldn't change their alignment to the bore at all.

 

[Fishinfool]

I use a Burris Fastfire ll mounted on the slide of a 45 acp. The mount utilizes the rear sight dovetail. I have about 1000 rounds thru this set up so far, with no problems. The sight maintains accuracy and does not effect function. It really works well. I have attached a photograph of the same make sight (I have two) attached to the scope ring of my AR-15 to highlight its small size.

If you are really interested in mounting such a sight on your pistol, I would measure the exact size of the guns dovetail, then contact a manufacturer like Burris, and see what adaptor mount most closely fits. You may be able to adapt one with a little file work on the mount.

Larry

 

[Gunhacker]

Interesting idea... but the sight cutout length in the slide measures about 1.25 in length. But that doesn't mean that it's not doable. I have a Burris Fastfire III and a 1006 with adjustable sights, your question prompted me to drag both out of the safe and have a look see.

I think any competent machinist/tool-die maker could fashion a suitable base to anchor something to using the existing adjustable sight base and the reflex sight base as a guide... just have to remember that the rear sight on a 3rd gen also serves to hold a pair of spring loaded plungers in place, so whatever goes there has to be a tight fit in the dovetail to keep it from shooting loose/off.

I just may have another "rainy day" project in the wings that just may help extend the shooting life of my aging eyes that are having more difficulty as time goes on dealing with iron sights.

 

[UNCLE PAULY]

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