Shield Plus Optic Choices

[nksmfamjp]

I just ordered a Shield Plus optics ready model. I’m excited to get it in hand. I have a Shield and love it. This will surely be the same, but better.

So, on to my dilemma. I know almost nothing about pistol optics. As I gather, this pistol uses a Shield SMS optics cut. Same as Jpoint, Crimson Trace Micro…..and really most/all micro’s can be adapted.

So, I have some deficiencies. I always have some blurr/flare with optics due to my eyes, I guess. I still use red dots and love them. Lower brightness and smallish dots improve this imo.

I want….BUIS with factory sights, durability, battery life, 16hr a day on or shake awake that is seamless, waterproof…ipx7ish, easy to acquire dot, no issues that impact daily carry application.

So, I ordered…
Holosun 507k MRS and a plate
CT RAD Micro Pro
CT Rad Micro

I honestly thought I would love the Holo with the MRS, but moving through my house, light to dark to outside, the MRS was blurry and I kept having to manually adjust brightness. Also, it had more distortion which showed up more in dark rooms, but was also an issue outside. Also, the adapter plate adds some height and eliminates support of 2 front posts. Last, the reticle was huge compared to the window with out stretched arms. Still, overall, this was a great high quality product….and it is waterproof.

Waterproof matters because my last daily CCW took a couple swims in the river!

The CT RAD Micro Pro was a clear winner in the tabletop review. It was a clear dot….well as clear as I see. It self adjusted well. It had a larger window. Really, if it were IPX7, this would be over.

The std CT RAD Micro is possibly better, but shuts off after 8hrs. I will never remember to restart that 8hrs mid day.

Anything else I should be looking at? Anything I’m just overthinking?

How about the Jpoint or the Shield??

 

[Harper]

I've had my Shield 45 for a while now. Just sent the slide out for milling, and purchased a Trijicon RMRcc for it. Got the slide back a couple days ago. I like what I see of the Trijicon.

View attachment 592584

 

[DUSTYDOGDAN]

The Crimson Trace CT RAD has a built in rear sight that looked pretty good to me.

 

[nksmfamjp]

I just picked up the auto brightness Swampfox Sentinal as it has many of the CT RAD Pro’s benefits with some level of waterproofing.

 

[m&p2.0fdethumbsafety]

won't be using chicom products. waiting for crimson trace to come out with top or side loading battery option

 

[nksmfamjp]

won't be using chicom products. waiting for crimson trace to come out with top or side loading battery option

You know the CT’s are made in China, right?

 

[sotexas]

I just ordered a Shield Plus optics ready model. I’m excited to get it in hand. I have a Shield and love it. This will surely be the same, but better.

So, on to my dilemma. I know almost nothing about pistol optics. As I gather, this pistol uses a Shield SMS optics cut. Same as Jpoint, Crimson Trace Micro…..and really most/all micro’s can be adapted.

So, I have some deficiencies. I always have some blurr/flare with optics due to my eyes, I guess. I still use red dots and love them. Lower brightness and smallish dots improve this imo.

I want….BUIS with factory sights, durability, battery life, 16hr a day on or shake awake that is seamless, waterproof…ipx7ish, easy to acquire dot, no issues that impact daily carry application.

So, I ordered…
Holosun 507k MRS and a plate
CT RAD Micro Pro
CT Rad Micro

I honestly thought I would love the Holo with the MRS, but moving through my house, light to dark to outside, the MRS was blurry and I kept having to manually adjust brightness. Also, it had more distortion which showed up more in dark rooms, but was also an issue outside. Also, the adapter plate adds some height and eliminates support of 2 front posts. Last, the reticle was huge compared to the window with out stretched arms. Still, overall, this was a great high quality product….and it is waterproof.

Waterproof matters because my last daily CCW took a couple swims in the river!

The CT RAD Micro Pro was a clear winner in the tabletop review. It was a clear dot….well as clear as I see. It self adjusted well. It had a larger window. Really, if it were IPX7, this would be over.

The std CT RAD Micro is possibly better, but shuts off after 8hrs. I will never remember to restart that 8hrs mid day.

Anything else I should be looking at? Anything I’m just overthinking?

How about the Jpoint or the Shield??

Have you tried a Green Dot instead of Red

 

[nksmfamjp]

Have you tried a Green Dot instead of Red

Not really…..just a little bit with a rifle. Why a green dot?

 

[m&p2.0fdethumbsafety]

You know the CT’s are made in China, right?

Since our inception in 1994, all Crimson Trace products are proudly designed, tested, manufactured, and shipped from our headquarters in Wilsonville, Oregon, USA.

chicom begone!

 

[nksmfamjp]

Our Rad and Rad Micro sights are top of the line for their respective category. We conduct an extensive supply chain review throughout our robust sourcing process to ensure we deliver the best products for the best price. The sights were designed, engineered, and developed in Columbia, MO and produced in China. All of our products are continuously inspected to insure the highest quality.

I see this…

BTW, the other quote is no longer on their website.

I’ll look at the box and post.

 

[m&p2.0fdethumbsafety]

welp, time to stop doing business with them, then.

 

[nksmfamjp]

Well, the Sentinal has such bad emitter reflection/glare off the lens that it’s unusable.

The Holosun 507k has too much magnification….makes it look blurry when using both eyes.

The CT Pro is the best of the 3. I guess waterproof, durable, usable dot, auto adjust, on when you need it is too much to ask for. I guess I have to give up waterproof to get the rest!

 

[nksmfamjp]

…

I’ll look at the box and post.

Made in China written on the optic.

 

[conservakid]

The new Sig Romeo Zero Elite?

 

[DesertFox]

Direct experience with CT RAD and RAD micro on G34 MOS and G43x MOS respectively. More recently obtained Shield SMSc, currently on a G48 MOS and have a JP Enterprises J Point on the way.

SMSc, SMS2, RMSc or RMSw are good to go in my book as they sit low enough to co witness with factory sights. The J Point would appear to be similar. The CT RAD micro is just thick enough in the base that it sits higher. Not a deal breaker. All mounted direct to slide w/o plate.

 

[BroJ]

My Shield Plus with Riton dot

Direct mount to my slide...no adapter plate needed...one range trip since installation....like it so far and cant beat price

 

[MattLarmore]

Direct experience with CT RAD and RAD micro on G34 MOS and G43x MOS respectively. More recently obtained Shield SMSc, currently on a G48 MOS and have a JP Enterprises J Point on the way.

SMSc, SMS2, RMSc or RMSw are good to go in my book as they sit low enough to co witness with factory sights. The J Point would appear to be similar. The CT RAD micro is just thick enough in the base that it sits higher. Not a deal breaker. All mounted direct to slide w/o plate.

Excuse my ignorance, what does SMSc, SMS2, RMSc and RMSw stand for? I'm also looking at optics and want to be able to mount direct to the slide and co witness sights.

 

[nksmfamjp]

Excuse my ignorance, what does SMSc, SMS2, RMSc and RMSw stand for? I'm also looking at optics and want to be able to mount direct to the slide and co witness sights.

Those are optics mounting patterns. There is little standardized in theses small carry optics.

What pistol do you have?

Basically, the first sight, the big Trijicon set the pattern. Then, everybody had to machine to that.

I think Shield may have been the first “micro”, so they are the base pattern for the micros. For some reason, Trijicon and Holosun didn’t or won’t follow that.

We need someone like Trijicon or somebody to determine what is the minimum number of studs, correct bolt size and create a standard.

Now, I think companies are really struggling in the micro world to create a cowitness, make space for good adjusters, not blow up on recoil, be IP7 or 8 water/dust proof, and be durable when dropped on concrete.

Personally, I’d like to see 2 x M4 bolts with embossments on the slide, 4 tapered posts, a flatness spec good enough to seal with an o ring and about a 0.190” min front sight height on the micro platform. I’d also like to see the IP7 rating, 4 foot drop (40 oz gun)onto the sight, epoxy(I think that is what they use) sealed electronics and 2032 battery standardized.

 

[MattLarmore]

Oh ok, thank you for the explanation!

I got the PC Shield Plus that came O.R. Given that, I have been looking around at the different offerings, and that just confused me more. Not to mention these bad boys get pricey!

Been spending some time on YouTube checking out the different options, but TBH I'll probably end up waiting for price drops or a huge sale.