Sighting a Vortex Viper on PC Core

[Cigar Guy]

After 1 trip to the range I love this red dot. It was shooting about an inch low so I adjusted for it and now its dead on.
It seems to cowitness too much though. The front sight is high compared to when I would use them. Is this correct or can I adjust it somehow. In other words, if I align the iron sights correctly the dot is too low. In order to see the dot I raise the barrel up which brings the front sight up too high.
I just would rather not get used to that sight picture since my other guns are irons.

 

[S&WIowegan]

The only answer to your dilemma is to do a little research to identify the red dot that cowitnesses correctly.....I think it's a Leupold model and is very expensive compared to other red dots.

The first thing I did with my CORE is take the sights off and mount the red dot alone. Cowitness is a fad useless to those of us who shoot for targets, plinking or competition. I have a second M&P with iron sights only.

If you are a SWAT operator(or like to pretend) then spend the money to get the perfect cowitness.

 

[shakyshoot]

The main point of being able to see your irons through a red dot sight is in case you're in a self defense situation and your dot is either not working or there's no time to turn it on. For target shooting, just use the dot and ignore the irons. You won't gain anything in accuracy by having an exact cowitness. If you did, the top bullseye shooters would aim with irons and dot at the same time. They don't. If they have a dot on the gun, they're aiming with the dot.
Don't raise your front sight to see the dot. You need to move the whole gun just a tad lower to bring the dot up a bit in the field of view. Don't worry if the dot isn't dead center in the sight window. If it winds up being way in the top of the window, then maybe you need lower irons or some type of spacer to raise the mount of the red dot. I doubt it will come to that though. Usually it's just a slight adjustment in sight picture. The main thing is, don't think "cowitness" think "dot."

 

[clarkz71]

It's a training issue.

I have the same set up, CORE / Viper

The Dot is no where near the front sight post with proper
sight alignment. Like mentioned, only shoot the dot.


Irons are back up & point of reference. The Viper has one of the
best Co-witness sight pictures of all MRD's

 

[clarkz71]

An example

This is a bad cell phone pic, but as you can see the dot is high
in the window & the front sight post not aligned well.

I was just trying to show the 6 moa dot size here
I'll try and get a better image later today,

Maybe you can post a picture of what you see ??


.see next post

 

[clarkz71]

Here's a better shot. The dot looks bigger then it actually is
in the picture compared to real life.

Very hard to get an accurate image on my iphone

But this is where it is positioned with the sights lined up
Just above the front sight post.

 

[TruckinThumper]

Here's a better shot. The dot looks bigger then it actually is
in the picture compared to real life.

Very hard to get an accurate image on my iphone

But this is where it is positioned with the sights lined up
Just above the front sight post.

Same here, mine is about 1/2 way in the sight picture.

I have been doing a lot of practicing with this.

It was much harder for me to do rapid re-acquisition of targets than a typical rifle red dot. Still practicing, but getting closer

 

[clarkz71]

It was much harder for me to do rapid re-acquisition of targets than a typical rifle red dot. Still practicing, but getting closer

That's for sure, compared to my Aimpoint Pro on my M4
the red dot on a pistol really is "chasing the dot"
like the Gun writers say.

 

[Rastoff]

The front sight is high compared to when I would use them.

What you've done is adjust the dot for how YOU shoot not how the gun shoots.

It's common for people to shoot the M&P low. This has to do with the trigger and how it's employed.

I'll bet that if you were to shoot the gun with the red dot off and the sights properly aligned, not from a rest, you would group about 1"-2" low. To correct this takes some training and practice.

 

[clarkz71]

What you've done is adjust the dot for how YOU shoot not how the gun shoots.

It's common for people to shoot the M&P low.
This has to do with the trigger and how it's employed.

.

This is 100% correct. Same thing I experienced when I got my 1st M&P9

 

[Rustypipes12]

Off topic a bit but how are the Vipers? I've had issues with several red dots on my .44 and I'm almost ready to go back to target sights

 

[clarkz71]

Off topic a bit but how are the Vipers?
I've had issues with several red dots on my .44 and
I'm almost ready to go back to target sights

Only issue I'm hearing about is battery thickness.

Depending on brand, some are thinner then others
causing intermittent loss of power.

The battery that comes with it is fine so far.
But this issue is the same as reported on the Trijicon RMR.

A piece of electrical tape or 2 adds enough thickness
to cure this and is an easy fix.

Personally, I have not experienced this on my Viper
but it is a later version . The problems were reported
earlier in 2016.

.

 

[09fatbob]

Can you access the set screws on the back of the viper with suppressor sights to lock zero??

 

[09fatbob]

No u cannot

 

[airfreeflight]

Hi there,

I am new to this forum. Just got a viper for CORE. Since I can't access the lock screw with rear iron sight on. What would be the zeroing procedure?

Do you unlock the screw, install viper, zero, take if off to lock it, reinstall? This sounds awful complicate. There must be a simpler way.

Thanks,
Kevin

 

[CB3]

Hi there,

I am new to this forum. Just got a viper for CORE. Since I can't access the lock screw with rear iron sight on. What would be the zeroing procedure?

Do you unlock the screw, install viper, zero, take if off to lock it, reinstall? This sounds awful complicate. There must be a simpler way.

Thanks,
Kevin

Unfortunately, this is a design flaw with the Vortex Viper sight. There are a couple of complicated ways to get it sighted in and co-witnessed, but they involve removing and reinstalling the sights, as you have discovered. Once it is is done it should not require further adjustment, so it is just a hassle at first. I guess because of this Vortex had not bothered to change their design.

Apparently the sight was designed for competitors who may use the Viper without any iron sights, or Vortex expected users to remount the rear sight in front of the Viper on a custom milled installation. Vortex didn't plan too well for CORE, MOS, or custom milled slides with the rear sight in the traditional position behind the RDS. Maybe it was originally intended for a rifle that would have plenty of room for adjustment?

The Trijicon and Leupold sights have this figured out and are easy to sight in and co-witness.

 

[airfreeflight]

Unfortunately, this is a design flaw with the Vortex Viper sight. There are a couple of complicated ways to get it sighted in and co-witnessed, but they involve removing and reinstalling the sights, as you have discovered. Once it is is done it should not require further adjustment, so it is just a hassle at first. I guess because of this Vortex had not bothered to change their design.

Apparently the sight was designed for competitors who may use the Viper without any iron sights, or Vortex expected users to remount the rear sight in front of the Viper on a custom milled installation. Vortex didn't plan too well for CORE, MOS, or custom milled slides with the rear sight in the traditional position behind the RDS. Maybe it was originally intended for a rifle that would have plenty of room for adjustment?

The Trijicon and Leupold sights have this figured out and are easy to sight in and co-witness.

Thanks for your reply. It is not too bad to do it just once.

 

[CB3]

Thanks for your reply. It is not too bad to do it just once.

As long as you use the same ammo. When I added 147 grn ammo into the 115 grn mix for my RDS FS 9mm, at 20 yards there was a 2.5" variation. Adjusted for it in five shots in a minute, then back to 115 grn.