Vortex Venom and M&P 9

[PostsOnPercocet]

So I've had my gen 1 M&P 9 forever now and I just decided to do the extended mag baseplate/flared magwell/red dot thing.

After some consideration I bought the Venom. I contacted a well respected gunsmith who is local and was told due to the length of the Venom and it being a regular full size 9 I had two options. Loose my rear sight or have them kill a new rear sight in front of the venom.

Has anyone else run into this? I'm sure this guy knows his stuff but can I get a confirmation.

I absolutely hate cowitness or anything in my red dot window but part of me feels irresponsible for not having a rear sight.

The cost is $160 for just the mount and $235 to mount and add the new rear sight location. The extra money isn't really the deciding factor. Like i said I hate cowitness.

What say all of you?

 

[Real Old Navy]

Not true, Two ways to mount a red dot sight on your gun. 1) Dove tail mount (yes you loose your rear sight) 2) Have your slide milled (keep the rear sight). He most likely doesn't have a milling machine and can't do that type of work for the 2nd way (most gun stores can't). You have to send your slide to someone who can do it. Add about another $185 to the cost. If you search Images for an MP 9 on Google you'll see one that's milled with a red dot sight. Your well respected LGS gunsmith ->(?)<- doesn't know what he's talking about and just wants to make some money off you...because he can only do a dovetail installation.

 

[Real Old Navy]

Well looky here Smith & Wesson® M&P C.O.R.E. Pistols 9MM 5"

 

[rbuzz]

Naturally the choice is up to you, but before I would spend $400 having machine work and mods done to your pistol, I would consider buying a new M&P Core model which comes optics ready. I have seen some of the full size M&P Pro models which can be bought for $450-500 and they come already milled for an optic. Plus, many of these models already have the taller sights that can be used to cowitness even with most red dots installed.

Or for a few dollars more you can opt for a Performance Center model with ported barrel and ready to accept an optic.

I have a Performance Center 40L that I have added a Vortex red dot and magwell to and it's a great shooter.

Here's a couple of pictures of mine so that you see what a 5" barrel model with Vortex and magwell will look like. Good luck with your decision.

 

[STORMINORMAN]

An Outerimpact dovetail mount for a M&P is $53 with free shipping on amazon...

Not saying this is the only/best way to go, but it does seem to be pretty inclusive as far as adapting to many different red dot sights.

Don't know exactly how you get around co-witnessing if you have a second rear sight dovetail cut? My P.C. C.O.R.E. co-witnessed perfectly with my Vortex, BTW.

CHEERS!

 

[STORMINORMAN]

Is that an APEX trigger...

Naturally the choice is up to you, but before I would spend $400 having machine work and mods done to your pistol, I would consider buying a new M&P Core model which comes optics ready. I have seen some of the full size M&P Pro models which can be bought for $450-500 and they come already milled for an optic. Plus, many of these models already have the taller sights that can be used to cowitness even with most red dots installed.

Or for a few dollars more you can opt for a Performance Center model with ported barrel and ready to accept an optic.

I have a Performance Center 40L that I have added a Vortex red dot and magwell to and it's a great shooter.

Here's a couple of pictures of mine so that you see what a 5" barrel model with Vortex and magwell will look like. Good luck with your decision.

...or kit, and, if so, which one, and how do you like it...?

(Lots of commas?)

CHEERS!

 

[Saudade]

I simply put a 5" ported core slide kit on mine. Still have the original 4.25" slide and barrel.

M&P Ported Slide Kit 9mm 5 Black Smith and Wesson 11550

I then topped it with an RMR.

 

[hardluk1]

Our M&P CORE is a 4.25 version and has a Venom it that is a replacement for a rmr . Your well respect smithy is lacking the skills and equipment to do the job properly so he finds it easier to lie !! Jerry Miculek has run a vortex dot optics on his pistols and rifles for some years on his M&P CORE for a number of years . Even on a M&P CORE with the factory mount .

 

[Fishinfool]

If you don't like co-witnessing your iron sights, then a mount that uses the rear sight dovetail makes sense. Cheaper too. I have a RIA 1911 with such a set up using the factory Burris Fastfire lll rear sight dovetail mount, and it works fine. Just picked up a Kimber 1911 with the factory mounted Venom using a milled mounting plate with a tall rear sight built in to the mount itself. I like the co-witness, at least on a gun that might be carried for self defense.

Larry

 

[rbuzz]

...or kit, and, if so, which one, and how do you like it...?

(Lots of commas?)

CHEERS!

Yes, that's the Apex Flat-Faced Forward Set Sear & Trigger Kit. It's probably the best money I've ever spent on an upgrade. I like M&Ps but their stock triggers suck, even the 2.0, although it is better.
This Apex trigger kit gives one of the best feeling triggers I've experienced. It's hard to believe that this is a striker fired gun with this trigger.
By using certain springs in the kit, or reusing certain original springs, you can adjust your trigger pull weight. My trigger pull is currently at 2lb 6oz and has an exceptionally crisp break. Take up is practically non-existent and the reset is super short. It really makes shooting this pistol much more enjoyable.

 

[pmc847]

I have a Vortex Viper on my M2.0C, slide milled by Primary Machine (primarymachine.com) No rear sight and a Dawson .285 tritium front sight. I painted a post on the back of the Viper and that co-witness just fine in case the red dot fails. Just place the front dot on top of the painted post, POA POI. Simple and fast. I started with the CORE front sight but it was 6" low. I used the Dawson sight calculator https://dawsonprecision.com/sight-calculator/ to find out the correct hight. I'm going to do the same with my CORE with the Vortex Razor RD.

I also have the Apex barrel and flat trigger on the M2.0c and the CORE. Don't leave home without them.

Philip

 

[ScaryWoody]

If it'a a range gun no rear sight would work. Battery runs out, no biggie. I'm doing a Polymer 80 build and got a RMR cut slide. After much debate and little dollars I bought a VISM SPD for $75. It's going to be for range only.

 

[hardluk1]

Seems like some here don't understand how dot optics work .

Basic sighting in with a dot optic is to cover or place the dot on top of the stock sights but after checking and adjusting to your eye from a solid rest . Beyond that there does not need to be any Co-Witnessing between dot and stock sights to shoot accurately . The DOT can be any where with in the lens but covering the point of aim when fired and that is where the bullet will hit .

Sit at a bench using a rest and shoot at a target but place the DOT 12:00 , 3:00 , 6:00 , 9:00 and back to 12:00 and so long as the dot on one the point of the target you hope to hit when you fire the bullet impact should be the same so long as your no using a stock 1.0 9mm barrel !! ha

I been using red dots for hunting since '78

 

[SoCalDep]

I think a lot of people here are misreading or misinterpreting your post. First, I think you need to confirm whether the price is for milling the slide or simply using a dovetail Mount. I spent $275 to have Primary Machine mill my 2.0 slide for a DeltaPoint Pro, cerakote, and mill/install a rear sight in front of the optic... Lots of good gunsmiths have milling machines, so if he has a good reputation his price (if for milling) isn't out of line.

Done right, backup sights can be unobtrusive and I would want them for a serious gun. If for range use, dovetail mounts work great. I have a Dueck Defense dovetail Mount that incorporates backup sights and I'm impressed with it.

As for the requirement to install the sight in front of the optic, that has to do with the length of the optic itself and how it integrates with the rear sight dovetail.... you can only do so much on an M&P because of the step-down at the rear of the slide and the striker block plunger which is retained by the rear sight in factory configuration. Check Primary Machine to see if they'll mill for that optic with the option of the rear sight installed behind the optic. That might give you a better idea of whether that option exists.

 

[DG Dave]

He's right!

Just had my M&P Pro Series 5" pistol milled for a Vortex Venom red dot. Due to the length of the venom, he had to remove the dovetail for rear sight. Don't sweat it! Since it's milled, it sits real low and venom has white lines on back of unit that will act as rear sight. You can co witness with it if you want. My gunsmith charged $100 for milling although I believe $150-$175 is usually what most people are paying. THIS IS THE BEST MONEY I'VE EVER SPENT!!

 

[cardguy]

i'm putting this on my new full size M&P 2.0/ EGW Vortex Razor Red Dot mount ( it has a dovetail that fits in where your rear sight was ) and a Vortex Venom attaches to the bottom of the mount. Photos to follow when items arrive.

 

[cardguy]

THIS YouTube

 

[BigDog48]

I simply put a 5" ported core slide kit on mine. Still have the original 4.25" slide and barrel.

M&P Ported Slide Kit 9mm 5 Black Smith and Wesson 11550

I then topped it with an RMR.

Does it function well? I have one ordered!

 

[Saudade]

Does it function well? I have one ordered!

Yes Sir! It didn't come with a recoil spring assembly. I already had a spare (same one for 4.25"). I came across the RMR v1.0 on closeout for 1/2 price. I've not had any issues with the RMR.

 

[adwjc]

i'm putting this on my new full size M&P 2.0/ EGW Vortex Razor Red Dot mount ( it has a dovetail that fits in where your rear sight was ) and a Vortex Venom attaches to the bottom of the mount. Photos to follow when items arrive.

I did this on my Springfield RO (using the appropriate EGW mount - $40.00) took about 5-10 minutes with a sight pusher. Works great!