Milled my XDM for a red dot

[AllenM]

I was talking with someone the other day about doing this on a Glock and I got to thinking this would be nice on my XDM. there were some obstacles to over come with the shape and design of the XDM Slide but I am very pleased with the finished product. I do have enough room if I decide I want to cut for BUIS down the road.
Now another range trip is in order

Final product. (Although I think now I need to paint the slide and magwell to match. Not sure what color yet)

I gained .200 depth by removing the sight plate and cutting the slide

 

[bushcf]

Looks good, my future father-in-law just did this to his FN-45. Turned out really well also. I have been toying with the idea of doing this to my G21, but still don't know how I feel about "wrenching" on my guns. I guess you have to start somewhere though.

 

[Black Cloud]

Allen, you got an estimate on turnover time and cost of this project for others?

 

[Lucas156]

dang I've wanted this done on my xdm for a while. When can I bring it to you

 

[BehindBlueI's]

Wow, looks really good.

 

[AllenM]

Thanks all, turna around time is about the same for everything else usually 2 weeks or less. The XDM's I am not sure what cost will be. I did not refinish the area I cut on this one yet but I would need to do that for it to be a completed job so I need to factor that. some where from the $100 - $200 range depending on dot and pistol.

 

[AllenM]

dang I've wanted this done on my xdm for a while. When can I bring it to you

Today?

 

[Lucas156]

Lol I was just kidding! It does look pretty good! I would prefer a more semi permanent way of attaching it. There are plates that attach to the sight mount groove and then the red dot attaches to the plate via screws. How long does the battery last on that Burris?

 

[AllenM]

Lol I was just kidding! It does look pretty good! I would prefer a more semi permanent way of attaching it. There are plates that attach to the sight mount groove and then the red dot attaches to the plate via screws. How long does the battery last on that Burris?

This had an adapter plate but I am hoping this is an improvement for me and that it is quicker to find the red dot for the first shot. It sits almost 1/4" lower than it did with the adapter plate. but I confess it was hard dropping the Mill Quill on my slide for that first cut
The battery has been holding up. I have had it almost a year and haven't replaced the battery yet but I haven't used it a lot either, I do like it the sight works real well.

 

[WebSnyper]

That is nice. I think on the S&W CORE pistols they are cut to fit 2 or 3 of the most popular RMR sights, but assume they use some kind of adapter plate to do that (?). Is something like that possible here, or would you be committed to a particular RMR ?

 

[Lucas156]

I do really like how it looks so low profile on there. It doesn't look too much bigger than the original rear sight

 

[AllenM]

That is nice. I think on the S&W CORE pistols they are cut to fit 2 or 3 of the most popular RMR sights, but assume they use some kind of adapter plate to do that (?). Is something like that possible here, or would you be committed to a particular RMR ?

I cut this to fit my sight in particular I thought RMR was a particular sight model I dont know what others are doing but as I understand it eliminating the adapter plate is the goal of milling in order to get the sight as low as possible. i have been wrong before though

 

[Lucas156]

What's the aluminum machined piece on back of slide?

 

[esrice]

I cut this to fit my sight in particular I thought RMR was a particular sight model I dont know what others are doing but as I understand it eliminating the adapter plate is the goal of milling in order to get the sight as low as possible. i have been wrong before though

You're correct Allen. They mill it to get the RMR low enough to co-witness with suppressor-height iron sights.

I like reading your threads as you get more into the 'smithing. You do nice work!

You might check this thread for more reading on the subject of red dots on pistols: https://www.indianagunowners.com/forums/handguns/252827-considering-red-dot-my-defensive-pistol.html

 

[AllenM]

What's the aluminum machined piece on back of slide?

Its a racker handle. It not as easy to rack the slide with s sight on it

 

[AllenM]

You're correct Allen. They mill it to get the RMR low enough to co-witness with suppressor-height iron sights.

I like reading your threads as you get more into the 'smithing. You do nice work!

You might check this thread for more reading on the subject of red dots on pistols: https://www.indianagunowners.com/forums/handguns/252827-considering-red-dot-my-defensive-pistol.html

I appreciate that

 

[WebSnyper]

I cut this to fit my sight in particular I thought RMR was a particular sight model I dont know what others are doing but as I understand it eliminating the adapter plate is the goal of milling in order to get the sight as low as possible. i have been wrong before though

Interesting. I'll have to do some more research on it. And you are correct on the RMR. I had heard the term used generically, but it is specific to the Trijicon RMR it seems.

The S&W website shows this about the CORE: " Slide cut to accept the following optics – Trijicon RMR, Leupold Delta Point, Jpoint, Doctor, C-More STS, Insight MRDS "

Product: Smith & Wesson M&P9L Pro Series C.O.R.E.

So wasn't sure how they accomplish that. I'll have to check that out next time I see one in person.

I could be interested in having a slide on a Glock cut at some point, but I'm not sure I'd want to be locked into one particular sight, as I usually learn a thing or 2 after the fact on this kind of thing.

In any case, great looking work.