Posted by Vincent Hall on 1/2/2025 to
The proper mounting of a red dot requires the following:
- Quality screws of the correct length
- Clean screws and threads, ensuring no oil contamination
- Threadlocker that holds well under the recoil and is thin enough for the threads.
- The correct amount of torque for a given screw
When we mount an optic, we will provide the correct screws needed for the CZ Shadow 2 and TS2 slide cuts. We use 1/2 long 6-32 McMaster Carr Screws for the Trijicon. For the Holosun 507 Comp we use XControls Metric Taper 6-32 screws with a length of .430". For the Defender XL the included Glock MOS M4 screws from Vortex.
DWX with Trijicon Optics uses 7/16 long 6-32 McMaster Carr Screws. For the Holosun 507 Comp, we use XControls Metric Taper 6-32 screws with a length of .320" to clear the extractor.
The TS1 and Tanfo slides will use 1/2 long 6-32 McMaster Carr Screws. For the Holosun 507 Comp, we use XControls Metric Taper 6-32 screws with a length of .430"
For the Glock, we will trim the screws to the maximum length needed without interference. The Glock and the Holosun 507 Comp, we use XControls Metric Taper 6-32 screws with a length of .320". For the EPS optics on the Glock, the longer 6/32 screws provided by Holosun are a perfect fit.
- For the EPS Carry on the 43/43X/48, the Holosun M4 Screw will be 9.5mm in length, measured from the top of the screw head.
- For the Holosun optics, we now provide XControls Metric Taper 6-32 screws with a length of .320"
- If you need to trim the original screw for the Holosun 507 Comp on a standard Glock, the Holosun 6/32 screw will be .333 in length measured from the top of the screw head.
- If you need to trim the original screw for the Holosun 407/507C, not comp on a standard Glock, the Holosun 6/32 screw will be .333 in length measured from the top of the screw head.
- Trijicon RMR/SRO on a standard Glock, we use 7/16 Long 6-32 McMaster Carr screws.
To clean the oils from the screws and the threads in the slide, we use a mini butane torch to heat the threads just enough to burn off and clean any contamination.
Our preferred thread locker is Permatex Orange Liquid. It is very thin and stays in the threads when installed. We have found through extensive testing that it does not break down as fast as the Blue Locktite and provides a more robust hold under long-term recoil. Permatex Orange is a hybrid thread locker similar to VC3 without being too thick or requiring pre-cure. We have several 40k plus round guns with original mounting. Unlike red Locktite, it is easy to remove with standard torque.
We prefer to apply a small amount of Permatex Orange to the screw threads while the screw is still warm from the cleaning process and install them warm. This ensures a quick setup time with the thread locker.
Torquing to spec is needed. You can use a standard Wheeler Fat Wrench to ensure you reach the proper values:
For 6-32 screws we torque to 15-18 inch poundsFor M4 screws we torqe to 18-20 inch poundsFor M3 screws found on optic plates we torque to 12-15 inch pounds
There are exceptions to these values a different number is recommended for a specific optic. EG: Vortex is 15-inch pounds for M4, and Aimpoint Acro is 27-inch pounds.
