Recently, there was a bit of a squall over the topic of pistol mounted optics. Like Ken Hackathorn’s statement – which is true – it was an opinion that (1) a PMO is just something else to go wrong and (2) while you can do some impressive shooting using the pistol optic, it’s just not needed for defensive applications.
What is needed is skill; acquiring abilities and drilling them until you can perform reflexively while your mind is tied up with more pressing issues, like “should I?” (h/t, Steven Harris)
Still, there are those shooters with particular vision issues who can make best use of the “dot” optics available for pistols. And, while high output trainers will tell you that not a class goes by without optics failures, optics and their mounting solutions are advancing at a rapid rate.
They’re not going away. Nor should they. Rifle optics for line infantry outfits didn’t go away. Due to the more recent global unpleasantness, the glass and mounts have improved and are proven in battle. It’s only a matter of time before the same can be said of pistol optics.
My most recent experience with pistol optics – that I can write about now – is with the GLOCK 43X with the factory-mounted Aimpoint COA.
A virtual analog to the G43X I routinely carry except for the glass, the new gun is vastly more accurate than I can hold it, a testament to the relative rigidity of the short 9mm pistol.
According to factory documents, the pistol is the GLOCK 43X Rail/MOS 08/FS/Combo. The front sight is steel, as is the rear sight made as part of the mounting solution for the Aimpoint COA enclosed emitter sight. A reversible magazine catch and two 10-round magazines are part of the package. The gun (with empty magazine) weighs 19.22 ounces. The gun is light and handy with the 3.43” barrel keeping the gun short enough for easy concealment. The Aimpoint COA weighs in at just 1.7 ounces.
As our annual geezer qualification is on the horizon, I used some practical handling exercises to practice for the range, while evaluating the Aimpoint COA on this very-familiar platform during mostly close-and-fast range drills.
I used fifty rounds of Winchester “White Box” from Academy Outdoor Sports, a Birchwood Casey “Dirty Bird” 16.5”x24” BC-IPSC Practice target, and the Galco Combat Master holster to do the range work. I included the handy dump pouch made by Simply Rugged Leather for administrative tasks.
While quick to find – the COA sits low on the G43X slide – I noticed that I defaulted to the irons for a “flash sight picture” up close. That wasn’t an intentional act and I “saw the dot” in the same plane as the sights. As I got further back, the dot likewise “appeared” upon the presentation.
Old habits and such.
The only way I could “miss” up close was shooting in the bent arm style of the ICE qualification course – and that was from ten feet using a legit “from retention” style with the gun cocked too far outboard. The short slide makes judging the angle questionable when you’re used to shooting that way with a longer gun.
By making minor adjustments and learning the right pitch, “A” zone hits were easy. Conventional out-in-front bent arm shooting was dead-on with no challenges.
I took notice of powder residue on the front glass of the COA. I figure that was partly the still, humid day creating a film on the glass to which debris could adhere. You take the good with the bad.
I’m still demonstrating some left-tendency with the little gun. That is not the optic (nor the irons) but my grip. I’ll need to get back out and work the CSAT “line drill” to work on making a neutral grip to sort that out. Some dry practice and the Wall Drill (George Harris) will help too.
The gun and optic are still 100%. I expected no less.
— Rich Grassi