Guy Mancuso
Elite
The Sentinal is also made of aluminum
Guy - Valid points. Here is the logic that I applied.
1. Spending more on an optic than the firearm itself is not uncommon at all; I don't like it, but for quality I'm willing to do it. I could have a Nikon that does the job just fine, but if I have the means to get a Steiner I'd rather have it.
2. I liked the co-witness but when I bought the Hellcat I was getting it specifically to use the optic as the primary reference. I intend to train that way and God forbid, should I need to employ it, protect myself that way. What do I do in the staggeringly small chance that I do face a life/death situation and in that few minutes (seconds?) of time the battery dies? Well, first I shoot in the direction of the bad guy and/or extricate myself from the threats. Then I change my batteries (and probably my drawers).
3. As for the Holosun, that is what I have been shopping for and there just are not any to be had. For months. And months. I had the Riton and I like the optic but it just does not seat well on the gun, at least for me, and this is the second one; first went back under warranty and the second one is having the exact same issues. Since the Sentinel looks to be the exact same optic but under a different name, I shied away from that one.
I don't have wads of cash falling out of my pockets, unfortunately, but I do want to go with something that I can actually acquire and trust.
My $.02.
Roach
Im not sure where the Riton is made or who actually makes it. Swampfox is in Tucson which is actually 120 miles from me.
I'm not familiar with the SMSc, how much does it go for? And BTW thanks for validating my comment. It is annoying isn't it? I jumped on the Micro red dot train prematurely I think due to excitement but I feel like it is still too new to expect any reasonable value/quality/reliability compared to proven, bigger optics like the 507C, 510C, EOTech etc. That new Trijicon for $500-$600 whatever really grinds my gears. YMMV, but no way am I dropping that on a tiny piece of tech that will, real-world, increase my SHTF/combat effectiveness by like 4% vs. $500 towards a 507C for my compact 9mm, and/or upgrades to my AR, trigger kit for my full-size handgun, etc... It's insane right now. When/if quality micro red dots settle down to the $200 range, I'll be much more interested. As of now? I'm taking my Swampfox Sentinel to my LGS for consignment. Again, not knocking on those who have the $$$, just my .02 from an average dude making average $$$.I share your annoyance. I got my SMSc through Springfield Armory today, and honestly it looks and feels like a 50-cent prize you'd get from a gum-ball machine. Once I installed the optic and roughed in the dot, I racked the slide using the optic. Wow, the dot is nowhere near the irons now. I looked at the optic and saw that the front part (window side) was raised up off the slide cut-out a wee bit. Removed, reinstalled, no gap. I adjusted the dot back to "just above a good iron sight picture" and racked the slide using the slide serrations instead of slinging it with the optic, and the dot again was off. To me it seems that with no "third mounting screw" near the front end of the optic, the polymer optic frame is free to move about at will.
Any suggestions?
The 507k looks great, and as you said it was torture tested by Sage Dynamics. It's currently the only micro red dot on the market that has been proven to be durable enough for conceal carrying. The Trijicon RMR cc probably is as well, haven't seen tests on it but they have their patented ears design that works on all their other RMRs so I suspect it works on the CC. Every other micro red dot on the market appears to be for range toys only and not for real world self defense use.the 507K is selling on eBay for $400 and up.
Interesting... I've been debating on selling my Swampfox Sentinel and/or Hellcat and was wondering if I'd have to put them on consignment together, but I recently learned that my LGS will take the optic alone for consignment so I may do that. I didn't even consider the Ebay route though... Hellcat is such a good backup though... And I think I got it for a steal.The quality of the Holosun sights is obvious as soon as you pick it up. Watching Sage Dynamics torture test should convince anyone in doubt. I have it mounted on my Hellcat and one on my Sig P365-XL. Currently it is on consignment with a local gun dealer for $950 which is less than I paid for the two. It has been over a week so I may remove the Holosun and sell the gun without the red dot as the 507K is selling on eBay for $400 and up. It is harder to find a buyer willing to spend $950 even though it is a. good deal.
It is a bummer to see the difficulty many have had with various red dot sights. There seems to be a noticeable quality range between them all. I have been using my Swampfox Sentinel for a few months and am really enjoying it. I did use blue Loktite and it is holding strong. The quality and durability of the sight has been clear to me. It fits well on the slide and the screws that came with it work perfectly. I bought mine from Swampfox and paid $238 with a 20% off coupon code. Could not be happier.