The micro red-dot (MRD) craze is in full-swing and, several years in, it shows no signs of slowing down—to the point that most new semi-automatic pistol introductions, and even some revolvers, now come from the factory ready to accept such an optic. Which is all well and good for new handgun buyers, but what if your firearm of choice is more than five years old or is that rare non-optics-ready exception? C&H Precision—an authority on, and manufacturer of, MRD adaptor plates for a wide range of pistol designs—has you covered thanks to a slide-milling service that can retrofit your gun to allow it to mount a red-dot.
Having offered the service since 2013, C&H utilizes a four-axis Haas VF-4 CNC machine and a Haas Mini Mill to cut an optic-specific direct-mount interface, for the customer’s choice of MRD model, into his or her supplied pistol slide. Today, the company’s service can accommodate a host of Glock, Smith & Wesson, Springfield, Heckler & Koch, Walther, Taurus, CZ, SIG Sauer, SAR-USA, Stoeger and Shadow Systems pistol designs, as well as most M1911- and 2011-type pistols. In addition to optic mounts, depending on the host gun, the company can also perform a variety of other slide-milling operations—from adding front cocking serrations to several different styles of lightening cuts.
In order to evaluate the quality of the service, I chose the only two slides I had on hand that weren’t already cut for an optic (and that I was willing to alter) to send in for work. As neither slide was a serialized component, this could be handled easily without requiring 4473s. One, a Heckler & Koch VP9L that simply needed an MRD mount, was mailed in and run through the company’s normal service. The other, a Glock 30 Gen5, underwent a few extra operations in addition to an optic mount and was expedited using C&H’s deluxe but expensive ($300) concierge program. Both were shipped on the same Friday afternoon; the Glock was back in hand the following Friday evening and the H&K had a 20-day turnaround.
Each slide was cut for RMR-footprint optics, specifically a pair of C&H’s own red-dots (a mid-size EDC-XL on the Glock and a large-windowed COMP on the H&K), that were mounted atop the guns once the work was completed. The most radical alteration made to the Glock was the relocation of its rear-sight dovetail to forward of the optic cut—decreasing the sight radius by 2" but allowing for lightning-quick target acquisition. C&H offers black-nitriding and Cerakoting services in a variety of colors or patterns, as well.
I could find no flaw in C&H’s work; each cut was expertly made, the optics mounted solidly with no issue whatsoever, and the process was simple, quick and painless. I also felt the prices ($164.45 for the standard-service H&K, $617.90 for the concierged Glock) to be more than reasonable given the quality and the convenience. Now that I’ve seen what the company is capable of, I have no qualms about sending in other pistols in the future that are nearer and dearer to my heart. chpws.com
