Upgrading the Classic Glock with a DK ARMS Mounting Plate for a Red Dot Sight

There are three solutions: sell it and buy a new one already equipped with a mounting system, mill the appropriate cuts on the slide, or use a mounting plate that replaces the rear sight. Each of these methods has its pros and cons. In the case of the first option, the cost will undoubtedly be an issue – selling a 3rd generation Glock won’t allow for the purchase of a new optic-ready pistol, and the same applies to most other models, unless someone is selling a rare gem like the H&K Mk 23. Milling also isn’t cheap, and the number of shops that can perform this service is limited. Moreover, altering the slide structure is still an alteration. The third solution is the most wallet-friendly, doesn’t require permanent modifications, but it raises some concerns. Whether these concerns are justified, I will address in this article.

I received a mounting plate from DK Arms for review. The concept was simple – my 3rd-generation Glock was missing a sight. Calls to a few shops offering slide milling didn’t meet my needs. First, it was expensive, and second, I would have to travel far and leave the gun for a long time. To make matters worse, after milling the slide, I’d be limited to just one type of sight. The key term here is footprint, which refers to the screw pattern. It’s worth mentioning that most red dot sights worldwide are made in a few, let’s say, “standard” footprints. The most popular ones include the Trijicon RMR and RMSc. Their names come from the first or most popular devices equipped with them. In any case, most sights fit one of the popular standards. Of course, there are exceptions, such as the Aimpoint Acro C2 or Holosun 509T, which will require an additional adapter. Therefore, it’s important to always make sure what standard your optic follows, as well as all the necessary components for mounting. But let’s return to my Glock and the plate from DK Arms, because here, all I had to do was choose which pistol the plate should fit. The offer includes two types of plates: those that replace the rear sight or those compatible with the pistol manufacturer’s optic-ready system. The manufacturer currently offers them for the following models:

• Glock,

• DB9,

• Beretta APX,

• CZ P07,

• CZ P09,

• CZ P10,

• CZ Shadow 2 OR,

• H&KSFP9 OR, T

• Taurus G3,

• Walther PDP,

• VIS 100,

• Sig Sauer P320,

• SIG Sauer P226,

• Arma ZekaAZ-P1,

• Arsenal Strike One.

First of all, and I say this without any shame or embarrassment, DK Arms are friends. And pretty good ones at that. Moreover, they really know their craft. The boss is a gunsmith with a good head on his shoulders. I’ve seen the junk he’s been able to fix, so I approached the mounting plate with complete confidence. It was chosen to mount a red dot sight securely, and the installation, which isn’t particularly complicated, was done by the gunsmith in my case. However, this doesn’t mean it’s necessary. A punch and a hammer are more than enough, and any moderately skilled user will be able to handle them independently.

The plate itself is the essence of a simple idea encapsulated in a perfect form. Made from J7075 PA 9 aluminum, it weighs only 12 grams and is equipped with four threaded holes for mounting a red dot sight. Additionally, it features space for protruding pins, called recoil lugs, of which there are 12. Their purpose is to absorb part of the energy from the slide’s recoil to prevent damage to the mounting screws. This design allows for compatibility with the footprints of 11 different optics. Not bad, right? On the bottom, there’s a mount that will enable us to place the plate into the rear sight slot. The entire piece is anodized in black and is very aesthetically crafted.

The installation process is straightforward. Using a hammer and punch, or for the more advanced gadget enthusiasts, a rear sight removal tool, we remove the rear sight from the slide. Then, we replace it with the plate by placing the mount into the rear sight slot. Important note – the mount only fits from the left side of the frame to the right. In my case, the plate fit with some resistance, even significant resistance, but that’s actually a good thing – the last thing I’d want is any slack in the mount. Here, a hammer with a rubber tip was necessary. The next step is securing the mount with screws. The system is quite innovative, as it uses two screws. One locks the plate in the rear sight slot, while the other further stabilizes it on the slide. Using two screws instead of one multiplies the force with which the plate is mounted. Now, it’s time to mount the optic. First, select the appropriate locating pins and place them in the corresponding holes. Instructions for the impatient can be found on the store’s website via an informational hyperlink specifying the type of red dot sight. Then, simply insert the pins into the corresponding holes on the plate and tighten the sight. Of course, the thread locker should be applied to all screws.

The system of two locking screws and pins proves to be a solid solution. The pistol can be easily reloaded behind the red dot sight, and we don’t lose the zero. Everything you could ask for. On the downside, the whole setup is mounted relatively high, and we no longer have access to the front and rear sights. However, this is a pretty common downside for most optic-ready pistols, at least until you buy raised sights. In conclusion, the plates from DK Arms work. So well, in fact, that Halikna Arms is a permanent distributor, and several other large shops have made a few orders. One of the most interesting orders is for 50 pieces as part of a government supply, combined with Holosun red dot sights.

In addition to the described plate, DK Arms offers mounts for other pistols, both to replace rear sights and for Optic Ready systems, as well as compensators and conversions for the PM Rak. The latter has always brought me joy and a bit of laughter. Still, having had the chance to shoot with the Echelon with a compensator, I can say it does its job, just like the plate, which is an excellent solution for owners of old pistols without an optic-ready system at a relatively low price.