RMR sight on my S&W M&P

17 Sept 13

RMR sight on my S&W M&P, first extensive use:

On my M&P, I have Robar PolyT2 gun-Metal Grey coating on the slide, and NP3 on all internals (“Rogatti” treatment). Robar also installed the RMR w/iron sights, all “melted” into the slide. Robar did the entire project, and, as always, their work is second to none! I have iron sights that are raised slightly (called “suppressor sights,” because they are high enough to be useable with a suppressor installed at the muzzle), so that they are co-witnessed through the RMR’s screen. Rear iron sight is mounted in front of the RMR screen.

I’ve been carrying this pistol for several weeks now. My Comp-Tac IWB holster had to be modified slightly, but the M&P w/RMR now carries concealed comfortably.

I shot it extensively last weekend, and I asked my instructors and students to shoot it also. Everyone had positive comments, but there is a learning curve!

With red-dot-equipped rifles, your head is automatically positioned to instantly pick-up the red-dot as the rifle is mounted. Conversely, a pistol floats in space, no matter how consistent your draw-stroke, and, when your head is not within the “cone,” you won’t see the dot.

What I have discovered, particularly when shooting from asymmetric positions, is that I have to always go for the iron sights (as I’m accustomed to doing), because that procedure will get my head where it belongs. However, the moment my iron sights come into view (the dot will appear at the same instant), my brain needs to “hand-off” the target to the dot and immediately disregard iron sights completely!

Focus needs to instantly move from front sight to dot, as the dot is always at the “infinite focal plain” and, when superimposed over the target, is thus simultaneously at the same distance as the target, no matter where the target is!

I had to really work on this, and I’m still far from mastering the technique to my satisfaction, but, once mastered (even a little bit), the speed/accuracy advantage is significant! All at the expense, of course, of a little extra bulk.

My friends and esteemed colleagues, John Holschen, Fred Blish, and Jeff Gonzales, assured me that I would immediately see the wonderful advantage the pistol-mounted RMR would render, particularly Robar’s rendition.

As always, they were right. I’m just now catching up. Thanks, Guys!

/John