The Rogers Glock Slide with a Trijicon RMR (Ruggedized Miniature Reflex) is a great candidate for a duty gun. Used with the Safariland ALS P-2 Optic Sight Holster, it has the dependability and rugged design required for police and military users. The red dot is fast and optimized for shooting with both eyes open.
By design, humans have binocular vision. The two images are blended by the brain into a horizontal field of view of approximately 190 degrees with both eyes. The binocular field of view is 120 degrees flanked by two monocular fields of about 40 degrees each. The processed perception is known as a Cyclopean image. The massive processing ability of the brain also provides range and depth.
As sight hunters, humans are predisposed to focus is on the prey. This works when gathering berries too, but that is not as exciting. Our eyes can only focus on a single focal plane. This means that when our eyes focus on sights, it is like wearing reading glasses and everything beyond is fuzzy and out of focus
Red dot sights like the Trijicon RMR allow you to focus on the target and see the sights in the same focal plane. The result is fast and intuitive. You can shoot both eyes open, focused on the target and track the dot through recoil and from one target to the next. Older shooters will find the dot much easier to use that iron sights because the eyes can accommodate to target focus.
Closing one eye is OK for stationary target shooters, but if you are moving or scanning for threats, you are going to need both eyes for depth perception and field of view. The RMR will let you keep those eyes open.
The guys at the Rogers Shooting School know about reliability. The school rental guns shoot 2500 rounds each five-day-long class. This is almost all shot fast and hard. Bill wanted to offer a red-dot gun for his class, but he was not happy with the choices on the custom slide market. So Bill Rogers designed a new slide to Gen 3 Glock 17 or 22 specifications. It is configured to accept either a Trijicon RMR or Leupold DeltaPoint red-dot sight.
The clever layout of the Rogers Shooting School Red Dot Optic Slide puts the rear iron sight in front of the optic. This protects the optic and allows a clearer, larger field of view. The dot and iron sights are co-witnessed to act as a single unit for the eyes to align.
I have put 2,000 rounds through the Rogers slide with a Trijicom RMR in practice and competition. I quickly got used to the slight change in sight height and found it very comfortable and intuitive.
Felt recoil seemed a little different than a standard G-17, perhaps enhanced because I was using duty ammo. There was a slight bump at lock up and at the end of the slide travel. Bill Rodgers assured me that the difference in weights was matched to within grams between the stock slide and Rogers slide with RMR. I installed a Sprinco G-17 recoil management system and everything seemed to smooth out. Inadequate recoil management is a leading cause of malfunctions, gun wear and poor shooting. I have used Sprinco on a number of guns and recommend them without reservation.
http://www.sprinco.com/recoil.html
The first battery I put in the RMR was used, so I got to experience battery failure. The sights blink when the battery is low, but it is fast and I first thought I was seeing things. The dot went out as I was on the plate rack. The transition to the iron sights was as simple as refocusing my eyes. Ten minutes later, the new battery was in place and the dot has been on ever since without fail.
The ALS P-2 holster worked as smoothly as any ALS holster and the dot is where it should be every round. There is no reason I can see not to trust this as a duty gun. As I write this, there are several police agencies evaluating red dots sights.
Made of 1704 Billet Machined Stainless Steel and Coated in black DLC coating (92 Rockwell), the Rogers slide is milled down to provide the lowest mount possible for the red-dot sight. The extra milling also keeps the weight closer to the factory weight when the red dot is installed. The slide includes Fixed AmeriGlo Suppressor High Sights, installation screws for the red-dot sight, and the channel liner already pushed into place.
Red-dot sights have been used in special mission units for so long that there is no question about the maturity of the concept. They are rugged and reliable enough for duty use. So why doesn’t every cop have one?
The single biggest drawback is cost. The Rogers Glock Slide and Trijicon RMR cost more than the Glock they mount to. While this is a big factor, if you look at the poor state of police marksmanship, the sales job is getting easier. How many multi-million dollar lawsuits can be avoided if police miss less and shoot faster?
Another issue for police was the lack of a suitable duty holster. Bill wasn’t going to make a slide without a great holster. The ALS P-2 Optic Sight Holster has models to fit the Glock 17 and 22, and the Smith and Wesson M&P 9 and 40 (4.25″ BBL). The holster completely covers the red-dot sight installed on the back of the handgun. It has great retention thanks to its automatic locking system. It opens effortlessly as you get a grip on the handgun, and just as important, automatically locks the gun in when you re-holster. I wish there was a model for a rail mounted light.
Unlike other designs, the low profile of the sights makes this gun useful in concealed carry, too.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zFLIGPnRt-k
The slide comes available as three different options:
1. Slide Only
2. Slide and Parts*
3. Fully Assembled Slide*
*Please note: Does Not Include Barrel, Recoil Unit, or Red Dot Sight
Installation is as easy as repacing the slide.
I highly recommend the Rogers’ slide and the Trijicon without reservation. As a complete unit with the holster, it is the best system of its kind available for hard use and duty carry.
You can order the Rogers Shooting School Red Dot Optic Glock Slide and the Safariland ALS P-2 Optic Sight Holster from Holsterops:
Slide : $453.95
Holster: $105.95
The Trijicon RMR is available in a number of models from their website.
Photos courtesy of www.holsterops.com
