It was the 2023 SHOT show when I learned about the CT RAD dovetail mounting kit for Glocks. the kit works for all full-size Glocks and the 42, 43, and 48. The kit lets you mount the CT RAD family of electronic reflex sights to your Glock pistol without machining the slide. The mounting plate has a dovetail that takes the place of your rear sight providing the footprint to install your Crimson Trace electronic reflex sight.
Installation was pretty straightforward.
The kit included everything you needed for installation.
The two blind threads mount under the plate and provide threads for the red dot to be securely mounted.
Drift the dovetail of the mounting plate into the dovetail mount for the rear sight.
Once the mounting plate is centered, be sure to snug the two set screws in the dovetail mount.
Here you see the top view of the CT RAD, Crimson Trace Rapid Aiming Dot, with the mounting screws installed. The CT RAD sig t is adjustable for elevation and windage. Most red dot sights are machined from 6061 aluminum, but the CT RAD is machined from 7075 aluminum sight is 30% stronger. The sight is engineered to deflect orce from the lens in the event of a fall. All this considered, it is a durable sighting system that would serve you well f you were into electronic sights on handguns.
The brightness of the 3 MOA dot is controlled by the + and – buttons port and starboard of the body. If you forget to turn off the sight using the dimming button, it will automatically shut off after eight hours to save the CR 1632 battery. After a few hundred rounds through the Glock 17 host with several different shooters, the sight and mounting plate were still secure and had not shifted or lost zero. Note the texturing on the sight to aid in racking the slide.
The CT RAD ships with a protective cover and a lifetime warranty.
For the sake of transparency, I am not well acquainted with using red dot sights on handguns, only having used that system a handful of times. I have always preferred iron sights as that is how I have trained, and one of my character flaws is to resist change. For me, it took several magazines and an open mind to begin to get the hang of the sight, but once I started to, I realized it was quick, like really quick. I do not oppose the red dot sights on a handgun as I did before this review but I will need more time to train and practice with this system before I will begin to become proficient, but I can see the potential only after a few hundred rounds.
When I began this review, I was sure I would not care for this setup, but after some time, I am beginning to understand why red dots are all the rage on handguns. So you can teach an old dog new tricks. I appreciate Crimson Trace trusting me enough to be fair with the review, and I came away actually learning something. If you mount it all and decide it is not for you, at the very least, you will be out of far less money than having your slide machined, and your slide is unmolested. So, if you are considering dipping your toe into the red dot rage, in my opinion, this would be the best way to go about it. If you are neck deep in the red dot world, this is an excellent option for adding electronic sights to your Glock handgun. The setup is quality and has held up quite well throughout the review.
MSRP for the dovetail mounting kit is $29.99
MSRP for the CT RAD is $249.99.
