Primary Arms Classic RDS

Koda · May 4, 2025

If only this had an auto awake feature.......

So I have this "frankengun" for range fun only. I wasn't going to put a RDS on it cause its a frankengun but found a Primary Arms Classic 3moa RDS for 80 bucks and thought why not. These retail around $150 new and are very minimal in features. Turns out the reason mine was on sale is because Primary Arms discontinued it for their "Gen 2" version... which includes a shake awake feature now. I did not know this was not a feature (I just took it for granted owning 2 Trijicons) and was very let down when I got it home... it was an impulse buy as it was only 80 bucks. With the shake awake, this lands this simple cheap RDS into a worthy contender for a true budget RDS for those on a budget.

Aside from mine not having that feature I finally got around to installing it and ran it thru its paces and was left with a good impression.
Pros,

a slightly larger window than a Trijicon RMR, faster sight acquisition
a slightly smaller "envelope" height than the Trijicon RMR
I'm guessing its slightly lighter

Cons,

Gen1 (discontinued) no shake awake. You have to manually turn the sight on to use it. It does have an auto shut off after 12 hours if you forget to turn it off.
No auto brightness adjust, only manual (gen 2). This could be a deal breaker for some, I'm not used to that yet so I haven't found a compromise brightness that works in all light conditions, but not confident one exists.
The elevation and windage are set screws with no tactile feedback. Simple I guess but made zeroing more difficult.

Once zeroed, the slightly larger window instantly proved faster to get a sight picture rapid firing and moving, made it more enjoyable to shoot than the Trijicon. And now for some reason I cant stop staring at the Trijicons "devil horns". I like the PA rounded profile better, its border/framing is thin and much less invasive on the sight picture. For what I needed the Gen1 is a great deal I scored, but will the Gen2 now be a contender for actual carry use on a budget? ... if you can find a universal brightness setting?

(forgive dust on lens)

titsonritz · May 22, 2025

Koda said:
Cons,

Gen1 (discontinued) no shake awake. You have to manually turn the sight on to use it. It does have an auto shut off after 12 hours if you forget to turn it off.

No auto brightness adjust, only manual (gen 2). This could be a deal breaker for some, I'm not used to that yet so I haven't found a compromise brightness that works in all light conditions, but not confident one exists.

These "features" suck imo,

You need some suppressor height sights.

Koda · May 22, 2025

titsonritz said:
These "features" suck imo,

You need some suppressor height sights.

Those two features alone are a big deal to go without. At least they added a shake awake for Gen2, I found a brightness compromise that works, "medium high" all day, not so great in total darkness but works fine with a flashlight.
I put the Trijicon above tall sights on the carry gun but eventually should probably add some in case the optic dies at the worst time.

I did not think I would actually get a comment on this post, bravo.

titsonritz · May 22, 2025

Ameriglo plain black suppressor sights are dirt cheap.

Koda · May 22, 2025

titsonritz said:
Ameriglo plain black suppressor sights are dirt cheap.

Are there different heights, what height obscures the dot window the least?

titsonritz · May 22, 2025

Koda said:
Are there different heights, what height obscures the dot window the least?

They have a ton of height. I got the shorter 2XL, they are what I'd consider 1/3 co-witness, but they make even shorter ones now.

Koda · May 22, 2025

titsonritz said:
They have a ton of height. I got the shorter 2XL, they are what I'd consider 1/3 co-witness, but they make even shorter ones now.

1/3 seems just right. I wish there was a way to just know all these things but I think .305" height is 1/3...? Im looking at these:

Zaffiri Precision Suppressor Height HD Sight Set Glock 17, 19, 22, 23,

Zaffiri Precision Suppressor Height HD Fiber Optic front Sight Set. High quality, NOT hollow, has a set screw on rear, uses stainless front screw...

www.midwayusa.com

But Im wondering of the red fiber optic would confuse the eye so maybe plain black Ameriglo sights...?

Ameriglo XL Suppressor Sight Set Glock 17, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 26,

The Ameriglo XL Suppressor Sight Set for Glock Pistols features taller front and rear sights which allows shooters to get a full sight picture when...

www.midwayusa.com

titsonritz · May 22, 2025

The ones I have are GL-429, they are plain black. I prefer that arrangement with an RDS.

1775usmc · May 23, 2025

Ameriglo GL-429s barely clear the top of the optic. Those are what I always went with.

Koda · May 23, 2025

1775usmc said:
Ameriglo GL-429s barely clear the top of the optic. Those are what I always went with.

It depends on the optic.

Last night I was searching the different heights and measuring my installed (factory basic Glock OEM) sights to see how much the Ameriglows would clear the top of the optic base. I decided on the GL-429s for the gun with the Trijicon RMR as a nice 1/4-1/3 cowitness. (I want minimal obstruction in the RDS view window).
Thinking I had found the height for me for all my Glock slides I was debating which one to start with and noticed the 10mm with the SRO optic has a taller base and I dont think the GL-429s will work on that one.
Eventually I will have to order specific heights for each gun. This Primary Arms Classic optic has the lowest base height but ultimately this optic will get replaced with a real carry level optic as the frankengun evolves into a spare carry gun.

Koda · May 31, 2025

Appreciate the encouragement to get proper irons, the GL-429 work perfectly. I wasn't certain what to expect and didn't want to obstruct the RDS window sight picture but was pleasantly surprised they dont really interfere much. It does feel better to know if the optic dies the irons are there.

The front blade isnt as wide as I prefer for combat irons but since this is now a backup sight I think it lets more light in the RDS window with minimal obstruction (see second pic). I'll look at getting these Ameriglos for my others.
Tits thanks for bringing this up and 1775 the 429s were the perfect height.

1775usmc · May 31, 2025

Koda said:
Appreciate the encouragement to get proper irons, the GL-429 work perfectly. I wasn't certain what to expect and didn't want to obstruct the RDS window sight picture but was pleasantly surprised they dont really interfere much. It does feel better to know if the optic dies the irons are there.

The front blade isnt as wide as I prefer for combat irons but since this is now a backup sight I think it lets more light in the RDS window with minimal obstruction (see second pic). I'll look at getting these Ameriglos for my others.
Tits thanks for bringing this up and 1775 the 429s were the perfect height.

View attachment 2102914

View attachment 2102915

GL429s are what I always go for when I need suppressor height irons.

Koda · May 31, 2025

1775usmc said:
GL429s are what I always go for when I need suppressor height irons.

I like how minimal they protrude into the RDS window, they worked out to be the perfect height for me. Ive always had a little guesswork involved ordering iron sights in the past so I wasnt certain on this one either.

1775usmc · May 31, 2025

Koda said:
I like how minimal they protrude into the RDS window, they worked out to be the perfect height for me. Ive always had a little guesswork involved ordering iron sights in the past so I wasnt certain on this one either.

I am the same. If I run back up irons….. which I am currently moving away from.

Koda · May 31, 2025

1775usmc said:
I am the same. If I run back up irons….. which I am currently moving away from.

I think I recall you mentioning that somewhere, whats your reason? Is it because RDS's have become so reliable?

1775usmc · May 31, 2025

Koda said:
I think I recall you mentioning that somewhere, whats your reason? Is it because RDS's have become so reliable?

Basically. If I am running a quality dot I'm not worried about having irons. Same on rifles. Even if the optic goes down you can use the window to put rounds on target.

At the same time they don't weigh anything and are cheap so having them doesn't hurt either. If I do have irons I put them in front of the optic rather than behind.

Koda · May 31, 2025

Doesnt that take a lot of training to learn to use just the window?
Unfortunately I bought my slides before I learned of the forward dovetail cut but maybe can consider one on the franken gun. Remind me of the advantage, doesnt it not distract the eye during normal use of the RDS?

1775usmc · May 31, 2025

Koda said:
Doesnt that take a lot of training to learn to use just the window?
Unfortunately I bought my slides before I learned of the forward dovetail cut but maybe can consider one on the franken gun. Remind me of the advantage, doesnt it not distract the eye during normal use of the RDS?

Less clutter. Protects the glass. Also keeps the window clean from carbon.