This post was originally published here.
Richmond Hill, Georgia’s C&H Precision is a respected leader in quality pistol optic adapter plates. But did you know that the company also offers a nice line of pistol optics, too? I recently acquired two of C&H Precision’s pistol optics, the closed-emitter Duty-XL and the open-emitter EDC, and put them to the test.
C&H Precision Pistol Optics
I first noticed C&H Precision optics when an old friend began working there a few months ago. That awareness came front and center when I looked into getting an optic-ready slide for my Walther PPQ. It has long been among my favorite handguns.
A quick search took me to the Walther website, where I learned that they had partnered with C&H Precision to mill PPQ and PPS slides, upgrading them for optics.
So, I called my friend and arranged to send my PPQ and PPS slides in for the work. He knows what I do for a living. So, he also suggested that I let them mount a couple of C&H Precision optics for testing and evaluation. I happily agreed and shipped my slides out the next day.
They returned a few weeks later, with the Duty-XL mounted on the PPQ and the EDC on the PPS. I’ll cover each individually, beginning with the Duty-XL.
C&H Precision Duty-XL Red Dot
The Duty-XL represents a growing trend toward larger, more reliable closed emitter handgun optics. Quality closed-emitter red dots aren’t susceptible to debris, dust, or water that can affect the performance of open-emitter optics.
The Duty-XL has proven to be a quality product. Machined from a block of aircraft-grade aluminum, the optic is sealed and IPX7 waterproof-rated. As a result, it can be submerged in one meter of water for up to 30 minutes without issue. It’s also attached with C&H Precision’s sturdy double-bar mount.
The glass is very nice and clear as day, and the reticle is bright and well-defined. The multi-reticle gives the shooter the choice between a 3 MOA dot, a 30 MOA circle, or the dot within the circle. Reference marks are at each cardinal direction of the circle. My reticle is red, but green will be available soon.
The Duty-XL has user-enabled motion activation, which should be standard on all modern handgun optics at this point. I really like that it automatically turns itself off after 225 seconds of inactivity. I have some optics that stay on for hours and hours before shutting down. That just wastes battery life, so I like the 225-second feature.
The optic’s control buttons are large, tactile, and easily visible on the left side. Correspondingly, the reticle has 10 brightness settings, two of which are night vision compatible. The windage and elevation dials require a small screwdriver or the tool provided with the optic. The clicks are tactile and audible if you’re in a quiet environment.
You can access the included CR-2032 battery via a side-mounted screw cap. So, you won’t have to dismount the optic to change it.
The Duty-XL has the Aimpoint ACRO footprint. It requires a C&H Precision adapter plate that is compatible with their double-bar clamp.
C&H Precision EDC Red Dot
A closed-emitter optic is great for my PPQ, but my subcompact Walther PPS needs something smaller. The open-emitter C&H Precision EDC red dot is perfect, especially with the direct mount for which C&H milled the slide. The EDC is also milled from a block of aircraft-grade aluminum, with the same IPX7 waterproof rating.
Again, the glass is very clear, and the 3 MOA dot reticle is clean. A multi-reticle model is also available. Like its larger counterpart, the EDC has 10 brightness settings, with two being night vision compatible. It also features the user-enabled motion activation with the 225-second automatic shut-off.
The side-mounted control buttons are smaller because the optic has less surface area, yet they remain tactile and responsive. Similar to the Duty-XL, the windage and elevation dials perform equally well and require the same tool. The included CR-1632 battery is accessed via a side-mounted tray. So, there is no need to remove the optic to change it.
The EDC has the Shield RMSc footprint.
C&H Precision Optics at the Range
I’ve been very pleased with both of these optics. The EDC is so light, at 0.6 ounces, that I barely know it’s there. And the direct mount makes it low profile, like I want on a gun like my PPS. The Duty-XL is, of course, bulkier, but I don’t mind.
This is, admittedly, the first closed-emitter red dot I’ve run extensively on a handgun. So, I was just a little skeptical because of the size. But I really like it. The extra size doesn’t inhibit anything I do, and it even fits my Safariland 537 GLS holster that I already use.
The reticles are bright and distinct, and I found them easy to acquire. Each features a rear notch for co-witnessing iron sights. My direct-mount EDC means I can use the factory PPS sights, just barely. However, C&H installed their taller iron sights on my PPQ since the factory sights were too short.
Each of these optics has a couple of range trips under its belt. During those trips, I fired some 500 rounds of 9mm, generously provided by my friends at Ammo-to-Go. They are both as solid as they were the day I received them. There’s no wobbling, and both have retained zero throughout.
I also tested the mount strength by dropping each pistol (unloaded and with no magazine) from chest height onto the gravel floor of my pistol range. I did that three times each, directly onto the optic. It didn’t faze them at all and didn’t even scratch the finish.
These optics and their mounts are solid. C&H says they are 100 percent shockproof. I believe them. Each is also rated for +P and +P+ ammo.
A Word About the Milling
C&H Precision optics are compatible with multiple firearms. However, they also offer milling services in partnership with Walther Arms. I wanted to make my PPQ optics-compatible, and was surprised and pleased to find that Walther specifically endorsed a company to do it for me.
C&H offers milling for the Walther PPQ, PPS, Q4, and Q5 pistols. They also upgrade PDP 1.0 optic cuts to the 2.0 version. They have several options, and you choose what you want. My slides were done so well that I’d swear they were milled at the factory, if I didn’t know better.
Final Thoughts
The mounting and milling on these two C&H Precision pistol optics are impressive. The workmanship, quality, and performance match anything I’ve ever run. My aging eyes forced me to reluctantly accept pistol red dots, but I’m starting to really appreciate them. Especially since I shoot better after making the change.
C&H Precision, through its products and services, has also impressed me. These two optics will stay on my PPQ and PPS. However, I would bet that I’ll be running more of their optics in the near future.
The post TESTED: Two C&H Precision Pistol Optics Run Hard on the Range appeared first on Athlon Outdoors Exclusive Firearm Updates, Reviews & News.
