I don't post much on here, mostly just read, but wanted to share the following. I know not everyone out there likes how Walther utilizes the optic plates and does away with the rear sight, but I don't mind it at all. I like having the clear window (vs that of my Sig RX) and I like having the option to use a totally different fitting optic vs having the slide milled for a specific model sight. I really like the Q5 and Q4 that I have, but I'd say I probably like my PPQ 45 a little more... I just wished it had the same plate system of the Q5 and Q4.
So, I started an email conversation with Mark from L&M Precision Gunworks about milling the PPQ 45 slide for the Q5/Q4 plates. He said he'd had some similar inquiries but nobody had sent him the slides and plates to check out. I first sent a few pics that he looked at and he felt that it was do-able with just the PPQ45 slide and the plates, so I shipped them off to him to take a closer look at.
The only issue we discussed before he started cutting was that since the sight groove on the standard slides is cut closer to the back than the milled slides of the Q5/Q4 I had two options. 1) He could cut back far enough that the very rear of the sight groove would not be noticeable with the optic plates on it, but when I had the adjustable rear sight plate on they would hang over the back of the pistol a little more than the Q5/Q4, or 2) He could cut the slide so the adjustable sights would be flush with the back, but more groove would be visible when an optic plate was on. I asked him to go with the first option as I figure once I decide on an optic to use, I'll likely very rarely put the adjustable sight plate back on. Any changes would probably be to another model optic! Glad I went that way as the overhang is very minor, looks to be around 1/8" more than the overhang on the 9mm’s and since the PPQ45 slide is bigger than that of the 9mm's, proportionally the overhang looks similar.
Mark did an excellent job! He was great to communicate with and all via email. He usually responded to my emails within about 5 minutes, even a couple I sent around 11pm! I definitely felt I sent it to the right guy. All the plates fit great and I really like how it turned out. Haven't had a chance to try it out yet. May look for another adjustable rear sight plate so I can have one sighted in for my Q5, Q4, and Q45. Like I said, I know its not the preferred way for everybody, but I just feel like I had more future options going this route. I put the Vortex Venom I had on my Q5 on the Q45 for some pics, but will likely get either the Leupold Delta Point Pro or the Shield RMS. I attached some pics.
So, I started an email conversation with Mark from L&M Precision Gunworks about milling the PPQ 45 slide for the Q5/Q4 plates. He said he'd had some similar inquiries but nobody had sent him the slides and plates to check out. I first sent a few pics that he looked at and he felt that it was do-able with just the PPQ45 slide and the plates, so I shipped them off to him to take a closer look at.
The only issue we discussed before he started cutting was that since the sight groove on the standard slides is cut closer to the back than the milled slides of the Q5/Q4 I had two options. 1) He could cut back far enough that the very rear of the sight groove would not be noticeable with the optic plates on it, but when I had the adjustable rear sight plate on they would hang over the back of the pistol a little more than the Q5/Q4, or 2) He could cut the slide so the adjustable sights would be flush with the back, but more groove would be visible when an optic plate was on. I asked him to go with the first option as I figure once I decide on an optic to use, I'll likely very rarely put the adjustable sight plate back on. Any changes would probably be to another model optic! Glad I went that way as the overhang is very minor, looks to be around 1/8" more than the overhang on the 9mm’s and since the PPQ45 slide is bigger than that of the 9mm's, proportionally the overhang looks similar.
Mark did an excellent job! He was great to communicate with and all via email. He usually responded to my emails within about 5 minutes, even a couple I sent around 11pm! I definitely felt I sent it to the right guy. All the plates fit great and I really like how it turned out. Haven't had a chance to try it out yet. May look for another adjustable rear sight plate so I can have one sighted in for my Q5, Q4, and Q45. Like I said, I know its not the preferred way for everybody, but I just feel like I had more future options going this route. I put the Vortex Venom I had on my Q5 on the Q45 for some pics, but will likely get either the Leupold Delta Point Pro or the Shield RMS. I attached some pics.
