Hey guys,
I just wanted to do a little info dump on my Langdon LTT RDO.
Full disclosure, I really never cared for RDOs. I put an RMR on a FNX tac years ago and I just didn't care for it. It was fantastic shooting at plates at 5o yards, but slow for everything else. Well, the world decided I was wrong so I decided I better give it another try (this may actually be try 3 but whatever). I also went ahead and put a dot on my Ruger 22 so I could get more practice.
I bought this from Langdon as a slide and put it on my M9A3. I actually have a standard production Langdon full size and a Langdon Compact with their trigger work (Sadly it has been out of commission for months while Beretta fixes the peeling, terrible factory finish. But that is drama for another day). I decided to put it on the A3 because I was running it with a can and the normal sights didn't clear the suppressor. I used that as an excuse to buy a Langdon Slide directly from them. I had an old RMR on an offset mount so I decided I would give it a go.
Beretta 92 RDO by stoiclawyer, on Flickr
We are all familiar with the story behind the Langdon RDO. EL did all the work Beretta should have done years ago. He had to re-engineer the firing pin and FB block to clear the plates (and he had to reengineer a few other parts as well). The good news being that he was able to get the height above bore down to .85 inches. That combined with the Berettas amazing recoil characteristics and you have a recipe for a fantastic blaster. I will admit I am always loath to modify my guns. I am very conservative and generally prefer components manufactured by the original maker. Frankly, if anyone other than EL would have done this I would have skipped it.
The slide was pretty expensive (basically $600 with shipping) which is pretty crazy when you consider you can get some very respectable guns already cut for Red Dots for that price. Of course, that is ignoring the fact that EL and Co had to spend serious time and money developing parts and techniques for manufacturing this (something Berretta never did, despite the obvious advantages of an optics cut in todays market).Considering how limited the market for this is I think the price is fair. It should be noted that I could have sent him my slide and saved about $250 so that is something to think about.
I followed the instructional video EL has up and locked on my RMR with vibra-tite. It was quick to zero and I basically just started shooting it. Even though I used the threaded barrel that came with the A3 I never replaced the locking block as suggested. My 92A3 had very few rounds through it so I thought that would be overkill. The gun has functioned flawlessly with the new slide so I think that was fine.
The slide finish that Langdon puts on their slides isn't as pretty as Berettas but it is, without question, more durable. My Berettas usually start out pretty but end up a scratchy mess (or just peel off for no reason like my compact). My old 92GSD looks awful after 12-13k rounds. Now I do a lot of draw practice, and I love Berretta, but their finish is pretty lame.
I did, finally have a problem. Last week I was shooting and I went back to 50 yards to shoot at my 10 inch plate. I usually have no difficulty with this (I am not saying I never miss, but it is usually a miss here or there, not all misses). I was unable to hit. After doing a dry fire "El snatcho" test I noticed the RMR was moving around when I pushed on it with my finger. Honestly, I blame myself because my kydex holster isn't quite cleared for the RMR if you reholster too vigorously. Still, I see folks cycling their slides on posts with their RMRS (something I think is dumb as hell, and won't even do with my normal iron sights).
I noticed the plate was loose on the gun. I took my RMR off and sure enough all three screws had backed out. They were surrounded with white paint and had blue paint pen marks but every one of them had moved. I took the plate off, hit everything with rubbing alcohol and and cleaned some red loctite or possibly vibrating tite out of the screw holes. Honestly, I think it might be best to stake these screws. I cleaned them up and vibra-tited them and hit them with the old wheeler torque wrench. It went ahead and swapped batteries.
I know it is obvious, but keep an eye on these RDOs, they aren't iron sights. I did, however get after my holster with a file to relieve everywhere the optic might hit the holster.
*** note! The RDO required no adjustment after remounting**** I thought that was pretty cool
I feel like that could have happened with any system but it is something to keep in mind. I will point out that everything else has been perfect. The iron sights and Langdon parts have all been perfect. Everything performs as it should and there would be no way to determine it wasn't a factory feature if you didn't already know.
I have finally gotten my times down to a respectable range, but I am still a bit faster with irons. I actually notice I am more likely to have a WAM (wild ass miss) with the dot because a lot of time I will fire before I find the dot (obviously, that's on me). Still, I am getting there. And there is no question they are very helpful in low-light and they make super long shots a practical reality.
I took it out today and I am back in business. I have to say I am coming around to enjoy these RDOs. I still don't trust them fully, and I am still faster with irons (under 30 feet). But you can't beat their ease of use at distance. I am coming around!
It makes one hell of a beside the bed blaster.
Beretta 92 RDO by stoiclawyer, on Flickr
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Originally Posted by SeriousStudent
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