Does a compensated barrel dirty your red dot? Damage it?!

[Crispy Sweet]

Have never had a comp'd pistol and you all have convinced me to get an Eschelon.
Since they come with a comp option I am blessed to say i have the ability to to buy 2 gun (1 comp'd and 1 reg) and have money left over for 2 red dots and a mani pedi.

Did anyone that has a comp'd barrel and a red dot notice gun powder residue or fouling on their red dot?

If yes, is it worse on shorter barreled pistols?

Last question, do they count the comp part of the barrel as "length" of the barrel? Or is a 4" barrel on a comp'd pistol 4"+comp? Or 4" total including the comp, effectively making the "barel" shorter?

Thanks in advance everyone!

 

[Pythonfan]

Gonna need pics of the gun/mani/pedi.

 

[otatop]

Last question, do they count the comp part of the barrel as "length" of the barrel? Or is a 4" barrel on a comp'd pistol 4"+comp? Or 4" total including the comp, effectively making the "barel" shorter?

The comps for the Echelon are ports in the slide and barrel so they're the same 4" and 4.5" as the regular Echelon 4.0 and 4.5.

 

[Wolkenflieger]

*Echelon. No "s", and unrelated to M.C. Escher.

An echelon is a level, rank, or grade within a hierarchical organization.

 

[Crispy Sweet]

Gonna need pics of the gun/mani/pedi.

Gun yes, mani/pedi only for hubby
Im talking about the 4" Echelon comp'd

The comps for the Echelon are ports in the slide and barrel so they're the same 4" and 4.5" as the regular Echelon 4.0 and 4.5.

Ooh, so effectively, ballistic(ly?) speaking a "shorter" barrel than a non comp'd version of the same size barrel

*Echelon. No "s", and unrelated to M.C. Escher.

An echelon is a level, rank, or grade within a hierarchical organization.

eChElOn nO *s*

 

[adrkwan]

Have never had a comp'd pistol and you all have convinced me to get an Eschelon.
Since they come with a comp option I am blessed to say i have the ability to to buy 2 gun (1 comp'd and 1 reg) and have money left over for 2 red dots and a mani pedi.

Did anyone that has a comp'd barrel and a red dot notice gun powder residue or fouling on their red dot?

If yes, is it worse on shorter barreled pistols?

I have the Echelon 4.5 comp and non-comp. I get residue on my red dot on both guns every range trip. It's minor and I don't clean until ~500-750 rounds. Even then, its just a quick wipe with some screen cleaner and a microfiber cloth.

Compared with my buddy's 4" comp, its about the same. The extra half inch doesnt make his red dot noticeably cleaner/dirtier after a range session.

 

[Crispy Sweet]

I have the Echelon 4.5 comp and non-comp. I get residue on my red dot on both guns every range trip. It's minor and I don't clean until ~500-750 rounds. Even then, its just a quick wipe with some screen cleaner and a microfiber cloth.

Compared with my buddy's 4" comp, its about the same. The extra half inch doesnt make his red dot noticeably cleaner/dirtier after a range session.

Interesting. Can you expand on that? Like how dirty is it after 500 rounds? Is it a little bit harder to see through? Or just noticeable dirt bit no difference in through visibility?

Also, are you saying the comp vs non comp were almost no noticeable difference at all in amount of residue of red dot? Kind of makes sense that the chamber is so much closer that it would be the main factor but would love to know the difference between comp and no comp

 

[adrkwan]

Interesting. Can you expand on that? Like how dirty is it after 500 rounds? Is it a little bit harder to see through? Or just noticeable dirt bit no difference in through visibility?

Also, are you saying the comp vs non comp were almost no noticeable difference at all in amount of residue of red dot? Kind of makes sense that the chamber is so much closer that it would be the main factor but would love to know the difference between comp and no comp

Sure, its close to this picture at around ~500 rounds:



We've been shooting New Republic 124 through it. I don't notice the difference at indoor ranges because the lighting is bad. It's really only noticeable outdoors or when cleaning. Shooting outdoors leaves less residue as well.

 

[Crispy Sweet]

Sure, its close to this picture at around ~500 rounds:

View attachment 163858

We've been shooting New Republic 124 through it. I don't notice the difference at indoor ranges because the lighting is bad. It's really only noticeable outdoors or when cleaning. Shooting outdoors leaves less residue as well.

Awesome and informative answer, thank you!

 

[Deleted member 16735]

Pro tip: grab a box of lens wipes on Amazon, the little square ones, and throw a bunch in your range bag and then throw a bunch in your car. Works for sunglasses as well as optics, both of which always seem to be dirty

 

[adrkwan]

Pro tip: grab a box of lens wipes on Amazon, the little square ones, and throw a bunch in your range bag and then throw a bunch in your car. Works for sunglasses as well as optics, both of which always seem to be dirty

Good tip. I have a small bottle of screen cleaner and a microfiber in the range bag for the eye pro. I should probably just sub it out with some disposable wipes.

 

[running_7th]

Compensated/ported barrels don’t really get your glass dirty. It’s a combination of how much you shoot, what kind of ammo you’re shooting, and the distance of the optic from the ejection port in my opinion.

More expensive ammo is typically going to be “cleaner” to shoot, not leaving as much residue.
I have about 1.5-2k rounds on my rcr since I last cleaned it and although it is dirty, i can still see through it plenty when actually shooting. A red dot with its front glass not as recessed into the body + distance from port is typically going to see more residue build up overtime than an optic that has the recessed glass and more distance from the port

Pictured is a separate slide/optic combo to show how optic distance can determine how dirty the front glass can get

 

[Deleted member 16735]

Good tip. I have a small bottle of screen cleaner and a microfiber in the range bag for the eye pro. I should probably just sub it out with some disposable wipes.

Yeah it's just easier, one less thing to forget the morning of a range day

 

[davethebull]

you guys clean the glass? I thought we just replace it.

 

[weaverftw]

I just shot my brand new Echelon 4.0 comp about 300rds yesterday with irons and then put the Viridian green dot on it and shot about 400 more today, and it was pretty dirty about 300rds in, enough that I had to wipe the lens with a microfiber to continue. Not a big deal imo and it took quite a few rounds to become a problem. I didn’t clean extensively or anything, just a 2 second wipe and kept on shooting. I’m also shooting LGS reloads so factory ammo might be cleaner

 

[Crispy Sweet]

Compensated/ported barrels don’t really get your glass dirty. It’s a combination of how much you shoot, what kind of ammo you’re shooting, and the distance of the optic from the ejection port in my opinion.

More expensive ammo is typically going to be “cleaner” to shoot, not leaving as much residue.
I have about 1.5-2k rounds on my rcr since I last cleaned it and although it is dirty, i can still see through it plenty when actually shooting. A red dot with its front glass not as recessed into the body + distance from port is typically going to see more residue build up overtime than an optic that has the recessed glass and more distance from the port

Pictured is a separate slide/optic combo to show how optic distance can determine how dirty the front glass can get

Wow, thats insane how much of a difference it makes with such little distance.

Thank you very much for taking the time to take pics and reply, very much appreciated!