Glock MOS vs Milled 3rd Party Systems like Unity?

[Sanch]

I’ve only been casually following the pistol red dot scene over the last decade. Getting closer to wanting to buy one. I think whenever a V2 acro comes out I might pull the trigger.

When things first started, I think it was a free for all on milling slides specific to a certain optic. And then companies like Unity came out and made some standard mill option that would accept plates for different optics, so you could change the optic and not need a new slide/new milling.

Then Glock comes out with the MOS a couple years ago that does the same thing, except in a factory OEM way. But the glock factory plates suck so 3rd parties have been making plates to match the MOS.

Please clear up my history if I’m wrong.

But now I’m seeing Unity is releasing a V2 of the atom mount milling system. I’m confused by this because I would have assumed once glock released the MOS, it would have totally destroyed the market for an aftermarket milling plate. Why would I buy a new non-MOS glock and ship it to a Smith to mill for a Unity 2 plate, when I can buy a factory MOS? Pre-milled in an industry standard way that even 3rd party shops make plates for?

Perhaps it’s because the market is meant for people with pre-MOS guns, who don’t want to buy a new gun, and want their old gun milled? Even still, I would think to my gun milled to the factory MOS spec because eventually Unity will abandon the Atom 2, and once that happens, any new optics won’t have plates made that work to my milling. But I highlly doubt glock will abandon the MOS standard. At least I see Unity going under or changing to Atom 3 before glock ditches MOS.

I’m ignorant of this space so maybe the glock MOS cut isn’t good, and maybe the Atom 2 will do something better? I just assumed a cut is a cut and the only issue would be ensuring support for future optics to have plates made by a reputable vendor.

[GJM]

There is a lot to unpack in you post, but let’s start with a cut is not a cut and not all plates are created equal.

[Maca]

Considering that the cost of plastic guns (Glock, M&P, etc) versus the cost of optics is nearly 1:1; I no longer see tremendous value in future proofing a slide with a flexible plate system. And I say this having spent the time and resources to get an Agency Arms AOS cut on a Glock 45.

Just something to consider...

[JSGlock34]

And now I understand Glock is offering the MOS3/MOS5 slides cut to specific optics (DPP and RMR) to certain customers...

[HCM]

And now I understand Glock is offering the MOS3/MOS5 slides cut to specific optics (DPP and RMR) to certain customers...

Yes, the MOS 3 and MOS 2 respectively. The MOS 2 has been available in Europe and South Africa for a couple years now.

[HCM]

I’ve only been casually following the pistol red dot scene over the last decade. Getting closer to wanting to buy one. I think whenever a V2 acro comes out I might pull the trigger.

When things first started, I think it was a free for all on milling slides specific to a certain optic. And then companies like Unity came out and made some standard mill option that would accept plates for different optics, so you could change the optic and not need a new slide/new milling.

Then Glock comes out with the MOS a couple years ago that does the same thing, except in a factory OEM way. But the glock factory plates suck so 3rd parties have been making plates to match the MOS.

Please clear up my history if I’m wrong.

But now I’m seeing Unity is releasing a V2 of the atom mount milling system. I’m confused by this because I would have assumed once glock released the MOS, it would have totally destroyed the market for an aftermarket milling plate. Why would I buy a new non-MOS glock and ship it to a Smith to mill for a Unity 2 plate, when I can buy a factory MOS? Pre-milled in an industry standard way that even 3rd party shops make plates for?

Perhaps it’s because the market is meant for people with pre-MOS guns, who don’t want to buy a new gun, and want their old gun milled? Even still, I would think to my gun milled to the factory MOS spec because eventually Unity will abandon the Atom 2, and once that happens, any new optics won’t have plates made that work to my milling. But I highlly doubt glock will abandon the MOS standard. At least I see Unity going under or changing to Atom 3 before glock ditches MOS.

I’m ignorant of this space so maybe the glock MOS cut isn’t good, and maybe the Atom 2 will do something better? I just assumed a cut is a cut and the only issue would be ensuring support for future optics to have plates made by a reputable vendor.

The Unity ATOM plate system predated the MOS. The ATOM 2 was in the works for a long time before it was released at the 2020 SHOT show. It was likely in development before the improved aftermarket MOS plates. The issue is Unity is great at designing and developing gear but have issues producing it in quantities necessary to meet demand.

If I wanted a non-MOS modular optics cut I would look at the Agency Arms AOS system. Not because the Atom 2 is bad but because of availability and likelihood of future support.

The MOS system with improved plates like the C&H Precision plate have been tested an approved by multiple federal state and local LE agencies. Good or bad, the MOS is the most common optics systems and it's here to stay. As a result MOS will be the most likely to receive continuing improvement and both factory and aftermarket support.

For example, you won't see a direct mount Atom2 optic but odds are you will see a direct mount MOS optic. U.S. CBP, the largest law enforcement agency in North America with 45,000 officers now issues MOS Glocks and recently put out a request to industry for an optic which mounts directly to the MOS cut without an adaptor plate. When an entity which wants to buy 50,000 or 60,000 optics makes such such a request the industry listens. My understanding is 20% of the Glocks sold in the US are now MOS models. That is a big potential aftermarket.

[YVK]

If I wanted a non-MOS modular optics cut I would look at the Agency Arms AOS system. Not because the Atom 2 is bad but because of availability and likelihood of future support.





I own both Unity Atom and Agency AOS and I don't think they are too far apart in their lack of manufacturing capabilities and market response time. Just an example of Agency having a 509T plate but offering it only with new slide jobs tells me enough about their production capacity. Yet, they have a Viper plate that literally nobody uses for anything.
If I did it again, I'd do either mos or direct mill.

[HCM]

I own both Unity Atom and Agency AOS and I don't think they are too far apart in their lack of manufacturing capabilities and market response time. Just an example of Agency having a 509T plate but offering it only with new slide jobs tells me enough about their production capacity. Yet, they have a Viper plate that literally nobody uses for anything.
If I did it again, I'd do either mos or direct mill.

Nothing wrong with Unity’s design or quality.

Agency is a small company but custom handguns and parts for same are their core business vs being a side line for Unity.

[Sanch]

Considering that the cost of plastic guns (Glock, M&P, etc) versus the cost of optics is nearly 1:1; I no longer see tremendous value in future proofing a slide with a flexible plate system. And I say this having spent the time and resources to get an Agency Arms AOS cut on a Glock 45.

Just something to consider...

Sorry but I don’t get it. If the gun us about $500 to $600 and the red dot is about $500 to $600, then a custom cut might be $1k to $1400 factoring in the cost to mill.

If you bought an MOS you’d have the same up front cost but in 5 years when a much better optic comes out, you only have to spend $500 to $600 on the new optic and $100 on a new plate versus $1400 for a whole new gun.

And what do you do with the old gun? Keep it with an aging less idea optic permanently mounted forever? Try to sell it but get much less than you paid since fewer people will want a 5+ year old optic permanently milled to a gun?

Because the guns are so expensive and 1:1 to the red dot it seems the better course of action is to get an MOS that’s future proofed without having to mill a whole new gun. But maybe I’m misunderstanding because I’m inexperienced with red dots so please help me understand before I buy my first one and make a big mistake.

[Sanch]

The Unity ATOM plate system predated the MOS. The ATOM 2 was in the works for a long time before it was released at the 2020 SHOT show. It was likely in development before the improved aftermarket MOS plates. The issue is Unity is great at designing and developing gear but have issues producing it in quantities necessary to meet demand.

If I wanted a non-MOS modular optics cut I would look at the Agency Arms AOS system. Not because the Atom 2 is bad but because of availability and likelihood of future support.

The MOS system with improved plates like the C&H Precision plate have been tested an approved by multiple federal state and local LE agencies. Good or bad, the MOS is the most common optics systems and it's here to stay. As a result MOS will be the most likely to receive continuing improvement and both factory and aftermarket support.

For example, you won't see a direct mount Atom2 optic but odds are you will see a direct mount MOS optic. U.S. CBP, the largest law enforcement agency in North America with 45,000 officers now issues MOS Glocks and recently put out a request to industry for an optic which mounts directly to the MOS cut without an adaptor plate. When an entity which wants to buy 50,000 or 60,000 optics makes such such a request the industry listens. My understanding is 20% of the Glocks sold in the US are now MOS models. That is a big potential aftermarket.

This makes a lot of sense. So Unity developed the 2 before MOS was released and rather than abandoning their R&D they decided to put it forward even though most intelligent consumers would likely pick the MOS due to it being more future proof, right?

And because MOS is out, fewer people will buy the Atom 2, and therefore reduce longevity of the Atom even more?

I have a bunch of Gen 3 glocks and I would have bought an Atom slide for it, but the Atom 1 have been discontinued and Atom 2 is only gen 4/gen 5. If I was buying a new gen 5 gun, I’ll get a gen 5 MOS and I’ll probably wind up doing that. Seems like a missed opportunity because the only way I’d buy an Atom slide is if it came in Gen 3.

But like you said, Unity can’t make enough stuff. I’ve been eying several pieces of unity tactical stuff for months and they can’t produce things fast enough it seems so I can’t seen them making a gen 3 glock anything in 2021.

I am wondering if I can get a gen 3 glock cut for MOS plates, then I can keep using my existing guns and have future proof plate system installed.

[Maca]

Sorry if I was not clear.

Plastic guns are consumables that are getting better with each new generation. Gen 5 glocks are better than gen 4, etc. so considering the added expense of a Unity or an Agency system, it makes sense to sell an older generation Glock and buy a new gun for the new optic.

A direct mill optic is always going to be better than a plate. Less parts, fewer things to break.

[mmc45414]

A direct mill optic is always going to be better than a plate. Less parts, fewer things to break.

And a little lower.

I think the optic you desire could be part of the decision criteria, if you want something that is an RMR footprint it is very improbable that all improved future optics will abandon that configuration.

Also there are probably block off plates that would leave you with an iron sight gun like you have now.

In my case I am more into the S&W CORE platform, and those guns also cost ~$150 more. And the 2.0 factory plates are maybe lame, so there is another $40-$50. But they come with sights, but not ones I prefer. So I could get a direct mill job on the cheaper gun and be at about the same price point with a simpler, lower mount with backup sights I might end up with installing on the CORE gun anyway.

But I would only do this in the RMR footprint.

Sent from my SM-G892A using Tapatalk

[HCM]

This makes a lot of sense. So Unity developed the 2 before MOS was released and rather than abandoning their R&D they decided to put it forward even though most intelligent consumers would likely pick the MOS due to it being more future proof, right?

And because MOS is out, fewer people will buy the Atom 2, and therefore reduce longevity of the Atom even more?

I have a bunch of Gen 3 glocks and I would have bought an Atom slide for it, but the Atom 1 have been discontinued and Atom 2 is only gen 4/gen 5. If I was buying a new gen 5 gun, I’ll get a gen 5 MOS and I’ll probably wind up doing that. Seems like a missed opportunity because the only way I’d buy an Atom slide is if it came in Gen 3.

But like you said, Unity can’t make enough stuff. I’ve been eying several pieces of unity tactical stuff for months and they can’t produce things fast enough it seems so I can’t seen them making a gen 3 glock anything in 2021.

I am wondering if I can get a gen 3 glock cut for MOS plates, then I can keep using my existing guns and have future proof plate system installed.

Unity makes a lot of specialized gear for the special ops community. The main market for the original ATOM slides was units who had Glocks and wanted RDS pistols because/ NVGs but could not have the slides milled. The ATOM slides allowed the guns to be used with RDS while still being capable of being restored to their original configuration when it was time to turn them in.

This was before SOCOM started buying MOS Glocks.

[Sanch]

Thanks for the last few replies. It’s making a ton of sense now.

So Unity made/makes products targeting military who are forbidden from permanently modifying their guns so they buy a whole slide to put on there temporarily and usually those SF units are flush with cash.

And I learned from this thread that direct mill results in a better product because there’s no plate involved, that makes a ton of sense. So if I buy an MOS I am compromising on having a gun that’s a little less optimal in exchange for more flexibility to change optics in the future. But since guns keep getting better over time, I’ll probably want to upgrade to a glock gen 6 by the time the next gen red dots come out so getting a gen 5 direct milled and then replacing with a gen 6 that’s direct milled for next gen optic, and eventually a gen 7 glock that’s direct milled for the even nexter gen optic.

That all makes sense and now I understand it. I think the counter point is if I get a Glock gen 5 MOS now, then in a few years if I want a new optic that comes out, it’s a lot easier and cheaper to just buy a new plate, and the new optic, zero it, and be good to go. And finding a direct fit holster is easier.

[HCM]

Thanks for the last few replies. It’s making a ton of sense now.

So Unity made/makes products targeting military who are forbidden from permanently modifying their guns so they buy a whole slide to put on there temporarily and usually those SF units are flush with cash.

And I learned from this thread that direct mill results in a better product because there’s no plate involved, that makes a ton of sense. So if I buy an MOS I am compromising on having a gun that’s a little less optimal in exchange for more flexibility to change optics in the future. But since guns keep getting better over time, I’ll probably want to upgrade to a glock gen 6 by the time the next gen red dots come out so getting a gen 5 direct milled and then replacing with a gen 6 that’s direct milled for next gen optic, and eventually a gen 7 glock that’s direct milled for the even nexter gen optic.

That all makes sense and now I understand it. I think the counter point is if I get a Glock gen 5 MOS now, then in a few years if I want a new optic that comes out, it’s a lot easier and cheaper to just buy a new plate, and the new optic, zero it, and be good to go. And finding a direct fit holster is easier.

Your general understanding re the future proofing advantages of a modular system is correct. Direct mill is great if done right and even good shops sometimes have issues- see GJMs recent issues in the M&P CORE thread. With the MOS you pretty much know what you are getting.

Re: Unity they make a bunch of different stuff for the military to fulfill small requirements. The ATOM slide was just one of many requirements. At that time the only option for RDS on pistols was direct milling (which is good if done well) and dovetail mounts which had issues. None of the current aftermarket optics cut slides were available nor was Glock’s MOS.

None of the aftermarket optics cut slides available to day were available then. ATOM basically created that market.

[mmc45414]

That all makes sense and now I understand it. I think the counter point is if I get a Glock gen 5 MOS now, then in a few years if I want a new optic that comes out, it’s a lot easier and cheaper to just buy a new plate, and the new optic, zero it, and be good to go. And finding a direct fit holster is easier.

And something not really the topic of this thread, but you might not like it. It can be a bit of a transition and is not exactly automatic, I am less than two months in and just now comfortable making plans to expand on the idea. If you buy an MOS gun and hate it, you have a readily marketable Glock, or you can just reinstall the block off plate and have another Glock.