Vortex Spitfire 5x MRDS mounting question

Milofficer

Milofficer

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Not sure if anyone else has run into this, but I thought I'd ask the community. I have a 5x Spitfire and I'm trying to mount an MRDS onto it.

It has a Doctor / Noblex footprint and Vortex would prefer you to mount one of their red dots on top, either the Viper or the Venom. I opted to save some coin, since I wasn't sure if I'd like or actually use the red dot. I chose the UTG Reflex Micro since it was a fair bit less expensive and had a compatible footprint. So far so good.

When I went to try installing the optic on top of the Spitfire, I found that the mounting screws provided by UTG did not want to start. I took a closer look and found that the thread pitch was a lot more fine than the thread of the 2 screws used to secure the cover plate. Unfortunately I couldn't re-use the cover plate screws because they were too short and did not engage the threads, owing to the taller height of the optic vs the cover plate.

I contacted Vortex Canada for help, hoping to order a set of optic screws. They told me to contact UTG to get screws that were specifically for that optic, as they could not guarantee that the screws for the Viper (6-48 x 5/16") or Venom (6-48 x 1/4") would be compatible, since they have different lengths and they did not know what length the UTG required. That makes sense to me - however, I also learned from Vortex that the cover plate screws use a totally different thread - 6-32 x 25 Torx.

My question is - is it ok to use a 6-48 fastener in a hole that is threaded for 6-32? Cross threading seems like a no-no, but the factory supplied Vortex Venom / Viper screws don't even match the thread for the Spitfire. Edited to add - the UTG also uses 6-48 screws.

I'd love to hear some advice.
 
One of the most annoying things with the micro pistol dots is the different footprints and on top of that the different screw sizes and thread pitches.

I ordered a bag of small M3 screws/bolts of different lenghts from amazon in the past and now have a lifetime supply.... :)

https://www.amazon.ca/s?k=Socket+Flat+Countersunk+Head+Cap+Screw%2C+6-32+x+3%2F8%22%2C+Alloy+Steel%2C+Black+Oxide%2C+Hex+Socket&i=industrial&crid=3T13EL4ZIDVHB&sprefix=socket+flat+countersunk+head+cap+screw%2C+6-32+x+3%2F8+%2C+alloy+steel%2C+black+oxide%2C+hex+socket+%2Cindustrial%2C201&ref=nb_sb_noss
 
Thanks, I didn't think so. I tried to explain the cross-threading problem in very clear language over email, but whoever I was dealing with didn't seem to understand the issue.

It seems very odd to me that any company would knowingly release an optic with threads that do not match what they are advertising as a compatible optic. Why thread the Spitfire for 6-32 if they know the Venom and Viper use 6-48?
 
Milofficer said:
Thanks, I didn't think so. I tried to explain the cross-threading problem in very clear language over email, but whoever I was dealing with didn't seem to understand the issue.

It seems very odd to me that any company would knowingly release an optic with threads that do not match what they are advertising as a compatible optic. Why thread the Spitfire for 6-32 if they know the Venom and Viper use 6-48?
Click to expand...

That doesn't make sense, I thought your problem was the screw that came with the UTG was not compatable with the Vortex threaded holes, but now it sounds like Vortex drilled and tapped the holes to only work with something other then they would prefer you use? Beyond strange.

It looks like you can get some 6/32 3/8" bolts cheap enough and then grind/file them to length as needed.

First step might be to confirm the size of the cover plate screws you have that work.... most hardware stores will have a thread gauge if you don't have one.
 
Can-down said:
That doesn't make sense, I thought your problem was the screw that came with the UTG was not compatable with the Vortex threaded holes, but now it sounds like Vortex drilled and tapped the holes to only work with something other then they would prefer you use? Beyond strange.

It looks like you can get some 6/32 3/8" bolts cheap enough and then grind/file them to length as needed.
Click to expand...

That was my reaction too. I saw that the UTG-supplied screws were very fine compared to the optic cover plate screws and their thread, which was a lot more coarse. I chalked it up to the price you pay when you buy an optic from a different brand.

I reached out to Vortex to see if they'd send me longer screws that would allow me to mount the UTG to my Spitfire. After several back and forth emails, they explained that the Venom and Viper use 6-48 screws of slightly different lengths, while the cover plate screws are 6-32 x 25. They didn't seem to understand the conflict between the threads and their own supplied MRDS mounting screws.

I'm going to find some longer 6-32 screws instead.
 
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