Walther Q5 classic vs Optics Ready variant: compatibility overview

Way too often some customer confuses the Optics Ready Walther Q5 and non-Optics Ready Walther Q5 pistols. We then have to deal with return of sights or adapter plate or red dot mount. 

So, to keep things easier for you as well as for us in Optics Spot, I put together this quick overview, so that you can easily determine which sights, red dot mounts or red dot plates will be compatible with your Walther. And as a result, you will be able to get the right gear for yourself, and achieve better shooting results. 

Walther Q5 classic vs Optics Ready variant

So lets get into it.

Sights

Walther decided to make two different dovetail cuts for rear sight in the Q5 pistol, based on whether or not the gun is Optics Ready. As a result, you cannot use the same sights for non-Optics Ready Walther Q5 as you would use for Optics Ready Walther Q5.

You can find all the Walther Q5 sights here (both types together), but if you are just a little bit not sure which are the right ones for your gun, better go through the article below first.

Sights for Walther Q5 classic variants (non-Optics Ready)

Walther Q5 classic sights have a cut in front of the dovetail, as you can see on the image below. 

Walther Q5 classic dovetail cut
So as long as the rear sight dovetail cut of your Walther Q5 looks like the picture above, these sights will fit your gun:

Please note - manufacturers only make rear sights for this gun, as it fits the factory front sight and you do not need to replace the whole sight set.

*Although I speak about "Walther Q5" only, the same applies to another variants of the Q5 - as long as the dovetail cut looks the same.

Sights for Walther Q5 Optics Ready variants

If the dovetail cut of your Walther looks like the image below, you need to look for another sights. Luckily, there are manufacturers that make them and you can find them here on Optics Spot too.

Walther Q5 Optics Ready dovetail cut

If the dovetail on your Walther Q5 (or on your Walther Q4) looks like this, you shall choose from these sights:

Contrary to the classic Q5 models (=non Optics Ready), these sights are made as a complete set, and you need to replace rear sight as well as front sight.

Red dot mounts and plates

These two types of Walther Q5 dovetail cuts that I described above apply to red dot mounting as well. Whether you have one type of the gun or another determines which red dot mounting product you need. 

Red dot mounting for Walther Q5 classic variants (non-Optics Ready)

If your gun looks like the picture below, and you want to install a red dot to that gun, you need to buy one of these Walther Q5 red dot mounts. Notice that any of these red dot mounts, to which I refer, will fit this gun. They differ between each other in compatibility with red dots only.

Walther Q5 classic dovetail cut

These red dot mounts work as a replacement of the rear sight in the dovetail cut, and allow you to install red dot without having to permanently modify your gun (e.g. by cutting the slide).

Red dot mounting for Walther Q5 Optics Ready variants

Optics Ready variants of Walther Q5 are recognizable by the cut in the slide, as the picture below shows.

Walther Q5 Optics Ready dovetail cut

If your gun looks like that, you can be sure that it is Optics Ready variant. That means that you can install a red dot to it via one of these Optics Ready plates for Walther Q5.

You will notice that there are more types of these red dot plates. That is because different red dot uses different footprint. So you need to choose the right plate for the red dot that you intent to install to it. E.g. for Holosun 507C you would need this plate with RMR footprint.

Summary

And that is all.

Long story short, if your gun is Optics Ready, you have to use red dot plate for Optics Ready variants, and sights made for Optics Ready variants. And if your Walther Q4 or Q5 is classic, that is non-Optics Ready, then you need to use sights and red dot mounts for those classic variants.

As always, if you are not sure, do not hesitate to contact us to double check. 

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