I had one of those moments back in high school when I was first really figuring out what I wanted to do for a living, and top of the list then was some level of engineering. I loved the science, but growing up in the middle of nowhere, never really knew anyone with an engineering background. My high school ended up starting a program to pair seniors with local businesses who could teach them trade. I opted in and paired with a local construction company who was going to teach me architectural CAD.
False.
Turns out they didn’t know how to use CAD, they needed an apprentice to help on the job site for a few hours.
Fast forward 25 years. Man, that long already? A buddy of mine decides he’s going to put up with me long enough to teach me to fish (but in this case, CAD to engineer cool stuff). Not only does he teach me CAD, but he tells me how to get my designs out for shops to build it. This whole thing started off as a “Hey, wouldn’t it be cool to just make something and have it built?” Hell yeah it would.
So, 4 months later with a Fusion360 license and a set of tools of the trade, I created my first design I thought would be cool to have built, if nothing else just to say I did. I am a geek by trade, and loved the exercise of just designing something out and 3D printing it to see if it would be viable. Turns out that first one wasn’t very good. But, thanks to the great patience of my friend, some thoughtful insight to the design led to version 2. Then version 3. And now, I’m 3D printing a new model every other day, and this development train is rolling QUICK.
I bought my first 10/22 in April this year. I have a significant astigmatism in my dominant eye, and really wanted to see what the big deal was with prism optics. I did, and I was not disappointed. As soon as the Primary Arms GLx 1x was in stock, I bought one. When mounted to my new 10/22 though, even with the lowest of the mounting options and low profile pic rail, I was resting my chin on the stock to get behind the optic. Unacceptable. Then the question hit, that lead to the months behind CAD thus far….. Does anyone make a low profile microprism mount for the 10/22?
NOPE.
Red dot mounts all day long, no love for the microprism. It wasn’t a thing until I made it one.
If you’ve made it this far, I appreciate it, I know long forum posts can be cumbersome. If any of you have ever taught someone else to fish, I applaud you, and I extend my deepest gratitude to my friend for doing just this, and giving me a skill and way to keep this brain of mine entertained. I hope to pay it forward some day.
I designed this thing, and had it made. I have a small army of ideas, but I have to see if this first one breaks even first. My hobby cover name is ARTX Labs, the brainchild for a rock solid microprism mount is now dubbed “MLx-22.” Following 10/22 day, I was able to get this little project some wings on the internet. Thanks for the read!!
This is just the beginning...
