Glossary

Athena Precision Glossary of Terms

This glossary provides definitions and descriptions of key terms, technologies, firearm and optic brands, and product-related vocabulary used throughout Athena Precision's website. It is alphabetized for easy reference.

A

  • Adapter Plate (Red Dot Adapter Plate): A custom mounting plate that interfaces between a firearm and a red dot sight, allowing optics to attach securely to guns not originally designed for them.

  • Adjustable Offset Mount: A mount holding a secondary optic at an angle (e.g., 45°) off a primary scope, allowing for quick transitions. Athena’s model is angle-adjustable between 0° and 150°.

  • Aerospace (Industry): Sector known for high-precision standards. Athena's machining pedigree extends into aerospace, indicating tight tolerances and top-tier quality.

  • Affiliate Program: Athena's referral program that pays commission to participants who promote its products.

  • Aftermarket (Parts): Parts made by third parties to replace or improve factory originals. Athena's adapter plates are aftermarket upgrades over factory aluminum versions.

  • Aluminum (Mounting Plate): A softer material used by many OEMs for optic plates. Athena rejects aluminum in favor of hardened steel to maintain zero.

  • Aimpoint: Swedish company renowned for rugged red dot sights. Athena provides plates for Aimpoint ACRO and similar footprints.

  • Athena Precision: A brand under The CNC Pros focused on high-quality, American-made firearm accessories, especially optic mounting plates.

B

  • Bushnell: U.S.-based optics company offering red dots like the RXS series. Athena plates support their mounting via DeltaPoint Pro footprint.

C

  • CAD/CAM: Software systems for design (CAD) and manufacturing (CAM). Fundamental to Athena's high-precision processes.

  • CNC (Computer Numerical Control): Machining technology used for consistent, precision part production.

  • CNC Pros: Parent machine shop behind Athena, offering machining expertise across industries.

  • Co-Witness: Aligning iron sights and red dot within the same sight picture. Athena's plates often allow full or lower-third co-witness.

  • Concealed Carry (CCW): Carrying a firearm discreetly. Athena's plates cater to CCW users with durability and reliability.

  • Copper Phosphate Coating: A corrosion-resistant finish used on Athena's steel plates.

  • CZ: Czech firearms manufacturer. Athena makes plates for CZ pistols, including models like the Shadow.

D

  • Dan Wesson: U.S. handgun manufacturer under CZ-USA. Athena offers mounting plates for Dan Wesson optics-ready 1911s and 2011s.

  • Dealer Program: Athena's wholesale access program for dealers and distributors.

  • Direct Mount (Milled Slide): Mounting an optic directly to a slide without an adapter plate. Athena's plates mimic this low profile.

E

  • EDC (Everyday Carry): Daily personal defense gear. Athena's products are built for hard daily use.

  • EOTech: American optics brand known for holographic sights. Athena supports the EFLX and other models using DPP footprint.

F

  • FN Herstal (FN): Belgian firearms company. Athena supports FN pistols like the 509 with adapter plates.

  • Footprint (Optic Footprint): The screw and pin pattern that defines how an optic mounts. Athena categorizes plates by footprint.

G

  • Glock: Austrian handgun maker. Athena produces steel mounting plates for Glock MOS models and more.

H

  • Hardened Steel (Heat Treated): Used in Athena's plates for rigidity and long-term durability.

  • Hawke: UK-based optics company. Athena offers mounting plates for models like the Hawke Frontier.

  • Heckler & Koch (H&K): German firearm manufacturer. Athena supports VP9 and others with optic mounting plates.

  • Holosun: Popular optics company known for feature-rich red dots. Athena supports all major Holosun footprints.

I

  • Iron Sights: Traditional front and rear aiming posts. Athena plates often allow co-witnessing with them.

L

  • LEO (Law Enforcement Officer): Athena offers discounts and product support programs for law enforcement.

  • Leupold: U.S. optics brand best known for DeltaPoint Pro red dot. Athena supports DPP footprint.

  • Loctite 222 (Purple): Threadlocker recommended by Athena for optic screw installation.

M

  • Magazine Base Plate (Magbase): Base component of a detachable pistol magazine. Athena offers enhanced versions.

  • Magwell: A flared magazine well for faster reloads. Athena produces aftermarket magwells for pistols.

  • Milling Services: Athena's custom machining offering for slides and adapter plates.

  • Minute of Angle (MOA): Unit of angular measurement used for red dot reticle size.

  • Mossberg: U.S. firearm manufacturer. Athena plates can mount optics to Mossberg pistols and shotguns.

  • MPS (Steiner MPS): Enclosed red dot optic by Steiner. Athena makes plates for its footprint.

O

  • Offset Mount: See Adjustable Offset Mount.

  • Optics-Ready: Factory slides pre-cut for optic installation. Athena specializes in supplying the matching adapter plates.

P

  • Picatinny Rail: MIL-STD mounting system for optics and accessories. Athena produces Picatinny-compatible mounts.

  • Plate Finder: Online tool on Athena's site to help users select the correct adapter plate.

R

  • Red Dot Sight (RDS): Non-magnified aiming optic. Athena specializes in mounting solutions for these.

  • Reticle: Aiming point within an optic. Often a dot measured in MOA.

  • Reverse Engineering: Technique Athena uses to custom-design adapter plates for unique firearm/optic combos.

  • RMR (Trijicon RMR): Trijicon's open red dot sight. Athena supports this footprint widely.

  • RCR (Trijicon RCR): Trijicon’s closed emitter optic. Athena provides specific plates for this newer model.

  • RMSc (Shield RMSc): Compact optic footprint used by subcompact pistols. Athena makes plates for this standard.

S

  • Shield Sights: UK-based manufacturer of micro red dots. Athena supports Shield's RMSc and similar optics.

  • Sig Sauer: Firearms and optics manufacturer. Athena supports SIG pistols and the ROMEO line of red dots.

  • Slide: Upper moving part of a pistol to which optics mount. Athena's plates are precisely matched to specific slide dimensions.

  • Slop: Unwanted movement in a fit. Athena's exact tolerances eliminate slop.

  • Smith & Wesson: American firearms company. Athena makes mounting plates for S&W pistols like the M&P.

  • Springfield Armory: U.S. firearms manufacturer. Athena supports models like the Hellcat with RMSc footprint plates.

  • Staccato: U.S. maker of 2011-style pistols. Athena provides rugged mounts for competition and duty-grade use.

  • Steiner: German optics company. Athena makes plates for the MPS and similar closed-emitter red dots.

  • Swampfox: Optics brand offering value-oriented red dots like the Liberty, Justice, and Sentinel. Athena plates accommodate all Swampfox footprints.

T

  • T&E (Testing & Evaluation): Program for qualified testers to try Athena products.

  • The CNC Pros: Parent machining company of Athena Precision.

  • Tool & Die: High-precision machining used to create tools and molds. A CNC Pros specialty.

  • Tolerance: Permissible variance in a measurement. Athena machines to tight tolerances for a zero-slop fit.

  • Torque (Inch-Pounds): Screw tensioning specification. Athena recommends 10–15 in-lbs for mounting screws depending on which ones.

  • Trijicon: Optics company behind the RMR, RCR, and SRO. Athena supports all Trijicon footprints.

V

  • Vortex: U.S. optics brand. Athena supports red dots like the Venom and Defender using the correct footprint plates.

W

  • Walther: German pistol manufacturer. Athena provides adapter plates for modern Walther models like the PDP.

Z

  • Zero (Maintaining Zero): Ensuring an optic stays sighted-in after recoil or impact. A key design principle in Athena's mounting solutions.

End of Glossary