Running Open sites?

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Slopok

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Just kind of curious,

How long did ya'll run open sights on your AR's until you switched over to a Red Dot or a scope? I'm liking the open sights on my Troy, but I'm thinking a PRO in the future, or an actual scope. I'll be building a 10" upper when work picks up and thinking put a red dot on that and the scope on the 16" I have now. Any advice?

Thanks

SloPok
 
We need to know more about what kind of shooting you do, whether you compete and what discipline that might be. If you simply shoot for fun at the range(plinking) then it makes no difference what you use as long as you're happy with it. If performance is your goal, either accuracy/consistency or speed/time based, then we need a lot more information about the type of shooting you do, your experience, your expectations, your budget, and any other germane information.

TW25B
 
im just getting into the AR world, looking to eventually get into 3 gun. Right now, its just plinking at the range getting used to the gun. i'm looking for speed/accuracy. I work in the patch, so I don't have much of a budget right now, which is why I am asking. I tried a cheap 4x cheaper version of an acog. didn't like it.
 
Stay with the irons. If your vision is fine there is no reason to go into the optics yet. Plinking will not require anything operator strong. Look at EE and learn. People who invest thousands of $$$ into their rifles that they barely use. Later they are trying to bounce the cheque to the potential buyers here on CGN. Usually with no luck. Enjoy the sport.
 
Is this true? Sure, I've always thought that irons took more skill, or was more "worthy" than using an optic. Sounds right on paper maybe, but thinking about it more, not sure if it makes sense.

Is avoiding optics, in favour of iron sights, sort of like ignoring cars, and sticking with your donkey?
Mr. Finicky Timbers said:
I'm still running a dedicated iron's upper. Gotta keep those skills up!
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I don't even shoot iron sights anymore. Aimpoint can go on for 6 years on one battery and whatever that can break them will break iron sights too, why handicap yourself?

You will be way behind the power curve when everyone around is running aimpoint. Time and money not well spent on training with iron sights.
 
Slopok said:
Just kind of curious,

How long did ya'll run open sights on your AR's until you switched over to a Red Dot or a scope? I'm liking the open sights on my Troy, but I'm thinking a PRO in the future, or an actual scope. I'll be building a 10" upper when work picks up and thinking put a red dot on that and the scope on the 16" I have now. Any advice?

Thanks


SloPok
Click to expand...

Well it depends on what your goals are.

If you want to win SR matches then yes, you need optics. If you just want to get out there and have fun and learn then no, you do not need optics.

The following is a target from SR practice. It was clean at the beginning of the day, shot at 100, 300, 400 and 500 yards (if memory serves we skipped 200). This target was shot with iron sights. Its no match winner, but its not bad either. The pic was taken at the end of the relay.

If your funds are limited and you must choose your accessories carefully, stick with the irons for now and spend all you can on ammo to get out shooting.

 
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There is no magic formula for how much practice you need with old fashioned sighting systems. Run what you want to run. If you are having success hitting at what you are aiming at and/or enjoy a sense of moral superiority for shooting with effectively a handy cap, stick with your irons.

If not, get a scope or RDS and have at er.

For those that say you need to stay up to speed on irons in case you ever need them....what apocalyptic situation do you for see where an optic failure and switch to irons will matter a darn? Hell, better spend some time on WW2 bolt actions too....just in case.

I would say spend time getting familiar with your rifle, practice rapid mag changes, immediate action drills and put rounds well centered on where you intend to put them.
 
What drill should one practice? I shoot indoors at RDSC usually on the 25yd range. I can practice mag changes at my place. I live alone and on the top floor, no one sees me HAHA
 
been thinking of getting another AR and just running iron sights on her for a bit now.

but yah, if ever we're in a situation where we have to run iron sights, i think running out of ammo, medicine and food will be a bigger concern for my wife and I, instead of worrying why the dot doesnt go red anymore on the elcan...
 
Might not be worth a whole AR, but a dedicated upper yeah.

Get a fixed carry handle upper for that classic look. I would recommend one with the A1 style handle as the rear sight tends to be tighter fitting than some A2 sights.

I insist on having a carry handle upper in my arsenal in good working order cause I like to shoot standing irons often enough.

I got uppers with scopes and dots for speed an accuracy but irons are still fun.

I built an upper with an old A1 receiver, had a BHW 20" rifle barrel on it for the longest time. Then to cut costs on shooting it, I converted it to a 7.62x39 dissipator.

If you want to shoot irons, you'll get the best results with a rifle length sight radius. So either set yourself up with a rifle length barrel, or get yourself something like a 15" mod rail for any other kind of barrel.
 


I love carry handle sights and still use them alot but sometime I will swap it out for my eotech or aimpoint and I think the carry handle sight looks waaaaaay better then any optic and we all know shooting is 90% looking cool.
 
I have a DA556 with the 20" barrel and a fixed carry handle. It's one of my favorite rifles to shoot.
4AB04262-4E9A-4C3B-A582-99C70DE3704B_zpsuy39erya.jpg
 
Yeah, the DA556 has the A1 style rear sight. It's hard mounted so it's tight and stays where you set it.

The A2 sight has a vertical axis to add an elevation adjustment. And some sloppier fits it can rotate back and forth. Theoretically the peep hole will still be centre and does not effect your zero, but if your zero has the sight cranked over to one side, I can see that slop mucking things up.

Some manufactures add an extra alignment pin into the rear sight assembly of the A2 to keep it straight.
 
greentips said:
I don't even shoot iron sights anymore. Aimpoint can go on for 6 years on one battery and whatever that can break them will break iron sights too, why handicap yourself?

You will be way behind the power curve when everyone around is running aimpoint. Time and money not well spent on training with iron sights.
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+1
I've always used scopes so i put a 1-4 vortex on my DDv11. Very natural for me to use it. I do find i run more zoom than required which is a crutch from my longer history of precision shooting, but in turn i rarely close both eye's while using scopes now which has come from using the lower power vortex.

If your planning for doomsday, then just put the iron's on for the sake of fitting in with the group. If not, Buy once cry once and never look back. Train with what you plan to use!
 
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