Running Open sites?

[cr5]

Run what you like.
I've been running optics on my black rifles for years but recently bought back my AR-180B from my friend I sold it to years ago, I've shot out to 500yds with the irons and really enjoyed it. Both are good and both can be used effectively.

The best advice I can give is that if you decide to run optics on your rifle don't buy cheap. Spend the money on a quality red dot or quality scope. I like 1-4 power for a magnified optic on a .223/5.56 or a 2-10 if you want to shoot a little further or want to shoot for little groups.
I wouldn't buy anything under $400 and after my last Bushnell scope (elite 6500 2.5-16) I'll never waste my money on a Bushnell again. The money buys you optical clarity which is worth every penny if you plan to do much shooting.

To all the guys that are going to come on defending their Bushnell, just go out to the range and pick a target at a few hundred yards and then look at it back to back through a Nightforce or Sightron, or any other $1000+ glass then through your Bushnell. There is no comparison. If you can afford it then spend it, you won't regret it.

 

[Juster]

You can co-witness with a red dot, it is a bit like usings irons and optics at the same time.

 

[johNTO]

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 agree with you on this….my 10.5" LMT has gone back to its original config. Enjoying the irons and how "light" this rifle is….

 

[mikethebike]

Running a T1 micro is going to be the same weight as running irons.
Im currently running a T1 plus my irons folded up, just so that I get used to using irons with still my dot to help me.

 

[cr5]

You can co-witness with a red dot, it is a bit like usings irons and optics at the same time.

As far as I'm concerned co-witness is for mall ninjas, I see no need to clutter the sight picture of a dot sight with irons and if I'm going to use the irons I have no use for a dot floating around. I do have flip up sights on a couple of my rifles but they don't get used once I've zero'd them.
I'm not worried about my sight "going down" I'm a civillian shooter, if my battery goes dead or my optic is acting up I stop shooting and either replace the battery or remove the sight then continue shooting. When was the last time anyone had an optic quit that couldn't be remedied with a battery swap, buy a quality optic and the chances of it failing is about as likely as you are to win the 50 million lotto-max.

 

[L1911]

iron sight. Tried with scope and red dot. Not the same feeling like using open sight. But that's just me.

 

[Conte]

As far as I'm concerned co-witness is for mall ninjas . . . I do have flip up sights on a couple of my rifles

HAHA

Co witness doesn't mean you have a fixed front. Co Witness applies to BUIS also.

Co Witness with BUIS is handy. I tend to employ it in my builds. If I have to take off the optic, I can double check zero.

In some cases it's handy if I want to run my fav HWS on multi uppers. I can swap it around and use the BUIS to re zero it.
I use mt HWS for short range speed shooting so this method is accurate enough, and if I want a more accurate zero, matching to the BUIS sure cuts down on sight in time. It's like having a built on bore sighter.

I'll buy used XCR takeoff MI sights off the EE for cheap, park them on an upper. Then if I juggle dot optics I dont' have to start from scratch.

Pretty practical application for a civilian shooter, no ?

 

[Juster]

When I look through a red dot sight, the dot is always blurry, but with a flip up rear sight aperture it comes nicely into focus. A flip up- front sight allows you to one shot zero:
ht tp://www.gun-blog.com/2015/03/co-witness-zeroing.html
And what Conte said.

 

[cr5]

HAHA

Co witness doesn't mean you have a fixed front. Co Witness applies to BUIS also.

Co Witness with BUIS is handy. I tend to employ it in my builds. If I have to take off the optic, I can double check zero.

In some cases it's handy if I want to run my fav HWS on multi uppers. I can swap it around and use the BUIS to re zero it.
I use mt HWS for short range speed shooting so this method is accurate enough, and if I want a more accurate zero, matching to the BUIS sure cuts down on sight in time. It's like having a built on bore sighter.

I'll buy used XCR takeoff MI sights off the EE for cheap, park them on an upper. Then if I juggle dot optics I dont' have to start from scratch.

Pretty practical application for a civilian shooter, no ?

Yes, I use them for that as well and have 2 sets of the MI flip ups from xcr's but I don't shoot through irons and a red dot together.
And I understand it doesn't mean it has a fixed front sight, not sure how you got that idea from reading my post.

When I look through a red dot sight, the dot is always blurry, but with a flip up rear sight aperture it comes nicely into focus. A flip up- front sight allows you to one shot zero:
ht tp://www.gun-blog.com/2015/03/co-witness-zeroing.html
And what Conte said.

Go see your eye doctor, sounds like you have astigmatism that hasn't been corrected properly.
And yes, it works well for zeroing a dot sight but I don't swap my sights around from gun to gun, I buy each rifle it's own sight based on the type of shooting I plan to do with it. Why have multiple rifles or at least multiple uppers and run a dot sight on all of them? I have a dot sight on my 9mm AR, a 1-4 on my 300blk upper, a 2-7 on my 6.8SPC upper, a specterDR on my 12 inch 223, a 3-9×40 on my non restricted ACR, and a NF 3.5-15×50 on my AR-10. No real need for flip up sights on any of them but I did leave them on a couple rifles. The AR-10 still has them because that NF is heavy and I like to take it off once in a while and go light weight and simple, all my glass is in qd mounts but not so I can swap around between rifles.

I just don't see any point in looking through iron sights and a dot sight at the same time while shooting. If I'm going to look through the rear aperture then I prefer to just have a front post and if I'm going to look through the glass of a dot sight I don't need anything else in there cluttering up my fov.

 

[Conte]

I just don't see any point in looking through iron sights and a dot sight at the same time while shooting.

You don't. That would just be silly, you use one of the other.

I think there are some builds that do, but it's generally not by choice.

 

[Conte]

When I look through a red dot sight, the dot is always blurry, but with a flip up rear sight aperture it comes nicely into focus.

As yeah, I call that "rear sight assist". I do that sometimes too.

I tend not to have a problem seeing the dot for typical use, but sometimes if I'm making a long shot, like at the 200y, flipping up that rear can help.

 

[Jarvy]

I did the opposite. Started with an aimpoint, moved on to fixed sights for a maximum simplicity/lightweight build. It's my favorite AR now. They can be very fast but also surprisingly precise on a full length rifle.

 

[Travis Bickle]

I rock irons only!

My AR15 has a colt A2 dedicated upper. Probably one of the best, most versatile sight assemblies ever put on a rifle.
Especially with the "improved battle zero" method when taking into account the trajectory and balistics of the 5.56mm/.223 Rem cartridge (close tie with the M1/M14 irons though).

The ability of iron sights is limited only by a persons lack of in depth understanding of how to actually use and apply them.

 

[saskcop]

I am a believer in irons and I think a person should practice with them as long as their eyes allow it. My eyes are getting to the point that a red dot just makes a lot of sense though.

 

[jamesD83]

I have a red dot on a AR and a shotgun, the rest have irons. I originally got troy sights for my light AR to enjoy the troy sights (which I think are the coolest backup folding sights!) and to keep the rifle ridiculously light, but after awhile I put the Eotech on it and won't be taking it off any time soon. It's a luxury for me and seems to be such an improvement. I still enjoy shooting my other rifles with their irons though.

 

[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.

Irons are fun and something all should learn. I'm a firm believer that irons are an absolutely necessity on a rifle whether it has optics or not. However, spending the majority of your time and ammo budget on iron sights will indeed be a handicap when you start competing. If speed and accuracy are what you're after then a red dot is hard to beat. A low power variable optic is another option that offers more advantages but also comes at the expense of weight and often price.

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.

I disagree as noted above. Plinking is fine, use whatever you want. The OP indicated a desire to compete, and irons are a handicap. There is no proof that the items for sale on the EE are a result of "over buying" in terms of optics or accessories. There are many reasons behind what is being offered in the EE.

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.

Again, the OP indicated an interest in competing, specifically 3 gun. Iron sights will be a handicap as much of the shooting is done either on the move or at moving targets, neither of which are easily done with iron sights.

TW25B