Iron Sights for AR's

[LR1955]

Guys:
Since a-lot of guys want to use irons in some capacity, it may be of value to everyone to see what types of irons guys use specifically on an AR frame, for what purpose, and how well those particular irons have worked. Let me throw this out and see what you guys are using and why. No need to comment on all of them.

If you were to buy irons for hunting medium game to 300, what would they be and why?

If you were to buy irons for LEA, Military or Action Shooting purposes, what would they be and why?

If you were to buy irons to improve your own marksmanship ability when firing from unsupported positions (Standing, Kneeling, Prone, Seated), what would they be and why?

What, are your lessons learned from buying, mounting / dismounting, and using iron sights on your AR’s?

LR1955

[LRS_Ranger]

I'm a big fan of the Troy flip up sights.. then again, those are the only ones that I have used. They have been flawless for me, and hold up to all my abuse. They fold flat enough for me to fit my Larue mounted 1-4 optic right on top. They are pretty much the same as the old military sights I used in basic training as well, so I have that familiarity.

[LR1955]

I'm a big fan of the Troy flip up sights.. then again, those are the only ones that I have used. They have been flawless for me, and hold up to all my abuse. They fold flat enough for me to fit my Larue mounted 1-4 optic right on top. They are pretty much the same as the old military sights I used in basic training as well, so I have that familiarity.

LRR:

Who made that flip up rear sight that was issued and flipped up on its own when the carbine would recoil? That one was a P.O.S. not only because it wouldn't lock down but its design was pretty lousy too.

LR1955

[warped]

Gene I forgot who made it but I know there were several very angry calls made to Crane.

[LRS_Ranger]

LRR:

Who made that flip up rear sight that was issued and flipped up on its own when the carbine would recoil? That one was a P.O.S. not only because it wouldn't lock down but its design was pretty lousy too.

LR1955

I'm not sure... I had an issue backup iron, but I never had it fail.. didn't really ever use it after I zeroed it anyway though. It didn't fall apart even after a lot of abuse though. I probably have an extra one or 2 somewhere, I'll look and see who makes the thing...

[LR1955]

I'm not sure... I had an issue backup iron, but I never had it fail.. didn't really ever use it after I zeroed it anyway though. It didn't fall apart even after a lot of abuse though. I probably have an extra one or 2 somewhere, I'll look and see who makes the thing...

LRSR:

There were a couple of different style BUIS issued since the M-4 series came out but this one did exactly what Warped and I claimed. And it did it regularly and just about without fail. Never saw any of them fall apart aside from shearing one of the locking screws. And I haven't seen it happen with them as often for the last couple of years.

LR1955

[warped]

I only have a few weapons with irons any more, the AK, the FAL, one AR15 with standard front and rear flip up BUIS.

I am going to buy one more pair of MI BUIS though for my 14.5" bbl 5.56mm, to go along with the Vortex Viper PST 1-4x scope.

[VASCAR2]

I have several Midwest industries flip up rear sights with the A-2 dual aperture. In use these sights are very durable and are used in the same manner as the A-2 rear except no elevation adjustment. These sights are good out to 300 yards. I also have one of the reduced size MI fold down rear sights which I sighted in for my 6.5 Grendel. I don't have room on the top rail with my scope mount but I carry the sight in my rifle case in the event something happens to my scope. I used the MI backup iron sight behind my E O tech on my duty rifle and my dedicated 22 AR training rifle. With the way my eye sight is depreciating I don't think I could see well enough in most light to use the iron sights past 300 yards.

[Rootshot]

I havea Matech sight on the rear and a MI gas block height HK style on the front. The Matech is elevation adjustable. I had no trouble hitting steel at 220 and 330 yards. Beyond that its a little sketchy.

--Rootshot

[BlueOvalBruin]

The best thing going right now for practical rifle in “Limited” division (Iron sighted rifle) is to use a 20-22” barrel and mount a JP front sight gas block (JPGS-2FS) just behind the comp to maximize the sight radius. The barrel OD out front needs to be .75” to mount it. It is clamp on (no set screws) and already has the .050” front sight width. Mate it with a DPMS fixed rear sight and zero at 300yds.

The lyman globe type sights cover too much of the target and aren’t as robust. There are too many things to snag on and too many screws to lose adjustment.