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AR Backup Sights

Posted: Mon Jul 10, 2023 6:21 pm
by ffuries
Need some input from people with experience with them. Looking to get my SIL a set of backup iron sights for his first AR he purchased last month (ATI MilSport). Someone gave him a Centerpoint Red Dot Optic for it, which my google-fu keeps coming up with Airsoft links. I could be wrong on the optic being for Airsoft, but to be safe I'll be looking into optics also.

Was looking at the MBUS, as an option, lots of good reviews on the Gen 2's but not seeing much on the Gen 3's.

So those that have experience with MBUS 2's or 3's what are your opinions?

Anyone have experience with other brands of backup sights that you would recommend?

Being it's his first AR he's excited over it, I'm looking at getting it complete for him. I've got a single point sling inbound for him. Figured he can start out with the backup iron sights once I get them, after that I'll look into getting a proper optic for it.

I have no knowledge on backup sights or optics, as all the M16's (M16 and M16A2) I ever fired or carried, as an USAF dinosaur, had iron sights installed and no optics.

Re: AR Backup Sights

Posted: Tue Jul 11, 2023 6:07 am
by tjtM38
The only experience I have is with this rifle, a Colt M4 that has a Magpul MBUS mounted with a Vortex SPARC AR. I couldn't even call this a backup sight as I consider it part of the rifle's main sighting system. I have the optic mounted with enough riser to provide lower 1/3 coexistence with the red dot sight. This enables me to either use the MBUS up or just put it down and go with red dot only. Looking at your rifle, a railed AR with scope, it's going to work a lot different. I simply used the F-marked A2 front sight with the MBUS, sighting the rifle with irons only when I first got it. The MBUS has no elevation adjustment; this required the front sight to be adjusted for elevation. I sighted the carbine at 100 yards then added the red dot and zeroed it for the same distance. Now when I look through the optic in the lower 1/3, it pairs nicely with the rear sight, very visible with even the small aperature, and the red dot appears to sit precisely above the front sight. For a 1x optic (no magnification) this makes for a fast, accurate target acquisition. By the way, I think this MBUS is a Gen 2, but I really don't know how to tell the difference. I bought it several years ago.

Re: AR Backup Sights

Posted: Fri Aug 04, 2023 4:46 pm
by mogunner
I use these. You will have to put the red dot on a .83 riser to get the sights and the red dot to co-witness. I like these as they have fiber-optic inserts in them.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/314711973877?m ... media=COPY

Re: AR Backup Sights

Posted: Wed Aug 16, 2023 12:18 pm
by entropy
I have an MBUS and a CT red/green dot on the house rifle. Yes, rifle. I converted that one to a rifle with a 16" barrel. It shoots fine either way. It's SWMBO's HD gun, as she didn't like any of the handguns. I told her to not bother turning the red dot on, just center the round field in the CT on the perp's chest and fire. Repeat if needed.

Re: AR Backup Sights

Posted: Sun Sep 10, 2023 8:30 am
by RazorBurn
The Magpul MBUS is fine. I prefer the Troy Battle Sight and Daniel Defense sights myself. Most of mine with flip up sights have the Troy Battle Sight on them.