What type of sights do you use on your AR

Trying to decide on which way I want to go, for HD and Target, possiblly a little varmint. My new carbine has the 1x7 twist so it can, "from what read" handle a heavier bullett. It has the non adjusting rear pop up sight on it.

I have a 16" used for HD, plinking and predators. It wears YHM BUIS and a Leatherwood CMR 1-4x scope, which I really like. I think it's the perfect scope for my needs.

And yes, a 1x7 twist will stabilize the heavies.

IMO red dots are nice for HD or CQC. Night time a red or green dot on target and be assured of POI being close to where the dot indicates is a no brainer.

Night time and very dim lighting or no lighting presents a particularly difficult situation if you can not see through or find your iron sights. HD point and shoot with iron sights and no light is just about the only option available....Red dots are really great for that scenario and work pretty good for hunting out to 100 yards or so depending on the size of the dot and what you are hunting. IMO if you want squirrels go with a scope and if you really want pigs a red dot will do.

I have a scope that has the lighted reticle for night time but have not mounted it or tried it out as of this date do to other options for HD weaponry. Just my thoughts and hope this helps.

It has the non adjusting rear pop up sight on it. Surely it has some way to adjust windage doesn't it??

rc

Stock Colt A3 carry handle sights, 4 x fixed scope on a see through mount on the carry handle. After playing around with the irons I decided I really wanted to keep them as is on the rifle.

Trying to decide on which way I want to go, for HD and Target, possiblly a little varmint. My new carbine has the 1x7 twist so it can, "from what read" handle a heavier bullett. It has the non adjusting rear pop up sight on it.

HD- Aimpoint H1 or T1 in a Larue tall mount. Or a Aimpoint ML3 2moa dot in a Larue LT129 mount. Or a Eotech XPS2-0 on a Larue riser mount. (notice a pattern? :neener:)

Anything can be used for target and varmit. Just depends how picky you want to be.

I have a Red Dot sight. But all i ever use is the standard Trijicon night sights.

http://www.armalite.com/ItemForm.aspx?item=LAW1180

RC, yes it has windage, L&R, no "up and down".I knew that it wasn't necessary because of the variable front mount, but it would have been nice. Did you guys with m4 uppers have to put a rail to raise the dot or scope over the front sight. I was looking to get something from CDNN or one of the other websights to try, but didn't know if the height would clear the front site, or if I should order a riser just to be safe. Also any recomendations on the handgaurds, I would like to run a quad rail system so I can decide where I want to place my accesories, light, laser, maybe a front grip etc.This company must be fairly new TWSC, they claim that there are only 10 companys who use as many mil-spec parts as they do, It looks well made for the money,If anyone heard of them please let me know what you heard.They are local to FL.

I have Eotech XPS2-0 on both of mine.

You probably need to first define what is the maximum range you'll be using it (and at what size targets). Red dots are very quick but at even 100yds they are usually going to cover up a good portion of your average squirrel, rockchuck, etc. For 2 legged critters they are probably good out to 300yds or so if you are average.
If you will be shooting mostly at 100yds or more or little critters I'd go with some magnification, but that's not the best for HD ranges. Daggum trade-offs.

All you really need are some irons. I have two sets :)

But... usually the 1-4x is mounted in a good QD mount (w/ a good night illuminated reticule and clear glass) over a set of troy backups. Its parked on 1x while HD and IDPA. 2x is just about perfect for a most 3gun stages, w/ 4x on tap for long shots and range practice.

4x is no good for load development and bench work tho, so I've got a higher power scope that I keep handy for that.

My 2nd set of irons is a good set of NM A2 carry handle rear and lyman globe front. I don't run this set nearly as often as I should.

I want a red dot as well, but the 1-4 pretty much trumps any reasonable need until I have a second (carbine) upper to play with.

I use the fixed A2 sights on all of mine but one that is a dedicated scope rifle. Thest are chopped and flat topped for occasional scope use.

Aimpoint Comp C3

Trijicon AccuPoint 3-9x40. It fills the bill for me for a multi purpose sight. Mine is on a Larue 1.5 qd mount.

I prefer GI A2 sights.

Irons. Can't beat em.

1 with Northern Competition A2 sights
1 with White Oak pinned A2 sights
1 with Centra aperture sights

Its very hard to beat a good set of irons
There not as fast, but they are very accurate
Steve

Irons. A hooded National Match rear and the standard front post.
I have mounted, a different times, a basic red dot, an Eotech, a Trijicon TA01....they all came off and went on other guns. The irons stay. They work real well,
Pete

See-through Leupold mount in the carry-handle (top U-shaped groove). Quick Detachable Leupold Rings.

I have an EoTech on my carbine. For my A4 I usually shot iron sights but also have a Nikon Prostaff BDC 3-9x40 that I occasional mount.

http://i23.servimg.com/u/f23/12/63/91/01/img_3810.jpg

Aimpoint without question. I've had two eotech 511s that sucked down batteries and the reticles washed out in the bright sun. The newer models may be better but from what i've read nowhere near the toughness of an aimpoint or battery life.

For HD i'd certianly say Aimpoint over eotech as it can be left on indefinitely. I don't want to have to worry about turning on optics in an emergency. Some of the trijicon nonmagnifying optics would probably work well for HD.

Iron sights.

10.5" wears an Comp 4
16" wears a TA-33
20" wears Mark AR 4x12 mil-dot.

I'm currently waiting on funds to clear up for my AR-10 (16") to get a Accupoint 1x4 model.

Leupold 3x9x40. Coyote gun. Flat,open country.

What kind of targets, what range?
What kind of varmints, what range?
What is your residential setting that you want a rifle for home defense?

Plain vanilla stock sights. Leatherwood on the AR 10.

I prefer an aimpoint cowitnessed lower 1/3 with quality fixed irons.

My last AR build, this was a Colt upper with a fixed carrying handle. This set up allows the best possible iron sights and a flat top scope mount. I have several like this done by J.D. Jones. The handle was chopped and the scope mount added. With a half inch riser it works great with a QD scope or it will co-witness with a red dot.

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z271/reloader1959/rifles/coltscopemount.jpg

Now you can buy an upper set up the same way from Rock River...

http://i188.photobucket.com/albums/z271/reloader1959/rifles/ZapSnap_004.png

Irons on mine.

To answer Jims question, I am at the perimeter next to the unmanned gate of a 330 home development. Mid price to high, in Vero Beach, I have a 1 story latest code, concrete, "lots of windows". I am 50 ft from the berm, which leads to a road "used mainly for owners using the back gate". They refuse to put up cameras and or lights, I am installing my own, I have an alarm and dog, but we just had 3 kids arrested for shooting right across from that road, last week,100 yards from my home, and then a rifle shot inside the community, "which no one will talk about. "the guy who caught him is an undercover who lives here, They won't say what agency, as I am not supposed to even know. But I am surrounded by wooded land on all 4 sides of the development. And at night you can't see a thing out in back when I take out my dog, "i always carry, but that's neither here nor there". My problem is that there is not one room without windows, it looks great, but a tactical nightmare. We are lit up like a pumpkin at night. We shut all the shutters, but it's just to easy to pull over hop out and in 50 feet your inside the development. Nothing but shrubs 2 ft. high to stop anyone. That's why I need the perfect combination of sights and maybe a surefire, to light up a possible group. The builder refuses to change the gate setup, and they are broken off every week, someone hacksawed off the pole that comes down a few weeks ago. We take over the HOA in a few months. But it's the same old story, everyone wants better security, but nobody wants to pay for it. We used to have security patrols, but the builder/HOA, disbanded them, his excuse was his attorney suggested he could have litigation brought against him if someone got hurt or worse.
At my request the Sherriff sent a seargent to the last HOA meeting, and the owners were shocked at the statistics, she recomended cameras and a patrol, . We take over in a few months, but I can't worry weather these people who don't even use the alarms that came with the house, are going to spring for an extra $30.00 per month to put a gaurd and cameras up. Thus the rifle, plus I wanted one anyway. I think Tac Light and Dot, will do the trick as they tarvel in groups, and everyone has a gun up here.The gas station down the road has a pistol out in plain view, I told him bad idea, he tells me it's just a decoy, even worse idea. They know you have 2 guns now. I always felt that cameras were the best deterant, and a gun of course.

I have three different set ups

1. 16" carbine - Eotech XPS2-0, for zombies. 1:9 nato, CQB to 300 yards.

2. 18" rifle - 1-3x Weaver, for 3 gun. 1:8 nato, CQB to 300 yards

3. 20" rifle HBAR - A2 front/A2 removable carry handle, for SRS matches. 1:8 wylde, 100 to 300 yards

55gr only. I like any good quality 55gr with a FPS of 3200 +/- 100.

I sight all of them in for 50/200 improved battle sight zero.

There's a sea of choices for the sighting system of an AR. It really depends on how far you intend to shoot it. There's no one size fits all solution. Iron sights are reliable and inexpensive. An unmagnified dot sight like an Aimpoint or an EOtech or others is going to benefit you with better accuracy at longer ranges but you have to keep it fed with batteries. A scoped rifle gets you even more range, but will probably cost more by the time you buy the scope and mount. By the time you get there, there are other questions, like "How accuracte is my rifle?"

My only AR is my Colt 6940 that I picked up a couple of days ago. It has a Matech rear BUIS and Colt's folding front sight. It seems like it's going to work just fine for the time being. Maybe not right this minute, but I plan on eventually ordering a Primary Arms M4 red dot to sit on top the full length rail for plinking.

An unmagnified dot sight like an Aimpoint or an EOtech or others is going to benefit you with better accuracy at longer ranges but you have to keep it fed with batteries.

One battery every three years with constant use is a pretty light diet as in the case of the Aimpoint.

Trijicon makes some non-magnified optics that use tritium and/or fiber optics so never need a battery. Tritium does eventually wear out though but i believe the half life is 10 years.

Giving the housing deveopment horror story, I would lean towards an Aimpoint for home defense, serious practice for same, and plinking. Then an ordinary scope of suitable power for longer range "target shooting" and varmints.

The all around sight is about as unsatisfactory as the all around rifle the gunzines used to search for.

Makes sense, I now have to start pricing and comparing different models you guys mentioned. Everyone wants to be protected but they really don't want to contribute either time or money, until there is a high profile incident. Then they wil be screaming for someone to blame. I just never figured out how people could be so penny wise a dollar foolish. Neither of my neighboors on either side or accross from me use their monitered alarm, and they drive 2 and 3 new cars dodge R&T hemi challenger, new trucks, and the lousy 12 bucks a month is too much. It remins me of the gym business when I had to chase guys for the 29.95 per month when they were driving M3 BMW's and new 550's. It just always puzzled me.And when people say "Iknow". tht's the kicker. It's like when a guy is loading the wrong ammo in his mag, and you make them aware of it and they say Oh I know, No you don't know or you wouldn't be doing it.I would rather ask if I'm not sure than go plodding ahead. Most of the guys in here are similar.The way I see it, your going to look a lot dumber when that gun blows up in your hand than admitting you didn't know something,and were smart enough to ask people who know more than you do.One more question, does that handgaurd remover come in as being something useful, or just a tool that you really don't need, By the way Wallmart in Vero has AR's now in stock, couldn't make out the brand for $869, she said they sold 2 or 4 this week, also cans of ammo 62 grain in a green ammo tin for $140, I think it looked like half a case, she didn't know.

http://www.kfoxtv.com/news/news/elderly-man-raped-socorro/nFT9K/

There is meanness; anyone who does not know it can happen anyplace, at anytime, to anyone, maybe will be lucky, maybe not?

Look at the cheap red dot thread, there are many dots that do not cost $400 and have been working for members here for a while now. http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=608749

I use the Aimpoint and the Eotech but I also use other cheaper red dots. Presently my stable is approx 50/50 with scopes and red dots. I only keep the 7.62x39 non ARs in irons only...oops wrong...one AR in that caliber has the Eotech...sorry.... The only reason I would suggest a red dot in your situation is due to the possibility of a low light encounter and the ranges you mentioned in your post. I use mine for popping pigs and out to 100 yards ( prefer 50 yards or less ) depending on dot size the dots work just fine. Are the dots as accurate as a scope uhhhhh no, but they are plenty accurate for most things IMO.....squirrels and dots, not so much IMO, although the Sparc on an AR .22 upper is pretty good due to dot size..Anticipated fields of fire will dictate what will work best for you. Nothing works best for all situations and sometimes an educated guess is all we have. Good luck on whatever you decide.

I have three set up different ways

1-Stag/RRA/Adams Arms Mid-length w/ Trijicon 3.5X35 for CQB to 300 and Troy BUIS

2-RRA/LaRue with a Leupold 2.5-8X36 for CQB out past 500 also with Troy BUIS

3-S&W M&P-15 with a fixed front and A2 style rear and an Aimpoint PRO for CQB out to 300

Gym - While not necessary by any means, if you remove handguards alot a tool is really nice. Fast and easy. I bought one a couple of years ago and like many things, had I known what I was missing I would have bought a couple of decades ago.

Front--YHM flip-up on the railed gas block(the Magpul will melt if used there)--Middle--Aimpoint H1 in DD fixed mount--lower 1/3 co-witness---Rear--Magpul Gen II flip-up.

If you mess with AR's enough--you'll need all the tools--torque wrench--punch set---snap ring pliers---barrel wrench--upper rec vice block--handguard tool----would be a good start.

My duty rifle wears factory irons. My personal rifle runs a fixed front, LMT rear, and Aimpoint C3.

My favorite setup is a Lucid HD7, Normal Front Sight Tower, and MA Tech rear BUIS, but then again

I've got a new Stag Arms model 3 which is their "optics ready" platform. I dressed it up with an EOTech 552 and some really nice troy flip up tritium night sights. I got troy's Di-optic aperature rear sight which utilizes a diamond shaped peep hole in stead of the tradition round hole. It really does help center the front post because it gives you a vertical and horizontal axis to align the sights. All in all i've found it to be a great combo for plinking/target practice. Haven't had to use them for HD (hope i never do either) but they should be fine for that as well.

I currently run a EOTech EXPS3-2:
http://www.opticsplanet.net/eotech-exps3-extreme-xps-red-dot-sight-with-side-button-qd-lever.html
With a EOTech G23:
http://www.opticsplanet.net/eotech-gen-3-magnifier-with-flip-to-side-mount-g23-fts.html
This is an extremely versatile setup. It is great for CQB and I can easily reach out to 400 meters if necessary.
While in the Army I was issued a TA31F:
http://www.opticsplanet.net/trijicon-ta31f-acog-4x32-scope-red-chevron-reticle-ta51-mount.html
This is one of my all time favorite optics. It was great when I had to reach out and touch someone and the BAC made it great for CQB. The TA31RCO is also a great optic. I wish I would have had the lanyard and flip caps on my ACOG while I was on active duty.
http://www.opticsplanet.net/trijicon-acog-4x32-army-rifle-combat-optic-for-the-m150-w-ta51-mount-ta31rco-m150cp-w.html

Chase B.

nikon 6-18x40

EOTech 512 and folding BUIS.

EoTech 512 on LaRue Tactical riser; Troy Industries BUIS with lower third cowitness.

My flat top sports an EOTech 512 for a main and YHM popups as backup. I believe the battery life on the EO is something like 600 hours.