Flip-up Front Sight or standard FSB?

[ArmedBear]

I'm putting in an upper order to build a lightweight defensive AR carbine.

I haven't ever used a flip-up front sight. I'm looking at the YHM, which is pretty much a replacement for the standard FSB, but with a hinge. It's 80 bucks extra.

It seems that I might want to get it out of the way for 1X optics, but then again it seems that lots of people, including the military and SWAT types, use the regular FSB with an EOTech or other red dot sight.

Anyone have any thoughts?

Is it worth 80 bucks more, plus more mechanical complexity, to be able to get the front sight out of my FOV, or would you just go with the the simple, solid standard FSB?

 

[BL]

The military and SWAT types use the standard FSB because that is how the rifles they are issued are set up. My issued M4 has that FSB and I'm not crazy about it, I would rather not have that protruding into my sight picture. But, in the end it is all user preference.

 

[Frog48]

I like the idea of a railed gas block, with removable flip-up front sight.

 

[Monkeybear]

I like flip up sights too.

 

[KingTiger]

I've got the YHM flip up w/the integrated gas block on my 16" RRA. It co-witnesses perfectly w/the Eotech 551 & the ARMS 40 flip up on the rear.

 

[Gord]

AB, I asked essentially the same question here; I ended up deciding to go with a fixed FSB and a high mount (lower-third cowitness) if it ends up bothering me.

 

[twofourthree73]

Depends. I have an ampoint with a larue tall mount that allows a lower 1/3 co-witness. The fsb is only in the lower part of the sight when looking over the sights and with both eyes open you don't even notice it. It's simple, less expensive, and doesn't get in the way. With my irons zeroed, I just need to pop the aimpoint on each rifle and put the dot on top of the front sight and I'm good to go. I can switch my aimpoint between my two ar's this way and adjust it for each and I'm good to go.

I do like the look of the front and real troy flip sights on rail with an optic as the primary sight. It is a little more complex than my set up and there is more cost involved.

 

[Coronach]

I've shot ARs set up four ways:

1. Flip up front and rear w/red dot.

2. Fixed front, flip up rear, red dot, lower 1/3 cowitness.

3. Fixed front, flip up rear, red dot, absolute cowitness.

4. Fixed front and full carry-handle, red dot on a gooseneck, absolute cowitness.

Of the four, the last is the "worst", and it is still a non-issue. #1 was the cleanest, but the difference in using #1-#3 was so small it was almost meaningless. #4 takes only a trifle of getting used to before it becomes a non-issue as well. You just lift your head ever so slightly (while still maintaining cheekweld), look over the irons and your dot is right there.

Of the four, I prefer #2. I don't really see a need for a flip up front. You just forget its there.

Mike

 

[Coronach]

Oh, my post assumes you're doing "combat" shooting, not putting the rifle on a rest and trying to play one-ragged-hole.

Mike

 

[ArmedBear]

Oh, my post assumes you're doing "combat" shooting, not putting the rifle on a rest and trying to play one-ragged-hole.

I should have said that. I'm looking to build a "combat" setup; I've got a 20" HBAR for slow-and-accurate.

Thanks to all!

I feel better about my forthcoming purchase now.

 

[JWarren]

I went the route of a long forearm, a low-profile gas block, and a forearm mounted flip-up sight. It works well for me. At this time, the sights are BUIS for a Millet DMS-1.


-- John

 

[JDGray]

Go fixed!

My Eotech mounts on the flattop, without a riser, and have no problem seeing the dot over the fixed frt sight post. My other AR has a fixed 10X scope, and the frt sight disappears, even though its smack in the middle of it. That flip up stuff is cool, but not needed. Although I do have one behind my Eotech.