Red dot mount - opinions please

[Rittmeister]

My main BCM AR is a do-all - range, HD, plinking, etc.

I ran it for quite a while with a Holosun HS503G. I picked up a Scalarworks lower 1/3 mount and was very pleased. After a few years and a bunch of range time though I developed a real desire for a) a red-dot with flip-cap lens covers and b) something with a simpler reticle.

So, this past spring I went to another Holosun, the HS515. It's got the lens caps and a simple circle-dot (or just the dot) instead of the ACSS setup from before.

I figured I'd put it on my Scalarworks mount and move on with life, but as it turns out the HS515 sits taller on the mount than the HS503. Looking closely at both red-dots, I see that the "base" of the newer one is taller than the older, hence the issue. I haven't measured but we're talking a tenth? maybe an eighth of an inch. Whatever the actual difference, it has made things so that my backup sights are no longer visible through the tube of the new red-dot. For the moment I've been using the mount that's included with the HS515 and it works fine.

I don't want to give up my backup sights - "tactical" issues notwithstanding, sometimes I just like to use the irons, and being able to do it without removing the dot (and potentially losing the zero) is nice. As I see it I have several options:

1. Keep using the included mount. It's a QD-lever style mount and seems solid, but it's actually two pieces and I do worry that someday it might suffer a failure.

2. Use the Scalarworks and plan to remove it should I need to use the backups.

3. Sell the Scalarworks and get another, lower version of that same mount. I like the lower 1/3 arrangement and if I got their absolute cowitness version, together with the "taller" HS515, it might produce about the desired result.

4. Remove the backups, or try some other backup system (45* sights or something).

I know I'm worrying about nitpicking details, but I like to plan and then train for what makes sense to me. Right now I'm leaning towards either option 1 or 2, 1 being the cheapest and easiest. I'm curious what thoughts the community might have.

Thanks for your time.

 

[1KPerDay]

I’d keep the scalarworks mount unless you plan to sell the other optic. You’ll probably have another rifle that needs an optic mount in the future.

IF you plan on using your BUIS in a dynamic environment, set up your optic so you can see them through the sight. IMO

 

[taliv]

If it were an aimpoint or acog id say skip the backup sites. With holosun and others in that class I’d say keep them.

the scalarworks isn’t exactly quick detach but if you put witness marks on the wheels it should return to zero easily enough.

next few range days try shooting with the holosun to confirm zero then remove the optic and shoot with irons to confirm zero then put the optic back on and confirm no zero shift.

if you can do that a few trips in a row I’d say you’ll have confidence you can do it when you have an optic failure and you’ll know how long it will take.

if it does NOT return to zero then you’ve eliminated option 2 and can reassess.