I searched to find the answer and couldn't find one but what are some good companies for modern sporting rifle iron sights? I myself would like to find a ar-15 carrying handle and front sight for a windham weaponry src. What sights do you guys like , do you prefer red dots over irons? Any benefit to fixed vs flip up sights?
What are some good companies for iron sights and other optics?
- Thread starter Sobel
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Carry handle: Try the EE on AR15.com. There are several good forgings. Look for forge marks like..... square, broken A, keyhole...
Iron sights: Magpul, Troy, Midwest Industries
Red dots: Aimpoint, Eotech. a little cheaper: vortex
scopes: Burris, Nikon, Weaver, Vortex, Leupold, etc. Many more
As far as what i like...I like a rod dot (Eotech) on a all purpose AR or if it is the only one i own. Low power 1-4x Nikon for 3 gun. 4-16X Vortex PST for long distance. I cant afford the next level.
All of these options are user preference. Everyone will have a different opinions. Find some local shooters and try theirs out.
Iron sights: Magpul, Troy, Midwest Industries
Red dots: Aimpoint, Eotech. a little cheaper: vortex
scopes: Burris, Nikon, Weaver, Vortex, Leupold, etc. Many more
As far as what i like...I like a rod dot (Eotech) on a all purpose AR or if it is the only one i own. Low power 1-4x Nikon for 3 gun. 4-16X Vortex PST for long distance. I cant afford the next level.
All of these options are user preference. Everyone will have a different opinions. Find some local shooters and try theirs out.
You really know your stuff are there any that aren't gonna break the bank? as far as carrying handle rear sights are there front sights that aren't compatible with the?
dagger dog
Member
Lyman, Marbles make iron sights of all type for many makes and models of rifles old and new. Redfield doesn't produce any more but there are many to be found on online auction sites.
lol, i wouldn't say i know my stuff....I have experience with those manufacturers. They have been good to me.
Rail mounted sights should all line up.
As far as fixed front sight and carry handle alignment, i believe you want a F proof mark on the front sight base (FSB).
Carry handle proof marks. pictured is a cardinal proof mark. There can be keyhole and square.
Those aren't my pics. They are borrowed from the interweb.
Rail mounted sights should all line up.
As far as fixed front sight and carry handle alignment, i believe you want a F proof mark on the front sight base (FSB).
Carry handle proof marks. pictured is a cardinal proof mark. There can be keyhole and square.
Those aren't my pics. They are borrowed from the interweb.
All good optics are rather expensive.
Aimpoints and Eotechs are over $400, maybe $500 depending on model. The Vortex Strikefire and Sparc can be found for under $200
The Vortex PST 416x is $700+. Nikon scopes are more affordable and have good glass. A good affordable mount is the Burris PEPR.
Good online stores to look at prices is Primary Arms, MidwayUSA and SWFA.
Aimpoints and Eotechs are over $400, maybe $500 depending on model. The Vortex Strikefire and Sparc can be found for under $200
The Vortex PST 416x is $700+. Nikon scopes are more affordable and have good glass. A good affordable mount is the Burris PEPR.
Good online stores to look at prices is Primary Arms, MidwayUSA and SWFA.
I'm checking out the primary arms website. I hope I can find something good. I don't know why but I love the look of the m16a2 I want my rifle to look as close to that as I can get with a 16'' barrel.
Buy a decent 1-4X20 scope. You can get spend more, but $200-$300 scopes in that range are plenty good enough. At 1X they are faster than irons or dot sights for fast, up close shooting. At 4X they offer all the magnificaton you need for 300-400 yard shoots.
As long as you buy a decent quality scope I've found them to be more bullet proof than iron sights. Over 45 years of shooting I've seen more iron sights fail than quality scopes.
I like Leupold. There are scopes that are better in some ways, but they are the best all around brand in my experience. The better eye relief gets you on target faster, they are lighter, and as tough a scope as made. Their cheaper versions may not have the best glass, but I'd trust them to hold up better than scopes costing much more.
This is what I use.
http://swfa.com/Leupold-1-4x20-VX-1-ShotgunMuzzleloader-Scope-P51851.aspx
As long as you buy a decent quality scope I've found them to be more bullet proof than iron sights. Over 45 years of shooting I've seen more iron sights fail than quality scopes.
I like Leupold. There are scopes that are better in some ways, but they are the best all around brand in my experience. The better eye relief gets you on target faster, they are lighter, and as tough a scope as made. Their cheaper versions may not have the best glass, but I'd trust them to hold up better than scopes costing much more.
This is what I use.
http://swfa.com/Leupold-1-4x20-VX-1-ShotgunMuzzleloader-Scope-P51851.aspx
ObsceneJesster
Member
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What are you looking for in an optic? Long range precision or quick target acquisition?
Red Dots were designed for quick target acquisition. You still want to run back up irons just in case you optics fail but if you buy something reputable such as an Aimpoint, the likelihood of failure is low.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
Red Dots were designed for quick target acquisition. You still want to run back up irons just in case you optics fail but if you buy something reputable such as an Aimpoint, the likelihood of failure is low.
Sent from my SGH-T999 using Tapatalk 2
From a man with too expensive sights (numerous EOTechs / magnifiers, an ACOG, a Trijicon SRS)...
I'm throwing together a poor man's (semi) 3-Gun based on a 15-22 (fun, cheap practice).
You might check out some of the Nikon P223's etc? Our local shop has one for $149 - I think it's 1-4x, in a nice, tidy package (I have a P22 on the way for my 15-22).
http://www.nikonsportoptics.com/en/Nikon-Products/Scopes/AR-MSR/index.page
I'm going to give the Burris TRS-25 a whirl ($100) - I plan on mounting behind the scope on a 45 degree offset, but I have a friend piggybacking on my research that ordered a Burris to use as his primary optic on his 15-22.
You can see / handle them at Walmart, but I ordered the HiRise version - like the muted Bushnell logo (gray vs. gold), and it comes with a riser to allow lower 1/3 co-witnessing. It sounds like the OEM riser is cheesy, so I have a few inexpensive risers of various heights coming in.
The more I read / research the Burris TRS-25, the better it sounds, 'specially for the price!
(Yeah, I know it ain't Aimpoint, EOTech, Trijicon tough, but it's for my 22).
'Course, a lot of folks seem to be running 'em on shotguns and larger (than 223) caliber rifles, so it sounds like a relatively tough little red dot?
Various height risers
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008HKL6L2/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008HKHMNI/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
http://www.amazon.com/UTG-3-Slot-Un...d=1371021930&sr=1-8&keywords=UTG+3-slot+riser (much cheaper @ Optics Planet, but no pix there!)
The 15-22 is the first AR I have with a folding front sight, so I think I may go with absolute co-witness instead of lower 1/3 as on all my EOTechs and the OEM Burris riser.
Nothing wrong with Magpul BUIS, and I see Amazon finally has 'em for $36 (the front)!
http://www.amazon.com/Magpul-MBUS-F...F8&qid=1371021232&sr=8-1&keywords=Magpul+BUIS
Folding rear Magpul BUIS ($50 plus shipping, which is too high)
http://www.amazon.com/Magpul-MBUS-R...F8&qid=1371021232&sr=8-2&keywords=Magpul+BUIS
I currently run Troy Folding Battlesights on 2 AR rears, but I have a GG&G Spring Assist folding rear on the way (I kinda like the Magpul spring assist sights).
'Course, based on your post, they may be a bit too pricey for you?
Now, how much of this stuff you'd want to use on a 223 AR I can't tell ya, but much of what I'm playing with is going on a 15-22.
The UTG / Leapers risers etc get pretty good reviews - I probably wouldn't put 'em on my big ARs, but a lot of folks apparently do, and for the price, they might not be bad options to get you started as you sort out what you want?
Mebbe some of the above will help you with your budget?
I know I'm trying to experiment on the cheap on my 15-22.
The darn thing looks like a test mule - some stuff I like I may move to a bigger AR down the road, or I may get a higher quality? identical item that I like for the big ARs?
My 15-22 currently has a Trijicon SRS with Bobro QD perched on top of it!
Hey, we all have our stupid moments... :banghead:
Where IS Jeff Foxworthy when you need him?
You miiiiight be a redneck if you have a 15-22 running a Trijicon SRS...
I'm throwing together a poor man's (semi) 3-Gun based on a 15-22 (fun, cheap practice).
You might check out some of the Nikon P223's etc? Our local shop has one for $149 - I think it's 1-4x, in a nice, tidy package (I have a P22 on the way for my 15-22).
http://www.nikonsportoptics.com/en/Nikon-Products/Scopes/AR-MSR/index.page
I'm going to give the Burris TRS-25 a whirl ($100) - I plan on mounting behind the scope on a 45 degree offset, but I have a friend piggybacking on my research that ordered a Burris to use as his primary optic on his 15-22.
You can see / handle them at Walmart, but I ordered the HiRise version - like the muted Bushnell logo (gray vs. gold), and it comes with a riser to allow lower 1/3 co-witnessing. It sounds like the OEM riser is cheesy, so I have a few inexpensive risers of various heights coming in.
The more I read / research the Burris TRS-25, the better it sounds, 'specially for the price!
(Yeah, I know it ain't Aimpoint, EOTech, Trijicon tough, but it's for my 22).
'Course, a lot of folks seem to be running 'em on shotguns and larger (than 223) caliber rifles, so it sounds like a relatively tough little red dot?
Various height risers
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008HKL6L2/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i00?ie=UTF8&psc=1
http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B008HKHMNI/ref=oh_details_o02_s00_i01?ie=UTF8&psc=1
http://www.amazon.com/UTG-3-Slot-Un...d=1371021930&sr=1-8&keywords=UTG+3-slot+riser (much cheaper @ Optics Planet, but no pix there!)
The 15-22 is the first AR I have with a folding front sight, so I think I may go with absolute co-witness instead of lower 1/3 as on all my EOTechs and the OEM Burris riser.
Nothing wrong with Magpul BUIS, and I see Amazon finally has 'em for $36 (the front)!
http://www.amazon.com/Magpul-MBUS-F...F8&qid=1371021232&sr=8-1&keywords=Magpul+BUIS
Folding rear Magpul BUIS ($50 plus shipping, which is too high)
http://www.amazon.com/Magpul-MBUS-R...F8&qid=1371021232&sr=8-2&keywords=Magpul+BUIS
I currently run Troy Folding Battlesights on 2 AR rears, but I have a GG&G Spring Assist folding rear on the way (I kinda like the Magpul spring assist sights).
'Course, based on your post, they may be a bit too pricey for you?
Now, how much of this stuff you'd want to use on a 223 AR I can't tell ya, but much of what I'm playing with is going on a 15-22.
The UTG / Leapers risers etc get pretty good reviews - I probably wouldn't put 'em on my big ARs, but a lot of folks apparently do, and for the price, they might not be bad options to get you started as you sort out what you want?
Mebbe some of the above will help you with your budget?
I know I'm trying to experiment on the cheap on my 15-22.
The darn thing looks like a test mule - some stuff I like I may move to a bigger AR down the road, or I may get a higher quality? identical item that I like for the big ARs?
My 15-22 currently has a Trijicon SRS with Bobro QD perched on top of it!
Hey, we all have our stupid moments... :banghead:
Where IS Jeff Foxworthy when you need him?
You miiiiight be a redneck if you have a 15-22 running a Trijicon SRS...
I really just want something good for burglars in the night. I don't want a bunch of tacticool stuff on the rifle but, it doesn't come with any sights so I have to find something.
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