I have rifles with iron-sights without optics, but I have no rifle wearing optics without iron-sights whether fixed, folding or offset. That is going to change though, last night I put a 45-70 Katahdin barrel on my T/C Encore and plan to take one of my T-1 Micros off it’s AK to slap on the little beast, no other sights, differant appication.
My rifle with a Geissele mount/Vortex does not have BUIS. I’ve never found lefty offsets, and the scope is not easily coming off.
My red dot rifle runs DD buis.
Like so many things, there’s no black or white answer. Instead, you have to ask yourself three questions:
1. What is your job?
Are you a law enforcement officer? Active duty military? Suburban dad? What is your budget? Do you pay for upgrades yourself, or will your agency/department?
2. What is the intended use of the firearm?
Home defense? Close quarters work? Long range work?
3. What do you have for support?
Are you part of a team? Do you have a sidearm or other long arm?
Thus, depending on your answer,
[i]There are situations where back-up iron sights (BUIS) are essential:[/i]
- You’re a suburban dad on a budget and your AR is primarily for range/home-defense; you have a low-quality red dot, and you can’t rely on your (literally) gun-shy wife or very young kids to participate in any sort of hostile encounter.
- How likely is it that your optic goes down? Small, but possible.
- What happens if your optic goes down? Your family is relying on you to make the shot, and so BUIS are absolutely essential.
[i]There are scenarios where BUIS are important, but not critical:[/i]
- You’re an infantryman and your AR is your primary duty weapon; you have a high-quality optic, and you’re surrounded by dozens of your comrades who are well-equipped.
- How likely is it that your optic goes down? Very small due to mechanical failure; possible due to physical damage from small arms or just the abuse of hard service.
- What happens if your optic goes down? It’s not the end of the world – you have teammates who can pick up the slack, and you’ve most likely got a 15-17 round pistol for back-up. Would it be nice to have BUIS? Sure, but that real-estate may be better served by something else (e.g. magnifier, IR designator, etc).
[i]And there are settings where BUIS are just a “nice to have”:[/i]
- You’re a rural hunter, and your AR is for long-range target work; you have a high quality scope, and you’re open-carrying a large-caliber pistol for back-up.
- How likely is it that your optic goes down? Extremely unlikely.
- What happens if your optic goes down? You don’t come home with a trophy.
For what it’s worth, I belong in the first category, so I’ve got a fixed front sight and MBUS rear.
I have had two issues with my Aimpoints over the last few months. That’s why I continue to have sights as a back up.
What issues?
Well they stopped working unexpectedly.
Which aimpoints? How long havee you had them? (Wondering if new or used and abused) And does aimpoint have them for warranty work and do they know whats wrong with them?
Sorry to got slightly off topic, but take a look at the Griffin Armament M2 BUIS. They are modular and can be mounted for left or right hand use. I’m a lefty and I have a set on my MWS. They’re fantastic.
I have irons on my red-dot equipped SBR and none on my SPR. The SBR is the go-to rifle for anything including HD. The Army beat in to my head about redundant sighting systems, things break, Murphy’s Law, etc.
All of my optics are ACOGs, but all of my rifles have back up sights. My main reason is simply because I like shooting iron sights sometimes. It has nothing to do with me actually thinking that my optic will go down, I just like having options.
That was a good post. Whether or not you need or want them, one should be able to articulate why. Mission drives gear, as well as the perceived cost of gear failure.
If optic failure isn’t a big deal in terms of both likelihood and risk, then no big deal. Quit following the herd.
I have them on all of my HD/CQ weapons that have red dots mounted on them. Electronics fail at the most inopportune times. Better to have them and not need them than need them and not have them. I have a couple of LPV and higher mag scoped rifles that don’t have back ups of course. Completely different purpose for those weapons.
I have an “irons gun” (ar pistol) that sometimes wears an rds as well.
My rifle has a 1-4x with flip up sights. Ive has too many hunts/range days ruined by stupid shit to not have them.
I have to send my optic out for repair (non crirical failure), and i have sights still. Its nice.
Necessary for me? No. Its a luxury, and for $100 and 1.5oz its a no-brainer.
I have them on 3 of 9 ARs with optics on them. Sighted in and never used again. Probably the least used accessory. Still feel it’s worthwhile insurance on the go to rifles.
I totally agree with your concept, not some of the conclusions drawn in your examples. The important thing is to think it through for yourself (as you’ve outlined), consider reasonable input, and make a decision that is best for your situation.
All of my rifles with optics also have back up/iron sights (including my bolt action hunting rifle). Although high quality modern optics and red dots are extremely durable and reliable, I always like the added security of knowing that I can hit a target if in the rare occurrence that my optics fail.
I like to use both my BUIS and my optic when I go to the range. It’s somewhat satisfying when I can get good groupings out of my iron sights.
I noticed in the Army no one zero’s their irons, or knows how to use them nor do they plan on ever using them. When Eotechs stop working, happens far more often than CCO, the person usually gets someone else rifle to qual with.
I have one go-to rifle with a FSP and BUIS:
All my other rifles are long-range precision setups or fun-n-gun SBRs, so either backup irons are only marginally useful (long range) or I just accept the risk of not having them if the optics go down.
My rifle is a range toy. I use my red dot exclusively. From time to time, I remove the RDS and mount the DD A1.5 that lives in my range bag. I do it for the sake of variety and to maintain whatever skill I have. If SHTF in a real way, I would probably reach for my shotgun with ghost ring sights or my 308 bolt-action depending on the scenario. YMMV.