I am setting up my first AR and I am going to put iron sights on for two reasons. 1) I want to become proficient with them and my gun before I go to a RDS and 2) I don’t have the funds for the kind of RDS that I want to put on my rifle. I’m of the mind where you get what you pay for and “buy once”. That being said I am trying to decide on which ones to get. I have searched extensively and don my own research as well and its lead me to the Knight Armament Company Micro 200-600. Can you give me any advise or pro’s and con’s to these?
JMHO, but if you really want to learn iron sights, pick something as close as you can get to the A2 iron sights - they’re probably the best iron sights ever designed for a combat rifle. I suggest a removable carry handle type of sight. I just bought one from J&T Distributing for $75.00 that has a "Brass And Aluminum Forging Co. " forge mark, so it’s not an airsoft part like some of the less expensive ones on the market. It’s also set up as a 1/2 minute adjustment for both windage and elevation instead of 1/2 minute windage and full minute elevation, as is the standard A2 front sight.
Note that, like all removable carry handle sights, it only adjusts for a 600 yard elevation instead of the 800 yards that an A2 sight is marked (rather optimistically) for, but I can’t see that as a problem for anyone NOT shooting NRA Highpower.
There is someone who makes a BUIS that has the same sight setup, but the carry handle is cut off. It’s usually a lot more expensive than $75.00. If when you decide on your optic, you can either just take the carry handle off, or do a little hacksaw and file surgery on it and get the same thing.
The only benefit I can see to the sight you mentioned is that it folds, which, may be a benefit to you in the future when you get the optic on the rifle, but you mentioned you were going to get a red dot sight, and red dots are usually short enough that you can leave a short rear BUIS mounted and maybe co-witness it. It’s hard to tell from the pic on Knight’s web site, but it looks like it wouldn’t be as solid as an A2 sight. On the other hand, it looks kind of like the sight that the Germans put on the FG42 machine gun.
For what it’s worth, here is a link to $65 Colt take-offs…
Ive used magpul, lmt, troy, and kac buis and i definately prefer the kac micro 200-600 over any of the other rear sights. I do like the troy hk style front though. Go with kac and dont look back.
I’d start off with a LMT fixed rear site if my goal was learning standard iron sights. As suggested above, the LMT is essentially a factory version of the ‘cut down A2 carry handle’. The LMT was also used in some military units.
I own two sets of the KAC Micro 600M sights and they are excellent. The USMC is issuing them. But they are also pricey, and for your goals I think a fixed A2 BUIS is a good place to start.
These sights will serve you well. They are light weight, well built, and will last. Spend the $150 and don’t look back. These will provide you all the pros of having a carry handle, or A2 type sight with none of the cons. It provides you with windage and elevation adjustments, but at a fraction of the size and weight.
Get the sight you want, you have chosen one of the best.
Without a doubt I prefer KAC to any other folding option. I typically run a folding rear so I can mount an optic or on occasion, a PVS 14. For the front, it’s either the KAC, fixed DD or FSB. I’ve used Troys and have a MaTech. I won’t go for the Magpul unless it’s strictly a back up, but even then I would be hesitant.
I don’t like sights that lock in place. I’ve broken or damaged too many of them, so I prefer them to fold when impacted. Also, the lower profile the better.
Now, I prefer the standard KAC sights to the Micros, especially the front, but I have not spent enough time with the rear to say how they perform compared to the standard rear. From what I’ve heard and my limited experience, I’m sure they’re just as good.
If I had no plans of running an optic, or at least no magnification, I’d be content with the Daniel Defense fixed front and rear, or the LMT.