Changing up my rifle a bit. I’ve currently got an Aimpoint mounted with Troy folding backup sights. I’m switching to a low powered scope and was hoping to move the sights to offset mounts as the clearance isn’t there to mount them traditionally.
If anyone has a similar set-up, could you please chime in and let me know which mounts you used? Any issues, clearance or otherwise?
I did do a search but wasn’t able to find anything recent or specific to my question.
I use KAC mounts for Mk6 and Mk8 optics with KAC offset irons on a daily basis.
Just in case you can’t see my sig line, I am an employee of KAC, so take my advice how you want.
For hard-mounted optics, offsets are the way to go, but are a bit limiting for support-side use.
For general use with variable optics that are usable at lowest power, I prefer to use traditional top-mounted flip-up irons in conjunction with a QD scope mount.
Jack,
Are the KAC folding offset sights still available?
Thanks
The KAC option is the lightest that works well, and being able to fold them aids with storage. They’re the most expensive, but if you have a low powered variable with near-unity zoom at the low end, being able to leave them folded is excellent and gives you a storage/low-snag profile option. For a weight conscious rifle, I’d say the weight delta is worth the cost premium (over the Dueck RTS or similar) alone, the folding is just the side benefit.
Basically, since a low powered variable precludes the ability to run irons cowitnessed, offset irons are the next best thing. I don’t find the support side to be quite as limiting (I don’t run an angled cheekweld stock, just a UBR on those rifles), but that’s still not great (but it’s a low % use arrangement). More importantly, having an offset unity zoom sighting system with an optic that’s dialed up to 4x-6x means engaging closer targets quickly becomes an option again without moving the support hand.
Finding them might require some patience, but they’re around. The longest backorder I’ve observed the last few months was a matter of a few weeks; I’d argue it’s worth the wait.
The KAC units do not play well with VLTOR’s MUR-1A setup trying to mount them on the rear. I just gave up, removed the peep aperture adapter and ran both sights on the handguard - it works very solidly, and a side benefit is that I’m no longer losing track of the narrow front sight post on the KAC BUIS up front because of the really long sight radius + awkward head position. I’d say a wider front post would be slightly better, but in the configuration I’m running they’re basically ideal.
Appreciate the advice so far but I’ve got these Troys that I’d like to use. Just need the mounts right now. What I’m seeing advertised are being marketed as “optics” mounting platforms, most specifically for RDS’s. I’m assuming they’ll work for irons, just wanted to hear from someone who may be using them in case there were some issues I’m not able to foresee. Hate to spend the money only to find they won’t work.
Thanks again guys.
Essentially offset rail mounts with BUIS attached to them. I don’t personally have any experience with them though I am curious as well about the set up and to hear about peoples personal experience.
The KAC offset sights are awesome.
Any offset mount will work but it might be funky as far as how far they stick out. I would recommend buying the $30 amazon ones to see if you like it. You might want to go with a RDS and ten I would recommend maybe jut spending $120 on a primary arms reflex and a Daniel defense or MI offset mount. Just to see if what you like. Of course I am adding you don’t already know you love offset irons.
Tried that route years ago, not an efficient solution in my experience.
Jack, is this the offset BUIS you are mentioning?
Can you please tell us how is the rear sight graduated? It is marked 200 to 600 m, but for this to work the graduations must match the ballistics of a certain load, and there must be a specific distance from the shooter’s eye to the rear sight, and a specific distance from the rear to the front sight.
That was my biggest worry.
Yup, that’s them.
Sight radius is what will change the adjustment value, eye relief does not.
The range values are based on M855 from 14.5" to 20" barrels, roughly averaged. Frankly, I never use mine past 200 meters, but I’m about to run a test with them regarding placement at different radii and adjustment/drop deviations.
I’ll update if you’re interested.
I would be interested in hearing about it.
I basically treat that adjustment range as ‘crank it to 600m to be closer at 15yd’, and then just leave it at my ghetto fabulous 50m zero @ the 200m mark the rest of the time.
I use a Leupy 1.5-4 Mark AR with a DNZ Freedom Reaper 1 piece 1.375 inch high mount and my Troy sights fit under the eyepiece just barely. It’s not a quick release but I can take it off with my multi tool in a few seconds. A quick release mount would be better and you could just keep your sights in place. This is probably your best bet for weight also, your adding a scope and mount which will likely weigh more than your Aimpoint. Adding 2 offset mounts just for your buis is also going to add an extra ounce or two, it can add up fast. Plus your adding at least 2 extra bolts on top of the bolts that regularly hold your buis, that’s 2 more that can come loose. I think most guys here recommend Larue for quick detach scope mounts but others make them also. I hope this helps, I went through this and I found this set up worked best for me.
Anyone try MBUS using offset bases?
I faced the same issue before and ended up buying some offset 45° mounts from Amazon.com. They make some that are pretty small that work well with backup iron sites. It only cost me about $20 for the set and so far they seem rocksolid once mounted to the rails. I was nervous about the price, however, I figured I could not go wrong to try them. So far so good.
Respectfully, eye relief does change POI with iron sights. If eye relief is 2" instead of 4", any increment in height of the front sight will be seen as double in angular value, and this angular value is the “elevation” that is dialed when aligning the sights. Thus, a specific eye relief is needed (and of course sight radius) if you want to dial a given amount of elevation.
I would be very interested in your tests, and even better if you can ask the tech people at Knight’s on this topic, perhaps they can provide the angular come ups between the various distance settings, at one or two different sight radius, with a recommended eye relief. With this info you can estimate the real zero distance of each setting with a different load.
What sights are you using?
I paid $240 shipped for “used” 600m KAC Offsets. New they are $280. Use riverofguns and you can usually find someone selling a set.
The 300m set goes for $200-$220.