Does anyone here run their AR optics-only, no irons?

[taliv]

i don't run back up iron sights on ARs anymore and haven't for many years. However, I only run either extremely reliable optics (aimpoint, acog) or the rifle is a game gun and doesn't need them.

if for some reason i was using an eotech or some other brands of red dots or optics that are known more for their warranty service than their reliability, i probably would use BUIS.

although it's expensive, a back up optic on a QD lever is probably a better choice than backup irons.

 

[tuj]

I don't run BUIS on either of my AR's.

 

[1911 guy]

Depends entirely on the use of the rifle. I have one that set up as a varmint gun. 12X scope with no backups. Worst that can happen is I break the scope and have to stop shooting woodchucks.

However, my "stuff just got interesting" rifle has a RDS and irons. Not even flip up type. They're hard mounted to the rifle and always in position. RDS is visible through the rear aperture. In fact, for a real-world type rifle, I'd rather have irons with no optic than the other way around.

Depending on the purpose of the rifle, you can make a viable case for nearly any set-up. I've seen guys run two optics plus BUIS. The secondary optic is for close in and mounted at a 45 degree angle to the bore and primary optic. Accounts for mechanical offset of the bore axis to line of sight. See this a lot in 3-gun and the guys that run it make it work well for them.

The AR is so versatile that I'm hesitant to poo-poo someone's set-up without knowing what the purpose is.

 

[USAF_Vet]

irons only on the carbine, red dot on the pistol.

I have an optic for the carbine but it doesn't wear it most of the time.

 

[amprecon]

I personally feel it necessary to have BUIS. The RDS is a luxury, an electronic one with batteries......even though they are Aimpoints with a history of reliability and extraordinary battery life.
As I rely on these carbines for SHTF or defense or even hunting, I don't want to get stuck in any scenario with my pants down around my ankles with no sights at all. One is none and two is one....

I really like RRA's folding front sight, they're clamp on and they have a picatinny on the bottom for a light or whatever. I got rid of all the sling swivels, they were just too busy for me. But with the sights folded down, you don't even notice they're there.

 

[Reloadron]

I have several AR rifles and only one is even scoped with optics. This rifle was the result of one of those someone needs money deals. The rifle is a flat side Double Star without even a dust cover. Someone put a 24" stainless steel heavy barrel on it and it does have a sweet custom trigger. The scope is a Tasco something like 9 X 24 which is about half the length of the rifle, seriously! The rifle also has a heavy aluminum free float handguard. I haven't a clue what this thing weighs in at but my guess is around 12 Lbs most of which is obviously barrel. The humorous part is this is actually a very, very good shooting rifle. I have become fond of this thing, even with the cheap Tasco scope on it.

The remainder of my ARs are all iron sights including my AR 10T match rifle a few Colt SP1s and a Colt Match Target.

Ron

 

[TanklessPro]

What I use do is;
1. AR with electronic sight any magnification,gets a set of BUIS.
2. AR with non-electronic sight with magnification gets BUIS or an electronic CQB sight
3. AR with non-electronic sight with no magnification, gets no other sights.

YMMV....

 

[justice06rr]

Anything can fail, but buying quality optics like an ACOG or Aimpoint T1/H1 reduces the probability of the optic failing compared to a lower-end optic.

Budget and use is always a consideration, as not everyone can afford $800+ Aimpoints or Trijicon's. For me, I run a basic Bushnell TRS-25 with MBUS on my M4. My AK's all just use the irons, and I have some cheaper optics to mount on them for recreational purposes.

 

[Phaedrus/69]

Just out of curiosity, if the batteries in your RDS die don't most of you feel confident in the ability to get COM hits just looking through the tube? Or point shooting? I don't mean at 100 yards but more like from your bedroom door to the middle of the hallway. I think a sighting system is very important but at 15 feet I think I could hit a bad guy just pointing my Beretta Storm carbine into him.

 

[1911 guy]

Spend enough time with the AR/M16 and getting torso hits at hallway distance is possible without even using a red dot tube as a sighting "tunnel". Sort of like point shooting with a handgun. However, the primary use of a rifle or carbine extends quite a bit past that. Besides, if all you want is in house distances, a shotgun is cheaper and 00 bucks works wonders.

I like optics on rifles. The more versatile i expect a rifle to be, the lower power optic I use. For example, my varmint rifle has a 12X scope. My M4gery has a red dot and irons.

 

[doubleh]

I bought mine optics ready. I had no intention of ever using it for anything except coyote hunting. Break the scope, quit hunting until I get a replacement.

 

[TIMC]

BUIS on one, the rest are meant for optics only since most of my shooting is farther than my old eyes can see.

 

[mavracer]

MyA2 service match is irons only, my Mini 14 and my AR 300 blackout are both optics only, my other 5.56 AR, my 308 AR and my M1A all have both. It's not really that I think BUIS are a necessity but they are cheap insurance.

 

[mac_hunter870]

My Armalite .223 Remington only has a Leupold Ultralight scope on it, my Redjacket .300 AAC Blackout only has a Leupold Utralight scope on it, my Springfield M1A .308 Winchester has the original irons and a Leupold Ultralight scope on it, and my Harrington & Richardson M1 Garand .30-06 has the original irons and a Burris Scout scope on it. My three Savage bolt actions (.243 Winchester, 7mm-08 Remington, .375/338 Winchester Magnum) all wear Burris Fullfield II's. All of my scopes have some form of Ballistic type reticle with hold over graduations under the main horizontal (zero) reticle.

 

[henschman]

Sure, I have ARs I use with no irons. One is a pure precision rig. The other is a hunting rifle with a scope and an offset red dot sight.

 

[OpticsPlanet]

Two of my three have irons - one has irons only, one has MBUS and EOTech EXPS2-2, and the third has optic only - gas block with no front sight, no rear sight and a Vortex Viper PST 2.5-10x32. The Viper PST is in a DNZ Freedom Reaper mount that is not QD, so since it's not coming off quickly, I have no need for irons. It's strictly for target.

It wouldn't be my grab and go gun, the one with the irons and the EOTech and magnifier would be my first choice.

Mark H.

 

[Phaedrus/69]

Hopefully the gun will be here tomorrow! I have he offset sights and a bunch of BCM hardware ready to with.

 

[JWH321]

It was my intent to use the Aimpoint (saved my money for a long while to get it) so I set the rifle up that way. Spent most of an afternoon zeroing it to perfection (for me).

Then I got a very nice set of Magpul sights as a Father's Day gift from my Daughter.

So my rifle has a wonderful set of backup sights which I wouldn't trade for anything.

 

[Phaedrus/69]

That's an awesome Father's Day gift! Congrats, JWH321.