Offset sights

[alanwk]

I have the Magpul MBUS Flip-Up sights for my ar15. My question can I (or should I) get offset mounts for them? I want to go with offset sights and have a red dot as primary sight. I hope I am making sense here. Thanks

 

[entropy]

Just use the RDS as a ghost peep. Or you can just mount the MBUS set and just pop them up and use them through the RDS.
I have instructed SWMBO to just put the RDS (not turned on) on any home invader's chest and fire. In our house, more than accurate enough.
If you plan on using it outside, just mount the MBUS normally and do as I mentioned above.

 

[Deus Machina]

Yeah, depends on your purpose. Unless you're doing unusual operator stuff or competing with it, which might include unusual stuff, by far the most common method is to co-witness them. And then you don't have to get used to different sight pictures or holding the rifle different.
My red dot and MBUS form an 'absolute co-witness'. The MBUS backup sight is directly in the middle of the RDS. If the sight's on and the MBUS are up, the red dot is right on top of the front post. There's also the 'lower third' method, in which the sight picture is--wait for it--one third of the way up from the bottom of the sight. The difference is usually just how high the RDS is.
I like the MBUS sight height and don't want to adjust, so I'm happy with the perfectly equal style.
Bonus: That's a quick way to set your sights or the RDS. If one is already zeroed, just make them match.

 

[alanwk]

Yeah, depends on your purpose. Unless you're doing unusual operator stuff or competing with it, which might include unusual stuff, by far the most common method is to co-witness them. And then you don't have to get used to different sight pictures or holding the rifle different.
My red dot and MBUS form an 'absolute co-witness'. The MBUS backup sight is directly in the middle of the RDS. If the sight's on and the MBUS are up, the red dot is right on top of the front post. There's also the 'lower third' method, in which the sight picture is--wait for it--one third of the way up from the bottom of the sight. The difference is usually just how high the RDS is.
I like the MBUS sight height and don't want to adjust, so I'm happy with the perfectly equal style.
Bonus: That's a quick way to set your sights or the RDS. If one is already zeroed, just make them match.

Actually neither one is sighted in yet.

 

[NIGHTLORD40K]

I run offsets on the rifles without QD optics mounts. If I have QD rings, I leave the BUS folded on the rail.

 

[Pat Riot]

You can mount your sights and your red dot and do as @Deus Machina and @entropy said. Sight in the red dot then sight in the back up sights with the red dot turned on or turned off.

 

[Varminterror]

What are you doing with the rifle? Is there documented evidence to support BUIS’s as a necessity for your application, or even an advantage? Is there documented evidence to support offset BUIS’a as a necessity for your application, or even an advantage?

 

[Chuck R.]

I have the Magpul MBUS Flip-Up sights for my ar15. My question can I (or should I) get offset mounts for them? I want to go with offset sights and have a red dot as primary sight. I hope I am making sense here. Thanks

IMHO, adding offsets to a RDS doesn't make sense.

You can simply co-witness with your BUIS, and flip them up as needed. IF you're that worried about it, leave your front up and use your "dead" RDS as a ghost ring rear as the other guys said. My purely defensive carbine set ups have FSBs for this reason. Just practice it and get used to your either lower 1/3rd or absolute witness, shots out to 50yds are pretty easy. Just imagine the dot isn't there:

My purely defensive carbines have FSBs, focus on the TGT and you won't notice the irons unless you need them.

The offsets make more sense when using a higher power scope, due to potentially having to deal with a close in TGT when at high magnification. Then it's faster to roll the rifle and use the offsets than having to zoom out, but that's not going to occur when you're running an RDS.

I have one carbine with offset BUIS and that's my 3Gun rig. Even then I've only used them once.. and that was when the stage was set up for a close, far, close, far, close scenario from the same firing position. Even then I could have got by with about a 4X zoom.

Keep in mind, off-sets aren't magic, it's another thing that has to be practiced if you want to use them quickly. IF you're serious about defensive carbine stuff, take a class, chances are excellent you'll learn how to set up your carbine without adding stuff that you won't really need.

 

[benEzra]

Offsets are required for an optic that won’t cowitness, like a magnified scope or a LPVO. A red dot, on the other hand, doesn’t disturb the optical path, so so you can shoot irons right through the red-dot window.

 

[CapnMac]

Best reason for offsets is to alleviate "rail crowding." Where the rail is not long enough for flip-ups and the optical sight used. This can be very true for longer installations like tip-out/in magnifiers behind RDS.