iron sights/ Red Dot question..

[carmen fovozzo]

Dumb question from a newbi AR guy....

Should your iron sights be aligned with the dot? Regular AR front sight and collaspable rear sight....line up with red dot...

Does that make sense ?

[GlockMan27]

I set my irons in bottom 1/3 of the aimpoint. So my dot is just above my irons. Works well for me.

[JustaShooter]

It depends...

OK, I know, I know! If the dot and sights are set up to "absolute co-witness" then the dot will usually sit right on top of or just in front of the top of the front sight when the sights are aligned. If the dot and sights are not set for absolute co-witness, then not. Another popular setup is "lower third co-witness" where the center of the dot sight puts the dot above the irons - that is, the irons are in the lower third of the dot sight, but when you align the irons the dot lines up with the irons like it does in absolute co-witness. A picture might help:

[carmen fovozzo]

Absolute Co-witness is what I have...thanks...that seems to be ideal...some day I'll get to shoot this beast....

[carmen fovozzo]

I posted awhile back about getting a red dot......and Alan really helped me out a lot........if you read this Alan I have your red dot you loaned me..

I just ordered a Eotec 512 from Kyle's in Cincy.....best price..I ended up paying with tax and shipping 427.00....399.95 Retail..
I know I could of bought any where for that price, but I feel good about buying from one our advertisers...

I had a 512 once before but sold it like a dummy...

[TSiWRX]

I'll come collect from you at some point in the next coupla weeks, no worries, I know where you work!

Absolute versus lower-1/3 really comes out to a personal-preference thing. I find the lower-1/3 to be a bit faster as there's less stuff "in the way" when co-witnessing fixed back-up ironsights.

I've never been on the two-way range, but that was my preference after playing some airsoft, so I figure it would be pretty true-to-life.

Punching holes in paper, though, you're fine either way. It's really more about mounting the gun consistently, getting that consistent cheek.

Just remember that with the red-dot, once it's zero'ed, any time your dot is on-target, you're good-to-shoot (and the shot should print on-target where the dot was visually on the target). The dot/reticle itself does not have to be "centered" within the optic. What this translates to is that for speed, close-in, with the dot, you're going to be shooting threat focused - blow through the dot, pretending that the dot is the dot of a laser on the physical target itself.

[carmen fovozzo]

Thanks Dude.

[carmen fovozzo]

Thanks Dude.

[FormerNavy]

I used to have my Aimpoint PRO setup for absolute cowitness. I thought that's how I wanted it. Then I had to use the riser in order to get my brass catcher rail mount to fit under the red dot. I figured what the heck, the BUIS were just that - backups. I wouldn't be using them unless the Aimpoint was out of commission anyways. I grudgingly added the riser, which made my iron sights a 1/3 lower cowitness.

As it turns out, I absolutely (no pun intended) love it. I found that 1/3 lower cowitness was so much easier for me to aim with. I didn't have to get my head down quite so low on the axis and I just plain like it better. I would have never bothered trying it if I hadn't had to raise my Aimpoint up to get the brass catcher to fit.

Bottom line is, I would encourage you to try both and see which one you like better.

[carmen fovozzo]

I JUST MOUNTED IT..ON MY AR..the cowitness is perfect with the IS..when ever I get to shoot this thing, I will try all 3 ways..

[TSiWRX]

^ If ApexShootingTactics offers up his two-day AR class again, Carmen, you should see if you can't get away from the shop for a couple of days.

[carmen fovozzo]

That's not going to happen....