Rifle Scopes Backup sights for precision AR

Peter Laurvick

‘Merica!
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Jul 4, 2017
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Jacksonville, NC
I'm currently running a Precision AR-15 20" 6.5 Grendel with a NF ATACR 4-16x42mm. Primary use right now is hunting (deer and coyote out passed 500yds) and SHTF DMR. Next spring it will go out to Texas for some hog hunting where I will have potential 500yd shots but also very very close shots in the brush 10-25yds.

I would like a closer range sighting system for Hog hunting and SHTF scenarios. I'm thinking RMR/Aimpoint Micro because for Hog Hunting I will also be running a surefire and may have close shots while running white light.

Who is running some sort of secondary sighting system for close range on their precision rifles? What are you using and how do you like it?

pictures for attention.
 

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Simple/cheap option would be 45 degree offset irons. For speed I would go red dot, however unless you are walking through the brush trying to spook them up they usually don't jump up at your feet where you need the fastest option available. If you are walking in open fields then you will see them before they see you if they are out in the open (they have horrible sight but great smell)
 
I have two different set ups, both irons though. On my SPR/DMR rifle I have the Magpul Pro flip ups. They are super low profile, and out of the way. My thoughts are that in a long distance role, I'd have a second to flip them up.
Min my 3gun rifle, I run Dueck Defense offsets. They are super strong, all steel construction. They are not flip ups. Shooting 3gun, speed is everything. I don't have to flip them, just rotate 45* and bang away.
Both are fantastic in their roles, just slightly different.

I know now you may be talking about an RMR or red dot set-up, but I thought I'd share my set up for good, solid irons.
 
Very interesting. Never heard of one of those. However I didn't see any method of mounting around an existing primary scope. It would certainly work if you could though.

They can mount on pic rails, so if you have rings for your primary optic that have an offset/canted piece of pic rail, you could use that.

I have a couple of them, but have yet to put them to any kind of use, so I can't really comment on how they perform; that said, they're pretty simple devices, so there isn't a lot to go wrong.
 
I also run a 20" 6.5 grendel ar15 with a 4-16 Atacr F1 for deer hunting. I have a set of magpul flip up sights, and an AimPoint micro t1 (neither currently mounted on that rifle though)... If I were to go hog hunting, I'd get a 45 degree offset mount for the T1, or mount it on top of my main optic. I ran the 45 offset mount on one of my other ar's and it worked great for close up shots.
 
I have one that run an aimpoint micro on a larue offset sight. The other runs a trijicon rmr on a Daniel defense offset sight. They're both very fast. Just twist the rifle and the dot is ready.
 
I have a NF 2.5-10x24 with a MRDS mounted at 12 o'clock on my AR-15, and the same setup with my Vortex HD G2 4.5-27 on my DT SRS. The one my SRS is only for faster target acquisition though. Since I now have that setup on my AR, I no longer run BUIS, just excess weight in my opinion. Honestly theres no reason to have BUIS if you do have a MRDS and an optic, especially with the "2 is 1, 1 is none" mentality.
I prefer mounting the MRDS at 12 o'clock versus canted, it was less training for me to adapt to, and less likely to get damaged, since the majority of the rifles Ive seen dropped have been on the side, which the MRDS wouldve taken the majority of the impact. With the ATACR, those turrets are the perfect height, it will put the dot just above the elevation turret. Just a simple movement of your head vertically versus canting the rifle and adjusting your cheek weld.
 
I have a NF 2.5-10x24 with a MRDS mounted at 12 o'clock on my AR-15, and the same setup with my Vortex HD G2 4.5-27 on my DT SRS. The one my SRS is only for faster target acquisition though. Since I now have that setup on my AR, I no longer run BUIS, just excess weight in my opinion. Honestly theres no reason to have BUIS if you do have a MRDS and an optic, especially with the "2 is 1, 1 is none" mentality.
I prefer mounting the MRDS at 12 o'clock versus canted, it was less training for me to adapt to, and less likely to get damaged, since the majority of the rifles Ive seen dropped have been on the side, which the MRDS wouldve taken the majority of the impact. With the ATACR, those turrets are the perfect height, it will put the dot just above the elevation turret. Just a simple movement of your head vertically versus canting the rifle and adjusting your cheek weld.

Did you have all that mounted on top of a Spuhr? What mounting system did you use were you liked them
 
I don't like irons for fast shots. IMHO, few ights are faster to use than the Vortex SPARC dot.

While my angle buis are metallic, I don't intend them for fast shooting. For one thing, they're folders.

If I had such a need, I'd put a SPARC on an angle mount. Yeah, it's bulky. IMHO, If I need a b/u sight shot like right now, fast trumps compact.

Done, and done....

Greg
 
And that Larue side mount fits under your ATACR? That was a big option I was already considering just because I already have a T2

It isn't a perfect solution. It will fit under the ATACR in just the right spot, but you need to remove the windage cap, and only half the T1 window is visible as it is obstructed by the windage knob. But it is enough to see the dot and get on target. One advantage of it though is that it gets really snug next to your magnified optic and doesn't really increase the size of the rifle if you get my meaning. It doesn't really protrude. I still think it's faster than offset iron though even with the obstruction.

The view is actually better on a Daniel Defense offset mount as it pushes it further out but it does protrude more which makes it the focal point of punishment when you run into something. Same thing goes for mounting it on the actual ring/mount above the optic.
 
Here it is... important to note, you're gonna have to be ok with it blocking half the window on the T1 with the larue offset mount.
 

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I made a flow chart:

Do you plan on getting shot at?

YES ------------> Back up sights

NO ------------> LOL

I agree to an extent. First off I want the secondary sights (not so much as backup) for shit hits the fan like Korea attacks or something, some Red Dawn stuff. Second reason is as a close range sighting system, when 4x is to much or I have it dialed up high then must engage a close (under 25yd) target.
 
Here are some options I have.

These are the Duecks on a Benelli M4 14" entry as BUIS for a Aimpoint T-1. As mentioned, they don't fold and you can
appreciate their dimensions. CIMG0352 copy 2.jpg
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My favorite user friendly combination is this Aimpoint T-2 offset on the main GDI mount. IMG_3547 copy 3.jpg
 

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Burris makes a tube mount in 34mm, 30mm, and 1" that can mount anywhere on the tube and at the angle you prefer. you can mount a Fastfire III red dot in 3 or I believe 8 MoA on this mount. It's not ridiculously expensive and I can attest that it works excellent.

This is it on my 6.5 Creedmoor that I set up for the PRS Gas Gun Series.

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I was looking at Larue's option for one of those too. Course I'm sure it's more expensive. I like how much closer that one hugs to the bell.

Where re are you doing your PRS Gas Matches? I've been trying to get into them out in southwest Arizona. Never done PRS at all and feel pretty clueless