When it comes to optimizing your AR15 rifle, there's a lot to consider. One choice we'll explore is pairing a red dot sight with fixed iron sights. This combination offers versatility, reliability, and an enhanced shooting experience.

We'll investigate into the benefits of co-witnessing, where you can see the iron sights through the red dot sight. This setup not only provides a backup sighting system but also improves sight picture clarity. We'll also discuss how fixed iron sights can serve as a fail-safe, offering a more robust and reliable method in various scenarios.

Whether you're a seasoned shooter or a rookie, understanding the advantages of using a red dot with fixed iron sights can enhance your shooting accuracy and overall experience.

Understanding a Red Dot with Fixed Iron Sights

Delving deeper into the integration of red dot with fixed iron sights, it's key to understand the components’ separate and combined functionalities. The red dot sight helps shoot with accurate efficiency, while fixed iron sights offer a reliable backup.

When weighing options for your sighting system, consider the benefits of incorporating precision iron sights into your arsenal. Generally more robust and less prone to failure, these components often prove to be a more reliable, if not traditional, addition to any firearm, especially for the sharpshooters among us.

Our discussion now moves us to the combined pairing of a red dot and A2 front sight. This setup is typically a standard for many shooters, especially with the AR15 rifle. The A2 front sight allows precise target acquisition, while the red dot provides quick sight picture and target transition. This combination can significantly improve shooting accuracy, offering a seamless transition between long-range and short-range shots.

Choosing to set up your red dot with fixed iron sights could be an effective measure to enhance your shooting skill level while ensuring a fallback system. This setup can particularly aid individuals struggling with an astigmatism as it helps focus the target, thereby reducing the chance of a blurred sight picture.

We recommend reviewing models such as the Carry Handle Rear Sight or the Battle Sights (BUIS) as potential options. For those seeking a different route, Ozark Armament also offers products like the HK Style BUIS, A2 Rear Iron Sight, and 45 Degree Flip Up Backup Sights. With careful selection, you'll indeed find a setup that compliments your requirements, and enhances your shooting experience.

While this combination of sights provides numerous advantages, the critical point remains that understanding your unique needs will dictate the choice that's right for you. Hence, it's crucial to continue investigating the mechanics of the different setups and how they may align with your personal preferences.

Advantages of Using a Red Dot with Fixed Iron Sights

Living up to the enhanced target acquisition they offer, Fixed Iron Sights and Red Dots have emerged as a quintessential pairing for shooters. Revealing benefits beyond each tool's standalone functionality, integrating them sets a new bar for shooting accuracy.

Improved Accuracy

When we talk about combining red dots with fixed iron sights, precision is a given. But how does it work?

The red dot facilitates instinctive target acquisition, focusing on the point of aim and improving shot accuracy. Pairing it with an A2 front sight, the target lock becomes significantly more accurate and speedy.

One critical aspect of this setup is that the iron sight acts as a backup to the red dot. If you forgot you turned the RDS off or the battery died - a situation less likely with certain models like Aimponts or if it became nonfunctional for some reason, the iron sights come into play. 

From what we've seen in training drills, this transition comes in handy especially in close-range threats where shooting through the tube or using just the front sight is adequate.

Quick Target Acquisition

Another major advantage of integrating fixed iron sights with red dots is quick target acquisition. This becomes a defining factor on firearms widely used in quick response situations, that require speedy, yet accurate shots. Fixed Iron Sights from Ozark Armament come as strong recommendations for these situations.

The Carry Handle Rear Sight and the Battle Sights (BUIS) are some of the models we suggest in this setup. Their robust structure and reliable performance add to the benefits when paired with red dots. As an alternative, A2 Rear Iron Sight, 45 Degree Flip Up Backup Sights, Micro Flip Up Backup Sights, and Fixed Canted Iron Sights are other interesting choices to explore.

An important note here is that while fixed iron sights, like the HK Style BUIS, coupled with red dots enhance target acquisition speed, certain situations or personal preferences may call for flip-up options instead. Reference carbine class case when a student, even though having precision-grade equipment, found it challenging to line up the irons with the reticle. It's about finding the right balance and solution that works best for your unique needs.

So, whether you're a weekend warrior or a pro, exploring this setup to its fullest potential is a worthwhile skill to master. Conveying the best models and practices, we aim to guide you through this integration journey.

Choosing the Right Red Dot for Your Fixed Iron Sights

Consider the Reticle Type

When discussing fixed iron sights with red dots, one must examine the reticle type. The reticle, or aiming point, in a red dot sight can drastically affect accuracy and speed. The size and style of the reticle in a red dot sight are vital points to consider when meshing this setup with fixed iron sights.

For instance, if we want a sight for close-quarters battle, a larger reticle may be beneficial. It's visible, making it easy to acquire targets quickly. Yet, for precision shooting or distance shots, a small reticle like an A2 front sight helps maintain target visibility while offering a precise aiming point. No single reticle type is the best in all scenarios. Our goal becomes identifying the ideal fit given our unique situation.

Battery Life and Durability

Red dots are battery-powered, electronic devices attached right above our iron sights. As such, battery life and durability are important considerations. We want our red dot sight to be reliable, rugged, and efficient.

Battery life varies significantly between models. Some red dot sights might run for thousands of hours on a single battery charge. That longevity makes them perfect for extended use in challenging conditions. Durability-wise, the best sights can withstand harsh environmental factors, accidental drops, and sustained recoil without malfunctioning or losing zero.

Mounting Options

The final consideration for a red dot sight with fixed iron sights is the mounting strategy. The mounting option has to be compatible with our firearms and be supportive of fast, effective target acquisition strategies.

For most folks, their best bet with fixed iron sights like our Carry Handle Rear Sight or the Battle Sights would be an absolute co witness setup. This setting aligns the red dot with the iron sights, enabling rapid switching between the two without changing the head's position. Other shooters might prefer a lower one-third co witness for a plain sight picture when using the red dot.

Dive into the details of absolute vs lower 1/3 co witness in our guide here.

The process of finding the right sight for you involves understanding your unique needs, risks, and preferences. A keen evaluation before making the choice ensures that you'll pick the model that will work best for you.

If this is your first time installing both BUIS & a Red Dot - head over to guide on how to do this.

Wrapping up

Teaming up precision iron sights with a red dot can greatly improve your shooting accuracy in demanding environments. There might be instances when due to unforeseen circumstances - a drained battery maybe - the red dot sight is unavailable. When (not if) this happens, you can depend on the fixed iron sights to step in and secure your aim. For close-range targets, especially (up to 15 yards as per our drill data), the illuminated reticle of the red dot aligns perfectly with the iron sights, making shooting intuitive and precise.

When choosing a red dot with fixed iron sights, options from Ozark Armament such as the Carry Handle Rear Sight or the Micro flip backup sights can capably fulfill needs. Particularly, our A2 Front Sight pairs well with a red dot, enhancing sight picture quality and alignment for an optimal shooting experience.

Remember, each sighting system offers unique benefits and understanding how to use them effectively under various circumstances is fundamental to firearm proficiency.

Frequently Asked Questions

Are red dot sights more accurate than iron sights?

Yes, most shooters find red dot sights are more accurate than iron sights, especially at distances or when shooting quickly. The dot allows for easy "holdover" for longer shots, as you can view the entire target in the window.

Can you zero iron sights with a red dot?

Even though they have different zeroes, both can be accurate. You shouldn't set your handgun's red dot to be in sync with your iron sights, but it's a helpful starting point. Begin by aligning the red dot to your iron sights after installation.

Should I choose a red or green dot sight?

While red dots might be easier to perceive in low-light conditions due to contrast, green light is easier on the eyes. Subsequently, green dot sights excel in terms of visibility.

Why are offset iron sights important?

Offset iron sights offer crucial adaptability. Not all targets will be in close range when shooting. If your primary optic is calibrated for longer ranges, particularly with high magnification, it might not be useful for close-range targets.

Are iron sights obsolete?

No, they are not. Some shooters admire the reliable ruggedness of the age-old system, while others believe modern optics have outdated iron sights. Both points of view bring validity to the discussion, but iron sights are far from becoming obsolete.

ARTICLE WRITTEN BY MATT RICE, OWNER OPERATOR OF OZARK ARMAMENT