So whether you are new to the AR15 market or you have been amoungst us for a long time, the age old question of "Should I buy a red dot " is a constant consideration. The truth is that red dot sights are a fantastic piece of equipment which are guarenteed to assist you with accuracy and precision shooting. However they usually end up costing more then your entire rifle. They are also usually battery powered and contain glass which makes them vulnerable to failure in the elements and hard use. So the follow up question is "what do I do if my red dot fails?" The answer is to use your BUIS or Back Up Iron Sights.
BUIS stands for Back Up Iron Sight and is commonly an aluminum, steel or polymer sight set comprised of a front and rear sight. The BUIS has the sole job of making sure that you are not left hanging if and when a red dot sight fails. BUIS are usually designed keeping a sleek, low profile and lightweight goals in mind. BUIS are usually also very rugged and are usually built to take a higher level of abuse.
So what should you bear in mind when looking for a solid BUIS?
QUALITY - First and foremost is quality. If they can't take abuse then they aren't worth much. Look for a design that is rugged, has good ratings and is backed by a warranty. Polymer sights will work but aluminum or steel will typically hold up better.
PRICE - There are dozens of BUIS designs to choose from. Some from larger companies all the way to smaller mom and pop style brick and mortar store. There are many major name brands that overprice their equipment. A solid set of BUIS do not need to cost $100 or more. There very effective and economical $25 - $100 sights sets that will easily perform well in all categories.
FUNCTIONALITY - Are you comfortable with them? How do they work? When choosing a BUIS you should consider fearures such as windage and elevation adjustments, spring tension, visibility, and mounting options. Are you using standard BUIS or do you prefer to get your optic out of the way and shoot with 45 Degree Offset BUIS? Make sure the sights lay flat when folded and that they don't move when deployed. Some BUIS simply fold when pushed closed after deployment and others lock in place until manually reset. Make sure your BUIS is easy to deploy especially if wearing gloves.
CO-WITNESS - Consider if your BUIS are absolute Co-Witness, 1/3 Lower Co-Witness, or independant like 45 Degree Angle Offset BUIS. See our other articles for more explanation on the types of Co-Witness.
PAMAX Tactical designed two sight set series, the PT-90 and PT-45. The idea behind both was affordable, adjustable, reliable equipment. Both series are made from aircraft grade aluminum, offer a low profile signiture, co-witness, run under $50 for a BUIS set and are backed by a lifetime warranty. The PT-90 offers 1/3 Lower Co- Witness while the PT-45 provides the operator with an offset to clear the red dot or optic completely. Both series are fully adustable in elevation, windage, and deployment spring tension. Both series also feature the ability to swap out front sight posts for smaller ball posts or low light "Spike" or "Chevron" posts.
Find them and many more options for your AR15 rifle at www.pmtactical.com