At a Glance: Best AR-15 iron sights
- OUR TOP PICK: Magpul – MBUS Flip-up Backup Sights
- RUNNER UP: Magpul – MBUS PRO Steel Sight Set
- BEST BUDGET OPTION: Magpul – MBUS Pro Offset Front and Rear Flip-Up Backup Iron Sights
Comparison of Best AR-15 iron sights
| PRODUCT | DETAILS | ||
|---|---|---|---|
Our Top Pick
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Magpul – MBUS Flip-up Backup Sights |
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View Latest Price |
Our Top Pick
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Magpul – MBUS PRO Steel Sight Set |
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View Latest Price |
Our Top Pick
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Magpul – MBUS Pro Offset Front and Rear Flip-Up Backup Iron Sights |
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View Latest Price |
Iron sights are old-school, but that doesn’t mean they’re obsolete. If you’re looking for a quick and easy way to upgrade your AR-15, then a good set of irons is a great way to do it. Backup AR-15 iron sights can save your skin when your primary optic fails you. You can also use them as your primary sighting system – after all, they’ve served shooters well for centuries
Our Guide to the Best AR-15 Iron Sights on The Market Today
The best AR-15 iron sights are accurate, reliable, and very much still relevant. Here are the best AR-15 iron sights on the market right now. You can use them as your primary sighting system, or you can have them as a reliable plan B.
Magpul – MBUS Flip-up Backup Sights
The Magpul MBUS Flip-up Backup Sights take the best materials and design and combine them to produce a plan B that will never leave you hanging. The irons are made of a lightweight impact-resistant polymer that can withstand recoil shock and won’t spring up prematurely.
These affordable and reliable backup irons are available in a variety of colors to suit the aesthetic of your AR-15. They have black, olive, dark earth, and white variants.
The sights are powered by a loaded spring that them flips up at the press of a button from either side of the top of the rifle. Both left and right-handed shooters will be able to use them comfortably. There is also a detent knob to adjust the elevation and windage of the sights.
The Magpul MBUS backup sights attach to any Picatinny or MIL-STD 1913 rail. They can’t be mounted on a gas block due to excess heat.
These iron sights are ideal for use as a secondary sighting system in case your primary scope or optic is out of use. You can keep them tucked away when not in use, so they don’t get in the way.
Pros
- Excellent flip-up design
- Sturdy construction
- Compatible with most rails
- An excellent secondary sighting system
- Ambidextrous flip-up button
- Various colors
- Affordable
- Made in the USA
Cons
- Can’t be mounted on the gas block
Magpul – Ar-15 MBUS Gen 2 Sight Set
The MBUS Gen 2 Sight Set is a flip-up pair of irons that offer superior accuracy and resilience. The American-made sights have a melonite finish which allows them to absorb more shock and heat.
The MBUS Gen 2 Sight Set can be mounted on your gas block or on any MIL-STD 1913 Picatinny or STANAG 4694 rail. You can use this sight set on practically any AR-15 setup.
The sight set has been designed to be as compact as possible, which also means that it’s lightweight. Whether you’re going to use it as a primary sighting system or with a red dot sight, you’ll find that it packs a serious punch when it comes to accuracy.
You can adjust the windage on the rear sight and the elevation on the front. You can stow them when you don’t need them and then use them as a backup sighting system or alongside your primary optic.
The Magpul MBUS PRO Steel Sight set will have you placing accurate shots out to 300 yards and beyond.
Pros
- Steel with melonite finish
- Can attach to the gas block
- Flip-up design
- Adjustable for windage and elevation
- Compatible with most rails
- Compact and lightweight
- Affordable
- Made in the USA
Cons
- Only come in black
Magpul – MBUS Pro Offset Front and Rear Flip-Up Backup Iron Sights
Offset irons make for very effective backup sights. These Magpul flip-up backup sights can be stowed on the side of your AR-15 at a 45-degree angle and then flipped-up so that they don’t get in the way of your primary sighting system
This means that you get a clearer field of view when using them. Offset iron sights are a perfect backup sighting system that you can use alongside your scope or optic. This is especially useful if your primary sighting system is a magnified scope as it means you can quickly switch to your irons to deal with close-quarters targets. Good firm positive clicks in place and holds zero.
The main issue with offset iron sights is that not everyone is comfortable using them. A bit of practice at the range with them should put this issue to bed.
As with all Magpul accessories, the MBUS Pro Front and Rear Flip-Up Backup Iron Sights are made in the USA of superior materials. This set is built using steel with a melonite finish to ensure that they can withstand shock from recoil and bumps.
You don’t need tools to zero in the sights or make adjustments for windage and elevation. They fit on any M1913 Picatinny rail.
Pros
- Excellent for supporting magnified scopes
- Sit out of the way
- Sturdy construction
- Compatible with most rails
- Toolless adjustments
- Flip-up design
- Affordable
- Made in the USA
Cons
- Will take a little getting used to for some shooters
Troy Industries – AR-15 HK-Style Front Sight Set
Troy Industries’ AR-15 HK-Style Front Sight Set flips up at the press of a button and will stay secured whenever it’s not in use. The sights are built with superior materials and are designed to withstand even consistent shock.
The sights will stay up even when bumped thanks to two detent balls that lock them into place. This ensures that you’ll never accidentally knock them down while out in the field. There’s also no protruding parts to the sights when they’re stowed, so your rifle won’t get caught on anything.
The front sight has a globe design that helps with target acquisition, as well as an illuminated titanium dot that makes aiming easier in low-light conditions.
The rear sight has a large .190″ aperture and a smaller .70″ aperture for longer-range targets. This makes the sight set ideal for use as a primary sighting system, as well as a backup system.
You can easily attach the AR-15 HK-Style Front Sight Set to any military or commercial Picatinny rail. But it’s not all about convenience – these sights also give your AR-15 a great aesthetic.
Pros
- Sturdy build
- Great for close and long-range targets
- Superior materials
- Illuminated dot helps you aim in low-light
- Fits on any Picatinny rail
- Flip-up design
- Made in the USA
Cons
- Expensive
Troy Industries – AR-15 Sight Set
The AR-15 Sight Set is another great pair of iron sights from Troy Industries, Inc. The AR-15 Sight Set consists of two iron sights that are made of superior materials to withstand shock over time. The flip-up design ensures that they never get in the way of your field of view when stowed.
The sights are fixed into place when in use thanks to two detents, so you won’t be accidentally knocking them down when in the field.
The rear sight fixes to the flattop receiver rail and can be adjusted in ½ MOA increments to account for windage. The front sights attach to your handguard and can be adjusted in ½ MOA increments for elevation.
Both sights are black and give your rifle a sleek aesthetic. They can be attached to any Picatinny rail, commercial or military. They work great as a primary sighting system, or as a backup for when your primary scope or optic is out of action.
Pros
- Rugged construction
- Adjustments are easy to make
- Flip-up design
- Fixed in place when in use
- Great for use as a primary or backup sighting system
- Fits on any Picatinny rail
- Made in the USA
Cons
- Expensive
Midwest Industries AR-15 Combat Rifle Folding Sight Set
The AR-15 Combat Rifle Folding Sight Set is constructed from heat-treated 6061 aluminum so it weighs less than its steel counterparts. All the little accessories that you add to your AR-15 add up in weight, so it’s important to make cutbacks where you can.
The flip-up sights are so low that you won’t even notice them when you’re just using your primary scope or optic. Once they’re up, detents hold them in place so you won’t accidentally knock them back down.
The rear sight has an intermediate aperture, making it ideal for use at both close-quarters and far-off targets. The front sight uses the standard A2 design and secures onto the rail of your rifle. They’re only available in black, but they’ll make your rifle look great regardless of the color scheme you’re going for.
Whether you’re looking for a primary sighting system or a pair of backup sights, this Midwest Industries sight set will go a long way to improving the accuracy of your AR-15 rifle.
Pros
- The aluminum build is tough but also lightweight
- Good for med/long-range targets
- Secured by detents when up
- Won’t get in the way of your optic when stowed
- Accurate and reliable
- Affordable
- Made in the USA
Cons
- Only available in black
What are AR-15 iron sights?
Before the days of scopes, red dots and holographic sights, people only had the option to use iron sights. The original aiming system is ultra-reliable and will never power down, making it an ideal plan B in case your primary sighting system is disabled.
Iron sights are generally made up of two alignment markers which allow you to sight your target and place accurate shots out to 300 yards or more. Fiber optic threads are often used on iron sights to enhance target acquisition.
Aren’t AR-15 iron sights outdated?
Who doesn’t look back at the days of carry-handle AR-15s with iron sights attached, running around in the rice fields of Vietnam, without feeling a little pang of nostalgia? That’s a scene that’s played out in all of our imaginations at one time or another.
But nowadays, iron sights are outdated, no? I mean, do I really want to be sticking the excess weight and baggage of back-up irons on the rail of my AR-15?
Actually, yes I do.
You’ve got to learn to walk before you can run. Iron sights will teach you the essentials of sight calibration and sighting pictures. Skills that you can carry over to your scope or optic.
Also, what happens if your optic runs out of batteries? Or you smash it while you’re out in the field? Iron sights are the ultimate backup sighting system because they can never fail. Sure, you’re not going to enjoy the same range as you would with a scope, but it’s better than just blind-firing.
Do I need backup iron sights?
Backup iron sights are like insurance, you hope you’ll never need it, but damn are you glad to have it when the shit hits the fan. If you’re out in the field and your primary sighting system is disabled, then flipping up those irons is going to feel like heaven.
You’ll be able to quickly get back into the action with a set of accurate iron sights. Nowadays, backup iron sights are often designed to flip up at the press of a button, meaning they don’t clutter up your rifle.
How to choose AR-15 iron sights
There’s a lot more than meets the eye when it comes to a good set of iron sights. Choosing the right ones for your AR-15 takes careful consideration. The market is heavily saturated, but there are some stand-out contenders.
Your choice should come down to your needs and preferences. Are you looking for a primary aiming system or just a pair of backup iron sights?
At the end of the day, buy whatever you find easier to shoot with – as long as they’re well made. Materials matter less when it comes to iron sights. The most important thing is the design.
Have a look at the following points and consider them carefully when choosing a pair of iron sights.
Aperture or Notch sights?
Wonder what the difference is between these two sights?
Aperture
Aperture iron sights have a circular hole as the rear sight, which allows you to focus exclusively on the front sight. These sights allow you to focus on your target quicker by centering your vision. The problem is that they utterly remove your peripheral vision when you look down at them.
- Centers vision on the target
- More accurate at longer range
- Look very cool
Notch (open)
Notch iron sights, also known as open sights, have a notch as the rear sight which can be adjusted to zero in on your target. Open sights offer more peripheral vision and they’re better suited to long-range target shooting.
- More field of vision
- Better at quick target acquisition
- elegantly simple
Fixed vs. Folding
Traditional iron sights were fixed. Fixed iron sights, as the name suggests, can’t be moved. They’re stuck in one place all the time. This means that they’re much stronger than their flip-up counterparts.
Folding – or flip-up – iron sights can be kept out of the way and then flipped up at the press of a button. Folding iron sights don’t get in the way and they don’t get caught on your clothes or other gear. They’re less durable than fixed sights, however.
Most iron sights on the market today are folding sights. People generally use iron sights as a backup sighting system when their primary optic fails them, so it’s more convenient if they’re out of the way when not in use.
Ease-of-use
Your iron sights need to be adjusted to account for windage and elevation when shooting. Some iron sights will require you to use an Allen wrench, which is pretty inconvenient if you’re out in the field. Others will allow you to make adjustments with a knob or a gear that can be adjusted by hand.
Another factor to consider with iron sights is whether they can be used in the dark. Many iron sights come with high-vis threads to make it easier for you to see your target in low-light.
Materials
You should prioritize the design and build quality of your iron sights over the material. Materials are often considered a make-or-break factor when choosing an AR-15 accessory, but any reputable American brand will be using top-quality materials.
The main point of concern here is design. If you have flip-up iron sights then you need to make sure the pin and spring are made of the best possible materials and that they’re designed to withstand shock.
If your sights are down, then they have to stay down, no matter how much you shoot your rifle. Stick with a reputable brand and you should be fine.
AR-15 iron sights co-witness position
Your iron sights should have absolute co-witness or lower-third co-witness position. Absolute co-witness means that your iron sights line up perfectly with your optical sight. Lower-third co-witness means that the iron sights line up a little below the primary optic sight.
Lower-third co-witness gives you a much clearer sight plain when using your optic and I recommend this if you have fixed iron sights. If you’re using flip-up iron sights then go for absolute co-witness.
Gas block vs rail-mounted AR-15 iron sights
You’ll mount your iron sights in a different place depending on your gas block position. You’ll need gas block iron sights if your upper receiver is higher than your gas block because these sights are ¼ higher than rail-mounted irons.
Rail-mounted irons – as the name suggests – are mounted on your rail. They have to be the same height as the sights on your upper receiver. Rail-mounted irons are most commonly used with free-float handguards.
Conclusion
After some careful consideration, I have to say that the best AR-15 iron sights for quality and price are the Magpul MBUS Pro Offset Front and Rear Flip-Up Backup Sights. They’re an excellent backup sight for your primary optic and can be used in conjunction with a magnified scope for the perfect balance of long-range and close-quarters precision.
The value that you get for your money is phenomenal. The sights won’t let you down out in the field and could save your life if your primary optic is out of action. The ability to make quick and easy adjustments to account for windage and elevation without tools is another big bonus for these iron sights.
If your AR-15 isn’t equipped with a reliable pair of backup iron sights, then now is the time to invest in a set.
