Flip up rear sight for 556?

I don't care for the popsicle rear sight on my 556. So, I got the rotary diopter rear sight, don't much care for that either. In anyone making a flip up rear sight that is the right height for the fixed, hooded 556 front sight? I like the front sight and I really don't want to replace it. Do I have any options?

Options? Not really. It's not Burger King an AR. You can't have it your way.

One problem: He isn't looking for a front site.

Now if you can tell me how to remove the factory hooded 556 front site, I'd be interested.

I think the point is that no one currently makes a good rear sight for the SIG 556 that lines up with the front sight, and he is suggesting replacing the front sight with one that works with any AR-15 rear BUIS, thus he has his choice of many, many AR-15 rear sights.

Actually, he is not looking to replace the front sight:

Take the supplied allen wrench and use it in the left side of the front sight adjustment bolt. Turn it so as to adjust the front sight all the way over to the right side of the dovetail groove.

Next use a small punch to drive the small roll pin out of one side of the round nut attched to the right end of the adjustment bolt.

Once the roll pin is out rotate the round nut off of the adjustment bolt, and remove the adjustment bolt form the front sight.

Tap the front sight the rest of the way out of the right side of the dovetail. I like the thread a long bolt with the same threads all the way into the hole that the adjustment bolt was in, and tap on the head of this bolt rather than bang on the side of the front sight with a punch.

I know the OP asked about a rear sight that works with the factory front, so I hope this isn't too much of a hi-jack.

I didn't care for the factory rear diopter either, and I don't know of any other rear sights that work with the factory front besides the flip up sight in the rail. The flip up sight is an extreme emergency, all else failed, nothing else to use, sight at best.

I replaced my sights with the Aurora sights and am happy with them but they are a bit expensive for what they are.

My second choice would be Magpul MBUS sights but only if it is going on a SWAT model with the handguards top rail integral with the receiver rail.

Of course these are just as back up sights as I am always going to use my optical sight unless it fails, and I find that unlikely with quality optics like Tijicon and Aimpoint like I have on my 556 rifles.

If the answer is that there isn't a rear sight that works with the front sight, I will just have to look into replacing the front I suppose. I was hoping not to have to do that, its a shame no one makes a AR-like flip up rear for the 556 that works with its front sight. I was hoping there was one out there somewhere that I didn't know about.

At the moment my 556 is optic free, but I'd like to get a second Aimpoint PRO for it (the other being on my Colt LE6920) when funds permit. Replacing both the front and rear is going to be over $100 no matter how I do it. I know its just $100, but that is a significant chunk toward a second PRO.

+1

I removed my front sight with a $15 set of roll pin punches and about 5 minutes of grunting.

I'm running Troy folders in the front and rear and could NOT be happier.

You could get a Samson drop in rail and get a set of Troy Micro BUIS.

I have the Samson rail.....which doesn't help with the front site.



I'll be following some advice above to switch out the front sight though.

Yes. You can spend ~$200 on a diopter or spend what... ~$90 for a folding front and have a whole buffet from cheap to pricey to choose from.

Try here...

http://www.mfiap.com/smallarms/sig556.shtml#mad

Lines up with SIG USA or MFI 556 Non-Hooded Flip Up Front Sight.

I never have seen these sights, but apparently they don't line up with the 556 hooded front sights, which is what's being discussed here, but the non-hooded flip-up sights.

That looks like just what I am looking for, except that it doesn't line up with the hooded Classic front. Perhaps there will eventually be a version that does line up with the Classic front. Perhaps I can live with the diopter (or optics) for now and wait and see.

I've looked in to the diopter rear sight and the best prices I could find were $200+.

Seems a bit lofty particularly judging from the luke warm reviews. What did you pay if you don't mind me asking?

So I take it there are three front sight heights. Do I have them in order from lowest to highest?


1. Later hooded SIG556 front sight
2. Non-hooded (early) flip up SIG556 front sight
3. AR-15 height front sight (i.e. Troy) that uses SIG556 front dovetail

I have the rear diopter and front hooded sight from my 556 SWAT (build date Feb 2010). These are the ones that are NOT A2 height, if you put an optic setup for absolute co-witness on with them, you get a lower 1/3 co-witness.

I'll part with the set for $150, they are in perfect working order without a scratch on them.

Send me a PM if interested.

Bud's Gun Shop:

ITAC Diopter Sight

Its listed as an ITAC, but they make the diopter sight for SIG. While the box of the one I got was marked ITAC, the sight its self is marked SIG-Sauer. Its at $148 right now. I think I paid less than that though.

ive seen the sig diopter go for 75 to 100 used in the EE, the diopter isn't very high on my list. id rather use the popcicle flip. id buy a diopter just to have it for $50 fyi ;)

A set of TROY BUIS consists of a front and rear sight. The Samson Drop-in rail provides a mounting solution for the TROY front sight. The micro BUIS set that I suggested is shorter than standard AR height sights, facillitating the high rail and low stock comb that is not compatible with the aforementioned AR height sights.




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#2 will line up with a Troy micro BUIS in you can find one.

So besides the Midwest industries SIG556 front sight, what aftermarket front/rear sights are available?

Samson MFG. IIRC they are AR height.




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Oh yeah, duh. I don't know why i was thinking Troy....

I wish someone made a rear sight that worked with the front hooded one, or a nice copy of the hooded one that just was AR-15 BUIS height. My biggest complaint about the Samson is it looks funky overhanging the sides of the gas block, like a case of "SIG muffin top" or something....

Bud's Gun Shop:

ITAC Diopter Sight

Its listed as an ITAC, but they make the diopter sight for SIG. While the box of the one I got was marked ITAC, the sight its self is marked SIG-Sauer. Its at $148 right now. I think I paid less than that though.[/quote]

I bought that same ITAC sight including the part which raises the diopter to AR height for $114 not long ago. It took me about 9 rounds to have it zero'd at 100 yards.

Paladin

I bought that same ITAC sight including the part which raises the diopter to AR height for $114 not long ago. It took me about 9 rounds to have it zero'd at 100 yards.

Paladin[/quote]

I have the Itac, and thus far am not impressed - the drum likes to rotate on its own with the slightest bump leaving me with no rear peep at innoportune moments.

Is there a non folding version of this sight?

http://www.midwestindustriesinc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_ID=222

I like secure irons. Thanks.

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