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The big bad BUIS FAQ (Page 1 updated on 8/4/2006) (Page 1 of 9)
Posted: 10/14/2004 6:59:24 PM EDT
[Last Edit: strick909][Edited]
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UPDATED: 8/4/2006 What is BUIS anyway? BUIS, or Back Up Iron Sights, come in many configurations. The purpose of a BUIS sytem is to give the shooter the ability to accurately aim the rifle if the primary optic fails. What types are available? Two types are available, flip up and fixed. It is possible to combine the two systems and use a flip up in the rear and a fixed FSB (front sight base) or vise versa. What is co-witness? A: Co-Witness is the ability of your irons to look through your optic (1x - not magnified) - so they both shoot on the same trajectory. There are two kinds - absolute (both the dot and irons are on the same plan), and offset (where the irons are usually in the lower 1/3 of the optics display). With co-witnessed sights you can verify the zero of the optic by looking through the irons (the dot should sit on top of the front sight). However, normally you look over the irons and just use the optic (trust me, you won't notice the iron sights); should the batteries fail your head comes down a fraction of an inch and you're using the iron sights (looking throught the now-dead optic). (from the Maryland AR15 Shooters FAQ) groups.msn.com/isapi/fetch.dll?action=MyPhotos_GetPubPhoto&PhotoID=nJwAAANwMUuAJ7JC8BIu3u5hfwsqH9Z0x3oIwsknAVfVqkoJ0B820UgDvJdctqwwGbFtqpVZEnbk What makes folding BUIS so good? Some shooters like to use a primary optic (such as an Aimpoint or EOTech) with no visual distractions. The folding BUIS sytems would be ideal for this. Other shooters using magnified optics will require a folding rear sight in order to get proper placement of a scope. Many first responders like a folding front BUIS because it is less likely to get hung on something compared to a fixed FSB. What makes fixed BUIS so good? First, it is less expensive. Most rifles will come with iron sights and adding a primary optic to an existing system would be the cheapest way to get set up. Also, if you ever need your BUIS, there is nothing to "flip". They are already in place. That means that the time to transition to BUIS from a disapearing red dot is zero. If I use a magnified optic, won't the FSB be in the way? Nope. You won't even see it. What distance should I zero my BUIS? 50 yard IBZ Where is the best place to buy my BUIS? Who has the best prices? Please support the dealers who support this site! Check the Industry Forum for a list of dealers and also check the Equipment Exchange for other deals on BUIS and optics from dealers and members of AR15.com!! All of the BUIS below have a hot link to the original manufacturer. These links are for informational purposes. Most of the time, an AR15.com dealer will have a better price. However, there are exceptions. Ameetec, Bushmaster, & Cavarms are all AR15.com supporters, so it's ok to order from them.  Talon Arms is my personal dealer of choice...  Talon Arms in the Industry Forum What BUIS sytems are available? ARMS 40L  40L SP (same plane aperture) 40A2 (2.0 oz)   Ameetec Arms Front Folding  Rear Folding  Bushmaster BMAS BMAS fixed rear (3.2 oz)  BMAS flip up rear (1.5oz)  BMAS Flip up front  BMAS flip up front rail mount  Cavalry Arms Cavarms fixed rear  DPMS Fixed rear  Mangonel Front Flip Up Sight  Mangonel Rear Flip Up Sight  Detachable Front Sight  GG&G MAD flip up rear  A2 flip up  Tactical Modular flip up front  Flip up front for dovetailed gas blocks  Knight's Armament (no link available) Rear Folding 300 Meter Sight  600 Meter Folding Rear Sight (2.25oz)  Folding Front Sight for RAS  LaRue Tactical Fixed rear sight (QD) (3.0oz)  Les Baer Front flip up w/gas block   LMT Fixed rear sight  Tactical Front Sight Assembly  Matech No link Folding rear no photo Midwest Industries Folding Rear  PRI Front flip up gas block  Rail mounted front sight  Samson Mfg. Quick Flip Sights Barrel mounted Quick Flip Sight / Gas Block   Rail Mounted Quick Flip Sight  Weaver gas block mounted Quick Flip Sight   Troy Industries Flip up Rear (1.9oz)  Flip up front Rail mount (2.2oz)  Wilson Combat Flip-Up Rear Sight  Yankee Hill Machine Gas Block Front Flip Sight  Forearm Front Flip Sight  Solid Front Sight  Front Sight Gas Block  Front Sight Tower  Flip Rear Site  Solid Rear Sight 
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"You exist to serve the mission. No one owes you anything." The Warrant's Manifesto
http://www.adoptasniper.org
http://www.adoptasniper.org
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That's the only two rail-mounted flip fronts? Troy and YHM/BMAS? Oh, and you left out the Cavarms rear BUIS  Knight's 600 meter rear and 300 meter rear and folding rail mount front and SR25 flip front  and the Wilson Combat flip up rear
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It's better to be hated for who you are than loved for who you're not
That's why I posted this. I was hoping that we could start a central BUIS discussion thread instead of reading 50 seperate threads on each individual BUIS. FWIW, I use the ARMS 40A. It's very solid and combat proven. You can find them in the EE all the time for less than $100. I am looking to pick up a new BUIS for a scoped upper. I really like what I am hearing about the ARMS 40L and the Troy folder. Hopefully we will get some reviews soon.
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"You exist to serve the mission. No one owes you anything." The Warrant's Manifesto
http://www.adoptasniper.org
http://www.adoptasniper.org
Nice job Strick909!  You might want to throw this into the mix as well: CNC Gunsmithing A1 BUIS |
"Those who make peaceful revolution impossible will make violent revolution inevitable."
-John F. Kennedy
-John F. Kennedy
If someone knows the weights of each, I will add them. And does anyone have a link to Knight's? I did not list MSRP because all of the links are hot and you can get that info from the manufacturer anyway. But, if you guys want it, I will list it. Is there anything else I am missing? (BTW, I did not list the A1 hot-linked because it is not yet a regular production sight.) Knights (via Impact Guns), Cavarms, and Wilson Combat added to the first post. |
"You exist to serve the mission. No one owes you anything." The Warrant's Manifesto
http://www.adoptasniper.org
http://www.adoptasniper.org
I'll tell you what I'll share the info I have if you get the weights on the others: From the 'Chart of AR-15 Part and Assembly Weights' from The Maryland AR-15 Shooters Site: (weight is in US ounces). Troy Front Flip Up Sight 2.2 Troy Flip Up Rear BUIS 1.9 ARMS #40 BUIS 2.0 LaRue BUIS 3.0 KAC 600M BUIS 2.25 Armalite "Chopped Carry Handle" sight 4.9 Detachable Carry Handle (A2 sights) 9.6 |
Shoot Straight
and visit www.MD-AR15.com
and visit www.MD-AR15.com
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very cool, the only buis I don't see on the list that I know of is the Matech buis being used by the army some, I can not find the pic at the moment thought, the thread that they were discussed in is over 3 months old, there were nice pics at this thread |
Nemo enim fere saltat sobrius, nisi forte insanit.
Almost nobody dances sober, unless he happens to be insane
Almost nobody dances sober, unless he happens to be insane
That link is dead. |
"You exist to serve the mission. No one owes you anything." The Warrant's Manifesto
http://www.adoptasniper.org
http://www.adoptasniper.org
This is awesome! I will add this to the first page/first post when you update. That is, if it is ok with you. (stuff like this is why I love ADCO )
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"You exist to serve the mission. No one owes you anything." The Warrant's Manifesto
http://www.adoptasniper.org
http://www.adoptasniper.org
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No problem. Pics of the Matech BUIS: www.appliedinc.com/matechbuis.jpg www.appliedinc.com/matechbuis1.jpg *added to page 1. |
WWW.ADCOFIREARMS.COM
ARMS.DD.GG&G.LMT.Magpul.PRi.TD.TroyInd.VLTOR
ARMS.DD.GG&G.LMT.Magpul.PRi.TD.TroyInd.VLTOR
ADCO ROCKS! |
"Common sense is not so common."- Voltaire
Updated and tack worthy I hope. TheRicker, I just hot linked the gif. As you update, it should be seen in my first post unless you move it. PM me if you do and I will fix the link. Great job BTW! |
"You exist to serve the mission. No one owes you anything." The Warrant's Manifesto
http://www.adoptasniper.org
http://www.adoptasniper.org
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Man, I sure wish this was a sticky before I spent valuable reading other's useless postings on BUIS 's . Many of the other postings were nothing more than Ford vs. Chev type banter. I just want the facts...man without having to read everybody's sales pitch, catalog description and biased testimonials. This is by far the most definitive info with pictures on the subject. This post is definitely a time saver and could lead to reducing those same old questions being asked over and over again. Of course, there are those who no matter what just want to ask questions with out the effort to research. Great job strick909 !! |
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I plan on getting a Rock River CAR A4 one of these days with the gas block instead of the standard front sight. So as a general rule do most of you guys pair up the front & rear flip-up BUIS by manufacturer - for example do you stay with both YHM, Troy or GGG for front/back or does it make no difference? Is there an advantage to stay with one manufacturer for both or not? Also, since ARMS does not make a front flip-up, which front flip-up BUIS would match up with a ARMS 40L on a rifle like the CAR A4? Thanks, Mike. |
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Mike 48, You can mix and match BUIS all you want. Make sure that the front flip you buy is made to mount on a gas block and not the front rail. The GG&G is very well made. The BMAS and YHM are both made by YHM and a good choice as well. Both should work with the ARMS with no problems. The Troy Ind. front is made to mount on the FF rail not the gas block. BillD, I have never seen the Wilson in person, but for 40% off, it seems worth the risk to me.
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"You exist to serve the mission. No one owes you anything." The Warrant's Manifesto
http://www.adoptasniper.org
http://www.adoptasniper.org
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All mil-spec rear sights must be at a certain ht. Front sights from after market makers should be mostly OK, but the rear sight is the governing factor if it is mil-spec. Mil-spec means that the goverment have bought them to work with the std. ht. of the issue barrel mounted weapons that Colt and FN make. Jack |
| apologize for my slack... I will tack this. But there is A LOT of tacks... I am most likely going to have to reorganize the tacks and consolidate them in some way. I have avoided doing this for more than a year, but there's just too many now. When I do it, this one will be there for sure. I agree with the guy that quoted the Guniess commercial... BRILLIANT! hahaha! |
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In the interest of correctness... the flip front listed as "Les Baer" is actually built by Young Manufacturing. www.brownells.com/aspx/NS/store/ProductDetail.aspx?p=19614&title=AR-15%2fM16+FRONT+SIGHT+GAS+BLOCK |
The big bad BUIS FAQ (Page 1 updated on 8/4/2006) (Page 1 of 9)
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