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Posted: 1/29/2012 5:27:49 AM EDT
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Hi All,
First off you all need to know that Im an old geezer (60yrs old) I have a Bushmaster XM15 E2s carbine with a removable carry handle, I've added a few things to it to make it look cooler, and one, a CMC drop in trigger to aid in acuresy. I currently have an old (15yr old) Tasco Propoint mounted on top of the carry handle, the old dot sight still works good, and being mounted on the carry handle seems to work well for me BUT it seems that almost everyone is going with a flat top receiver, so my question is what is the advantage of me taking off the carry handle, and mounting a dot sight directally on top of the receiver? Also forgive this dumb question, but I read all the talk of co-wittness, what does that exactally mean, I think maybe it means that I can use my iron sights as well as the dot sight is that right? Also I've read about 1/3 co-witness, and complete co-witness, can someone tell me the difference? I plan to get a new dot sight, and am looking at the Vortex Strikefire, or the Primary Arms multi retical, but if I mount them directally on top of my receiver, I will have to get a rear flip-up sight as well, so what will be the best mount to get for the dot sight, so that I can also see my iron sights as well? I know there are alot of questions, but any help here will be greatly appriciated. Thanks Much, Paul 
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Mounting any optic directly to the top of the receiver gives you a much better cheek weld when looking through the optic. MUCH more comfortable, more steady, more control and your eye will naturally be at the proper level to peer through the optic.
When you have an optic attached to a carry handle it forces you to lift your cheek much higher therefore giving you a much weaker cheek weld. There are basically 2 types of 'cowitness'. True cowitness is where the red dot sits right on top of your front iron sight post when you look through the optic. A lower 1/3 cowitness is where your red dot sits well above the front sight post when sighted in perfectly and zeroed in independently from the iron sights. The difference between true cowitness and lower 1/3 cowitness is height of the mount used. There are some great drawings/diagrams that show what I'm talking about. Many, if not most, prefer a lower 1/3 cowitness. Here's a true cowitness: 
Here's a lower 1/3 cowitness: 
As you can see, a lower 1/3 cowitness could be considered ideal regardless whether you're using fixed front & rear iron sights or flip sights. |
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No problem.
Absolutely. Larue Tactical makes the best in my opinion. Brobo and ADM makes mounts too. All of the brands I listed make quick disconnect mounts. There are many advantages to using quick disconnect mounts, but they are more expensive. If you are on a tight budget then Primary Optics makes some inexpensive mounts. Here's a Vortex StrikeFire with a Larue cantilever mount: 
Here's a Trijicon ACOG with a Larue mount: 
Here's a Bushnell Elite 3200 with a Larue mount : 
Here's a Vortex StrikeFire with a cheap 'clamp on' China mount like with PrimaryArms sells: 
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