The Best Offset Iron Sights: Get the Edge

1. Best Overall: Magpul MBUS Pro Offset Sight Set

Magpul’s MBUS sights are, at this point, something of an industry standard for reliable secondary sights. This offset pair are similar to the MBUS Pros but in a canted format. You get the all steel, Melonite QPQ-coated, super durable MBUS Pros, but in an orientation that won’t mess with your optics.

The MBUS Pro Offsets have a smaller rear sight housing than the standard MBUS sights, which keeps them out of the way. These light, flipping sights are an excellent option in offset iron sighting solutions.

Mounting them is very simple, as they attach to a Picatinny rail section with two screws, much like any other Magpul rail accessory, but due to the surprisingly small size I found mounting them took more time than bigger offsets.

Once I added the MBUS Pros to my AR (working around one of my favorite LPVOs — the Vortex Strike Eagle), I loved how small and low profile they were. There were close enough to zero once mounted, and I haven’t had to mess with the elevation at all (although, if required, the tool-less adjustments are very straightforward.)

2. Also Great: Strike Industries BUIS Version II

If you’re looking for something a little beefier than the Magpul option, then this set by Strike Industries is right for you. These are designed with rough use and competition in mind, which is why the mounting plates are a little larger than you’d expect: this makes sense, though, as your iron sights don’t do you much good if they get knocked off.

The easy-to-read, high contrast markings are a great touch, and we could see these rugged sights being well at home on a competition carbine that might get knocked around a fair bit.

3. High Contrast Pick: XS Sight Systems XTI2 DXS

One of the key advantages that iron sights have over other optics is the speed at which you can get on target. These, by XS sight systems, take advantage of that by borrowing the sight picture from competition handguns and layer on a high-contrast orange dot. Line up the rear line with the dot and press the trigger. Simple and fast.

Because of this simple sight picture, these would be an excellent fit if you’re building a competition rifle or a home defense rifle with a magnified optic already in place. I appreciate that these can be reversed to work for lefties and that they come with thread locker right in the package.

Overall, the XS canted sights are another good option if you’re looking for sights that are fast to acquire and glow in the dark.

5. Premium Pick: Dueck Defense Canted Iron Sights

Maybe I’m old-fashioned, but I like the standard AR15 iron sights that can be found on issue M4-style military rifles that haven’t changed a great deal in about four decades. If you agree with us on that, but also want canted iron sights, these sights by Dueck Defense are the way to go.

This recreates the standard M16 sight picture but on canted rail sections rather than on the receiver and gas block. That similarity carries over for windage and elevation adjustment, so these sights would do well with folks who are used to, like, standard m16 iron sights. They’re also very flat up top, enabling you to run larger objective lenses if you choose.

They don’t fold down, which adds to their bulk but it also adds to their durability.

5. Also Great: Midwest Industries AR-15 Offset Sight Set

For years, Midwest Industries has been known for high-quality firearms and accessories; these sights are certainly no exception to that reputation. This solid aluminum set will likely last years, and the included springs are crisp, meaning that once you fold the sights up or down, they’re going to stay where you put them.

We’d be happy to put these sights on just about any rifle, but their sheer ruggedness makes them well suited to rifles you’d use in self-defense where you need your gear to work the first time, every time.

Optics are often electronic devices: which means batteries that can die, connections that can break, and glass that can fog. When it comes to engineering, redundancies are purposeful — especially when it comes to critical components like sighting systems.

Offsets in action

1. Redundancy

Back-ups keep the machine running and often save lives – airplanes have redundant everything (often in triplicate). This redundancy reduces the likelihood of failure; as they say “one is none, two is one”.

To ensure complete functional utility of your AR it’s critical to maintain an alternative to an optic — which is where physical iron sights come in.

2. Speed of Transition

If you find yourself transitioning from long-range to short-range shooting frequently, you’re a 3-gun competitor, or you just want the capability to transition off your primary optic quickly, a set of offset iron sights might be exactly what you’re looking for.

Offset iron sights, also called “canted sights”, allow for instantaneous access to physical iron sights by simply tilting the rifle 45-degrees. These are most commonly used as a backup to either a red dot or some other top-mounted optic, which can block the normal iron sight plane – making flip up iron sights impossible to use.

Instead, with the 45 degree offset canted sights provide you can immediately use your backup irons without the need to remove a non-functional optic or stop to activate flip-up BUIS.

With a magnified rifle scope transitioning to a close-range target can be a challenge (if not impossible) which a set of offset backup sights allow you to do more or less instantly, giving a shooter additional sighting flexibility.

3. Rail Space Conservation

For AR pistolsor shorter length rifles top rail space can be at a premium. Offsetting irons can free up room or add functionality – a set of fiber optic rapid-transition night sights can be extremely useful and add even more flexibility to address targets in a variety of situations.

Offset Iron Sights vs. Inline Sights?

Offset iron sights are a simple concept that takes some getting used to. Every shooter trains on inline sights, so it can be a little awkward to cant a rifle at 45-degrees while addressing targets. Training to establish familiarity and transition smoothly is a must, but many shooters can become incredibly proficient with a little effort.

With that said, there are substantial advantages to pairing canted sights with an optic. They allow for a more diverse set of mounting options – such as using a lower-mounted variable power optic which may offer better cheek weld but would be tough to use with standard in-line irons.

Similarly, some people pair an optic with a laser or light, which can eat rail space. Much like a variable powered optic example, shifting sights to the side opens up top rail space for other accessories.

In any case, access to physical iron sights is critical and canted sights provide a unique level of flexibility to the user.

Mounting Offset Irons

There aren’t an overwhelming number of top mounting options these days, which means mounting offset irons is fairly simple. Most sets of canted iron sights can be installed in about ten minutes if you’re taking your time.

Make sure you pick up a set that is compatible with your rail system, whatever that may be, and follow the instructions carefully – beyond that there are a few tips of the trade, so to speak.

First – threadlocker is your friend. Firing a gun stresses the weapon, which impacts everything mounted to it – and we don’t want sights (or anything else) flying off due to recoil.

Second, install the front sight as far from the rear as possible. This increases sight radius, and in-turn accuracy.

Are Offset Irons Practical?

Offset irons are one of the most deeply practical accessories for rifle setups. If, as we mentioned above, you have a large optic or are short on rail space, offset iron sights add functionality without competing for the same rail slots.

You’ll need to train on them to use them instinctively, but that should not deter you from considering them as an option for your backup irons.

Without a doubt, ARs are massively popular — and with the recent surge in NICS data on firearms background checks (2020 saw a Y/Y increase of more than 7 million – the largest on record by a country mile) there are a lot of new AR owners out there.

You can bet almost all of them are clamoring to start learning their way around “legos for adults” — with a better rail system, nicer grips, the right optic, and more functional furniture on their AR.

Covering the most practical ground of all – ensuring you can hit your target – with a good set of offset irons is a fantastic starting point to building an AR that will serve you for years to come.

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