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Sights for the Tactical Carbine
Let
me state up front that a sighting system is only as good as the mount that is used with it. I have seen too many $300 sights fastened to
$1000 weapons with $10 mounts. The good news is that most sights can be
purchased with the appropriate mount for your specific application and,
normally, these mounts are very good. However, if you need an additional type
mount for some reason then be sure that you purchase a quality product. The
better known names in the mount business are A.R.M.S. and GG&G – either
can usually be procured from a variety of distributors and dealers. The key to
selecting the proper mount is based on anticipated use. If you are using both
optics and irons, or possibly multiple type optics, you will need a mount type
that is repeatable. If you are using night vision devices (NVDs), you may need a
mount that allows the optics to move forward or rearward without zero loss in
order to position the NVDs. The last bit of advice I would offer here is to
ensure that your optics/sights are positioned high enough to allow proper cheek
placement and eye position/relief.
Step
One
The
first step in selecting a sighting system for any weapon is deciding what you
expect the weapon to do once the sights have been mounted. Sights are not
magical. They will not make you a better shooter; they will assist you in
acquiring a target quicker or seeing a target at an extended range. For the
majority of law enforcement officers, average situations requiring the use of a
tactical carbine involve close ranges, quick target engagement, and confined
spaces/areas that have to be maneuvered. For this environment, a sight that
offers quick target indexing, such as one of the red dot sights, is probably the
ticket. For those officers working in more rural or open areas where longer
engagements (past 50 yards) may be the norm, a reticle type sight might be more
adequate.
The
first sighting system we need to mention here is the one that is most commonly
overlooked or ignored completely: iron sighting systems. Regardless of the area
or environment in which you work, the one thing that I would HIGHLY recommend is
that back-up iron sights always be available on the weapon. These sights must be
functional and zeroed to the officer because when you need them, you NEED them.
There are some really fine iron sight systems available today; many are designed
to be incorporated with optical sights. Like the mounts, companies such as
A.R.M.S., GG&G, and Knight Manufacturing produce some of the best iron
sights systems available.
Categories
Tactical
carbine sights generally come in one of two forms (either electronic or
nonelectronic), meaning they either need batteries or they don’t. These two
areas can be further broken down into reticle or aiming point types which are
generally accepted as either a dot sight or a reticle sight. Let’s take a look
at some of these sights and try to provide some insight into the positive and
negative aspects of each. I have to caveat this article by saying that I have
had extensive experience with a wide variety of sights and sighting systems;
however, there are still many that I have not. If I do not mention your favorite
sight, please forgive me. However, if I happen to say something negative
concerning a sight you favor, then disregard it. Use what makes you happy and
makes your job easier. If you believe in a particular sight (or any piece of
equipment for that matter), then, by all means, use it.
Red
Dots
The
“red dot” sight is by far the most common electronic sight in use today and
can be found in a wide variety of styles, sizes, and price ranges. These sights
were made popular by products such as the Aimpoint sights, ProPoint®
sights and the C-MORE sights which allow the user to index on a target quickly
without having to line up a front and rear sight. Additionally, they allow the
user to shoot with both eyes open and allow target engagement in limited or low
light. Most red dot sights come in a variety of dot sizes, generally ranging
from about two minutes of angle (MOA) all the way to sixteen MOA. The larger the
MOA, the larger the dot and the quicker it can be seen. The smaller dots are
intended to be used where longer shots may have to be taken (past 25
meters/yards). The majority of red dot sights allow the intensity of the dot to
be varied by way of a switch. Many people mistakenly believe that, by varying
the intensity of the dot, they are changing the size of the dot. This is only an
optical illusion, as the size of the dot remains the same.
The
C-MORE red dot sight is available with specific mounts which allow the use of
the standard M-16 aperture sights in conjunction with the red dot on M-16 style
rifles and carbines, allowing you to always have iron sight backup. The C-MORE
is a favorite among competition shooters for use in action pistol and three gun
matches. The C-MORE uses a “Heads Up Display,” or HUD, meaning that the
reticle pattern appears to float.
Holographic
Sights
One
of the newest electronic sights is the “holographic” sight that project an
image (dot or reticle) onto a lens which the operator looks through. An example
of this is the Bushnell Holo Sight
which is unique in that the reticle pattern is either placed or projected onto a
lens. When viewed, the reticle appears as though it is transposed onto the
target which makes target engagement extremely fast. Both the HOLO II and the
C-MORE red dot sight are parallax-free which means that the sight looks the
same, regardless of where the head is located in regards to the sight (unlike
normal rifle scopes). Additionally, in the case of the HOLO and C-MORE sights,
should the lens break, the aiming point will appear on the available
glass remaining and still be zeroed.
Regardless
of the type of electronic sighting system, the obvious downfalls are that they
all need batteries, have to be adjusted, and are prone to failure at the most
inopportune time. Additionally, red dot sights suffer from what is called
“washout,” meaning that, in bright light against a light background, the dot
will disappear (the C-MORE seems to be the brightest dot and will not wash out).
With all that said, the electronic sight remains the most popular style of sight
for the tactical carbine, especially when used in an urban environment. The new
holographic sights are quickly gaining popularity due to their flexibility and
ease of use; however, the traditional red dot sights remain the predominate
electronic sight. Pricewise, most of the red dot sights are comparable, ranging
from around $200 to $500 for some of more sophisticated night vision capable
systems. A couple of tips here: Always carry spare batteries (preferably on the
weapon itself) and always have a backup iron sight mounted and zeroed on the
weapon.
Nonelectric
Dots
The
next variety of sighting systems are the nonelectronic dot type, which generally
means that the dot is illuminated by some type of radiating element (usually
tritium). The two sights that come to mind in this area are the Mepro 21, made
by Meprolight, and the Reflex, made by Trijicon. Like the electronic variety,
the illuminated sights are offered in different sized dots, anywhere from four
to twelve MOA, for the same reasons. Most of the illuminated reticles either
come with (or have) optional polarizing filters that allow the user to increase
or decrease the amount of light that enters into the objective (front) of the
sight, thus making the dot brighter or dimmer. The upside of these sights is
that they do not need batteries and, therefore, will not die when you need them
the most. The down side is that they cannot be
adjusted in intensity to meet the lighting conditions, especially in low or dim
light. Many times, the dot in these
sights is “fuzzy” and can be hard to distinguish, especially when trying to
obtain pinpoint accuracy at 25 yards or more. The price of these sights is
comparable to the electronic variety, again ranging from $200 to $500, depending
on the options chosen.
Crosshair
Sights
The
last type of sighting system that I will talk about is the reticle type which,
as the title implies, has a reticle (crosshair) type aiming point. These
sighting systems are normally telescopic in nature and generally familiar to
anyone who has ever used a scoped rifle, except that most of the reticle
patterns are not the common crosshair (duplex or otherwise) style. Most of the
reticle patterns found in these systems incorporate some type of range finding
system out to (normally) 500 yards or meters. A couple of the more favored
systems are the Elcan and the ACOG. The reticle style sight is intended for use
in areas that allow longer range shooting than typically found in urban
environments, although they can be very effective when employed as an urban
sniper optical system, even on the tactical carbine. Many of the reticle systems
can be had with illuminated reticles that, like their dot cousins, use tritium
to make the reticle visible in low light situations. One of the negative aspects
of the reticle type sights is that many times the reticle itself is extremely
fine and very hard to see in all but perfect light conditions. Another is that,
in many cases, in order to use the sight properly, it must be mounted in a
position that does not allow the use of iron or backup sights which greatly
reduces the weapons’ flexibility and usefulness. Reticle style sights are
generally much more expensive than either of the dot type sights. These sights
run between $300 and $1000, again depending on which model, the magnification,
the reticle, etc.
Pros
and Cons
To
sum all of this up, let me break it down with a “P” for positive and an
“N” for negative, and with a synopsis at the end:
Urban
– generally typified by quick target engagement, confined area maneuvering,
multiple users, and vehicle storage:
•
Electronic dot – (P) Good sight that enables quick target engagement.
(N) Relies on batteries and has to be
adjusted for the existing light conditions. Good Choice
•
Nonelectronic dot – (P) Good sight, provides quick target engagement; does not
need batteries for use; always “on”; normally very durable, usually retains
zero well. (N) Normally dim, sometimes fuzzy aiming point. Ok
Choice
•
Holographic sights – (P) Good sight that enables quick target engagement
which, depending on reticle or aiming point, can be used for longer range shots,
if necessary. (N) Relies on batteries and has to be adjusted for the existing
light conditions. Good Choice
•
Reticle or telescopic – (P) Magnification of distant targets; precise
engagement of targets; range determination (reticle dependant). (N) Slow target
engagement; limited field of view; cannot be used inside buildings. Worst
Choice
Semiurban
– generally typified by quick target and medium range engagements, confined
area maneuvering, multiple users, and vehicle storage:
•
Electronic dot – (P) Good sight that enables quick target engagement and can
be employed at longer range with practice. (N) Relies on batteries and has to be
adjusted for the existing light conditions; at longer ranges, the dot can
obscure vital target areas. OK Choice
•
Nonelectronic dot – (P) Good sight that enables quick target engagement
and can be employed at longer range with practice; does not need any batteries
for use; always “on”; normally very durable. (N) Normally dim, sometimes
fuzzy aiming point. Good Choice
•
Holographic sights – (P) Good sight which enables quick target engagement;
alternate reticle patterns can provide longer-range engagements. (N) Relies on
batteries and has to be adjusted for the existing light conditions. Good
Choice
•
Reticle or telescopic – (P) Magnification of distant targets; precise target
engagement. (N) Slow target engagement; limited field of view; cannot be used
inside buildings. OK Choice (depending on amount of open area)
Rural
– Generally typified by quick target and medium range engagements; confined
area maneuvering; multiple users; and vehicle storage:
•
Electronic dot – (P) Quick sight employment. (N) Relies on batteries and has
to be adjusted for the existing light conditions; some examples not extremely
durable; dot can obscure target or desired point of impact. OK Choice
(depending on specific usage)
•
Nonelectronic dot – (P) Quick sight employment, does not need any batteries
for use; always “on,” normally very durable. (N) Does not magnify the
target; normally dim, sometimes fuzzy aiming point; dot can obscure target or be
very difficult to hold on desired aiming point. OK Choice (depending on
specific usage)
•
Holographic sights – (P) Quick sight employment; alternate reticle can provide
long-range aiming points. (N) Does not magnify the target; relies on batteries
and has to be adjusted for the existing light conditions; reticle or dot can
obscure target and make holding the target very difficult. Good Choice
•
Reticle or telescopic – (P) Magnification of distant targets; allows for range
estimation and target hold off; can be used for moving targets. (N) Slow target
engagement; limited field of view. Good Choice
Summary
The
point to all of the preceding paragraphs was to try and give you, the reader,
some idea of the advantages and disadvantages of the different types of sighting
systems available for use on the tactical carbine. Like everything in the
shooting community, everyone has an opinion and a multitude of reasons to back
it all up. For those interested in my opinion, I have to say that, having used
the majority of the systems I mentioned, I prefer the holographic sights for
close quarters work. I prefer a duplex style reticle (preferably one with a
range finding capability) and variable power ranging from 1.5 - 6 power if I am
using the weapon for long-range or precision work.
This
article is not meant to be a “single source” document. Additionally, it is
very hard to single out specific products as being “the best.” However,
readers should take from this article what it intended, and that is to provide
some basic information and to identify some specific aspects of the more common
systems. Those interested in procuring sighting systems for themselves (or their
unit) should conduct a mission analysis to determine the parameters for use.
Once this has been accomplished, I would recommend that focused research be
conducted on the specific types of sights needed. I know this last line will be
somewhat lost, but I feel a need to say it anyway: Let the use/mission choose
the sighting system – not the price of it.n
About
the Author: Michael Haugen is a 23 year U.S. Army veteran, the last 15 as a
Special Forces operator. Mr. Haugen is currently a Chief Warrant Officer Three
serving with the 1st Special Forces Group (Airborne) at Fort Lewis, Washington.
Throughout his tenure in the Army, Mr. Haugen has traveled throughout Asia,
parts of South America and Europe and has developed expertise in many areas,
including two foreign languages, military free fall, waterborne infiltration,
survival escape and evasion, special operations target interdiction and
urban combat. Mr. Haugen’s current position is the Officer in Charge
of the 1st Special Forces Group Advanced Combative Skills Training,
Research and Development Cell and is
responsible for conducting urban combat and sniper training for his unit.
As a Special Forces Operator, Mr. Haugen has trained both military and law
enforcement forces in the US and overseas in numerous subject areas. Mr.
Haugen’s expertise in urban combat and sniping has been called upon numerous
times to train special operations forces and special weapons and tactics teams.
In addition to his military accomplishments, Mr. Haugen is also an FAA senior
parachute rigger, master diver and rifle/pistol competitor.
Source List
Bushnell Performance Optics C-MORE Systems Kimber/Meprolight™ Tasco Worldwide (ProPoint®) Trijicon, Inc.
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