Riddle me this...

[CAcop]

Our PD has decided to put HOLOsights on our AR's with flip up back up rear sights. Now I always thought that the HOLOsight could work just fine all by itself. Not according to our firearms instructors. Apparently to get accurate shots we have to line up our HOLOsight dot with the front sight to get a good shot. I always thought the HOLOsight was like the aimpoint where as long as the dot can be seen it will hit there regardless of angles and poor cheek welds. What's up with this?

To be exact they are zeroing the HOLOsight and iron sights at 50 yards. The AR's are Colt LE rifles with 16" barrels.

[DJ Niner]

According to the EOTech page below (near the bottom), you are correct:

http://www.eotech-inc.com/lawe_features.php

[pnguyen678]

Originally posted by CAcop
Our PD has decided to put HOLOsights on our AR's with flip up back up rear sights. Now I always thought that the HOLOsight could work just fine all by itself. Not according to our firearms instructors. Apparently to get accurate shots we have to line up our HOLOsight dot with the front sight to get a good shot. I always thought the HOLOsight was like the aimpoint where as long as the dot can be seen it will hit there regardless of angles and poor cheek welds. What's up with this?

To be exact they are zeroing the HOLOsight and iron sights at 50 yards. The AR's are Colt LE rifles with 16" barrels.

Maybe I'm misreading your post but are you sure about this? I've always thought that you only need the iron sights for backup purposes only. Of course, you could always cowitness as well:

http://www.pnguyen678.com/WebPage_Tactical/Misc/SmallThumbEOTech551_Cowitness.jpg

The EOTech reticle "hovers" in front of you and all you have to do is bracket the target with the outer 65 MOA ring and squeeze the trigger.
I switched from a fixed front sight base to a flip up so I can have an unobstructed view through the holosight window. If it needs to be lined up with the front sight, flip-up front sight users don't have that option.

http://www.pnguyen678.com/WebPage_Tactical/Misc/SmallThumbEOTech551_50YTarget.JPG

Plus, if this is true, then it would be true for all red-dot sights. It just doesn't sound right.

[CAcop]

Yeah I know tell me about it. The thing is the guys who told me this are usually right about their stuff. Good to hear I am not the only one confused by their statements. I suspect the mechanical offset might have something to do with what they say.

I'll plan on using the HOLOsight only and not worry about the front sight. That is how it is supposed to be. I like your set up of a pop up front sight. Thank you for those pictures.

[Nathan2003]

I've read and experienced that when shooting farther then certain distances (was 50 yards for me) using the 'lollipop' method proved more accurate. But that could be my shooting style.

[DJ Niner]

Perhaps they were confused by a common method for initially sighting-in a dot-type sight. If your irons are zeroed, then you can look through the irons, align them properly, and then crank the windage/elevation adjustments on the dot sight until the dot appears to be on top of the front sight post. This gives you a good "starter" zero for the dot. I've seen at least one person do this, and never have to touch the adjustments again; it set it up perfectly (for him, at least).

[pangris]

They are incorrect. I've used an AR with an EO and it had flip ups front and rear. Furthermore, I've seen more than one person with nothing but an EO.

That said, I don't think co-witness is a bad idea - I'm not an authority but for the most part, I think plain old iron sights are more than adequate for most tasks. They aren't "cool" but the batteries never die and you rarely break the lens ;) I like the EOs but am trying hard to get my rifle skills down with plain jane iron sights.

Paul