Robocop1051 Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 http://kitup.military.com/2012/07/back-up-iron-sight-drop-test.html#comment-47136From KITUP.MILITARY.COMThis is a guest post from Andrew Tuohy, a former Navy Corpsman and small-arms enthusiast. He wanted to see how three popular, rear back up iron sights performed after dropping them on concrete. The results are pretty interesting.Here’s Andrew’s Review:Back up iron sights, or BUIS, are a popular accessory for AR and M16/M4-platform rifles, with the primary reason for their purchase and use being that they offer a second method of aiming the rifle in the event that the primary optic or sight becomes unusable. However, because they are fairly small objects, it’s possible that they could become damaged if the rifle was dropped on a hard surface.In order to test whether certain popular BUIS would still be serviceable after taking a hard hit, I attached three different types of BUIS - Troy Industries, Magpul Industries and Diamondhead USA - to an AR-15 rifle chambered in .300 AAC Blackout weighing 7 pounds and dropped the rifle upside down from a height of 5 feet onto a concrete surface.Other portions of the rifle were protected from damage, and each set of BUIS took a solid hit from the drop. The ammunition used was Remington Premier Match .300 AAC Blackout 125 gr OTM. Each sighting device was installed according to the manufacturer’s instructions, then points of impact was established from a stable shooting position at 25 and 200 yards. After the drop, the rifle was fired again, and any change in point of impact noted.The first BUIS dropped was the Diamondhead. At first, damage appeared cosmetic only; however, the apertures could no longer be rotated, windage could not be adjusted, and there was a definite cant to the BUIS. Point of impact shifted approximately 16 MOA. We contacted Diamondhead with this result. They replied that a newer version was available which was more durable. We offered to test the new model but production issues meant they could not ship one to us. Next came the Troy sight. Cosmetic damage was apparent, but the sight could still be operated normally. Point of impact shift was approximately 3 MOA.The last set of BUIS was the Magpul MBUS. Damage was purely cosmetic and the sight remained fully functional. Point of impact shift was less than 1 MOA. Unlike the other sighting devices, a second drop was performed. Results did not change, and the sight remained functional.Back up iron sights from Diamondhead, Magpul and Troy after being dropped on concrete.Prior to this test, I didn’t think much of the MBUS; I now have a different opinion. In any case, it’s fair to say that I found the results of this experiment educational and informative.[ Andrew Tuohy served with the US Navy as a Hospital Corpsman HM2 (FMF). Today, when not blogging, he is the “Resident Firearms Guru” at LuckyGunner.com. ] Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robocop1051 Posted July 9, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 I own a set of Troy Di-Optic Micro Battle Sights (w/ tritium). They are fine sights, but I consider them a waste of money. They require two hands to manipulate, and are very slow to deploy. I have to say I do really like the Di-Optic feature. I have since bought SEVERAL sets of Gen1 and Gen2 Magpul MBUS sets. I like the tritium, so I installed a Trijicon front post into a set of Gen2 MBUS, it works GREAT <thumbsup>. One hand operation. Immediate results in operation. Push-"Snap"-Open... Push-"Click"-Closed.Metal bends till is breaks or dents. Never to return to it's original shape. The technology in polymers and plastics just amazes me (As Edgecrusher has been so kind to educate me). $300 for my Troy Sights (actually got mine on "that auction site" for $200)... or $75 for the MBUS Gen2 set (Brownells.com +discount)... I call this a no brainer. I'm MBUS from now on.If Trijicon would get off their duff's and make me a complete Di-Optic Trijicon set, I'd be set for good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unforgiven Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 How long does the brightness on the trijicon front pin last? Glad the MBUS survived that all I use ;).But to drop such a nice rifle :o. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edgecrusher Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 How long does the brightness on the trijicon front pin last? Glad the MBUS survived that all I use ;).But to drop such a nice rifle :o.My thoughts exactly. I own Troy and Magpul sights, like them both although I like the machined Troy's a little more. Good to know that if I toss my rifle they will be ok.OH WAIT! They are back up sights! If these were primary sights wouldn't the A2 style post and carry handle rear be better for primary usage? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unforgiven Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 I wasn't a big fan of the A2 front but on the PSA upper with the MBUS and EoTech the alinement is perfect.They sure look like [carry handle & A2] they could take a beatingand I would think that was the design purpose brother Greg. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
edgecrusher Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 yup, that's what i'm talking about.I am a big red dot fan, with folding buis, and i trust both when sighted in. Hopefully when folded, the buis won't loose their zero if the primary optic takes damage, and could be deployed when needed. Heather is a huge fan of the EoTech, but after having the xps-2 on my Pws for a while, I think I'm ready to go back to a T-1 aimpoint or the like. Personal preference. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unforgiven Posted July 9, 2012 Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 That aimpoint patrol model has really caught my eye.The battery life is outstanding +1 <thumbsup> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robocop1051 Posted July 9, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 9, 2012 Trijicon guarantees their tritium to 10 years. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jgun Posted July 10, 2012 Report Share Posted July 10, 2012 I was wasn't that impressed with the Magpul BUIS when I first saw them. I guess I'm just a dinosaur, and have trouble accepting the idea that "plastic" parts can actually be any good, having nothing to do with fact, but after reading this, I think I'm going to pick up a set to try out, certainly like the price of them compared to the others out there. I think I need to get over my plastic gun issues, since I'm using plastic mags almost exclusively in my ARs these days Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robocop1051 Posted July 10, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 10, 2012 I remember in the mid 90's, gutting paracord and looping it out of magazine floor plates, so my father could reach his mags easier in his gear. A short while later I told him about this new company that makes these special "Mag Pulls". He scoffed at them saying they'd never take off. Why would he spend that much money on something he can do with good old paracord. Now look at that little company. They were game changers. This isn't some Hasbro plastic. I have to give credit where credit is due. Magpul makes some great shit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unforgiven Posted July 11, 2012 Report Share Posted July 11, 2012 Hell yea brother Rob. <thumbsup> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
planeflyer21 Posted July 11, 2012 Report Share Posted July 11, 2012 Someone was bitching about the new Ruger 10/22 trigger assembly being polymer. My buddy asked "Have you seen the video of them throwing it on the ground, jumping on it, installing it in the rifle and then shooting the rifle? Try that with the metal trigger group."My Marlin 795 has a polymer hammer of all things...goes bang every single time though!Jon Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Team Helotes Posted July 11, 2012 Report Share Posted July 11, 2012 I prefer Troy myself. I guess I am better than Robo, I can flip my Troys with 1 hand. :D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jeffreyC Posted July 11, 2012 Report Share Posted July 11, 2012 Midwest industries sights only take two hands to deploy if I do both at the same time. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robocop1051 Posted July 11, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 11, 2012 Maybe it's just mine. My Troy's are tighter than airport security during Romadan. The lock is no joke either. I can't deploy my sights without taking the rifle from my shoulder. I have multiple sets of MBUS that just snap into position with the press of a button. I have an older ARMS rear sight that has a similar spring loaded function. I absolutely love that feature. I'm not selling my Troys any time soon. But I think all te companies have something to learn from each other. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
98Z5V Posted July 13, 2012 Report Share Posted July 13, 2012 Rob, here's a bit of very useful information that the KitUp article didn't have room to print/publish...Here's the details of it:http://vuurwapenblog.com/2012/07/08/buisoptic-drop-test/"One thing I did not mention in the post which was sent to KitUp (due to word count limitations) was that after dropping the MBUS twice, I picked the rifle up, held it over my head like the maul I used to split seasons' worth of firewood while growing up in Alaska, and swung it down on a concrete shooting table, with the MBUS taking all of the impact. It did not break or shift POI by anything more than 1MOA."If you guys are gun-board enthusiasts, and you've been around for awhile, you'll know the author as 87GN as a username on other gunboards... I'm just sayin'... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
unforgiven Posted July 14, 2012 Report Share Posted July 14, 2012 :o :o :o :o 8) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Robocop1051 Posted July 14, 2012 Author Report Share Posted July 14, 2012 I wish I had the disposable income to build rifles and then just beat the crap out of them for informational purposes. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
btate868 Posted August 27, 2012 Report Share Posted August 27, 2012 This makes me think twice about that MATECH rear I wanted, maybe ill look for something a little more beefy. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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