Using an offset sight is an efficient and somewhat ingenious way of quickly switching to a close range target. Offset Iron sights are usually set at a 45-degree angle, which can be extremely useful when you have a scope already mounted on your rifle.
Rather than acquiring a short-range target by looking through the scope, you can tilt the rifle and use the offset sight. Hunting is often successful or not because of how quickly you can react to changing circumstances, and acquiring a target is frequently the make-or-break point of the whole process.
That being the case, having good offset iron sights on your weapon will likely increase your chances of success out in the field, which will increase your enjoyment. In this article, we’ll be reviewing five of the best offset iron sights.
You can’t go wrong by purchasing any of these outstanding offset iron sights, but after reading our reviews, you should have a fair idea of which one you might want to use personally.
The 4 Best AR-15 Offset Iron Sights of 2022
MBUS Pro Offset Iron Sights for AR-15 by Magpul
This is one of the best AR-15 offset sights available in the marketplace today, primarily due to its reliability and ease of adjustment. It’s also one of the more affordable offset Iron sights on the market, so you won’t have to sacrifice good quality. It weighs just about 1/4 of a pound and has all steel construction, so you can count on it lasting for a great many hunting trips. It has a Picatinny mount type, so you can rely on durability from this recognized manufacturer.
If you’ve already used Magpul’s inline sights, you’ll probably love these offset Iron sights as well, and you can get the same kind of superior performance for all of your short-range shooting. If you’re someone who insists on fiber optics for obtaining the most accurate sight picture, you want to pass on the MBUS Pro Offset, since it lacks that technology. However, it’s still a great bargain for the price, and its sturdiness will more than makeup for the cost of the device.
Also, it has a solid locking mechanism that keeps it in place even if you’re traversing some rugged terrain. You might even get involved in a situation where it’s necessary to cover ground quickly and run for a while, but the MBUS Pro Offset Iron Sights won’t become detached from your rifle. These are offset Iron sights that will get the job done for you.
SureFire Dueck Defense Rapid Transition Sight Set (DD-RTS)
This offset sight gets its name from 3-gun champion and former Marine, Barry Dueck. If you participate in shooting contests, this sight might just mean the difference in winning your next match. Anyone who is frequently involved in hunting or competitive shooting knows that this is one of the most accurate set of sights available today, and that’s why we recommend this as your overall best bet for competitive shooting.
It weighs approximately 1/5 lb. and is made of aluminum alloy with a Picatinny mount type that is permanently fixed. The Dueck Defense Rapid Transition Sight is ideal for competitive shooting contests of the run-and-gun variety. When you’re out in the field, it won’t slow you down, because it’s very lightweight and you won’t have to worry at all about wear and tear building up on this durable offset sight.
In fact, studies have shown that this offset sight is at least twice as durable as almost all other sights available today. If your weapons typically endure a bit of abuse on a hunting trip, you don’t have to worry about this one coming up short, because it will outlast any other sight on the market.
If there’s a downside to this outstanding product, it would be the fairly hefty price tag it carries. The price should not come as a surprise though, since this product really does incorporate the best characteristics of durability, high quality, and low profile features. If you don’t mind paying a little extra for a superior product, this can be the best purchase you make, especially if you’re a regular participant in three-gun competitions.
Tacticon Armament AR15 Offset Iron Sights
This may be one of the best bargains on the entire market, since it combines high quality and durability for a cost that will be under $30. If you are a beginner and you’re experimenting with flip-up sights, this may be the ideal choice to see whether you prefer working with flip-ups. The sights are made of hardened aircraft-grade aluminum and weigh about 1/4 lb.
As previously mentioned, these are flip-up iron sights and are of the Picatinny mounting type. Even though these offset Iron sights are available at a very low price, they will function well as either your main sight or your backup sights.
It has been intentionally designed for mounting on a rifle and hunting in rugged terrain. It will fit either the Picatinny or Weaver rail system, so you have some options there. When purchased, these sights are packaged in an attractive wooden case which comes with an adjustment tool, a wrench, and some additional ammunition. Some experienced shooters claim that Tacticon needs to improve its zero retention, while others complain the sights don’t lie as flat as they should, even with the solid springs.
If you do happen to run into any kind of issues with your Tacticon offset Iron sights, you can count on getting great customer service, and the product does come with a warranty, so you can’t lose no matter what. If you’re unhappy with the performance of your Tacticon offset Iron sights, you can always get a full refund from the manufacturer. Chances are you’ll get some great usage out of this offset sight, and you’ll enjoy many happy hours in the field or on the competition grounds.
Surefire Rapid Transition Sight
Three-gun legend Barry Dueck designed these Rapid Transition Sights, so you know that you can count on having a high-quality product when you’re using the Surefire Rapid Transition Sights. Dueck developed these sights to maximize proficiency in competitive shooting scenarios of the run-and-gun variety.
It also allows you to use a powerful optical mount, and that’s how the rapid transition sight was first conceived and then developed. It does carry a fairly hefty price tag, but much of that is due to the heavy-duty design that contributes to its extreme durability, and its tremendous capacity to endure wear and tear. It’s made from lightweight aluminum alloy, which means it’s lighter than the average offset Iron sights, but it’s also twice as strong as most standard aluminum sights.
Remember that it will be worth your while to pay for the increased durability offered by these offset Iron sights, because they tend to sustain much more abuse than inline sights, due to their positioning. If you’re a person who competes in three-gun competitions a great deal, you certainly won’t want to accidentally break your offset Iron sights by banging them against another object.
You’ll also like the fact that this particular offset sight only rises to .2 of an inch higher than the standard Picatinny rail, and that means you won’t have to worry about them interfering with your primary optics.
Ade Advanced Offset Iron Sights
If you’re looking for offset Iron sights on a budget, you probably couldn’t do better than settling on the Ade Advanced Offset Iron Sights. This is a high-quality sight made of aluminum alloy, with a hard anodized finish. It is also equipped with 1/2 MOA elevation and windage adjustments, which means you’re getting a fairly high-quality device at a very affordable price.
You’ll also love the fact that you get an excellent target picture, so you can score some easy hits during competition, whether your targets are close up or further away. You don’t get any frills with this offset sight, such as night sights or other accessories, but this is still an excellent choice for range day trips.
We recommend that you experiment with this sight for a while to see if offset iron sights are something you want to make part of your overall hunting approach. Given the fact that this is such a simple operation for an offset sight, it’ll be very easy for you to check it out and see whether or not offset Iron sights are the way you want to go for your hunting expeditions and your three-gun competitions.
Why use offset iron sights?
Of course, for any long-range target you encounter while hunting, you’ll probably want to be using your scope, but it’s also possible that you suddenly come up on a short-range target unexpectedly. Rather than spending time zeroing in on the short-range target with your scope, you can just make use of your offset iron sights by rotating your gun slightly and lining it up with the nearby target.
This usually takes less than half the time that it would take to use your scope when a short distance is involved. That makes offset Iron sights extremely useful for both real-life tactical scenarios and 3-gun or run-and-gun competitions when accuracy and speed are at a premium.
Offset iron sights vs. Inline iron sights
It can’t be said with certainty that either one of these sight types is better than the other, but both can be superior in specific situations. Both are generally very useful when it’s necessary to get a shot off quickly, and when you have a target at close range. One benefit that offset Iron sights have over inline sights is that it won’t be necessary to take any time to flip them up before taking your shot.
When you have only limited time available, it can be a crucial factor in whether or not you hit the target. Most offset Iron sights are constructed so as to be capable of flipping up and down, and using offset Iron sights in an up position won’t interfere with your scope in the way that inline sights can.
That means it’s effortless to engage any kind of short-range target when using offset iron sights, since it’s only necessary to rotate your rifle approximately 45 degrees before taking the shot. Offset iron sights can also be advantageous if your optical device suddenly becomes compromised because this would significantly reduce the effectiveness of your inline sights.
Even more beneficial, offset Iron sights make it possible to alternate between short and long-range targets without making any adjustments to your optic mount. In a real-life scenario, you rarely have the time to take your scope off before engaging a target.
On the other hand, it’s usually necessary to experiment with offset Iron sights to become proficient with using them. Some shooters require a little practice with rotating their rifle, especially when it has to be done in a heartbeat before engaging a potential target. If you’re not always aware of them, offset Iron sights can’t possibly get snagged on things, and that might end up being a nuisance for you if you’re not prepared for it.
