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We’ve all been there: You look through your red dot sight, only to realize that the reticle won’t turn on. You’re ready to take your shot, but you don’t have any way to line it up! It can be a heart-breaking feeling, but it doesn’t need to be.
That’s because a set of flip-up sights can be the perfect option to bail you out. They stay out of your way when you don’t need them, and they can be a lifesaver when you do.
But with so many choices out there, it can be challenging to find the perfect ones for your weapon. That’s why we created reviews of the best options out there, so you can get the perfect set the first time.
Image | Product | Details | ||
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Best Overall |
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Tacticon Armament Flip Up Iron Sight |
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CHECK PRICE |
Best Value |
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HWZ Tactical Folding Front & Rear Set Flip Up Backup Sights |
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CHECK PRICE |
Premium Choice |
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Dagger Defense Combat Tactical Flip Up Sight |
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CHECK PRICE |
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Ozark Armament Flip Up Battle Sight |
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CHECK PRICE | |
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Magpul MBUS Flip-Up Backup Sights |
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CHECK PRICE |
When you’re looking for a flip-up iron sight, it’s hard to beat the Tacticon Armament Flip Up Iron Sight. These are straightforward to use with a flip-up button, and they come with a lifetime warranty.
Even better, when you get these sights, you’ll have everything that you need to mount and adjust them, as they come with both the mounting and front sight adjustment tools. While this product is a more expensive option, it’s still a great deal considering everything that it comes with.
Finally, when you’re not using these sights, there’s a wooden case to store them, and this helps ensure that they stay in perfect condition when they’re not in use.
If you’re looking for the best flip-up sights for the money, you’re not going to beat the HWZ Tactical Folding Front & Rear Flip-Up Sights. Not only are these available for a great price, but there are four different color options to choose from.
However, while you may be looking to save a little money, there’s a tradeoff. For these sights, their durability is lacking and the front sight height is limited. That might not be a big deal for some weapons, but for others, it can render these sights unusable. Still, for a set of backup iron sights, these will do everything that you need.
If money is no object, the Dagger Defense Combat Tactical Flip-Up Sight is the best choice on the market. These feature a durable and long-lasting design and are extremely easy to mount onto a Picatinny rail. From there, it’s incredibly simple to make windage and elevation adjustments, and getting the proper height fitment has never been easier.
Keep in mind that this set does not come with the mounting or adjusting hardware, so you’ll need to invest in that to actually use your new sights. But once you have everything that you need, this is easily the best flip-up sight available.
A great flip-up iron sight option for your weapon is the Ozark Armament Flip Up Battle Sight. Not only is it easy to install and use, but it’s also made from extremely durable materials and has a lifetime warranty to go with it.
However, this sight does not come with any of the adjusting or mounting hardware, and it struggles to stay in the locked-down position. That’s a big deal because the last thing that you want is your iron sights popping up when you’re about to take your shot. Still, it doesn’t happen all that often, and it’s normally after you shoot.
You probably haven’t heard of Magpul, but this company makes great flip-up iron sights that you should consider. Not only are these extremely durable, but they also always stay locked in place, and they’re easy to adjust and use.
Moreover, there are four different color options that you can choose from, so it’s easy to match your sights to your weapon. However, these sights are definitely more on the expensive side, and you have to purchase the front and rear sights separately.
So, while each sight is affordable on its own, when you take into account everything that you need to use these sights, the price quickly adds up.
Feyachi makes tons of discount sights, so it’s no surprise that it has a flip-up front and rear iron sights option. These are affordably priced and include all the mounting hardware that you need. Even better, the windage adjustments are extremely easy to use, and they fit on any Picatinny or weaver-style rail system.
Still, these are discount sights, and that’s why they don’t include any adjustment tools and it’s not the most durable design. But for a backup set of iron sights, it’s a great choice that you won’t have to worry about.
An affordable flip-up sight option is the UTG Super Slip Flip-Up Rear Sight. There are two different color options for you to choose from, and you can easily make windage and elevation adjustments without any tools.
However, you don’t get any of the mounting hardware, and it doesn’t come with the front sight. But if you already have the mounting hardware and you like your weapon’s front sight already, this is an outstanding choice. Just know what you’re getting before you make your purchase, so you’re not left disappointed when it arrives.
If you’re looking for a set of flip-up iron sights that you won’t notice when you’re not using them, the Ultralight Flip-Up Sight is an outstanding choice. Not only is this set extremely lightweight, as the name implies, but it also has a low-profile design that helps keep it out of sight when it’s not in use.
Even better, it has an adjustable offset that can go up to 45 degrees, which adds to its overall versatility. But for all the perks that this flip-up sight has to offer, it doesn’t come with the front sight adjustment tool, which means you’ll need to invest in that to sight in your new sight.
Moreover, this sight isn’t all that durable. While it’s more than acceptable to use as a backup sight, if you’re expecting to be able to use it frequently, you’re going to be disappointed.
While the Marmot Flip Up Iron Sights A2 Front Sight & Rear Sight is an affordably priced sight that gives you two different sight pictures that you can switch through, that’s where the perks end.
It doesn’t feature a spring-up design, so you’ll need to manually pull them into place when you need to use them. Moreover, the sights don’t lock down, which means that it’s common for them to pop up when you’re not trying to use them.
Even worse, these sights don’t feature an elevation adjustment, and the windage adjustments are difficult to make, especially on the front sight. You can make these work, and you won’t be spending a ton of money, but there are better options available, even at this price point.
The SOUFORCE Premium Flip-Up Mil-Spec Iron Sights are available at an affordable price, and they flip up and down, but there’s not much else to love.
The worst part is that hinges stick, so when you press the button for them to fold up or down, it’s a 50/50 chance that it’s going to happen. They also don’t come with any installation or adjustment tools. Finally, while they have a 45-degree offset option, you can’t adjust between the two.
You either have to purchase the offset option or the straight-up option, and you won’t get both in a single sight.
Flip-up iron sights don’t get all the attention that red dots, holographic, and even traditional sights get, but when you need them, you want to have the best of the best. So, while it’s not surprising that you might not know everything about these options, it’s important to learn.
That’s why we created this comprehensive buyer’s guide, to walk you through everything that you need to know before and after you purchase flip-up sights. We’ll have you mounting your new sights and heading out to the range in no time!
If your weapon already has an iron sight and you’re not looking to upgrade it with a red dot, laser sight, or another choice, you can leave the flip-up sights at the store. But if you’ve upgraded your iron sight to a red dot or another similar option, chances are that you had to remove the stock sights to get them out of the way.
That’s where flip-up sights come in. They stay out of the way when you don’t need them, but they give you a backup plan if your electronic sight stops working. It’s about being prepared, and it’s an affordable way to do so.
So, if you have a red dot sight or another sight that requires batteries, we highly recommend investing in a set of flip-up sights to install on your weapon to be safe. The best part is that they are an affordable sight option, which means you don’t have to spend a ton of money to get extra peace of mind.
But that’s not the only time that you could want flip-up iron sights on your weapon. If you’re using a high-power scope on your rifle, an offset iron sight might be exactly what you need.
One of the best options that you can have for your weapon if you’re using a high-powered scope is an offset flip-up iron sight. It enables you to slightly tilt your field of view to bypass your traditional scope and look directly through the iron sights.
While this takes a little practice to get used to, it opens up a wide array of possibilities to hit closer range targets.
That’s because while high-powered scopes excel at helping you hit distant targets, they distort your view and make it impossible to hit close-range targets. That’s where offset iron sights come in. So, with a high-powered scope and an offset iron sight, you can get the best of both worlds when you’re shooting.
Since your offset iron sights feature a flip-up design, they stay out of your way when you don’t need them, which is another huge perk.
While flip-up sights have a more basic design than other sight options, that doesn’t mean there aren’t things that you need to look for to ensure that you’re getting a good deal.
For starters, you need to look at the materials that the manufacturer makes the sight from. While many manufacturers stick with hardened plastic, you’re better off going with a galvanized metal product. It’s going to last far longer, which is a huge perk.
From there, you want a sight that locks into place when it’s down. This way, you don’t have to worry about it coming up and obstructing your view when you don’t need it. But you also want a set of flip-up iron sights that is easy to activate, ideally through a push-button design. You often won’t realize that you need your flip-up sights until the last minute, and the last thing that you want is to be fumbling with your sight when you’re trying to take your shot.
Finally, you need to decide between an offset design or a straight-up design. An offset design is an important factor that you need to look into when selecting a new flip-up iron sight for your weapon.
Just because your new flip-up iron sights don’t have any high-tech features doesn’t mean that you can skip sighting them in. Just like any sight, you need to take it out to the range and sight it in to hit your target.
However, keep in mind that you’ll usually need a special tool to adjust your front sights, and out of the options on this list, only the Tactical Armament Flip Up Iron Sight comes with this tool out of the box. If you opt for a different sight, you’ll need to buy the adjustment tool separately.
While this isn’t an expensive purchase, it can be a little frustrating to get to the range only to realize that you don’t have everything that you need.
Keep in mind that you can always sight in your iron sights for a closer distance if you want; just realize that the shorter the distance, the MOA adjustments move more with each click.
Just like you need to make windage and elevation adjustments on other types of sights, you’ll need to do the same for iron sights. While the difference isn’t always as noticeable because you’re usually taking closer range shots, if you’re looking for precision, you’ll need to make the adjustments.
That’s why options that allow you to make tool-less windage and elevation adjustments are ideal, but only you know where you’ll be shooting and when you’ll need to make those adjustments.
Whether you’re looking at an expensive high-powered scope or a basic flip-up iron sight, it’s a good idea to take a look at the warranty before you make your purchase. Because while every company tells you that its product will last, only companies that offer a warranty guarantee it.
It means the chances of you getting a top-notch product straight out of the box is much higher, and even if you do happen to get a dud, the company will replace it or fix it for you for free. So, while you might be able to save a little money by opting for a product without a warranty, it often leads to you spending more later.
When you’re looking for the best flip-up sights for your weapon, you’re not going to beat the Tactical Armament Flip Up Iron Sight. These easily earned our top nod by including everything that you need to mount and adjust them, and they come with a lifetime warranty!
However, if you’re looking to save a little money, the HWZ Tactical Folding Front & Rear Set Flip Up Backup Sights is an outstanding option when it comes to the best flip up sights for value. They are affordably priced and have exceptional performance!
If you don’t love either of those options, check out the rest of the reviews. We’re sure that the perfect flip-up sight for your weapon is there.
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Robert’s obsession with all things optical started early in life, when his optician father would bring home prototypes for Robert to play with. Nowadays, Robert is dedicated to helping others find the right optics for their needs. His hobbies include astronomy, astrophysics, and model building. Originally from Newark, NJ, he resides in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where the nighttime skies are filled with glittering stars.
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