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HK MP7A1 (PDW) sights
March 25thNot a review, as these sights are not widely available (if at all), but shown here just for reference, and the fact that I could find no good photos of these sights anywhere on the internet. Even though these sights were designed for the HK MP7 A1 PDW, I found that they function just fine for the M4 as back-up sights. They’re similar in design and function to the Knights 300M rear BUIS and their front rail-mounted flip-up. A spring loaded plunger holds them in the up or down position - there’s no lock. The MP7 sights include pistol-type sights when folded down - there’s a front sight blade and rear, which can be used on the MP7 when no optics are mounted. On the M4, the pistol sights are too low to be used, but they’ll work on weapons with a higher top rail. The sights clamp to the rail and are tightened by a philips head screw.
LaRue Tactical Irondot MRD
March 16thBack in 2003/2004, when I first got my Docter Optic mini red dot sight, I mounted it on my LMT MRP as the primary optic. At that time, it wasn’t very common to see the MRD (Mini Red Dot) sights used as primary optics on rifles, probably because they hadn’t been around for too long, and people didn’t trust their durability. The Docter and now discontinued Optima (now manufactured as the J-Point) were used mostly on competition pistols or as backups on rifles on scopes. Then, they found some popularity mounted on ACOGs as close-range optics. When I mounted the Docter on my MRP, I just wanted the smallest red dot sight I could stick on there, and the Docter has worked well for the past 3 years it’s been on there. However, there was always the chance it could get damaged as it was unprotected. I was also using the Docter weaver mount on top of an ARMS #17, to get it to the right height. As the mini-dots have grown more popular and common due to their light weight and small size, so have the choices of mounting options. LaRue Tactical has stepped up to the plate and is offering mounts and MRD (Mini Red Dot) packages with their excellent locking lever system, called the LaRue Irondot.
MI Back-up Iron Sights
October 6thMidwest Industries, Inc. offers front and rear flip-up backup irons sights. Both sights are made from 6061 aluminum and mil-spec hard coat anodized for durability. They clamp to the rails and receiver with an allen head screw.
The front flip up comes in two version - the rail mounted version (MCTAR-FFR) and the gas block mounted version (MCTAR-FFG). Shown here is the rail mounted front flip up - the FFR. The FFR has the AK-style open-top ears, which provide a superior sight picture than the standard AR front ears, in my opinion. The circular ears are easier to center in the rear aperture, like the HK diopter sights. A standard A2 front sight post is used. When closed, the sight is about .625″ above the rail, and below the field of view of magnified optics. To deploy the sight, you just flip it up, and it locks in place. The close it, you press a small detent button on the left side while folding the sight down.
LaRue Tactical Two-piece rings and SPR-M4 mount
October 1st30mm 2-piece QD Scope Rings LT123 - I mounted the IOR scope in the SPR-S mount on my M1A scout with SA extended cluter rail, but couldn’t get it far back enough for the proper eye relief, as the SPR-S is actually cantilevered forward, and the Cluster top rail ends too far forward on the M1A receiver. Mark suggested his ultralight LT123 2-piece rings.
The LT123 rings utilize the same QD locking lever system as the other mounts. The rings are split horizontally, instead of vertically like the other mounts, and have four torx screws each. Seen from the side, the bases are not identical/symmetrical - there is a front and back ring (see far right photo below), which helps provide a slightly wider ‘base’ to support the tube. Utilizing these rings, I was able to get the IOR scope far back enough on the M1A, with room to spare. Right now, the rings are available in one only one height - 1.275″ (for an SR-25 cheek weld).
LaRue Tactical RAS II Aimpoint mount
September 24thAimpoint RAS II Mount LT152 - The LT152 Comp M RAS II mount was designed to be used on top of the ‘hump’ of the KAC RAS II, to put it at the proper height for co-witnessing the irons. The LT152 is 0.5″ shorter than the standard LT150 as the photo below illustrates. Same basic design - a single ring on the QD base. However, due to the reduced height, there is no spare battery compartment in the bottom of the base like on the LT150.
SureFire X200B and DG-18 switch
September 20thSurefire’s X200B followed their X200A (above) about a year after the A model was introduced, some time in 2005. Some changes were made to the original A model, which the B shown here incorporates. Look at the above writeup to see the early/original X200A without the changes.
The changes common to current A and B models are:
* Battery cover contacts changed to spring type for better contact - I haven’t had a problem with the older leaf-spring style battery contacts on the A model I have, but I can see that there’s a possibilty that the springs could ‘flatten’ out after a while and provide less pressure on the battery.
* Battery cover retaining pin added - A small clip that inserts into a small hole behind the battery cover release button prevents it from disengaging accidentally.
LaRue Tactical Dr Optic/J-Point attachment
September 10thJ-Point/Dr Optics Attachment and 1″ ring inserts - The J-Point/Dr Optics Attachment (LT137) enables the user to mount a J-Point or Dr Optic mini-red dot sight alongside a scope. This provides a close-quarter optic if a target of opportunity pops up and is too close to use a magnified optic on, if there’s no time to dial down the magnification on your scope or if you’ve got a fixed-power scope like a 10X.
The LT-137 is a platform machined on the side of a LaRue 30mm ring (it’s only compatible with LaRue bases). The platform is reversible for the J-Point (or Optima), and the Dr Optic, which have different footprints, and is attached to the ring with two Phillips screws. There are short index posts which interface with the holes in the base of the optics, and help keep the optic aligned and repeatable when removed for battery changes.
LaRue Tactical SPR-S mount
September 1stSPR-S Mount - The SPR-S mount (LT158) is a one-piece base mount that’s basically the same as Larue’s SPR/M4 mount, but .080″ lower to place the centerline of 34mm rings 1.5″ above the rail when it is not necessary for the eyepiece of the optic to clear a rear backup iron sight. With 30mm rings, the scope is centered 1.41″ above the rail. It’s available with 34mm, 30mm and 1″ rings.
Overall length of the mount is 5.85″, including the cantilever extension in front. The rings are set forward so that the proper eye relief can be obtained when mounting a scope on an M4 or similar weapon. The base of the mount that grabs the rail is about 4″ long.