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Flip Up BUIS
- Type
- Flip-up backup
- Configuration
- Front + rear set
- Mount
- Picatinny, straight
- Adjustments
- Front post elevation, rear windage
- Price
- $29.99
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Necessities. Not nonsense.
AR-15 Iron Sights
Flip-up backup sights, fixed sights, carry handles, and front sight posts for AR-15 rifles. Built from metal, backed by our No B.S. lifetime warranty.
4.6 across 1,400+ verified buyer reviews No B.S. lifetime warranty Free shipping over $50
Shop iron sights ↓Three ways shooters run iron sights
Backup to an optic
Backup to a red dot or optic
Most AR-15s wear a red dot or an optic. Backup iron sights ride the same rail and fold out of the way until the optic goes down. Flip-up sights are the standard answer here.
See flip-up sightsPrimary sights
A primary sighting system
No optic, or a build that earns its zero the old way. A carry handle or a fixed front-and-rear set gives you a complete, always-there sighting system with nothing to switch on.
See fixed sightsOffset
Offset for fast transitions
Running a magnified optic? 45-degree offset sights mount at an angle so a slight roll of the rifle puts irons on target without breaking your grip.
See offset sightsShop AR-15 iron sights
All ten of these are AR-15 iron sights, and they answer the two questions every buyer asks: how they mount and whether they fold. Flip-up backup sights fold flat under an optic and pop up when you need them. Fixed sights and carry handles stay put. Front sight posts replace or restore the front half of an A2 system. Every one is metal, and every one carries the same lifetime warranty.
Filter iron sights
Filter
Flip Up Backup Iron Sights for AR-15
4.6 (285 reviews)
$29.99
Shop Flip Up Sights
HK Style Flip Up Backup Sights
4.6 (37 reviews)
$29.99
Shop HK Style Sights
Fiber Optic Flip Up Backup Sights
$29.99
Shop Fiber Optic Sights
45 Degree Flip Up Backup Sights
4.3 (89 reviews)
$34.99
Shop 45 Degree Flip Up
45 Degree Offset Backup Sights
4.8 (66 reviews)
$34.99
Shop 45 Degree Offset
AR-15 Carry Handle Rear Sight
4.7 (780 reviews)
$29.99
Shop Carry Handle
Fixed Rear Iron Sight
4.4 (108 reviews)
$29.99
Shop Fixed Rear Sight
AR15 A2 Front Sight, Gas Block Height
$24.99
Shop A2 Front Sight
Rail Height A2 Front Sight for AR-15
4.9 (43 reviews)
$24.99
Shop Rail Height Front Sight
Micro Flip Up Backup Sights
4.6 (51 reviews)
$39.99
Shop Micro SightsWhat 1,400+ verified buyers say
We cannot show you bench-rest theater. We can show you what 1,400-plus verified-purchase reviews across our iron sights say about real-world use, the good and the honest gaps.
What buyers consistently praise
- Metal, not polymer. Across the flip-up sights, buyers single out steel and aluminum construction over flimsy plastic. As one buyer put it: “Surprisingly good for the price. They are all metal and they don't wiggle at all.”
- Value against name brands. Carry-handle buyers compare us to $80-110 name-brand handles; flip-up buyers to sights double and triple their cost. It is the single strongest theme across all eight reviewed SKUs.
- Holds zero under recoil. Buyers report flip-up sights holding 150 to 600-plus rounds, and carry handles holding zero on .308 uppers, when the mount is torqued down.
- Easy to install and zero. Recurring across every SKU: install in minutes, on paper with a few clicks.
What to know before you buy
- Torque the rail clamp. Most retention issues we have ever seen trace back to a clamp left hand-tight. Snug the clamp screw, check it after the first range trip, and the sight stays where you put it.
- The 45-degree flip-up's front retaining nut. A small number of buyers reported this nut backing out under hard recoil. We tracked down what caused it and corrected it; a drop of blue thread-locker on that nut is still cheap insurance on any sight.
- Fixed Rear Iron Sight windage. A few early buyers reported the windage running well to one side to zero. We traced that to a tolerance on our end and tightened it up. A fixed rear should zero near-centered.
None of these is the norm. They turn up in a handful of reviews out of more than 1,400. If a sight ever reaches you wrong, that is what the No B.S. lifetime warranty is for: email the shop, a real person answers, and we make it right.
In their words
“Surprisingly good for the price. They are all metal and they don't wiggle at all. Easy to deploy and find your target.”
Paul, 5 stars, Flip Up Backup Iron Sights“Just got this and compared it to my $110 carry handles on my other rifles. I don't see the reason to buy the $110 one ever again...”
Brian R., 5 stars, Carry Handle Rear Sight“The product is very solid, well machined, these are not plastic crap. The accuracy is perfect and easy to zero, the clicks are solid and not loose.”
A. F., 5 stars, 45-Degree Offset Backup Sights“All metal, sturdy, and hold zero. These are great!”
Cecil W., 5 stars, HK Style Flip Up Backup Sights“A real hidden gem. Exceptional form fit and function at a very attractive price. Why pay absurdly high prices for back-up sights?”
Alvah D., 5 stars, Micro Flip Up Backup Sights
How to choose AR-15 iron sights
Flip-up or fixed?
The first fork. Flip-up backup iron sights fold flat against the rail and pop up when you need them, so they live behind a red dot or optic without blocking it. Fixed sights stay upright all the time. If the rifle wears an optic, you want flip-ups so the irons are out of the sight picture until the optic fails. If the rifle has no optic, a fixed set or a carry handle is simpler with nothing to deploy. Some buyers pick fixed sights on an optic build anyway, because fixed sights have no hinge to wear. Fewer moving parts, fewer failure points.
Front and rear set, or just one?
A complete iron-sight system is a front post and a rear aperture. Our flip-up and offset sights ship as front-and-rear sets. If you are restoring an A2 rifle or replacing one damaged sight, buy the half you need: a front sight post for the gas block or rail, or a fixed rear. Match the front sight height to your build. A gas-block-height front sight sits on a standard A2 gas block; a rail-height front sight rides a flat-top rail next to the rear sight.
How high should AR-15 sights sit?
AR-15 iron sights are built to one standard height so the front and rear line up over the bore. Flip-up and fixed backup sights mount on the flat-top Picatinny rail and co-witness with most red dots. A2 front sights come in two heights: gas-block height for a standard A2 front base, and rail height for a flat-top upper with no front base. Buy the height that matches where the sight mounts.
Do you still need iron sights?
A modern red dot is reliable, but it runs on a battery and it is glass. Iron sights need neither. They are the backup that works when the optic does not, and on a no-optic build they are the whole sighting system. For a defensive or duty rifle, a set of backup irons is cheap insurance. For a pure range toy with a red dot, irons are optional. Most buyers run both.
Flip-up backup iron sights
Flip-up backup iron sights, or BUIS, are the volume seller in this category and the default backup for an optic-equipped AR-15. They fold flat under a red dot and pop up when you need them. Ozark makes four: the standard Flip Up Backup Iron Sights, the HK-style set with a rotary diopter rear, a fiber-optic version with a glowing front post, and the lower-profile Micro Flip Up sights.
What flip-up buyers tell us
Across 285 reviews on the standard set and 51 on the Micro, the same notes repeat: real metal, no wiggle once locked, and a price under what polymer sights cost. Buyers run them as backup to a red dot and as the primary sights on iron-only builds.
“Surprisingly good for the price. They are all metal and they don't wiggle at all. Easy to deploy and find your target. Way better than any flimsy polymer sights that are over twice as much...”Paul, 5 stars
Which flip-up set is right for you
The standard Flip Up Backup Iron Sights are the all-rounder, spring-loaded with a push-button release. The HK-style set uses a rotary rear drum with two apertures, a fast one and a precise one. The Fiber Optic set adds a bright front post for low light. The Micro Flip Up sights sit lower and lighter for a cleaner rail. All four are front-and-rear sets and all four fold flat.
The honest weak spot
The standard Flip Up Backup Iron Sights are spring-loaded, with a push-button release. A small number of buyers have reported the spring detent wearing over time, or a little play in the rear sight once it is deployed. We tracked those down and corrected them on our end; that is not how the sight should behave. If yours does either, it is covered, so contact us and we will make it right.
“Mounted easily, sleek design,seem solidly made and once raised into position they lock unlike most other sights ive seen, will likely buy more.”Bryan K., 5 starsShop the Flip Up Backup Iron Sights
Carry handles, fixed sights, and front sight posts
Not every AR-15 runs an optic. For iron-only builds, restorations, and A2 rebuilds, Ozark makes a detachable carry handle, a fixed rear sight, and two A2 front sight posts.
AR-15 carry handle rear sight
The detachable carry handle clamps to a flat-top rail and gives you a full A2-style rear sight with windage and elevation. It is the pick for a retro build or anyone who wants the classic sight picture. Across 780 reviews it is the most-reviewed product on this page, and buyers consistently compare its build to $80-110 name-brand handles.
“Just got this and compared it to my $110 carry handles on my other rifles. I don't see the reason to buy the $110 one ever again...”Brian R., 5 stars
Fixed rear iron sight
The Fixed Rear Iron Sight is a no-fold rear with rear-adjustable elevation, which A2 shooters like. It has been used in volume builds: one buyer outfitted 23 department rifles with it. Honest note: a few early buyers reported the windage running well to one side to zero. We traced that to a tolerance on our end and corrected it. A fixed rear should zero near-centered; if yours will not, that is not how it left us, and the No B.S. warranty covers it.
“It's great being able to change elevation from the rear sight. Easy to align target in sight with both eyes open quickly, so really appreciating that. Those things make this sight very versatile.”Robert T., 5 stars
A2 front sight posts
Two A2 front sights, two heights. The gas-block-height A2 front sight sits on a standard A2 front base. The rail-height A2 front sight rides a flat-top rail when there is no front base. Both are standard A2 posts, adjustable for elevation. Pick the height that matches where it mounts.
45-degree offset sights
Offset sights mount at 45 degrees so you can run a magnified optic and still have irons. Roll the rifle slightly and the offset sights come up on target without breaking your grip or removing the optic. Ozark makes two: a 45-degree flip-up set and a 45-degree fixed set.
Flip-up offset or fixed offset?
The 45-degree Flip Up Backup Sights fold flat at an angle and pop up when you roll the rifle. The 45-degree Offset Backup Sights are fixed at the angle with no moving parts. The fixed set is the quiet favorite: across 66 reviews it earns a 4.8, the highest rating of any front-and-rear sight set on this page, and buyers who choose it say the same thing, fewer moving parts, nothing to fail.
“The product is very solid, well machined, these are not plastic crap. The accuracy is perfect and easy to zero, the clicks are solid and not loose.”A. F., 5 stars
The honest weak spots
On the 45-degree flip-up set, a small number of buyers reported the front-sight retaining nut backing out under hard recoil. We tracked down what caused it and corrected it; a drop of blue thread-locker on that nut is cheap insurance regardless. If yours ever works loose, contact us and we will make it right. The fixed offset set has the lowest complaint rate of anything on this page; the only real note is that it sits tall, the trade for having no hinge.
“These sights are rock solid to my surprise, I wasn't expecting the most from 30 dollar sights but these are built well and were very easy to zero and have maintained zero through repeated use and abuse.”J R., 5 stars
Iron sights explained
Four questions come up constantly. Here are plain answers.
What are iron sights?
Iron sights are a non-magnified aiming system built into or mounted on a firearm: a front post and a rear notch or aperture that you line up on the target. On an AR-15 the rear is usually a peep, or aperture, and the front is a post. They use no battery, no glass, and no electronics. They are the oldest aiming method on a rifle and still the most failure-proof.
What is a BUIS?
BUIS stands for Back-Up Iron Sight. A BUIS is an iron sight that rides on the rifle as a backup to a primary optic, usually a red dot. Most BUIS are flip-up: they fold flat so they do not block the optic, and you flip them up if the optic fails. “BUIS” and “backup iron sights” mean the same thing.
What does co-witness mean?
Co-witness, also written co witness, means your iron sights and your red dot line up on the same target at the same time, so you see both through the optic. It works because AR-15 backup sights and most red dots are built to the same sight height. Co-witness lets you confirm the dot against the irons and keep aiming with irons if the dot goes down.
Absolute vs lower 1/3 co-witness
Both describe where the irons sit inside the red dot's window. Absolute co-witness puts the irons dead-center in the optic, lined up with the dot. Lower 1/3 puts the irons in the bottom third of the window, so the dot sits in clean glass and the irons are there when you want them. Lower 1/3 is the more common setup today; absolute is the traditional one. Either works with standard-height backup sights.
What is a correct sight picture?
A correct iron-sight picture is the front post centered left-to-right in the rear aperture and level across the top, with the target sitting on the tip of the post. Keep equal light on both sides of the post and focus your eye on the front sight, not the target. Hold that and the rounds go where the sights point. Most AR-15 shooters confirm it at 25 yards, which sets up a 36/300 or 50/200 yard zero, and irons stay usable well past 300 yards in practiced hands.
Iron sights vs red dot
This is not really a versus. A red dot is faster to pick up and easier on aging eyes. Iron sights need no battery and cannot lose a lens. The honest answer most shooters land on is to run both: a red dot as the primary, backup iron sights folded underneath. If the dot fails, you flip up the irons and keep shooting. On a budget build or a no-optic rifle, irons alone are a complete, reliable system. The reason flip-up backup sights exist is precisely so you do not have to choose.
Do you need iron sights if you run a red dot?
You do not strictly need them, but they are cheap insurance. A red dot runs on a battery and has glass that can crack. Backup iron sights fold out of the way and cost less than a tank of gas. For a defensive or duty rifle, run them. For a range gun, it is your call. Pairing irons with an optic is the most common AR-15 setup, and our red dots and optics are built to co-witness with these sights.
Iron sights by price
Tier 1
Under $30
- Rail Height A2 Front Sight ($24.99)
- A2 Front Sight, Gas Block Height ($24.99)
- Flip Up Backup Iron Sights ($29.99)
- HK Style Flip Up Sights ($29.99)
- Fixed Rear Iron Sight ($29.99)
- Fiber Optic Flip Up Sights ($29.99)
Tier 2
$30 and up
- 45 Degree Flip Up Backup Sights ($34.99)
- 45 Degree Offset Backup Sights ($34.99)
- AR-15 Carry Handle Rear Sight ($34.99)
- Micro Flip Up Backup Sights ($39.99)
Honest framing: name-brand AR-15 iron sights run $90 to $250-plus a set. Our buyers know that and say so in their reviews. We make metal iron sights that lock up, hold zero when you torque the mount, and carry a No B.S. lifetime warranty. Prices are live; the tiers above can shift on sale.
Every iron sight at a glance
HK Style
- Type
- Flip-up backup
- Configuration
- Front + rear set
- Mount
- Picatinny, straight
- Adjustments
- Front post elevation, rear drum, dual aperture
- Price
- $29.99
Fiber Optic
- Type
- Flip-up backup
- Configuration
- Front + rear set
- Mount
- Picatinny, straight
- Adjustments
- Front post elevation, rear windage, fiber-optic front
- Price
- $29.99
45 Flip Up
- Type
- Flip-up backup
- Configuration
- Front + rear set
- Mount
- Picatinny, 45-degree offset
- Adjustments
- Front post elevation, rear windage
- Price
- $34.99
45 Offset
- Type
- Fixed
- Configuration
- Front + rear set
- Mount
- Picatinny, 45-degree offset
- Adjustments
- Front post elevation, rear windage
- Price
- $34.99
Carry Handle
- Type
- Carry handle rear
- Configuration
- Rear sight only
- Mount
- Picatinny, straight
- Adjustments
- A2 windage and elevation
- Price
- $34.99
Fixed Rear
- Type
- Fixed
- Configuration
- Rear sight only
- Mount
- Picatinny, straight
- Adjustments
- Rear elevation and windage
- Price
- $29.99
A2 Front, Gas Block
- Type
- Front sight post
- Configuration
- Front sight only
- Mount
- A2 gas block
- Adjustments
- A2 post elevation
- Price
- $24.99
A2 Front, Rail
- Type
- Front sight post
- Configuration
- Front sight only
- Mount
- Picatinny rail
- Adjustments
- A2 post elevation
- Price
- $24.99
Micro Flip Up
- Type
- Flip-up backup
- Configuration
- Front + rear set
- Mount
- Picatinny, straight, low-profile
- Adjustments
- Front post elevation, rear windage
- Price
- $39.99
| Sight | Type | Configuration | Mount | Adjustments | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Flip Up BUIS | Flip-up backup | Front + rear set | Picatinny, straight | Front post elevation, rear windage | $29.99 |
| HK Style | Flip-up backup | Front + rear set | Picatinny, straight | Front post elevation, rear drum, dual aperture | $29.99 |
| Fiber Optic | Flip-up backup | Front + rear set | Picatinny, straight | Front post elevation, rear windage, fiber-optic front | $29.99 |
| 45 Flip Up | Flip-up backup | Front + rear set | Picatinny, 45-degree offset | Front post elevation, rear windage | $34.99 |
| 45 Offset | Fixed | Front + rear set | Picatinny, 45-degree offset | Front post elevation, rear windage | $34.99 |
| Carry Handle | Carry handle rear | Rear sight only | Picatinny, straight | A2 windage and elevation | $34.99 |
| Fixed Rear | Fixed | Rear sight only | Picatinny, straight | Rear elevation and windage | $29.99 |
| A2 Front, Gas Block | Front sight post | Front sight only | A2 gas block | A2 post elevation | $24.99 |
| A2 Front, Rail | Front sight post | Front sight only | Picatinny rail | A2 post elevation | $24.99 |
| Micro Flip Up | Flip-up backup | Front + rear set | Picatinny, straight, low-profile | Front post elevation, rear windage | $39.99 |
Frequently asked
What is a BUIS on an AR-15?
BUIS stands for Back-Up Iron Sight. It is an iron sight, usually a flip-up, that rides on the rifle as a backup to a red dot or optic. It folds flat so it does not block the optic and flips up if the optic fails.
Do you need iron sights if you have a red dot?
You do not strictly need them, but most shooters run both. A red dot uses a battery and has glass that can break; backup iron sights need neither and cost little. On a defensive or duty rifle, run backup irons. On a pure range gun, it is optional.
What is the difference between flip-up and fixed iron sights?
Flip-up sights fold flat against the rail and pop up when you need them, so they sit behind an optic without blocking it. Fixed sights stay upright all the time with no hinge. Flip-ups suit optic builds; fixed sights suit iron-only builds and shooters who want fewer moving parts.
What does co-witness mean, and what is absolute vs lower 1/3?
Co-witness means the iron sights and the red dot line up on the same target so you see both. Absolute co-witness puts the irons centered in the optic with the dot. Lower 1/3 puts the irons in the bottom third of the window so the dot sits in clean glass. Both work with standard-height backup sights.
How do you zero AR-15 iron sights?
Set the rear aperture to its standard mark, then shoot a group at 25 yards, which sets up a 36/300 or 50/200 yard zero. Adjust the front sight post for elevation and the rear sight for windage until the group is centered. Our flip-up and offset sights ship with adjustable front posts; the carry handle and fixed rear adjust at the rear.
Are Ozark iron sights metal?
Yes. Our iron sights are built from steel and aluminum, not polymer. It is the single most common point of praise across 1,400-plus verified-buyer reviews. Browse the iron sights →
Still deciding?
Jump back to the grid and pick the iron sights that match your build.
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