Why I chose absolute co witness

[Ballenxj]

Starting with an Aimpoint Comp M4 I had a choice between absolute and lower 1/3 co witness. As the subject line says, I chose absolute, and here's why. Let's say something happened to your battery, or even a full malfunction of your Red Dot. I don't want to have to change my position on the rifle even a little.
My theory is that I can still use the scope as a ghost ring since the Red Dot would normally sit just over the front sight kind of like an orange sitting on a post. Therefore if necessary, just center the post in the sight picture.
Does this make any sense to you guys?
In this photo the Red Dot is exaggerated due to having to zoom my lens in for the shot, (it's really a 2 minute dot) but you can see it sitting on top of the front post if you look carefully.
I'm still trying to figure out how to get a more accurate photo of through the scope.

 

[cyphertext]

It's a theory... and one that you can test to see if it works for you. Next time you are at the range, turn that red dot off to simulate a failure. Put a B-27 silhouette up out at 50 and 100 yards and see how you do.

 

[Hapworth]

This is traditionally why some choose absolute co-witness; also because some find lower-third to be distracting.

 

[Ballenxj]

It's a theory... and one that you can test to see if it works for you. Next time you are at the range, turn that red dot off to simulate a failure. Put a B-27 silhouette up out at 50 and 100 yards and see how you do.

Great idea! I will have to do just that.

This is traditionally why some choose absolute co-witness; also because some find lower-third to be distracting.

These are also my thoughts. I want to keep it as least complicated as possible in a stressful situation.

 

[McE]

Do you not have a rear sight?
What's the point of a red dot if you always waste time aligning it to the top of your post?
Have you ever shot your rifle?

 

[shell627]

I went through a swat school using a eotech and a absolute cowitness.Worked fine two months later went to a carbine class did not change batteries before class.My first rotation on line batteries died I did not miss a beat going right into using iron sights.On break instructor saw me changing batteries and when told what happened he made a teaching point about always having your iron sights up and ready to use in emergency.

 

[cyphertext]

Great idea! I will have to do just that.

Once you do, share your results... See if your experience is the same as mine.

 

[Ballenxj]

Do you not have a rear sight?

Of course I do, Magpul flip up.

What's the point of a red dot if you always waste time aligning it to the top of your post?

The Red Dot is new to me, so just doing some brain picking here. Also, if you re read the OP you will see that is just for alignment so they are both the same. This way I can keep going if the dot failed, but I will refer to the Red Dot only unless there is a failure.

Have you ever shot your rifle?

Of course, but not with this set up yet.

I went through a swat school using a eotech and a absolute cowitness.Worked fine two months later went to a carbine class did not change batteries before class.My first rotation on line batteries died I did not miss a beat going right into using iron sights.

And absolute got you through, right? This is exactly what I'm trying to figure out from those of you that have had this happen. Thanks.

 

[McE]

Okay, in the original post you said "I don't want to have to change my position on the rifle even a little."

That is not congruent with "I will refer to the Red Dot only unless there is a failure."

The only way to keep the same position, is if you always shot as if you were shooting through your rear peep, in which case you might as well be shooting through your rear peep, in which case there is no point of that optic. Shoot iron sights if you "don't want to have to change [your] position on the rifle even a little".

The red dot is basically accurate as long as it's in your field of view, regardless of how it sits in relation to the front sight post. In actual shooting you will have the red dot floating around the front sight post, so with either absolute or 1/3, you WILL have to 'change your position on the rifle, even a little'.

If your super reliable expensive optic fails, and you do your shooting in super duper serious conditions, then you'd pop up your rear sight.
The view through the rear peep to front sight post is IDENTICAL whether your optic is absolute or 1/3.

Only relevance I see in your concerns of shooting through the optic with front sight only, with no red dot and no rear sight, is if both your red dot and your rear sight fail somehow. Veeeeeeeeery far down the list of likely stuff to happen.

 

[gwpercle]

A great man once said,
" In theory there is no difference between theory and practice.
In practice , there is. "
Before you stake your life on theory....try it out first. The results may surprise you .

 

[Hapworth]

...What's the point of a red dot if you always waste time aligning it to the top of your post?..

Vastly improved visibility versus the iron post...

 

[McE]

Vastly improved visibility versus the iron post...

Red dot above front sight post post has greater visibility than red dot on the front sight post.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

No difference in cheek weld required.

Aim your red dot at something. Move your head around like a bobble-head. Notice the red dot stays on target regardless where your head moves.

 

[W.E.G.]

The co-witness crowd always feels strongly about this.

I've never seen the need.
Put the red dot (wherever it is) on the target, and pull trigger.
I don't care where the iron sights are when the red dot is on the target.

That said, I actually prefer a low-power scope that does not rely on batteries or the general integrity of an electrical connection.
I'm an analog rifleman.

 

[just plain joe]

I prefer to have my Aimpoint co-witness in the lower portion of the sight. My reason being this: If I use absolute co-witness, i.e. the red dot aligns with the front and rear sights, then when I bring the rifle up onto a bad guy, the front sight may obscure his hands/waist and I have lost my view of same.

With the sights in the lower portion of my sight, the red dot sits high enough above the front sight for me to see the subjects's hands.

Jm2c & YMMV.

Joe

 

[Safestuffer]

I use lower third cowitness with fixed sights.
The dot sits right on top of the front sight post,
I get better field of view,
I don't have to worry about flipping my rear sight up if my red dot goes down,
and if my red dot goes down, I'm already on the irons...no need to move at all.
I don't see how you could be faster with an absolute witness.

 

[ChattanoogaPhil]

Lower 1/3 is particularly useful with a small sight such as an Aimpoint Micro. The reason for this is because the tube is so small. The front sight significantly crowds the window with absolute and the distance between the tip of the front sight post and tube housing is quite limited. Larger tubes are much more forgiving with absolute.

With a larger tube like the OP has I'd be ok with absolute. However, with my H1 lower 1/3 is the only way to go as far as I'm concerned.

Don't overthink cheek weld shift. Non issue.

My irons are "BUIS". H1 gets 95% of the action. I practice with irons only enough to be able, not highly proficient.

 

[Ballenxj]

With a larger tube like the OP has I'd be ok with absolute. However, with my H1 lower 1/3 is the only way to go as far as I'm concerned.

Thanks Phil, that makes sense.
I've picked up a few good ideas from you guys, like turning the dot down where I can't see it, then see how that works for me.
For the most part I plan on just using the dot.