How important is it to have the ability to cowitness ironsits with optics?

C0untZer0 · July 31, 2011, 12:47 AM

I've heard people talk about this when they setup their tac shotgun.

What are the benefits of having your optics cowitness the iron sights?

Rob228 · July 31, 2011, 01:04 AM

My irons and Aimpoint are co-witnessed on my M-4, both for work and the one that I built.

All of my shotguns only have beads, I can't imagine needing anything more than a bead or ghost ring on a shotgun. The exception is slugs, as I do have a Hastings slug barrel for one of my 870's that is scoped, but that is for hunting, not anything inside of a house. My "tac" shotgun wears only a tritium bead and a flashlight. The whole purpose behind co-witnessing is planning on your red dot going down and using the iron sights as a backup. If you are planning on a shotgun being a primary weapon, you might need a new plan. Speaking from experience, we use them for breaching, then they get slung on the back and the carbine goes back into use. If you are using a shotgun to defend your house, spending your money on a flashlight that you can use with the shotgun is a much better investment than a reddot.

Technosavant · July 31, 2011, 07:47 AM

The main benefits are being able to double check the zero of one with the other and also a seamless transition from the optic to the irons if the optic dies on you... no need to remove the now busted optic.

Still, it's more of a thing with rifles. While there are some shotguns were you can cowitness, there aren't many- mostly tactical guns with raised sights.

July 31, 2011, 12:47 AM	#1
C0untZer0 Junior member Join Date: April 21, 2011 Location: Illinois Posts: 4,555	How important is it to have the ability to cowitness ironsits with optics? I've heard people talk about this when they setup their tac shotgun. What are the benefits of having your optics cowitness the iron sights?

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July 31, 2011, 01:04 AM	#2
Rob228 Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2010 Location: Hampstead NC Posts: 1,450	My irons and Aimpoint are co-witnessed on my M-4, both for work and the one that I built. All of my shotguns only have beads, I can't imagine needing anything more than a bead or ghost ring on a shotgun. The exception is slugs, as I do have a Hastings slug barrel for one of my 870's that is scoped, but that is for hunting, not anything inside of a house. My "tac" shotgun wears only a tritium bead and a flashlight. The whole purpose behind co-witnessing is planning on your red dot going down and using the iron sights as a backup. If you are planning on a shotgun being a primary weapon, you might need a new plan. Speaking from experience, we use them for breaching, then they get slung on the back and the carbine goes back into use. If you are using a shotgun to defend your house, spending your money on a flashlight that you can use with the shotgun is a much better investment than a reddot.

July 31, 2011, 07:47 AM	#3
Technosavant Senior Member Join Date: May 29, 2007 Location: St. Louis, MO area Posts: 4,040	The main benefits are being able to double check the zero of one with the other and also a seamless transition from the optic to the irons if the optic dies on you... no need to remove the now busted optic. Still, it's more of a thing with rifles. While there are some shotguns were you can cowitness, there aren't many- mostly tactical guns with raised sights.