First Impressions - MaTech BUIS

It is only recently that I learned about the MaTech BUIS although apparently it has been around for a few years and it is widely used in Iraq and Afghanistan. Since I am purchasing a Colt 6920 for home defense naturally I started looking for some accesories. I decided to use a CompML2 on my Colt so that dictated that I also get a BUIS. I have looked around and saw several models including those by Troy and GG&G, and I am surprised at how expensive these things are so I did not purchase one right away. The other day though, I read about different BUIS in one of the G&A magazines that come along every so often and there was a blurb and a picture about the MaTech BUIS. At first I dismissed it but when I looked at it again I thought it looked really cool and I tried to find out mroe about it. I soon realized that it was for military issue and thus hard to find. I was bummed but decided to give the old gunbroker a chance and after about a 30 second search I had purchased one. So much for hard to find. I paid $75 for it and when I received it, it was a brand new unit in the wrapper with instructions so I was very pleased. I have not installed this on any rifle yet, but will do so as soon as I pick up my new rifle. I do not think this unit is particularly useful for civilian use but it is quite cool to have your range adjustment be so easy. It is a very distinctive sight and for about half of what you pay for anything else out there I cannot complain. The leaf is spring loaded and when stored it is held in place by a small protrusion on the side of the sight. To me this part may wear out eventually although probably not for an average guy at the range. Here are some pictures I hope you find interesting.

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Once I install the sight and have a chance to use it I will post a detailed review.

It is not a bad BUIS. It was / is the issued big Army BUIS. Relatively easy to zero with. Went through SDM with it and shot it between 100-500M. Fwiw, I bought Troy Ind BUIS's for my weapons.

Two cautions:
- The distance adjustment gets knocked around fairly easy;
- Be careful of over tightening the bolt and stripping / breaking it.

It's a great BUIS, and all I will run. I learned to trust it on the M4, combine that with the fact you can nearly buy 2 for the price of one Troy or GG&G.

I found all mine recently on gunbroker as well, probably same seller. I've seen these things take a lot of abuse and still remain serviceable.

I've seen these things are going for under $40 on ebay and TOS,

It seems as if a new version has come out with an improved clamping device and people are trying to liquidate their stock of the old versions.

I bought one b/c it was cheap. My vision of the 'need' for a BUIS means that the aperture is way too small and thus I drilled it out. It seems kinda dainty compared to a Troy or even an ARMS 40.

I don't like the Matech. Small aperture only. The upright tends to snag. Big knobs often found out of adjustment. Needs an hex head for sustainment.

I bought a Troy and stored the (free) Matech.

The only reason I don't like them is that the range knob gets snagged on your gear when carrying around if you are a right handed shooter.

I don't know how many times I came back from a patrol and found the range on it on something other than I left it.

I like them and they're all I run on our carbines here at the house. What I see as the biggest advantage I learned at Camp Bullis when I was at Lackland for CATM school. When we went out to the full distance range, I found that while the M68 is an excellent CQB sight, the dot tended to cover up a lot of the targets at longer ranges. I finally had enough of that, turned off my 68, flipped up the BUIS, set my range and carried on hitting the longer range targets without any further problem.

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Originally Posted by pryde

I've seen these things are going for under $40 on ebay and TOS,

It seems as if a new version has come out with an improved clamping device and people are trying to liquidate their stock of the old versions.

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Gotta be careful as with almost everything else they have been cloned.

I've now seen the $40 ones but I am not too upset. Mine is good and it was still half the price of the commercial ones. i think it will work well for me and if it does not, I am only out $75.....rather than over $100 for anything else out there. I like small appertures anyway.

Nothing too beautiful about the site but it works as a primary or just backup to your optics. It's a small site hole so if you are blind you might not like it. Plenty of them used and abused over the years that still work. Does a fine job for co-witness hight through the shamepoints and eotechs.

Just read and follow the instructions on tighting the mounting clamp and hex screw. It has been reported that the clamp breaks easily if you overtighten it. I tightened all mine according to the instructions and have had no problems.

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v6...TWB/Matech.jpg

I guess this is kind of an old thread, but anyway. I carried an M4 for 4 years with the Matech BUIS on it. I never had the swinging aperture fail to lock down, as I've sometimes heard, (the detent, or latch failing to catch), and I personally never had the "distance" knob altered by any day to day operations, i.e getting in and out of squad cars, humvees, weapon racks, stake bed trucks, or on any gear I've ever worn. As a matter of fact, it always seemed a little too difficult to alter anyway, so it's strange to think that could happen, but Murphy is always around. I don't at all refute the claim, and as I understand it, there are atleast 2 "generations" of this sight, so that may have something to do with it, but I personally have never had any problems. Great sight in my opinion, but it's just that, my opinion. Are there better sights? Probably, albeit arguably. But they are cheap and easy to find, so I'd called it a good deal at the least. Just my 2 cents.


on a side note, I was always taught, from day one, that unless you are using an optic, keep the sight up to prolong the life of the "catch", but I can see where snagging issues might arise with this method, just another two pennies.

I like them. I have them on 3 out of 4 uppers.

I had decided to get a different BUIS for my 6920 but at this point I think I will stick with the MaTech....I go back and forth on the small aperture but I think I will just have to get used to it. What bothers me about it is that it tends to reflect light in such a way that makes it difficult to acquire the target sometimes. I guess this could happen with any sight though.

I know exactly what you mean xcibes. The glare that appears sometimes in the "dish" of the rear sight apperture I'm guessing? I've experienced this as well, but then again, also with the common A2 rear sight. I'm not sure of any real way around this with the matech, but I commonly shoot with a hat, or helmet on, and that seems to help. Look into your eyewear as well, as I tried shooting the other day with my out and about sunglasses, and got nothing but glare, and even a ghost front sight post with those glasses. Just experiment and find what works. Nice to hear about another 6920 owner though.

Comes as standard equipment on the Colt 6940. First rate BUIS. It never occured to me to swap it for something more expensive.

I wonder if it would be possible to open the aperture up a little and perhaps put a hood on it like some NM sights......

I've got a couple of these, and they work. I got mine for free like a few others here, I'm sure. I have seen one in Iraq break the lollypop, and another that wouldn't lock in the down position. But that was 2 failures out of hundreds, so not too bad.

If anyone wants I'll get the manual out and share the method of zero.

Sure, I seem to have lost my manual during the move.If you can PDF it you could e-mail it to me or find a way to post it. Thanks

FM 3-22.9 does not cover zeroing the BUIS, or BIS as it's called in the manual. The instruction sheet does cover it though.

I'll sumarize;
M4/M4A1- Set elevation knob on 300 mark. Make all elevation adjustments with the FSP, and windage adjustments with the windage knob. Use 25m zero target for the M4

M16A4- Set elevation knob to white line between 300 and 400 marks. Use FSP and windage knob like above and use the 25m target for the M16A2/A4.

Sorry, I don't have this manual on digits.

Cool, that's all I needed...I meant to say the instruction sheet to begin with.

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Originally Posted by xcibes

I wonder if it would be possible to open the aperture up a little and perhaps put a hood on it like some NM sights......

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Didn't try the hood, but I did open one up. Be sure to drill it straight, and paint the exposed metal.

Is this MaTech sight only good on the M4 style of AR? I picked one up from a buddy of mine and I had it on my 16" AR. I sold the AR and kept the MaTech BUIS. I have DPMS LR 308 and was wondering if it would work on there. I know you could zero it in, but would the elevation dial be worth a damn? I mean...the MaTech is only good for the 5.56, not the 7.62 correct?

I like this sight but it's not the best.

Troy DI-Optic Aperture is a great sight.

The best (for me) is easily the KAC Folding Micro BUIS.

yep...very snag prone and 1 aperture. it may be cheap, but you get what you pay for.

Bought one, tried it and sold it. It sits higher than I wanted and I just didn't feel like it would last. Went back to my ARMS 40L

A friend had it on her issue rifle. She let me shoot it, and every time I shot it, the damn matech BUIS would spring up--meaning the detent would not lock it down. That experience turned me off from the matech BUIS. That's my only experience w/ them, so take it for what it's worth.

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Originally Posted by Kchen986

A friend had it on her issue rifle. She let me shoot it, and every time I shot it, the damn matech BUIS would spring up--meaning the detent would not lock it down. That experience turned me off from the matech BUIS. That's my only experience w/ them, so take it for what it's worth.

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That can happen with anything with a detent or notch. Simply time to replace or repair. Who knows how many times it had been flipped up/down.

I've heard(for what it's worth) that is a problem with the Matech. On the other side, it is a buis, not a primary.

I have them on a LMT and a DD. They are a fine sight, however I feel a folding sight will always have some weakness. I could only see bothering to upgrade to something like the DD or Larue units that dont fold.

I have what I believe to be a real Matech sight. The sight is solid; the elevation and windaage adjusters have crisp, prominent clicks, and the detent to keep the sight folded is firm. I read and understood the mounting and setup instructions.

I mounted this sight on a mid-length gas, 16" rifle - and I could not get the thing to zero. I know the instruction specifiy different setups for the M4/M4A1, and the M16A2/A4. I tried both of the different recommend elevation setups, as well as other elevations, and I couldn't get the sight to zero at all. Either the sight is completely incopatable with a middy sight radius (doubtful), the YHM front flip-up gas block sight was out of spec (possible), or there is something wrong with my Matech sight (probable). If I remember correctly, the sight came in a blue (or was it red?) sealed plastic bag, with neatly printed instructions and the allen key. It has MATECH stamped/engraved on the bottom of the sight. Any insight on this situation, or other's similar experiences with Matech sights would be appreciated.

I was able to zero the gun in about 5 shots with a YHM detatchable rear flip sight. So that tells me that YHM either manufactures all their sights out of spec with the rest of the world and their sights only work with one another on a unique plane (far-fetched and doubtful, but anything is possible, I guess), or there is an issue with my Match sight (even more probable now).