Just running a thought experiment, here....
Like many folks, I often find myself in search of an 'ideal' 'general purpose' carbine. Spurred on by the HSP/BCM 'Jack' (of all trades) carbine I have built my own 'Montana Jack' carbine (so-called because it shares many of the same concepts but, as with all things in nature, the further north you go, the stockier they get: so a CHF 16" barrel instead of 14.5", 13" SMR instead of a 10", VLTOR MUR instead of a USGI upper, &c.). Defense, competition, hunting, &c. all fall within its mission objectives. I have seen images of the prototype 'Jack' shown with folding BUIS and an RDS, folding BUIS with an ACOG and off-set T1.
So my thought: Off-set iron sights with a variety of optics mounted via LaRue or ADM QD throw-levers.
So, for home defense, run an AimPoint Micro (or other reflex sight).
For competition, duty (in the mountains), and big game hunting, run a low-power variable or ACOG.
For varmint hunting and precision shooting, a high-power variable.
All with the SureFire RTS as back-ups.
The reasons: Always there, always up. If you need them, simply cant the rifle: No need to throw any levers or flip any sights up. Unlike an optic, it cannot fog up due to temperature shifts and humidity (ie; bone-dry outside at -20 to inside at 65+ with 80%+ humidity), and snow and rain are less likely to obstruct the sight, and failure is less likely.
The only disadvantages I can think of are if the optic has a rather serious failure (suffers the brunt of a serious fall, causing the optical housing to break, for instance), the off-set irons are a less-than-ideal set-up for a primary sighting system. If a suite of optics are available, though, it is simply a matter of swapping the damaged optic out for an undamaged one. The other major failing point might be that the off-set irons may tend to get caught on things.
Am I batshit crazy for thinking this is a good idea? Anyone have any relevant thoughts or experiences they would like to share?
Thank you, in advance!


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