I recently traded for a new AR-15 and it had a MI back-up sight on it but it was only adjustable for windage. My last AR had a carry handle so the rear sights were adjustable for both windage and elevation. Now I know that the front sight is adjustable but I'm just wondering why most back-up sights out there don't have elevation adjustments on them? It's just so much easier to adjust the rear sight then it is to have to mess around with the front sight.
Because they are intended for people who will FIGHT with these sights. Generally you will rely on your electronic sight in the military and law enforcement the majority of the time. If the electronic sight goes down you generally won't have time to screw with elevation on your back up iron sight. You will want to fold it up or just readjust your focus to it so you can stop the person trying to kill you.
Elevation doesn't really matter.
If you look at the external ballistics chart of a 5.56 round fired from a 16 to 20 inch barrel from 0 to 300 or so yards the hold over or hold under is a couple of inches with a proper 100 yard or 200 yard zero.
If you aim center of mass (area between the two nipples on a human) at a human target from 0 out to about 300 yards you will very reliably hit him if you do your part with trigger control, and sight alignment. Hitting a human with iron sights beyond 400 yards good luck.
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