If you served in the military, you may be familiar with the catchphrase, “Two is one, one is none.”
The idea is that it’s critical to have a backup plan or piece of gear for any situation.
It’s a motto that applies to anyone who wants to be prepared.
And there have been plenty of instances where backup gear has saved a life.
Jason M. was a California Highway Patrol officer on patrol in central California when CHP was notified of a Honda traveling at a high rate of speed.
Since he was part of the traffic detail, Jason responded to the report. On the way, he learned that the driver had a suspended license.
Jason initiated a traffic stop and pulled the Honda over.
As he approached the Honda, the driver exited the vehicle and walked toward Jason in a threatening manner.
The man appeared agitated at being pulled over and immediately attacked the officer.
According to the CHP, “As the officer fought with the suspect on the ground, the suspect was able to remove the officer’s service weapon from its holster.”
After the suspect got control of his service pistol, Jason drew his backup pistol and fired several shots, striking the suspect in the upper torso.
The 37-year-old suspect died at the scene.
According to the CHP, officers are allowed to carry a second gun.
This case highlights the “two is one, one is none” principle perfectly. Without his backup pistol, Jason could have easily been killed.
So, whether it’s a second gun or an extra water filter, backup gear should be part of any survival or home defense plan.
Now, as you know, one popular choice for a home defense weapon is the AR-15.
But some custom optics or sights make it impossible to access, or even eliminate the iron sights.
However, if the sight gets damaged, knocked off its zero, or runs out of batteries, you could be in real trouble if you don’t have backup iron sights.
So, a good way to fix this potential issue is to add 45-degree offset backup sights to your rifle.
What are offset backup sights?:
Forty-five-degree offset sights are iron sights that are not in line with the usual sight plane.
Rather, they are mounted on the side of the rifle at a 45-degree angle. The sights can be in a fixed or folding setup.
Since the sights are not in the typical sight plane the rifle has to be rotated at an angle until the sights are in line with the eye.
Benefits of backup offset sights:
The biggest benefit is that there will be backup sights in case optics or other sights fail. Or you might need to engage a threat at close range but have a high magnification scope.
Since some optics make it hard to use the factory sights, a 45-degree offset can be more effective.
Another aspect of 45-degree offset sights is that they can be used whether you are right or left-handed.
For example, if you are right-handed the 45-degree offset would be counterclockwise. If you are left-handed the offset would be clockwise.
Drawbacks to offset sights:
One of the challenges of using offset backup sights is that parts of the rifle won’t be in their usual position.
What I mean is that the grip and buttstock won’t be in the same position as if you were shooting with standard sights.
Another issue when using 45-degree offset sights is that it can be hard to shoot from the prone position.
Depending on the side that the offset sights are mounted on it could cause the ejection port to point at the ground. If the shooter is close to the ground, it could block it entirely.
If you want to try 45-degree offset sights, one company you may wish to check out is Strike Industries 45-degree optic mount for the sights.
Offset backup sights are not something you see a lot.
Yet, if your rifle is your home defense weapon it could be a worthwhile addition to have backup sights.
It’s a way to fix something that could turn into a big problem during a self-defense situation.
And it’s a good (and simple) way to build in redundancy for your sights.
