Why would I need a riser?

[JKwock]

I have a S&W 15-22 and saw that alot of people have a riser/cantilever optic on it. Beginner question, why do I need the riser. I thought the optic would take the place of the iron sights. Do you actually want to be above the line of sight of the iron sights?

Jason

[chad68]

I have a S&W 15-22 and saw that alot of people have a riser/cantilever optic on it. Beginner question, why do I need the riser. I thought the optic would take the place of the iron sights. Do you actually want to be above the line of sight of the iron sights?

Jason

They do that so they can use the iron sights and optic independently of each other. If your optic (if electric red dot, holographic etc.) craps out, you can use the iron sights in a emergency situation, or if you just want to use iron sights for up close range and the optic for further distance. Or if you don't want to remove the iron sights, you would use a riser.

If you chose low mount optic it would be for co-witnessing the red dot with the iron sights.

[BamBam-31]

Depends on the optic. Most people set up their optics so that they can use both irons and red dot at the same time. Sometimes people use risers to either co-witness (red dot is aligned with irons) or raise the dot above the irons (so that the irons sit in the lower 1/3 of the optic's FOV).

[JKwock]

Thanks

[chad68]

Jesus! LOL.

Just discovered another reason they might use high mount optics. I just picked up my Ruger SR22 and put my red dot scope on it, which was previously on my 522, which is a low mount optic. The objective lens sits just above the pic rail. I'm going to either have to take the Burris PEPR mount and my 9X scope of my Sig 522 and put them both on the SR or get tall mounts for my red dot.

Reason is because the AR style stock is totally different shape from the Sig buttstock or a normal wood stocked rifle. Because of the straight top part of the SR buttstock, In order to see through the low mount red dot, I have to tilt my head at a 45 degree angle or the rifle to get a clear sight through the red dot, or else the red dot is in the upper left hand part of the sight picture. Talk about uncomfortable shooting.

The factory flash hider doesn't look as bad as it does in pics and is starting to grow on me a little but still plan to do something else with the barrel. The only thing that rattles with the stock fully collapsed is the plastic lever for the stock. Since I'm leaving it fully collapsed I'll probably just take it off. For some reason the bolt was hanging up on the Butler Creek steel mag lip. Didn't do that on my 10/22. Filled down the overkill tall lip on the mag and all seems fine now.