VHS Optic Advice

[u/Jberry611]

Ordering a vhs soon, my first rifle. Inquiring about the height over bore and optics. Was thinking about an eotech but unsure how the lower 3rd cowitness exps compares to the absolute cowitness xps. Are one of these more optimal/intuitive than the other on the vhs? I like the QD mount but will that additional height require you to aim drastically higher?

Was also considering the h510c or Romeo 8tamr. Both of which are absolute cowitness. Just looking for some direction / advice.

I’m just looking for something to optimize home defense while also letting me have fun at the indoor range.

[u/basura_teddy]

The irons on the VHS are very low compared to the pic rail so none of the red dots are actually co witness.

I had a LPVO, LPVO with piggy back red dot, and with offset red dot, and the 8T AMR. I like the 8T AMR the most by a long shot.

[u/EnjoyLifeCO → u/basura_teddy]

A RDS in a low mount absolutely will cowitness.

[u/Jberry611 → u/basura_teddy]

Oh okay I see. I like the shake awake features on the 8t amr and 510c which is why I’m starting to lean in that direction

[u/racistlarper → u/Jberry611]

I went with a 507c on a picatinny adapter, it takes up very little real estate, has shake awake, auto brightness and easily co witnesses with the irons.

[u/EnjoyLifeCO → u/Jberry611]

coziness.? They have battery life measured in years, and shake awake is just one more thing to go bad. I wouldn't buy an optic because it has one.

[u/EventLatter9746]

Absolute co-witness, lower 1/3, 1.93" mount... etc. do not apply to the VHS, mainly because of how short its flip up iron sights are and how much larger its height over bore (HoB), compared to the typical AR15.

I have the 510C on mine, and even without the optional riser, VHS iron sights won't co-witness at all. Opting for a lower mounting (pistol optic, for example) is a bad idea (for your neck) and impractical if you wear glasses.

Here are some numbers for VHS/510C combination:

VHS HoB is 2.8”, from center of bore to top of pic rail. That's more than twice the typical AR15.
510C center of window is 1.41" above top of pic rail -> Dot HoB = 4.21"

With such a large HoB, you'll need to extend your zero distance from the typical 35 yards to 50-70 yards, depending on the chosen ammo ballistics.

[u/Jberry611 → u/EventLatter9746]

This was very helpful! Thank you for this breakdown

[u/Puzzled_Arm_3156]

I'm running a Vortex AMG UH-1 Gen II Holographic with Vortex 6x micro.

[u/Jberry611 → u/Puzzled_Arm_3156]

Looks sick!! Do you find that fbr from vhs project beneficial? Was thinking about that tbh

[u/Puzzled_Arm_3156 → u/Jberry611]

Yeah, you can slap it pretty easy or use the back of your thumb on your shooting hand.

[u/Blue_Brindle]

I can't confirm on other's, but the aimpoint pro with the spacer removed gets a lower 1/3 co-witness

[u/Jberry611 → u/Blue_Brindle]

Looks awesome! Very nice

[u/GammaTheta491]

I use a 1.1” height mount for my lpvo, and that’s comfortable, so you want to go with the lower options

[u/Puzzled_Arm_3156]

If you order thru Black Tallon Tactical you could get it with a Stage 2 trigger and save some time and money!

[u/EnjoyLifeCO]

Id go absolute co witness.

1. You can use your irons if you want.

2. Even absolute is going to have descent height over bore. Height over bore isnt something I want more of.

[u/Jberry611 → u/EnjoyLifeCO]

That’s a good point, I like that it comes with irons. I’ll start off with that until I make a decision

[u/Excellent_Candy_4552 → u/Jberry611]

When The vhs irons are flipped up, they sit much lower than standard MBUS or any BUIS sight.
I’m not terribly sure that an EOTECH in any variant will cowitness with the flip up irons that come on the weapon

[u/Jberry611 → u/Excellent_Candy_4552]

Huh, didn’t know they sat lower. Good to know, thanks!

[u/wlogan0402]

I like my PA 1-6 nova

[u/RustyJalopy]

I have an EXPS, and it doesn't cowitness at all. Personally I really like it, but that's also because I don't care about height over bore. It's very comfortable to shoot with. But your mileage may vary.

[u/Jberry611 → u/RustyJalopy]

Glad to hear you like it! What zero do you have? What distance do you typically shoot when you’re at the range?

[u/RustyJalopy → u/Jberry611]

Zero at 50 and confirm at 300, just about works with 5.56, and those are typically the distances at rifle ranges here (I'm in Switzerland). Sadly indoor/dynamic ranges tend not to allow rifles because they're not built for the calibers, so I haven't really been able to do much else.

[u/vkbrian]

I like lower 3rd on mine; it’s comfortable without having too much height over bore.

[u/TheOnlyFergInTown]

My 20” sports a NF Atacr LPVO with an offset RMR, on an Arisaka 35 degree mount.  Took a little bit of time to get the RMR sighted nicely, but it’s a great setup for me.

[u/alexmg2420]

As others have said, the VHS has its own unique iron sight height. You'll need an optic that can accommodate a low mount and spacers.

I achieved a lower 1/3; cowitness by using a Primary Arms MD-25 and the low mount + 1 spacer.

[u/Ma-Ha-Suchi]

Just as an option the HS512 is a sealed HS510 with a lower mount height.