REVIEW: IMI Defense vs. Magul MBUS Gen 2

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Every ambitious rifle shooter should have it… and never need it: The emergency sight, also known as Back Up Sights. Sights can be found on every pistol. Some rifle models already have them fixed integrated - others, such as modular rifles like the M4, come "topless" from the factory. The market for upgradeable Back Up Sights is huge. Until a few years ago, the only option was to buy metal emergency sights (these are called BUIS - Back Up Iron Sights) from various manufacturers at high prices. Now there is a new genre: Polymer sights. Today, Martin presents two pairs of them: IMI Defense Tactical Front Polymer Flip Up Sight/Tactical Rear Polymer Flip Up Sight and Magpul MBUS Gen. 2.

As is often the case with plastic, Magpul has set the standard with the MBUS series - now in Generation 2 - to create an excellent, price-attractive product. Many other manufacturers have followed suit and now have polymer sights in their portfolio.

One could fill pages with the pros and cons of polymer sights vs. metal sights. Some say plastic breaks and then I don't have a sight at all. A valid argument, however, a metal sight will bend first and whether that's better than a broken one - only the gods know. There are various reviews of polymer sights that are heavily abused and still hold up, so that remains to be seen. As mentioned - pages could be filled...

A clear argument for a polymer sight is definitely the price: A BUIS costs about 150€ per piece, so you have to calculate about 250-300 €. Polymer sights can be purchased for less than 100€.

IMI Defense plays it safe and offers both variants: AFS/ARS (Aluminum Front Flip Up Sight/Aluminum Rear Flip Up Sight) and the TFS/TRS (Tactical Front Polymer Flip Up Sight/Tactical Rear Polymer Flip Up Sight) sights presented here.

The TFS/TRS sights are not very attractive in terms of U.S. prices - according to the website, they cost $50 each - compared to Magpul's $39.95 + $57.95 - that's even $2.1 less from the market leader. Here, the clear target is the European market, as prices in Germany are quite different. The IMI set costs about 80€ and Magpul is around 120€.

The quality of the IMI TFS/TRS sights is just as good as Magpul's - they are excellently processed, hold very well on the weapon, and the adjustment wheels work flawlessly with the right degree of firmness. To bring up a third candidate: A.R.M.S. Polymer Sights cannot be compared to either visor, as their processing is clean, but the adjustment wheels are substandard, and the buttons for automatic deployment are so smooth that the sight tends to deploy on its own.

As for the dimensions, the IMI sights are top-notch, even better than the MBUS sights, which are a whole lot larger. However, IMI seems to have a hard time with American conversions: The sights are specified with 30mm length (1.2 inches) and 46mm height (1.8 inches). Measured, they are 10mm in height and 49mm in length. Magpul specifies 49mm (0.51 inch) in height and 66mm (2.6 inches) in length. Measured, the Front Sight is 62mm in length, and the Rear Sight is 70mm. The height is 12mm for both Magpul parts.

Weight is, of course, also a topic. Here, IMI has the edge with a combat weight of 38 grams for both sights. Magpul enters the race with 70.9 grams for both sights.

Points for Magpul are clearly awarded for the deployment method: While with IMI, you have to manually deploy the sights, with Magpul, there are buttons on both sides and on the top for spring-assisted, lightning-fast deployment. Both sights can be easily flipped up, even with gloves - Magpul is slightly faster as mentioned.

What else is there? The IMI sights require an Allen key for mounting, while Magpul only requires a slotted screwdriver. You always have that in your multitool. Unfortunately, the Allen key is not included with IMI.

Lastly, with the TFS/TRS sights, there is an emergency/emergency sighting: On the top, there are sights to aim even when folded up. Nice idea, but the sight itself is still so wide even when fully extended that at best you can take a blind shot with it.

CONCLUSION: Those looking for cost-effective backup sights cannot avoid polymer sights. The selection is large, the sights presented here by IMI Defense and Magpul are both clearly recommended, the MBUS set is a bit more expensive and bulkier in Germany, but has been tested and found to be good, the IMI TFS/TRS sights are cheaper and come in a smaller package, but you have to manually deploy them.

Both sets are available in black, sand, and olive. Black is apparently discontinued at Magpul, with "Stealth gray" and Foliage Green now available on the website. The IMI TFS/TRS sights are available at Sniper-AS for 39€ each, and Magpul MBUS Gen2 is available at Recon Company for 49.95€ Front/65.95€ Rear.

The IMI sights on the gun.