Gear Review: Griffin Armament M2 Sights (VIDEO)

At this current point in time “Iron Sights” or “Backup Irons” are still considered a must have on a work/duty rifle. If you are a civilian and do not have backup sights on your rifle then be prepared for the internet to attack you with digital pitch forks and torches — I know this from experience. So for a sighting system that will almost always play second fiddle on my rifle, the Griffin Armament M2 Sights are everything I need and nothing I don’t.

The M2’s are a low profile two piece design. They are made from 17-4 stainless steel which actually gives me a warm and fuzzy feeling deep in my heart. With a lot of parts these days being made from “aircraft grade aluminum” and “glass filled nylon” its nice to know that these little guys are built to withstand hard use in not so friendly environments. Yes, steel does create a weight concern when designing a part but the minimalistic design of these M2 sights has them weighing in at 2.5 ounces collectively. Strong spring tension allows you to manually flip up your sights but then it securely holds them in place so you have repeatability after zeroing. The Melonite coating gives an added layer of protection and a flat black color.

A strong spring enables the M2’s to flip up and hold their position when in use. (Photo: Ben Brown/Guns.com)

The function of the M2 rear sight is very simplistic which makes it very easy to use. The rear sight can be adjusted for windage by using the low profile dial that has a slot for a flat head screw driver or coin (dime works great). The rear aperture only has one size hole to look through and sits at the top of a narrow post. I believe the diameter of the rear aperture is more than adequate for making hits at distance. I was able to make hits at 120 yards all day long on a TA Targets 2/3 size ADAP. This simple design keeps the rear sight light weight and easy to use. If you are an individual that believes he needs a variety of diameter sizes in the rear backup sight then please seek help from a medical professional.

The M2 front sight post from Griffin Armament shares a lot of the same features that you will find on most other front sights available but like its partners in the rear it doesn’t add much bulk to the front of your rifle. The front post can be adjusted for elevation by using the traditional detent and dial. You can change out the front post for any of your desired aftermarket posts such as tritium, high vis color, fiberoptic, etc. The mil spec size and color front post was great for me though. I don’t see my self needing to switch it out for something else.

The sights are made from QPQ Treated 17-4 and ordnance grade steel. (Photo: Ben Brown/Guns.com)

The M2’s can be purchased in a number of configurations. You can buy your front and rear individually. There is a traditional 12 o’clock set, 45 degree off-set kit, or a “deployment kit”. The deployment kit comes with all the necessary hardware so you can mount them at 12 o’clock or switch them to off-sets. The two piece design enables you to move your sights to a 12 o’clock base plate or an off-set base plate. Pricing obviously varies on the kit you choose but all of these options are competitively priced compared to other sights on the market.

These Griffin Armament M2’s are a solidly built and a well thought design. They are a great option for a back up sighting system on your modern sporting rifle and I almost consider it a shame that I will probably never use them to their full potential. Although it is nice knowing that I full confidence in them should I absolutely need to put them into action. If you are a LEO and your SOP’s require you to have backup