Magpul MBUS Gen 2 Review – 2022 Buyer’s Guide

Best Overall:
Magpul Mbus Gen 2

Pros

There are a few pros to purchasing this sight. These have been consistent with past users of this sight. Knowing what makes this sight stand out even more is key. Here are a few pros to be aware of:

Excellent Durability

To begin, let’s address one of the major pros. These sights are made from a high-quality polymer that will handle damage, abuse, and just about anything that might otherwise cause damage to other sights and render them useless. In short, they are built like a tank. Unlike some metal sights, these are impervious to any corrosion or rust. So if your rifle has been sitting around in the open air for a while in storage, the sights will likely remain untouched while the rest of the rifle may become corroded or rusted. They are light in weight but are nowhere near weak in terms of strength.

Easy to Install on Rail Systems

Why rely on a gunsmith to install complex sights when you can get them done in a matter of minutes using the right kind of tools? These sights are designed to fit on an AR-15 rail system like a Picatinny or Weaver rail. If you plan on customizing your rifle and want it to be more accurate, you want to consider installing front and rear sights to make sure your shots are precise when shooting at targets at close range. That might be a huge plus if you are using it in a varmint hunting application. If you can knock down a varmint without a scope, you’ll be even better shape with these sights to use to your advantage.

Easy to Deploy

If you want sights that won’t be too hard to deploy, you've found them. That’s because the springs allow for easy pop-up and folding down when not in use. The springs are pretty tough so you can deploy them or fold them down as many times as you like. You don’t need to worry about any wear, spring breakage, or anything silly like that. You can keep them folded down while waiting for your varmint or small game target and deploy them when ready to take the shot. Once you are finished, you can fold them down and be ready for the next go-around.

Affordable For Most Budgets

We saved the best “pro” for last. Ever wondered what a pair of sights at an affordable price would look like and how they perform? Well, now is your chance to find out. These sights are priced affordably, but you get a heck of a lot more than you pay for, since they are high in quality and perform better than expected compared to other sight sets. If you don’t want to spend an arm and a leg on sights, but want the best in quality, accuracy, and reliability, you don't need to look any further than these.

Cons

Obviously, everything has a shortcoming or two. But it’s always a good idea to purchase a good sight, even if it doesn’t measure up to others on the market. But don’t let that discourage you. Here are a couple of cons we have discovered:

Difficulty Installing on Some Rails

One user reported installing this on an M&P rail, only to run into some issues. In the end, he wound up using a rubber hammer to make sure the sight was fitted on nice and tight. But thankfully, he was able to make some adjustments so the shooting was straight and dead-on. To add on a degree of relief, the impact of the hammer did not break the sights or the spring, further confirming the sight’s durability. 

No Elevation Adjustment

Sometimes, your shots may appear to be a little off. So you’re going to need to make some adjustments, right? The good news is that you can make such adjustments. The problem is, however, that one adjustment is absent with these sights: the elevation adjustment.

This means you won’t be able to move the sight up or down to ensure a straight shot if it appears to be a little higher or lower than intended. At that point, you may want to consider using your AR-15 rifle with the sights down. Alternatively, you can use a scope (assuming there is enough space on your rail to mount one). That won't undermine the purpose of these sights. But it would be ideal to have a scope that can co-witness with these sights in the event of shots going off course.

Main Features

The Magpul MBus Gen 2 is made from high-quality polymer. And yes, it’s a material proven to take on the bumps, bangs, and scuffs. It’s tough as nails and will certainly stand the test of time and environmental elements. This means it will be resistant to corrosion and rust. If you want a sight that is long-lasting, obviously this will be a candidate in that regard. The sight design is low-profile, which means it won’t stick out like a sore thumb or obscure your target. Furthermore, it’s a sight that won’t give away your position if you happen to be hiding out in the bushes while hunting for deer.

The sights are spring-loaded, which means you can quickly deploy them at a moment’s notice. That is far and away much better than having to deploy them manually. The springs are pretty strong, so they won’t bend or break under pressure. If you keep flipping them up and down, the spring will still handle it like another day at the office. And they won’t wear down easily either. 

These sights are compatible with various rail systems. These include but are not limited to Picatinny and Weaver rails. And make no mistake about it, these rails are undeniably the best when it comes to customizing your rifle to make it look like a beast (and perform like one in the process). These sights will work together (or co-witness) to hit targets (whether paper or varmint) from ranges like 100 to 150 yards out. Even without a scope, you can do some serious damage and leave some pretty tight shooting groups in the process. With one pull of the trigger, you’ll be even more impressed that you can get it done without any help from an optic. 

What is the Magpul MBUS Gen 2 Best For?

The Magpul MBUS Gen 2 is a multi-purpose sight with many uses. But which application will this sight excel at? For one, let’s take a look at target shooting. You can shoot targets for fun or compete in shooting contests using this sight that will allow you to go the distance. In such an application, you can actually go as far out as 300 yards with this sucker sighted in and ready for action. These sights will be effective if you are shooting targets in an outdoor setting (which by the way is the best place to shoot off an AR-15). 

Aside from target shooting, these sights will be best used while hunting for varmint, hogs, or even coyotes. These sights will certainly be the go-to option if you are shooting small targets (for larger targets like deer, you’re better off using a scope). Granted, these will be most effective during the day, so you can leave the thermal or night vision scopes at home for daytime jaunts. 

What Do I Need to Know Before Buying?

Are you ready to buy? Here are some things to know:

No Need to Rely on a Gunsmith For Installation

As though we haven’t said it already, we’ll say it once more. These sights are pretty simple to install, so all you need are some tools and a compatible rail. You can install these in a minute or less, so you will have these set and ready to go the same day. Imagine seeing a quick boost in accuracy as soon as you finish installing these sights. Why waste money and time on a pair of sights that will cost you more money and time just for installation? If simple and easy are what you are looking for, these are the sights for you.

These Are Not Suitable For Long-Range Shooting

While these sights will allow you to reach out and touch something as far out as 300 yards, they won’t go beyond that. If you are serious about shooting targets from a much farther distance, you may want to consider investing in a scope. Yes, you can shoot accurately and precisely in any given application. Just be sure to sight them in properly so you can achieve this with consistency. 

They Can Co-Witness With Scopes

If you plan on adding on a scope, you can use it to work along with your sight to make every shot as precise as possible. This is totally optional, but if you need a scope for long-distance shots, you can just fold the sights down and give yourself a clearer view of what’s ahead of you. 

Bottom Line

The Magpul MBus Gen 2 Front and Rear Sights are without question a solid pair of sights you can invest in for the purpose of making your AR-15 rifle as accurate and precise as possible. These are miles ahead of your factory default sights that have proven to be a disappointment rather than an asset. Even better, you’ll be able to deploy them or leave them down. It’s entirely up to you. But you’ll probably end up using them more often than not once you fire off a few test shots. 

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