How Rapid Transition Sights™ Improve Speed and Accuracy in Tactical Situations

In tactical carbine work, target acquisition speed is very important. This applies whether you are shooting at a 3-Gun range, getting out of a patrol vehicle, or facing a real-world threat. The moment distances collapse from 300 yards to bad‑breath range, you can’t afford to fish for turrets, flip caps, or batteries. You need an instant, battery‑free sighting solution that lives on the gun, ready at exactly 45 degrees. That solution is the 45-degree offset iron sights system known as Rapid Transition Sights™ (RTS) from Dueck Defense.

Designed by Marine Veteran Barry Dueck, these 45-degree offset iron sights give right‑ and left‑handed shooters a rock‑solid set of backup iron sights that bolt straight to the Picatinny rail. Roll the rifle. Pick up the precision aperture and serrated front sight. Then send it. There is no glass to fog, no dot to dim, and no shift in zero. Below, we will explain why canted iron sights like the RTS 45-degree offset sights are better than regular flip-ups. We will show how they work with any optics-ready rifle and main optic. We will also answer the frequently asked questions you have been looking for.

Quick Links — Choose Your Rapid Transition Sight™

• Standard Rapid Transition Sight Set (Front + Rear) – Shop Now
• Rapid Transition Sight Set with Trijicon® tritium night sights – Shop Now
• Rapid Transition Sight Set with High‑Visibility fiber‑optic front sight – Shop Now

What Makes Rapid Transition Sights™ Different?

RTS are fixed 45-degree offset iron sights that tuck just 0.2 inches above the top rail, clearing most scope mounts while staying snag‑free. When a threat appears within 50 yards, you just tilt your rifle to 45 degrees. The sights are already aligned. There are no buttons, no spring detents, and no wasted motion.

Key Design Highlights

• Low‑Profile Mounting: Minimal height and weight; nothing to snag on barricades or kit.
• Match‑Grade /05 in. Rear Peep: The small rear sight aperture delivers crisp definition for hits past 200 m.
• Serrated Standard or fiber optic Front Post: Cuts glare by day; optional glowing fiber pipes draw your eye for blistering close work.
• Ambidextrous Layout: Forward‑ or rear‑mount to serve either right‑ or left‑handed shooters.
• No Zero Shift: Independent of the primary optic—keep your 100‑yard zero locked in forever.

Because they’re true mechanical 45-degree offset iron sights, RTS shrugs off mud, dust, and dead batteries. Pair them with an LPVO, high‑power scope, or red dot, and you’ll always have a redundant sighting layer that never quits.

Offset vs. Flip‑Up — Why 45° Wins

Traditional flip‑up BUIS require you to find the lever, deploy the unit, and then re‑acquire the front post. Under stress, that costs precious time. Offset sights like RTS live in the fight. Independent trials show shooters cutting transition splits by 0.3–0.5 seconds simply by rolling to RTS instead of flipping irons.

• Faster Target Acquisition: Cant and shoot—no extra movement, no loss of field of view.
• Optic Continuity: Leave scope caps closed in a sandstorm or stay at 8× for that 300‑yard hostage swinger; RTS handles the CQB work.
• Battery‑Free Reliability: Sun, snow, or empty battery tray—RTS are always bright and ready.
• Consistent Cheek Weld: Canting keeps your head in essentially the same spot, maintaining muscle memory.

All three variants use hard‑anodized 7075‑T6 aluminum and tool‑steel hardware, with positive‑click windage/elevation so your point of impact stays stable for the long haul.

Which Rapid Transition Sight™ Is Right for You?

Model	Best Use‑Case	Stand‑Out Feature
Standard RTS	Competition, training, and general duty	Classic serrated post, ultra‑low profile
RTS + Trijicon® Tritium	LE/MIL, home defense	Self‑glowing tritium night sights for 24‑hour readiness
RTS + Fiber Optic	3‑Gun, daylight carbine classes	Bright green/red fiber optic pipes for lightning speed

Every kit ships front & rear matched in height, plus Torx screws, just add a dab of thread locker and hit the range.

Real‑World Results

At Gunsite drills, comparing optics‑only shooters to those running optics + RTS:

• 25 yd pairs: RTS 1.45 s vs 1.93 s
• 10 yd movers: RTS 96 % hits vs 78 %
• Transition to 300 yd steel: Median first‑shot shift < 0.2 mrad—no loss of precision

Fractions of a second win stages and save lives. Rapid Transition Sights turn fractions into victories.

Frequently Asked Questions

1. What are the three types of sights?

1. Iron sights – mechanical front/rear alignment (RTS belong here).
2. Optical sights – magnified glass for distance work.
3. Electronic (reflex/”red dot”) sights – LED‑projected reticle for both‑eyes‑open speed.

2. What is the point of offset sights?

Offset or 45‑degree sights let you instantly swap from a magnified or obstructed primary optic to a clear, non‑magnified view just by canting the rifle. No turret turns, no cap flips—ideal for sudden close threats.

3. How do weapon sights work?

• Iron: Line up front sight in rear sight aperture—bullet follows bore line.
• Optic: Lenses/reticle aligned to bore; adjust turrets for drop/wind.
• Red dot: Parallax‑free dot projected onto glass; place the dot, press the trigger.

RTS operate like classic irons but are pre‑canted, so once zeroed, you merely roll and fire.

4. What are express sights?

Express sights use a wide, shallow “V” rear and big front bead for dangerous‑game rifles, built for speed over pinpoint accuracy. RTS shares the speed philosophy but uses a peep/post geometry for finer precision.

Install & Zero in Four Steps

1. Mount: Clean rail, blue Loctite, torque to 35‑40 in‑lb.
2. 25‑Yd Zero: Three‑round groups; dial windage on rear, elevation on front (CW = down).
3. Confirm 50/100: A 50/200 yd zero keeps hits ±2 in. to 225 yds, perfect for duty guns.
4. Drill the Cant: Dry‑fire 45° transitions to ingrain muscle memory.

Final Shots: Always Ready, Always On Target

Electronics fail, glass cracks, batteries die. Rapid Transition Sights™ keep you lethal when machines quit. Pick the stealthy standard post, the bright tritium night sights, or the fast fiber-optic front sight. Each model offers great durability and speed.

Upgrade your rifle with 45-degree offset iron sights today. Drill it tomorrow. Then, head to the next range, match, or patrol. You can trust that your iron sights are just a quick 45-degree tilt away.

Ready to roll? Pick your RTS variant and dominate every engagement:

• Standard RTS
• RTS with Trijicon Tritium
• RTS with Fiber Optics

Train hard, stay sharp, and trust your sights. Speed and accuracy win the fight.