MBUS 3 vs MBUS 2 In Depth Comparison

[@confoundedcontaminant388]

Good review. I like that you don't have an intro containing pointless tacti-cool guy cut footage and generic rock guitar. Straight to the point of the video and with good concise information.

[@freedomgorilla1]

Appreciate that!

[@CarlPapa88]

Completely agree. Seems like every guntuber has to have a 1-1.5 min. range trip montage with the audio cranked to 12 followed by the review details at half the volume. Thanks for the side by side. I can see them making a Gen 4 with side latch & push button. +$10 🤑

[@fallthrone9735]

Glad you made this compare video. I have been running the gen2's for years, and recently since the gen3's came out, I started comparing them and the pro's, looking for pictures and videos, etc etc. I honestly like the little side levers on the gen2 alot, and can't justify going to the gen3 just for a few ounces lighter or mm's smaller. I considered the pro's as well, but they don't have the quick deploy buttons or spring tension, and I've seen videos of them getting thrown out of position from recoil. The one thing I do like about the gen3 is the tool-less front sight adjustment. However, once sighted in, I think its rare they need adjusting again. So I just bought a grip with storage and I will put the little sight adjustment tool in there with batteries or something. Thanks for the detailed review, new sub here 👍

[@freedomgorilla1]

Thanks i almost didn't release this video because I thought it was too long. I'm glad you found it helpful. I am the same way, i like to be very thorough. I like the MBUS 2 deployment mechanism better, everything else you said makes perfect sense and is hard to argue with.

[@zackfreeman8025]

We changed the deployment mechanism so that we could make them smaller without decreasing the strength. Really tricky to make these pass drop tests. Lots of folks missed the little levers on the GEN2's.

[@freedomgorilla1]

@@zackfreeman8025 do you work for Magpul?

[@zackfreeman8025]

@@freedomgorilla1 I designed these Sights.

[@freedomgorilla1]

@@zackfreeman8025 Zack that is super awesome. I’ve always wanted to meet someone that does what you do. I have so many questions about the process and think it’s super cool! It would be awesome if we could interview you sometime!

[@graywolf432]

This is well-done, thorough and no-frills review. You sold me on the MBUS3s. Thanks.

[@freedomgorilla1]

Yw and thank you!

[@rmarasco1420]

Great review. Because I came across a great deal on the gen 3 version, I purchased those over the gen 2. First time at the range was a pain. The front sight is EXTREMELY difficult to manipulate. One thing I want to mention, you can use a tool on the gen 2 but you can also (easily) make adjustments with the tip of a round. Knowing what I know now, gen 2 (for me) are the way to go. The ease of getting the sights into battle are more important than the 1/2 ounce. The idea of possibly placing any part of my hand in front of the muzzle to activate is a big no-go (side activation is safer, in my opinion). Thank you for sharing the side by side.

[@freedomgorilla1]

Sure thing. And great commentary. Thank you

[@joshs2138]

I think I like the 2 better. The only thing that would've sold me on the 3 was if the rear was narrower so you could move it back further with no charging handle interference. And good point with the deployment!

[@freedomgorilla1]

Yea I’m ok w my 2s

[@franklea9623]

Just have to grip and slightly lift/slide the adjustment wheel upward a bit then turn and works smoothly. That’s how they are designed

[@wtdconcepts]

Great review comparing these! Always nice to see the side by side comparison compared to just talking about specs.

[@freedomgorilla1]

thank you

[@anthonykeel1058]

Thank you for a great honest review! I personally prefer the gen2 sights, but I had to purchase the gen3 sights due to my lightweight AR15 having a carbon fiber handguard, the rail has a lip and unable to lay the front sight flat as the side lever interferes with the rail. I just wish Magpul would do a polymer offset sight so can have a backup sight on my 6.5 Grendel!

[@johncarpenter1476]

Respectfully, you opine about the front sight being tight, hard to adjust and needing lube (it does not!) because you did not know how to adjust it properly. You have to pull up the adjustment knob WHILE turning/adjusting the sight! I only know this because I had to figure out that myself....;)

[@freedomgorilla1]

Yep you’re right!

[@Edward-r5h3i]

It even explains that in the directions. ..lol.. 😆😆😆😆😆😆

[@ryandavis5475]

Did the same here, and this is the first time I have ever had a rifle and needed to get sights for it. A new sight might be a bit stiff, but there should be no reason to 'break' one in.

[@ryandavis5475]

I couldn't find those.

[@Edward-r5h3i]

@@johncarpenter1476 I just read the description in the box. There are directions that come with both sights. Our neighbors just bought a bunch of horses so now we gotta find a new place to shoot. Ugh. 😑 🙄

[@txgreek3512]

Thank you for taking the time to make this video. One thing I immediately noticed was on the side profile, there’s a larger gap between the rail and the sight aperture allowing gear to snag easier as well as creating a channel for something else to snag. I’m a big fan of the PRI as they’re more flush against the rail. Thank you and God Bless.

[@PartTimeJedi]

I'm running the Holosun 510c/magnifier combo and only using the mbus 3 or Pro rear sight gives me enough picatinny room to also run a backup rear sight. The Gen 2 rear mbus takes up 1.5 more rail space when deployed and partially pushes the 510c out onto the free float barrel. Using the Gen 3 rear allows the 510c to completely sit on the upper picatinnys.

[@freedomgorilla1]

Amazing info.

[@ray.d.oeaux1230]

Thank you for making a video that gets to salient points without aimless (pun intended) blather.

[@freedomgorilla1]

Thank you!

[@jerryjones188]

I was just having the same problem as you, turning the front sight adjustment knob. But your video zoom in on the back of the front sight showed a small knob centered just below the adjuster. I tried pushing up on the adjuster and it freed it up to turn either way. Also, I think the arrow for UP is to the right, but it is so small, I cannot tell for sure. Can you? Thanks for the video.

[@drewgotit3569]

I believe to turn that front sight knob you need to first pull up on it to clear the notch that holds it in place.

[@freedomgorilla1]

Yep you’re right!

[@osamabentrappin4102]

Also my gen 2 mbuses i picked uo from runnings is in the newer packaging

[@willg6997]

The MBUS3 also do not lay quite as flat as the MBUS2 or PRO. I mean it's a very slight gap increase from front to back on both the front and rear of both sights. Or maybe it's just my rail.

[@freedomgorilla1]

nothing noticeable for me

[@J-Hat]

I definitely noticed that too. The front mbus2 kinda looks to have a lower profile.

[@nowme2692]

Really great review. Merry Christmas from PL.

[@freedomgorilla1]

Merry Xmas!

[@turtletrooperblue]

Exactly how I feel! Needs the side latches.. Common MBUS 4!!

[@matts.4095]

Thank you for the video. I went with the Mbus 2 for two reasons, first one was deployment which is a lot more intuitive and second is price the mbus. 2. Is $25 cheaper

[@freedomgorilla1]

Good choice

[@Hill_Billy_Without_A_Hill]

I notice on their rear sights, that, you almost need to put them up one slot from the last, as the length when folded down kind of interferes with your fingers when charging the charging handle.

[@freedomgorilla1]

Good to know

[@Mrsnafu57]

I just got my gen3’s and I’m looking at the front post adjustments and had the greatest ahha moment you just lift up on the wheel and then rotate lol

[@freedomgorilla1]

Yes. Wish i knew that

[@mtnbound2764]

the thing i like about the new ones is they dont have those silly looking side levers. i never liked the looks of the mbus. they look like bugs. the gen 3 though are much better IMO with the slimmer and "squarer" profile, just got a set in FDE.

[@ivaylommm]

How wide are the rears at the adjusting knob, would the new one clear a flipped to the side magnifier ?

[@freedomgorilla1]

Yes it will

[@mac3633]

Maybe a dumb idea but could you run the front mbus 3 sight backwards to make it more intuitive to hit the button? I cant see how it would matter but im not the brightest crayon in the box either.

[@freedomgorilla1]

I see what your saying. For the front sight that would work. The rear you still have to take your hand off the grip

[@Texasmade4444444444]

I have the 2 ill stick with the side lever

[@freedomgorilla1]

The side lever is more user friendly for sure.

[@mtnbound2764]

see im not a fan of the side levers. much prefer the gen 3, good thing we have options!

[@freedomgorilla1]

@@mtnbound2764 exactly!

[@sledgehammersunited401]

Did lubrication help with the MBUS3 front sight knob?

[@freedomgorilla1]

Yes but there’s a trick. If you push it up towards the top and spin at the same time it spins easier

[@loydlamberson8942]

Great Video! Glad you made it.

[@freedomgorilla1]

So glad to hear that thank you

[@mtnbound2764]

great review video

[@freedomgorilla1]

thank you

[@Deliriousconstituent]

Which one feels more robust, gen 2 or 3? I use these as my main sights with a 50 yard zero.

[@freedomgorilla1]

Good question. Both equal

[@FrankTheTank417]

How come you don’t have a link on this video to purchase these? You should make it easy on us to help support you!

[@freedomgorilla1]

I’m glad you mentioned it i didn’t even realize! I just added a link

[@rphash49]

Solid review. I think I prefer the gen2 rear over the gen3 rear. For the front I'm going to grab a gen3 FDE when they come out and run it with a gen2 rear

[@freedomgorilla1]

Thx for the compliment Rob! Yea nothing says you can’t mix and match!

[@Rotarypowerandguns]

That rear sight is loose on mbus2 no thanks, the mbus 3 is solid doesn't move .

[@freedomgorilla1]

@@Rotarypowerandguns it's not loose - just to clarify

[@outdooroperator714]

​@freedomgorilla1 that's the question I need asked. Do they have the same height?

[@AstronautSpaceCake]

Can you mix and match? I mistakenly picked up a gen 3 front and gen 2 rear.

[@farklestaxbaum4945]

Just got a pair of the mbus 3s, theyre fine but not that much different imo. Theyre barely any smaller, and deployed I think they are actually taller. The front sight is adjustable with a bullet tip on the mbus 2, and theres never a time when you need to adjust a front sight where you dont have a bullet around (I guess if the sight is on a 9mm/ 350legend etc then tool-less makes sense) The retention in the deployed postion is WORSE than the MBUS 2, there is nothing but spring pressure keeping it open, where as the mbus 2s havea little more friction from that little dogleg piece. The mbus 3 does look better though, the mbus 2 always looked like an airsoft part to me.

[@treywest2137]

Good comparison thanks

[@patriotcontainers4349]

If you push up on the front sight adjust it will spin left and right much easier

[@freedomgorilla1]

you sir, are a genius - i would have never known that!

[@mtnbound2764]

@@freedomgorilla1 they didnt put anything on the box about it, also you can turn the front sight post and make it thinner.

[@coolwin1776]

great review this helped a lot for my choice

[@xrbperformance4290]

Are they compatible or the same exact hight?

[@freedomgorilla1]

I think so yes. The same

[@freedomgorilla1]

What do you think? Get em here -> freedomgorilla.com/products/magpul-mbus-3-sights?yt

[@AccumbensNucleus]

Thanks!

[@dangerdoberman]

Whoa. That's really great.

[@DonnaSeward-m7l]

The biggest thing ive noticed is that the gen3s dont sit as flush as the gen2s

[@J-Hat]

Nice review 👍🏼👍🏼

[@freedomgorilla1]

thank you!

[@justusbryant7366]

Mbus 3 are an upgrade forsure but I still will always like the 2. Can't go wrong with either.

[@freedomgorilla1]

agreed

[@dustbustr91]

excelent compare

[@freedomgorilla1]

Thank you

[@MastermindMentality]

See my video on “MBUS 3 front sight adjustment”

[@freeman8000]

My front sight post extracted itself from its housing in under 500rds

[@freedomgorilla1]

That’s wild.

[@freeman8000]

Yeah I'm convinced that when moving from one gen to the next, manufacturers look to cut costs first, better performance is secondary to that, and so what suffers is durability, which to me, is the most important aspect of any firearms accessories... Even the lower profile while seemingly an upgrade, it's really just about using less material. And the hand-adjustable front post? Major savings from not supplying a tool. (edit: this is across the board in every industry)

[@Edward-r5h3i]

Those babies cost me a hundred and seventy bucks but they are all steel. Easy to dial in and sturdy. Later on after I finish off one last back bill I’m gonna nab another set for my other Daniel and add two green dots to co witness with. I wanted to also add two silencers but my friend had to pay that $200 extortion fee and wait nine months for his can. That tax started in the thirties and they never let up on it. Taxes are here to stay. That and our eventual deaths when our expiration days come up. 🤮🤮🙄

[@apstech4618]

Just buy metal sights.