Co-Witness vs. Non Co-Witness SightsUpdated 9 days ago

Co-Witness vs. Non Co-Witness Sights

When selecting a holster, customers may be asked whether their firearm has co-witness or non co-witness sights.

Co-witness sights allow the red dot optic to be mounted in front of the rear sight, letting the shooter see both the iron sights and the optic when aiming.

Non co-witness sights typically require the rear sight to be removed or relocated when installing the optic, meaning the iron sights and optic cannot be used together in the same sight picture.

For holster fitment, this distinction can be important because the optic's position on the slide may affect compatibility with certain holster designs. A co-witness setup generally places the optic farther forward on the slide, while a non co-witness setup may position the optic farther to the rear.

How to Tell the Difference

Co-Witness Setup

• Rear sight remains behind the optic
• Optic is mounted forward of the rear sight
• Iron sights can still be used with the optic installed

Non Co-Witness Setup

• Rear sight is removed or relocated
• Optic occupies the rear sight area
• Iron sights cannot be viewed through the optic in their original configuration