# Question on ar optic **URL:** \ **Category:** General Firearm Discussions\ **Created:** [November 6, 2026, 3:23am UTC](https://njgunforums.net/t/question-on-ar-optic/5314 "2026-11-06T03:23:48Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![1LTCAP](https://njgunforums.net/user_avatar/njgunforums.net/1ltcap/32/74_2.png) [@1LTCAP](https://njgunforums.net/u/1LTCAP)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2026, 3:23am UTC](https://njgunforums.net/t/question-on-ar-optic/5314/1 "2026-11-06T03:23:49Z")
lets see if i can put this in the right place this time, lol. so i have an ar with the optic mounted something like an inch up off of the rail. i’ve been told that that’s so it can co-witness with the irons. my problem though…when i shoulder the rifle, and get a nice cheek weld, i feel like my eyeball’s too low for the sight. i actually have to pick my head up a little. so…presuming that i don’t give a dam about co-witnessing the irons…is there really any reason why i can’t just mount my optic directly to the rail? rather than propping it up higher? i really feel stupid asking this one. but…sometimes i’m a dumbass, lolol ---
**Author:** ![NJGF-Admin](https://njgunforums.net/user_avatar/njgunforums.net/njgf-admin/32/139_2.png) [@NJGF-Admin](https://njgunforums.net/u/NJGF-Admin)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2026, 4:14am UTC](https://njgunforums.net/t/question-on-ar-optic/5314/2 "2026-11-06T04:14:27Z")
What kind of optic and what mounts? Co-witness is ~1.42", lower 1/3 co-witness ~1.57 and high rise is like ~1.9"+. 1" seems low already so I suspect you have 1.42" height? Pics would help 👍 And you want to make this lower? Functionally, it’s fine. Just don’t let the optic itself touch the rail making sure there is a little clearance. Keep in mind anytime you change the height over bore it will change your trajectories/point of impact. ---
**Author:** ![ThePointyEnd](https://njgunforums.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/t/ea5d25/32.png) [@ThePointyEnd](https://njgunforums.net/u/ThePointyEnd)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2026, 1:27pm UTC](https://njgunforums.net/t/question-on-ar-optic/5314/3 "2026-11-06T13:27:33Z")
Apparently I have weird cheekbones so I had to go hunting for a riser that was comfortable and worked for my face (in my case a few tenths of an inch HIGHER). I have no irons to cowitness. So, yes, it’s reasonable that you’d have to do some work to get a good repeatable cheek weld. Mounting the optic to the rail would be REALLY low (assuming your optic is essentially a straight tube and even fits that way) but if it worked for you at least you don’t have to worry much about holdovers lol ---
**Author:** ![Silverado427](https://njgunforums.net/user_avatar/njgunforums.net/silverado427/32/64_2.png) [@Silverado427](https://njgunforums.net/u/Silverado427)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2026, 3:52pm UTC](https://njgunforums.net/t/question-on-ar-optic/5314/4 "2026-11-06T15:52:17Z")
Post a pic with a little more info ---
**Author:** ![Candyman87](https://njgunforums.net/letter_avatar_proxy/v4/letter/c/54ee81/32.png) [@Candyman87](https://njgunforums.net/u/Candyman87)\ **Post date:** [November 6, 2026, 9:34pm UTC](https://njgunforums.net/t/question-on-ar-optic/5314/5 "2026-11-06T21:34:40Z")
Generally the reason that AR optics have a riser is that the comb of the stock is in line with the barrel vs. a drop on more traditional rifle stocks. Traditionally, a riser will move it to 1.54" above the rail for co-witnessing with irons, 1.93" for a lower 1/3 co-witness, or 2.26" which is becoming more and more common with night vision. That said, you may simply need a shorter riser, but there’s no reason that you can’t mount directly to the rail IF that allows you to get a consistent cheek weld. Show us pictures of what you have and we may be able to offer some more specific guidance.