Warning

 

Close
Confirm Action

Are you sure you wish to do this?

Cancel Confirm
AR15.COM
AR Sponsor
7/15/2009 7:00:47 PM EDT
What's the difference between an A1 and A2 front sight? I have an A1 front sight, am I restricted to using a specific type rear sight? I know this is a terribly noobish question, so please have mercy.

7/15/2009 7:05:25 PM EDT
[#1]
A1 sight posts that I have used (IOW not necessarily all) are rounded and have 5 adjustment notches as opposed to the squared off profile and four adjustment notches on the A2 and later posts.
7/15/2009 7:57:48 PM EDT
[#2]
A1s are all round and A2s are all square.
A1s also had tritium vials in some sights and I have seen these with four and five adjustment notches.
7/15/2009 8:20:39 PM EDT
[#3]
IIRC, the five adjustment notches in the base of the A1 front sight post are larger and more rounded to accommodate the tip of a 5.56 round which is what we used to make the windage and elevation adjustments on our M-16A1s.  The A2 front sight post seems narrower to me but I'll have to measure them sometime.
7/16/2009 2:56:25 PM EDT
[#4]
Quoted:
IIRC, the five adjustment notches in the base of the A1 front sight post are larger and more rounded to accommodate the tip of a 5.56 round which is what we used to make the windage and elevation adjustments on our M-16A1s.  The A2 front sight post seems narrower to me but I'll have to measure them sometime.


I believe the notches are the same.  I have a rifle that came with the A1 sight post, but because I prefer the square post I swapped it with an A2.  No problems.  You do give up 25% of the adjustment increments, of course.
7/16/2009 6:52:45 PM EDT
[#5]
Some feel that a better sight picture is achieved with the A2 flat-sided  post.  It actually comes down to personal preference.
There is no compelling reason to not mix and match A1 and A2 front/rear sights; comes down to personal preference.
Moon
AR Sponsor