AR Sponsor
Posted: 1/24/2010 7:27:31 PM EDT
|
Hi, I'm looking into purchasing my first AR Carbine, and wanted to get some opinions on the front sight, and whether I should get one or not. My concern is that it will get in the way of optics, but I notice that the M4 issued to the troops has a front sight, and they all seem to be using optics now. I'll be mounting some sort of red dot sight or ACOG sight for shooting in an AR league, but I'm also going to be mounting a conventional hunting scope for coyote hunting.
If I get one that does have a front sight, and down the road I decide I don't want it, is it difficult to swap out for a gas block? Thanks for any help |
| depends. if its a carbine, it will block out more light than a mid or rifle gas system. for a rds a co witness will be fine, its all preference. I think fixt fsb looms better, but i like a clear sight picture so im gonna be getting rails and a flip front when i get the funds. |
|
I have rifles with fixed front sights and I have some with flip-ups. To be honest, I don't see the the FSB when I'm shooting... my brain just filters it out. I don't see it at all through magnified optics. If I was shooting magnified optics most of the time, I'd probably use flip-ups, just because a co-witness isn't going to be useful to me. Some folks like the see-through scope mounts, but that pulls the sight piucture of the scope too high for my tastes. On my scoped rifle, I use a QD scope mount and if I need ot use the irons, I'd pull the scope off before the bastages got too close.
I prefer an RDS on my close range guns though. |
| If you're that worried about it just buy a gun with a gas block and a flip up sight. It is not tough to do later if you have a few tools. If you switch to a gas block you are most likely putting on a free float rail as well. Pretty simple job really. The FSB will be in a different sight plane so it will "blur" out as others have said when using magnified optics. I would just buy a basic carbine, start shooting it, and then add a Red Dot Sight, I like the cowitness. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
PSST! <Whisper> See thru riser mount, so you can use the irons too <Whisper>. Will that give my optics the clearance so they're not obstructed by the front sight? Took a little work at the range to get the elevation dialed in right with this Aimpoint, but now that it is, I can drive tacks with this thing. I can also instantly switch to the factory irons just by making a slight head adjustment. Another thing I like about this is that it still allows you to use the carry handle too - something you sacrifice with all flat top rigs. Seems minor, but I like having my carry handle. A lot of people don't like this kind of set up because they feel the scope is too high and they jokingly call it a "chin weld" instead of a "cheek weld," So be it. To each his own, and I will never try to force my views upon others if they don't like something. But I find this quite comfortable. If you go into the retro forums you will find a lot of carry handle mounts being used to mount various optics. Back in the 1970s, before Picatinny rail interface had become an industry standard, this used to be how everyone mounted optics on ARs. Oh, and yes, you have plenty of FSB clearance for your optic with this. Just a suggestion to show you some of your options. 
|
|
Outside of a sniper rifle set up, any rifle should have irons. Your optic can go down. Nothing is tougher than a an original FSB. But I agree, for me, the fixed front sight bugs me. I use a flip up front sight/gas block combo from YHM with my Eotech. Potential problem there is the gas block is not pinned but uses set screws. I red lock tight mine but there is always the possibility of screws loosening. On my other rifle I use a rail mounted flip up FSB. But there are a whole lot of guys using fixed FSB's. You just look past it. Your focus should be on the target, not on the FSB or the dot for that matter.
If using an optic over 3X you won't see the FSB. |
|
Quoted:
Quoted:
Quoted:
PSST! <Whisper> See thru riser mount, so you can use the irons too <Whisper>. Will that give my optics the clearance so they're not obstructed by the front sight? Took a little work at the range to get the elevation dialed in right with this Aimpoint, but now that it is, I can drive tacks with this thing. I can also instantly switch to the factory irons just by making a slight head adjustment. Another thing I like about this is that it still allows you to use the carry handle too - something you sacrifice with all flat top rigs. Seems minor, but I like having my carry handle. A lot of people don't like this kind of set up because they feel the scope is too high and they jokingly call it a "chin weld" instead of a "cheek weld," So be it. To each his own, and I will never try to force my views upon others if they don't like something. But I find this quite comfortable. You know, I tried that setup with my Colt A2, which as the carrying handle, and I didn't care for it. The optics were mounted way to high for me to get a consistent cheek/chin weld. In fact, I specifically said when I get my AR carbine, I want one with a flat top. I always have the option of putting a carrying handle on the flat top. Also, in order to use my Colt A2 for varmint hunting, I'm planning on getting a flat top upper to put on it so I can mount a scope. |
|
Quoted:
IMO it is the optics that are optional. I'm a big fan of the iron sight, and am relatively new to optics. I used iron sights to qualify expert during my 11 years in the Marines, so I am partial to it. I believe all new/young shooters should start with the iron sight. I didn't even start to get into optics until I got out and started hunting (I got out in 2000, which was before the Marines were issuing optics to it's ground forces) But this rifle will be used for three things for which I want optics: 1. home defense, so I want a reflex-type sight for quick acquisition, and 2. hunting predators, so I want to mount a scope on it. 3. I want to shoot in my gun club's AR league, so once again I'll need the reflex sight. I also wouldn't mind turning it into a "Jesus gun" by putting an ACOG on it. :) |
|
In theory if you are using a magnified optic the front sight could block some light in a low light shooting situation. I don't expect it is very much, but when the light gets low you need all you can get.
I prefer flip up front sights for a different reason though. When I use a red dot type sight I instinctively try to align the dot with the front sight post. Essentially, I'm using the red dot as my rear sight and it takes just as long as using standard irons. If I flip the front sight down, I have a clear open sight picture. Not everyone has this issue, but for me I don't like having the front sight in the way of my red dot. As for carry handle mounts, it is much less of a big deal with a red dot. Red dot sights, by their nature, are designed for relatively close range shooting and are parallax free. With a magnified optic (which has significant parallax) you don't want to mount it on top of a carry handle. Without a consistent cheek weld the angle you look through the scope will not be as consistent and will affect your POA/POI. To each their own, but I don't care for carry handle mounts. |
AR Sponsor