ar optics

[ghost]

i have an a2 upper with carry handle.what optics do you guys recommend ?i`ve seen some people use a z-bracket to level scope or just put it directly on handle?help me out guys,thanks.

[blkA4alb]

I believe most use a bracket that attaches and has a picatinny rail on top.

I personally think it looks really silly having an optic (more so with a scope than an ACOG) mounted on the carry handle. I've never used one in person but I don't see how you could get a very good cheekweld with the optic up that high.

[ocabj]

I mounted an Aimpoint Comp ML2 on my Colt Sporter Lightweight several years ago (and I still have this configuration). I went with the forward carry handle mount. It allows for a slight cowitness of the A2 sights, but just barely (front sight near the bottom of the Aimpoint sight picture). I am very happy with this setup. Very easy to use. Easy to acquire target with the red dot. Not awkward for cheek weld.

I've never tried the rails that go on top of the carry handle mount directly, such as the ARMS #02:

http://www.armsmounts.com/catalog.php?action=124&item_id=1

While I cannot speak from a ergonomical standpoint, it looks like a good mount with respects to how it allows the cowitnessing of the A2 sights via see-through in the bottom of the mount.

[Franksremote]

I believe most use a bracket that attaches and has a picatinny rail on top.

I personally think it looks really silly having an optic (more so with a scope than an ACOG) mounted on the carry handle. I've never used one in person but I don't see how you could get a very good cheekweld with the optic up that high.

It actually works out ok. Years ago b4 the p-rail, there wasn't really an option, and while it wasn't the best, it worked ok as long as you kept the mount from loosening up and completely destroying center (which wasn't excellent anyways.)

Not to be antagonistic, but y'all are a little spoiled nowadays

[paradox]

With a carry handle, your best bet is going old school:

http://www.cdnninvestments.com/ar4xbdcscwha1.html

They also sell one with an illuminated reticle.

[Omega13device]

The optic you "should" get depends on what you plant to use it for. Home defense? Competition shooting? Less than 100 yds, 100-300 yds, or 100-500 yds? Provide some more details on what you plan to do with it and people will make better recommendations.

You might also want to spend some time reading posts on the optics forum on arfcom, http://www.ar15.com/forums/forum.html?b=3&f=18. There is also a good thread there called "for those new to the AR, here are some optics options".

[Stanze]

My A2 upper, stock and parts kit was a gift from my dad. The Cherokee cheek piece works well. I find that I can still use my irons if I scoot my head back a bit and that the charging handle is much easier to access compared to a A3 scope set-up. Not to bash the A3, but my friend's set-up was a bit of a learning curve compared to what I'm used to.

That's a cheapie Leapers w/ loads of loctite on the rings and "carry handle" mount. Accuracy wise I can put rounds into a 1" black stickers all day at 50 and 100 yards. Haven't tried shooting farther distances yet.

[maxicon]

You can also put a railed handguard on if you want a Scout scope or non-magnified optics.

The ARMS #02 style carry handle mount isn't very flexible in terms of eye relief, and cheek weld is also a problem. Note that the ARMS #02 isn't a Picatinny-spec mount, due to the slot spacing. You can see the Leupold below is mounted as far forward as it can get, and I still had to pull back some to get into the optimal eye relief zone. The Leupolds have pretty forgiving eye relief, in general, but not enough for me with this setup.

I shoot this one a lot more with the red dot, because it's a lot more enjoyable, except when I'm shooting for group size, when I put a magnified scope on the carry handle.

Here's my DPMS .22 upper with an Aimpoint replica on the handguard:


And with a Leupold 4-12x40 scope on an ARMS #02 carry handle mount:

[SemiAutoSam]

Just what I was looking for for my A2 Build thanks for the link.

My old eyes are a little too tired for Iron sights these days.

With a carry handle, your best bet is going old school:

http://www.cdnninvestments.com/ar4xbdcscwha1.html

They also sell one with an illuminated reticle.

[alpine18]

You can't go wrong with one of these on an AR:

http://www.quickfilepost.com/download.do?get=6eafe16f282b2989ae8d0d4361df1a9d

http://www.quickfilepost.com/download.do?get=a0dee8ac15efc0ac133f27de9ff3dc71