Detachable carry handle for A4 uppers

[Army GI]

With the proliferation of ARs with rails and BUIS for the highly popular optics, there remains one question to be asked: What use are these old style handles?

Who here still uses the carry handle for their A4 upper?

[Prc329]

[Blacktail 8541]

I have one on my 16in. It is still a very good sighting system, as well as giving me the flexability to attach a scope or other sighting device easily.

[Army GI]

Right, I like how it clears the front sight for co witness.

But I think I should have reworded the way I said that. If you attach everything onto the handle, why get an A4? Why not just buy an A2?

[Blacktail 8541]

I don't attach to the handle. I simply remove it and use a 65 inch pound mini torque wrench to attach my optics so that I get a return to zero.

[fairfaxjim]

I use one on myy 16" A4 - switch between it and an ATN ultra sight when the mood strikes.

[ETD1010]

I still have my carry handle. Even when I eventually buy an EOTech, I'll still keep it. It's always nice to fall back on iron sights. I love the sight on the AR

[CrazyJeep]

No everyone has the money to buy an Eotech, Aimpoint, or ACOG. For some of us who are on tight budgets, we save enough to build a what some would call a "stock" AR type rifle. I have a carry handle and have absolutely no intentions on buying a scope for it or a BUIS. I plink at a 100 yards and it's fine for my particular needs. When I'm ready and have the funds available, the M1A I will be getting will someday be scoped.

[smguser]

I don't attach to the handle. I simply remove it and use a 65 inch pound mini torque wrench to attach my optics so that I get a return to zero.

Where did you come up with 65 inch pounds? I never thought about using a torque wrench to make a repeatable installation. Good idea!

[mltrading]

It depends on your shooting habit.

Personally, the flat top configuration is suitable for larger or many optical devices. The carry handle configuration is suitable for iron-sight shooting. Just my $.02

[Timberland]

I think it looks really cool, the handel is just a cool feature. A2s rock

[bwiese]

If you are gonna use irons for serious AR work, the carry handle is the way to go.

It's solid, there are a wide variety of products (inserts) for precision shooting, etc.

Every flatttop AR owner should have an appropriate carry handle. Scopes fail, and backup irons are just backup irons.

You should not cheap out and get cheap carry handle/sight - get one from the vendor that makes your upper. CMMG, Colt, LMT,etc rifles/uppers that have 'F'-marked front sight bases use a different carry handle than Bushmaster and some of the others that use regular A2 front sight bases. These sight heights differ by 0.040" and getting the wrong one can possibly (but not necessarily always) lead to weird situations like having to elevate the front sight post beyond the 'ears' of the front sight tower to get zero - or conversely having to get a shorter front sight post than the stock one.

[Army GI]

Thank you; that seems to be what all the veterans are saying as well. The carry handle iron sights are more sturdy and since the whole point of the flat top is that everything is easily detachable, its no problem to carry that thing in your cargo pocket.

[Blacktail 8541]

Where did you come up with 65 inch pounds? I never thought about using a torque wrench to make a repeatable installation. Good idea!

65 in pounds happens to be the correct torque spec for detachable scope mounts that require a tool. It is also a frequently used spec in stock bolts.