Optic ideas for my new A2

[Nuuze]

Hi all,

I just DROS'd my first OLL A2 Tuesday from a fellow CalGunner! I'm reading up as much as I can and I wanted to get your thoughts on some optics for the rifle. Here are some pics before it went away for 10 days:





Now my question, since it's an A2 with a fixed handle I wanted to get ideas on how to put some sort of optic on this baby. To begin with I will start at 50/100 yards. Here hare some opions I thought of:

1. Put a scope on the existing rail that came with the rifle that's currently on the handle in pic #2 above like a Bushnell dusk to dawn or a Nikon buckmaster.

2. I saw the Midwest Industries A2 Adjustable Cantilever Mount in the RRA catalog and thought it may go nice with a HaloSight:

http://www.rockriverarms.com/item-detail.cfm?ID=AR3629&storeid=1&image=mnts4.gif

Kinda making it look like this:

http://www.rockriverarms.com/item-detail.cfm?ID=AR1741&storeid=1&image=pstasc07.gif&CFID=5439972&CFTOKEN=95343410

Also how does the Bushnell HaloSight compare to the EOTech HaloSight? Anyone try both?

http://www.bushnell.com/general/riflescopes_holosight_51-0021.cfm

3. I'm not sure how much gunsmithing cost or even know if it's possible. But to change the A2 upper with an A4.

Thoughts? Thanks in advanced!

[Nuuze]

Here's a couple more I saw.

-4x20 AR-15 M-16 Scope with Bullet Drop Compensator

http://www.combathunting.com/AR_15_M_16_M4-4x20_AR_15_M_16_Scope_with_Bullet_Drop_Compensator.html

-Hakko 4x21 AR-15 Scope

http://www.cdnninvestments.com/ar4xbdcscwha.html

-A.R.M.S. #16A Aimpoint M16 A1/A2 carry handle mount to use with an Aimpoint

http://www.mountsplus.com/miva/merchant.mvc?page=MSP/PROD/arms_mounts/16A

Or I can use the existing mount that came with the rifle with an aimpoint and ring

http://www.opticsplanet.net/aimpoint-sr-30-mm-x-wide-rings.html

[maxicon]

Mounting an optic on the carry handle generally puts them too high to get a good cheekweld. Some people like Aimpoints up there for cqb/house-clearing type stuff, but for paper-punching and range shooting, especially with a magnified optic, it's a problem.

IMO, a better solution is to put a non-magnified optic like an Eotech, Aimpoint, or any decent red dot on a cantilever mount like the MI you have linked. You can get cheaper non-adjustable ones, but the adjustable ones let you co-witness with just about any optic.

If you had a railed handguard, you could put a long eye relief scout or pistol scope on it, but most of those are limited to 2-4x.

A decent AR smith could switch the upper to a railed upper, and it shouldn't be too expensive. Lots of people do that themselves, but you do need some tools. That would give you a lot more flexibility.

Another option would be to buy another complete upper that you could switch back and forth on the lower - it takes about a minute to do this.

There's a holosight thread in the forum that talks about the differences between the versions:

http://www.calguns.net/calgunforum/showthread.php?t=76260

Here's how I've mounted optics on my A2 .22 upper. I've got an adjustable cantilever mount too, but haven't mounted it up yet.

Aimpoint clone on a railed handguard - this co-witnesses with the iron sights. This is my favorite setup:


Leupold 4-12x40 on a carry handle mount with medium Leupold QRW rings - way too high for routine shooting. I just use this setup to get test groups. The rings could be lows, but that would only drop it another quarter-inch or so.

[Nuuze]

Decisions, decisons...

I'm gonna have to think about this one... How much do gunsmiths charge to swap a upper receiver? Is that something I can take and wait for?

[ocabj]

Swapping all your upper parts to another stripped receiver is a DIY job. You just need the upper receiver block, an AR15 armory tool, and a vise block. I'm not familiar with your specific free float tube, so I am unsure how exactly it is installed/removed - you may need another tool for that tube (maybe something as simple as a strap wrench).

Pictures from a rebarrelling job I did recently: http://www.ocabj.net/gallery2/v/shoo...rrel_20071111/

[rksimple]

A swap to a flat top upper should be quick and easy. You can do it yourself with minimal investment in tools, or give Randall at AR15barrels.com a call. He'll do it for a very reasonable fee.

[Nuuze]

The person I got it from says the barrel is a 20" white oak armament national match 1:9 twist heavy barrel with a target crown. From the looks of it the front sight would have to come off before I can even take the free float tube off with special tools.

I'm going to hold off until next weekend to see how it shoots after pickup Friday. If it shoots well then I may keep it with the service rifle look and maybe get a flat top upper.

[rksimple]

If it shoots well then I may keep it with the service rifle look and maybe get a flat top upper.

Thats the best option. Have both!

[Nuuze]

I'm guessing there's two options that I'm thinking of.

1. Find a good scope/Aimpoint setup that work well with the A2 handle setup. I may want the float tube replaced with a classic float thermal mold for the classic look. So far I like how these look:
The person who owns this rifle says it performs well.

http://www.ocabj.net/photos/firearms_personal/colt_sporter_01t.jpg

This one is an Aimpoint mount. Anyone have any report on it?

http://www.mountsplus.com/miva/merchant.mvc?page=MSP/PROD/arms_mounts/16A

2. Swap the upper receiver to a topless design. This seems to be the cheaper route if gunsmithing is not too expensive. I would have more optics options.


Anyone know how the following scopes perform?

-4x20 AR-15 M-16 Scope with Bullet Drop Compensator

http://www.combathunting.com/AR_15_M_16_M4-4x20_AR_15_M_16_Scope_with_Bullet_Drop_Compensator.html

-Hakko 4x21 AR-15 Scope

http://www.cdnninvestments.com/ar4xbdcscwha.html

[Nuuze]

Swapping all your upper parts to another stripped receiver is a DIY job. You just need the upper receiver block, an AR15 armory tool, and a vise block. I'm not familiar with your specific free float tube, so I am unsure how exactly it is installed/removed - you may need another tool for that tube (maybe something as simple as a strap wrench).

Pictures from a rebarrelling job I did recently: http://www.ocabj.net/gallery2/v/shoo...rrel_20071111/

ocabj,

How much do the tools costs to DIY and what does it consist of? From the looks of my rifle the front sight holds the gas tube and blocking the float tube. Is it just the two pins on the front sight holding it on?

[J_Rock]

You might want to get a cheek riser

[ar15barrels]

Decisions, decisons...

I'm gonna have to think about this one... How much do gunsmiths charge to swap a upper receiver? Is that something I can take and wait for?

$40 for a complete tear down and rebuild job.
This includes swapping of receivers, handguards, barrels etc...

You can certainly do it yourself if you are mechanically inclined, but the tools to do it right cost a good bit more than $40.
If you will be doing lots of builds, get the tools.
If not, pay a professional.

Professionals will also notice things and do things that you would miss.
I correct many problems that I run into after the last person assembled an upper as part of my normal tear-down and rebuild service.
A simple tear-down and rebuild can be done while-you-wait.

[maxicon]

Anyone know how the following scopes perform?

-4x20 AR-15 M-16 Scope with Bullet Drop Compensator

http://www.combathunting.com/AR_15_M_16_M4-4x20_AR_15_M_16_Scope_with_Bullet_Drop_Compensator.html

-Hakko 4x21 AR-15 Scope
http://www.cdnninvestments.com/ar4xbdcscwha.html

The first looks like a no-name Chinese clone, and those are always a crapshoot. Some people have good luck with them, others don't.

Hakko's a step above that, and not so bad for the money. Some folks like them, some hate them.

Here are a few threads on the Hakko version.

http://ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=18&t=349734

http://ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=18&t=342883

I've got the C-more version of that scope (purportedly made by Hakko), and it's OK, but nothing special. I haven't really used it much.