What is "National Match"?

[Meatball]

When looking at different carry handle options for my rifle, I come across one that is "national match", and one that is regular --with the national match being twice the price.
What are the differences? Advantages/disadvantages?
Also, which is used in the military's M16/M4 rifles?
Thanks for any input.

[rero360]

With the NM sights you'll experience better fit of the parts, held to closer tolerances, and the adjustments will be finer, say 1/4 or 1/8 MOA instead of 1/2. Also often cases the rear aperture will be smaller or be able to accept inserts to tailor it for the shooter and conditions.

Only issued rifles that will/ might have NM sights would be DMR/ SDMR/ Sniper/ AMU rifles outside of individuals putting them on themselves.

Advantages; will give you finer adjustments allowing you to get a more refined and precise zero, better accuracy.

Disadvantages; more expensive, may be slower/harder to acquire the front sight post in high stress combat situations (don't know, can't speak first hand to that one)

[Meatball]

Perfect answer. Thank you!

[phish]

National Match spec parts only applied to M14 and earlier issued rifles. There was never a NM spec for the M16. Any AR part that's advertised as NM is just marketing b.s.

I only know of one 1/8 moa rear sight, and it mounts on a Redfield style mount, not a battle rifle.

[dieselpower]

wow... Ok you all should read this...

NM also refers to an actual standard used in rifle matches. You need to have a rifle configured IAW the Nation Standard. That way everyone is on an equal footing with the same basic rifle.

http://www.armalite.com/images/Tech%20Notes%5CTech%20Note%2026,%20Zeroing%20ArmaLite%20National%20Match%20Sights,%209901%E2%80%A6.pdf

The rear sight drum is not the same and trying to use it as an A2 or A4 (A3) procedures will not yield the desired results.

These are the different drums


NM need to be used on an A2 NOT an A4 (F Marked FSB)


A2, A4, NM hoods, note the screw threads and length


You also need to make sure your BUIS is sitting on the correct deck height.


This is an A2 hood on a DCH (A4) wheel (DCH= Detachable carry Handle)

[phish]

Perfect answer. Thank you!

lol, I guess if it's wrapped in a nice, wordy package, it must be true!

[rero360]

Yeah, I had a brain fart there. My post was pretty inaccurate. Please disregard it, I went back and looked at some of the stuff I had read before, like WOA site, and my memory totally garbled it all up.

[bubbapug1]

Rero, your post was pretty close, it's the one after yours claiming all ar nm parts are BS that has clueless hater stamped all over it.

So there you have it. They do make NM sights for AR's. I'd buy one from white oak precision. The 1/4 Moa is excellent when shooting past 300 yards, and the pinned rear sight is totally repeatable with regard to windage and elevation. RRA also sells them but the detail on the WOA is much nicer and its similar in price.

[phish]

Rero, your post was pretty close, it's the one after yours claiming all ar nm parts are BS that has clueless hater stamped all over it.

7 years of service rifle shooting?, not hardly

NM has approached 5R as some kind of fancy buzzphrase that has taken a life of its own, as if it's some kind of "magic bullet"

http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=285253

none of the uppers I've had built by Lew Tippie, First Strike or WOP made copius use of "NM parts", if at all, they just worked

[bubbapug1]

Really...And this reply directly answers the OP's original question and contradicts your assertions.

Ladies and gentlemen, direct from white oaks web sight....

Drum roll please......

http://www.whiteoakarmament.com/xcart/product.php?productid=17720

I'm just pulling your chain phish. Anyone who has shot service rifle, the purest form of rifle competition, for 7 years has to be a good egg.

But when it comes to iron sights for service rifle I think the NM moniker indicates a sight which meets service rifle specs and yet offers a step up in quality and accuracy over standard iron sights.

I do agree the use of NM related to barrels, bolts and such has become a bit more marketing hype...there are no standards that I see for many such items....but on some it has significance.