Mounting Optics on AR

[stuck in ny]

I'd be interested to know your guys' thoughts on mounting an optic on an ar (A4 top with a2 handguards). I'm debating buying a monolithic riser vs a carry handle mount.

vs.

The flat top riser would let me get the scope lower, but would necessitate a rear BUIS for if the scope was damaged. The carry handle mount would allow use of the iron sights (I already have a carry handle) but sits the scope higher. Experience, thoughts...?

 

[Snappo]

I'd be interested to know your guys' thoughts on mounting an optic on an ar (A4 top with a2 handguards). I'm debating buying a monolithic riser vs a carry handle mount.

vs.

The flat top riser would let me get the scope lower, but would necessitate a rear BUIS for if the scope was damaged. The carry handle mount would allow use of the iron sights (I already have a carry handle) but sits the scope higher. Experience, thoughts...?

I have the carry handle adapter on my old Colt SP-2 and it sucks ass. It puts the scope too high and I get zero cheek weld quality, and the scope being so high off the barrel is horrible for accuracy. On my new AR that I built last summer I went flat top and P223 scope/mount from Nikon. A gazillion times higher quality / accuracy. Night and day.

 

[Marine Cpl]

With a flat top, you can cowitness and use your irons looking right through a red dot sight. If it's magnified, a quick detach mount allows you to remove your magnified sight quickly.

A carry handle mount doesn't allow you to get a proper cheek hold since the optic will be too high. You'd have to do a chin hold.

A carry handle is obsolete.

 

[dsdmmat]

With a flat top, you can cowitness and use your irons looking right through a red dot sight. If it's magnified, a quick detach mount allows you to remove your magnified sight quickly.

A carry handle mount doesn't allow you to get a proper cheek hold since the optic will be too high. You'd have to do a chin hold.

A carry handle is obsolete.

Not quite true
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[NY Leatherneck]

Doing carry handle on my current M4 flattop build but wanted to go that route for cost,simplicity and reliability. Irons can be very accurate unless your eyes say otherwise. Handle riser for me would be to add a light while keeping original handguards.

 

[Eddie Gunks]

Not quite true
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Not a scope. May as well just use irons.

BUIS are useless IMO. Buy a good optic. Done. I am very hard on my gear. It all still works. I have never removed my optic. It has never broke. I dont use illumination but if i did i know where wallmart is and i can always buy more batteries.

No riser. Buy the correct mount and attach to your optic. Burris and aeroprecision make nice moderatly prices mounts.

I have been using the aero mount for 4 years. Get the extended or SPR

Ultralight Scope Mounts | Aero Precision

 

[dsdmmat]

Not a scope. May as well just use irons.

BUIS are useless IMO. Buy a good optic. Done. I am very hard on my gear. It all still works. I have never removed my optic. It has never broke. I dont use illumination but if i did i know where wallmart is and i can always buy more batteries.

No riser. Buy the correct mount and attach to your optic. Burris and aeroprecision make nice moderatly prices mounts.

I have been using the aero mount for 4 years. Get the extended or SPR

Ultralight Scope Mounts | Aero Precision

The post I was quoting also included red dot optics. Red dots are still optics, right?

 

[Eddie Gunks]

The post I was quoting also included red dot optics. Red dots are still optics, right?

I know all were red dots. The OP wanted a scope.

Uuummm no. Not IMO. Even in competitions dots and irons are the same division.

When people say optics most refer to magnified optics. If they want dots the say dots. If they want iron they say irons or buis. Common vernacular.

 

[Marine Cpl]

Flat top cheek weld.



Carry handle cheek weld.



You don't want a chin weld.

 

[dsdmmat]

I know all were red dots. The OP wanted a scope.

Op mentioned mounting "an optic" in the opening line and in the title. Doesn't mention the word scope until the end of the post. Just presenting options for a carry handle mount optic that is in the line of sight and not 6 inches above the stock.

 

[dsdmmat]

Flat top cheek weld.

View attachment 9368

Carry handle cheek weld.

View attachment 9369

You don't want a chin weld.

Lol well you also don't want a scope with sunshade that is longer than your barrel.

 

[Marine Cpl]

Lol well you also don't want a scope with sunshade that is longer than your barrel.

Or a scope on a carry handle. Even if you get the mount that allows you to look through it, your field of view will be tiny and the scope will slap you in the forehead if you have significant recoil and get close enough to it.

 

[dsdmmat]

Or a scope on a carry handle. Even if you get the mount that allows you to look through it, your field of view will be tiny and the scope will slap you in the forehead if you have significant recoil and get close enough to it.

Unless you have a face like John Kerry, then you would be golden with a scope on the carry handle.