[Art Eatman]

Why did "they" put a carry handle on the darned things, in the first place? Just because the magazine is located at/near the balance point?

SFAIK, for combat situations and long-distance "humping", the NamVets have the most experience, so, for them: How often did you use it, and/or how handy was the carry handle?

I'm guessing that the actual height of the handle is based on the idea of winter use and thick gloves...

Art

[Steve Smith]

Ok, Art, I'll play...purely conjecture, though.

#1, it was the "in" thing to do. The FAL had it, and eveyone saw all the pics and news footage of guys running, carrying their rifles with the carry handle. Someone decided we had to have one. Granted, in a "hurry up but you're not in danger" situation, its actually a convenient way to boogie with the rifle.

#2, Not a Vietnam vet...not gonna answer.

#3, Are you comparing the height to that of the detachable carry handle? Personally, I dislike that one because you have to pay attention to line your hand up with it. The larger fixed handle is a good size for a quck grab. Or maybe I have meat hooks.

[SodaPop]

I guess this post is for the old people.

I wasn't born yet.:neener:

[BigG]

I guess the straight line design required a high line of sight. Typically when you try to use one of the flat tops you scrunch your head down in an unnatural (to me) position to look thru low overbore sights. Usu, im experience they put high rings on a flat top so you're back with a high line of sight.

With that in mind, with need for the high sights in the original configuration, the carry handle concept just might have been the first tactical doodad.

Welcome back, Art!

[Destructo6]

I lean toward the line, not unlike BigG, that it was a result of the high sight line and instead of calling it, "the big hole under the sights", they called it a carry handle.

Marines insist there is no carry handle.

[gun-fucious]

I think the line is
"That's a rifle, boy, not a suitcase"
;)

its really an aiming rail, a protective device for the rear iron sight and a mounting point for the Colt 3X scope

[Jeff White]

Art,
The carry handle is just a way to use the space that would otherwise be waste. You have to raise the sights so that you can comfortably use the straight line stock.

Even though the suitcase carry is illustrated in FM 22-5 Drill and Ceremonies, I never elt my soldiers carry their weapons that way.

Jeff

[Soap]

I think another detail is that it puts the bore completely in-line with your shoulder.

[Kaylee]

Also, on the original AR-10 series or whatever, wasn't the charging handle pully-thing under there? Looked like an upwards facing triggger as I recall.

I always figured the "carrying handle" was just a design left over from the guarded area that originally had a purpose. And as a side effect of raising the sight line, as mentioned.


-K


And Art has to ask a rifle question??? Man, I thought you knew everything already!

[Art Eatman]

Kaylee, I just never had thought about the "why". The recoil system means you have a straight-line stock, so the sights gotta be "way up there" for proper eye-alignment with cheek-weld. Okay, makes sense.

Seems to me that with the standard sights, adding a scope on top messes up the cheek-weld deal.

Anybody old enough that their eyes are losing the depth-of-field capability, then, oughta go with a flat-top so the scope mounts at the right height.

And now I know everything! :D

Art

[Jim K]

In guns designed for full auto fire, like the AR-10, AR-15, FAL, etc., a straight line stock will reduce the upward climb, since it raises the center of gravity and allows recoil into the shoulder rather than over the shoulder.

But, humans being built as they are, that requires raising the sights, since the face cannot fit down far enough to use low sights. And that, in turn, leaves space bewteen the receiver and the rear sight, which might as well be used for a handle.

In addition, the AR-10 (and early AR-15's) did indeed have the charging handle in that gap, maybe a better position than that of the later AR-15.

The separate pistol grip also arises out of the FA design, since a conventional "pistol grip" stock is not too compatible with the straight line butt stock. The idea that it is used when "shooting wildly from the hip" is anti-gun nonsense; in fact, firing a pistol grip rifle from the hip is much more awkward than firing a conventional stock that way.

Jim

Jim

[MarineTech]

Marines insist there is no carry handle.

There isn't. And God help you if your NCO or Staff NCO catches you carrying that rifle by the "rear sight housing".

The wrath of a vengeful Gunny is a sight to behold.

[SteyrAUG]

If you think about the original Armalite AR15 the charging handle was on top and the carry handle encompassed and protected it.

[Destructo6]

MarineTech, seen it. Gladly, I could chuckle at the whole spectacle from a distance.

I was a good boy: never even let the sling drop my rifle.

[bad_dad_brad]

Raised sights because of the position of the stock. Besides, an AR does not "look" like an AR without the handle. Cool. Futuristic. Black. Ergonomics came in to play as well as it is one more thing you can hang on to and the higher sights make it a more comfortable rifle to shoot. One of the reasons I love my AR is that it just feels "right."

Regarding line of sight, check out this link:

http://www.bobtuley.com/external.htm