I decided to put a carry handle rear sight on a rifle length upper. However, after getting it I realized I didn't know how to use it. It has the windage adjustment I expected, but also has an adjustment knob for elevation. I'm used to adjusting elevation with the front sight. Are the two used in conjunction or is the front abandoned for the rear?
Using a Carry Handle Rear Sight
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Cornhusker77
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I'm no expert, but My understanding is the front sight is still used for elevation and the rear adjustment is for different distances
JJFitch
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See if this helps! Remember this is a battle sight and not a "precision" style sight! It is capable of COM hits without changing adjustment from 25 -300 yards!
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...ow+to+adust+the+Ar15,+A2+rear+sight&FORM=VDRE
P.S. I love ringing 8" steel at 200 yards!
https://www.bing.com/videos/search?...ow+to+adust+the+Ar15,+A2+rear+sight&FORM=VDRE
P.S. I love ringing 8" steel at 200 yards!
JJFitch
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The rear sight elevation (mechanical zero) is "zeroed" first in two steps then the front sight.
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edwardware
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kBob
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Nope the rear sight has a RANGE adjustment. You still do the ELEVATION adjustment to obtain a zero with the front sight.
Then if you are using GI ammo in a GI length rifle once you have the rifle properly veroed you use the RANGE adjustment drum to engage targets at those known ranges.
Say you have the rifle and you adusted the front sight elevation to hit say an 8 inch Targer at 200 meters when the RANGE drum is set at "2"
Then if a target appears at 400 meters if you turn your RANGE drum to "400" and ar using the correct GI aammo in that GI type rifle you should be zeroed for hits at 400
make sense now?
-kBob
Then if you are using GI ammo in a GI length rifle once you have the rifle properly veroed you use the RANGE adjustment drum to engage targets at those known ranges.
Say you have the rifle and you adusted the front sight elevation to hit say an 8 inch Targer at 200 meters when the RANGE drum is set at "2"
Then if a target appears at 400 meters if you turn your RANGE drum to "400" and ar using the correct GI aammo in that GI type rifle you should be zeroed for hits at 400
make sense now?
-kBob
JJFitch
Member
Not in my neighborhood! That will get you on paper but you're missing the rear mechanical zero. The yardage (meters) marks will be wrong!
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ontarget
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I'm not sure about the aforementioned 2 and 400 settings as mine are all graduated in numbers I don't remember the meaning of from 30 years ago.
IIRC you should set your rear sight to something like 8/3 minus 1 then adjust your front site to a 200 yard zero. That gives you a center mass hit from 0-300 meters. For distances longer than that you would use the elevation knob on the rear site to make adjustments. You should never need to move the front site again after it is zeroed.
You must also remember that your carry handle site is a battle sight intended to shoot human size targets not a bench rest championship site.
IIRC you should set your rear sight to something like 8/3 minus 1 then adjust your front site to a 200 yard zero. That gives you a center mass hit from 0-300 meters. For distances longer than that you would use the elevation knob on the rear site to make adjustments. You should never need to move the front site again after it is zeroed.
You must also remember that your carry handle site is a battle sight intended to shoot human size targets not a bench rest championship site.
luzyfuerza
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See if Paul's suggestions help. They did for me.
AlexanderA
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Since you're using a detachable carry handle, you should have an "F" marked front sight tower. (The sights on detachable carry handles are higher than the ones on fixed carry handles.)
Yes it is an F marked front sight. I think I may have gotten the wrong handle. Mine is marked 6/3. Should it have been 8/3 for a rifle length with 20" barrel?
I have a supply of 55 grain FMJ intended for this rifle. My 16" rifle is scoped and I use 75 grain in it when available. I also intend to hand load either 55 or 62 grain FMJ for the 20" when/if the supplies become more available. I'll have to see how well I can shoot with these sights but I know I can't hold tiny groups. I know I can hit reasonably well to 200 yards with MBUS sights, but I'd like to try it to 300 when I get the chance.
I have a supply of 55 grain FMJ intended for this rifle. My 16" rifle is scoped and I use 75 grain in it when available. I also intend to hand load either 55 or 62 grain FMJ for the 20" when/if the supplies become more available. I'll have to see how well I can shoot with these sights but I know I can't hold tiny groups. I know I can hit reasonably well to 200 yards with MBUS sights, but I'd like to try it to 300 when I get the chance.
luzyfuerza
Member
This is where Paul Harrel's comments are unusual and applicable. If you were using military or military-equivalent ammo, then the 8/3 sight and the engraved settings on the range knob would have been just about right for your 20" barrel.
But when ammo or gun deviate from that standard, he zeros at whichever zero setting is on the sight, and then marks appropriate distance dope for the selected load on the range adjusting knob using nail polish.
As for groups, if the lighting and target contrast are right, your front sight is nicely black, and you apply shooting fundamentals, you can shoot very nice groups with mil-spec irons.
Got the sight mounted and mechanically zeroed. Since it's off the mark on the 6/3 markings, I'll just have to use the Harrel method and get some nail polish.
Does anyone know the distance per click the carry handle sights move? I tried to measure it and came up with roughly 0.003" per click on the windage and elevation knob. How about the front sight thread pitch or movement per notch there?
Does anyone know the distance per click the carry handle sights move? I tried to measure it and came up with roughly 0.003" per click on the windage and elevation knob. How about the front sight thread pitch or movement per notch there?
Shawn Dodson
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I use the Santos Improved BZO. This is a good article that discusses various carry handle battle zero methods - https://www.google.com/amp/s/savannaharsenal.com/2017/04/08/how-to-zero-ar-15-a2-type-sights/amp/
C-grunt
Member
6/3 is standard for removable carry handles. It's what our M16A4s had. The 8/3 is what the fixed handle M16A2s had.
Bottom out the sight at 6/3 and click a couple over to the "z". Zero the rifle. Turn back to 6/3. You have an Army BZO.
Bottom out the sight at 6/3 and click a couple over to the "z". Zero the rifle. Turn back to 6/3. You have an Army BZO.
C-grunt
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Note... the "z" is for a 20 inch gun. Carbines zero at the 6/3.
ontarget
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What is the range for the zero using the Z with the 20 inch bbl?
And for 6/3 with the carbine?
C-grunt
Member
Oh, my bad. 25 meters
ontarget
Member
Is this the 0-300 BZO equivalent?
C-grunt
Member
Its a 300 meter BZO. If I remember correctly its around 6-8 inches high around 200 meters.
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