AR Iron Sights

[skipjackrc4]

I just got a Spike's mid-length AR. Haven't been able to shoot it yet because weather's not cooperating :banghead:. Hopefully soon...

It has the Samson flip-up rear sight and I installed a Tru-Glo red dot. How do I adjust elevation on the iron sights? I see the windage adjustment on the rear, but there does not seem to be any elevation control. On the front sight, it looks like it should be adjustable, but how? What tool would I use for that?

 

[RC20]

There is a front sight tool, probably there is a spring release on yours (not into the ARs but I did have that on an aftermarket site for the XCR and the sight was for an AR gas block.

In my case I used a needle nose pliers and released the spring latch with a small pin. Tool is better, just did not have one and it was a really cheap sight (yea I know, but they are backup as I cannot see them worth a hoot, so a good one was a total waste)

 

[Z-Michigan]

There is a special "A2 sight tool" available many places for $5 or so, and it's really worth having.

You can still adjust it without the tool. Use a bullet tip, small punch or other 1/16" to 3/32" diameter rod to push down the little detent you can see holding the front post in place, and then rotate per the directions on the sight. More hassle but it works, and you will probably only adjust that elevation once or twice.

Here's one example of a sight tool:
http://www.cdnninvestments.com/arfrsito.html

This one is intended for both front and rear sights, and is MISLABELED as rear A2 sights do not require any tool. This is in fact an odd combination of an A2 front sight tool and an A1 rear sight tool - I say odd because a rifle with an A1 rear probably has an A1 front (5 notches around the post), which cannot be adjusted with an A2 tool (4 notches around the post).

More common ones I've seen are only for the A2 front (4 notches) and are a simple longer 1/4" cylinder, and sometimes as low as $3.

 

[killchain]

The front sight post is spring loaded and can be rotated to adjust elevation.

Just use a bullet tip and a pair of pliers. It's what the GI's do.

 

[Tirod]

Gi's use nails. Press the point on the detent pin, push it down, rotate the sight in the appropriate direction for adjustment. The detent pops up in the next notch. Repeat.

Cheap. Effective. Works. Fancy adjuster tools, pliers, and using the ammo you will qualify with isn't common. Nails are the universal answer, most ranges have them, most FFL's take them for their troops. Second choice, Skilcraft inkpens, hold the clicker down to project the point.

Never saw a sight tool for 22 years. They are hid back or people steal them and take them home. Do nails scratch up the sight, yes, and we could care less. It's a tool, not a safe queen, two weeks in the box and it will look like it was dragged down a dirt road anyway.

 

[CraigC]

This ain't the sandbox. Get the sight tool and make adjustments easily, with one hand.

 

[Matt-J2]

A nail only takes one hand as well, and is probably to hand already.
At any rate, skipjackrc4, your rear sight probably doesn't have an elevation adjustment. Many of the detachable sights are designed as backups to an optic and lose the elevation to keep it simple and durable.
If you adjust the front sight it's just to get a zero, after that it's hold-over/under.