AR15 A2/A3

[hdwhit]

Jo Jo asked: "...anyone still like and or prefer the old school A2 or even an A3 , fixed stock , 20in barrel ,full size AR15 service rifle..."?

Personally, I would like to have an AR with the integral carrying handle and the triangular cross-section handguards if I could find or build one at a reasonable cost.

 

[IndianaBoy]

I carried both the M16A1 and A2. I will assure you that I had no trouble carrying either one all day.
Also the rear sight has two different apertures, one small for more precision shooting, the larger for close quarters and low light.
Standard BZO is 200 meters. With the M16A1 sighted in at 200 you would aim at 6 o’clock on a 12” bull and aim at center mass at 300.
For the A2 you put the rear setting at two clicks forward of the 300 setting then adjust your front sight for your BZO.

I'm aware of the apertures on the A2. As I mentioned, I thought that the larger aperture for close quarters was one thing they got right on the A2.

I find a 300 yard/meter zero on an iron sight rifle to be more practical than 200. +- 3.5 inches out to 325 yards with my ammo. Flip to L aperture and that gets me to 400 yards/meters with less than 4 inches of hold over.

I find that everyone who seriously shoots iron sights has their own preference for zero distance depending on target size and how much/little they want to hold over at given distances. There's no wrong answer so long as you make your hits.

 

[GunnyUSMC]

Well, the A2 was designed for the Marine Corps. The Corps sets it’s BZO at 200, but then that’s for combat.

 

[IndianaBoy]

Well, the A2 was designed for the Marine Corps. The Corps sets it’s BZO at 200, but then that’s for combat.

I'm sure it works great for that. A2 has the opportunity to dial for elevation. Kind of a moot point since the Marines have wholly adopted the ACOG.

I'm shooting at smaller targets with my A1 and get along fine with my zero.

 

[Jeff H]

Jeff H has his sling set up correctly, with one exception -- the spring clip should be on the buttstock end instead of on the forward swivel.

If you compare the old M1907 leather sling with the M1 web sling that replaced it, you'll understand why. The rear loop on the M1907 sling could be tightened around the shooter's upper left arm (if he was right handed) to steady the rifle in deliberate shooting. The standing loop on the M1 sling can fulfill the same function, but to do that, it must be detached from the butt swivel. The spring clip provides a convenient way to do that.

I think that slings-as-shooting-aids are pretty much obsolete. Nowadays, they're simply carrying straps.

I put those spring clamps on both sides so I could take the sling off easier. Either way, it is sporting a new leather sling now anyway.

I shot high power for a little while. Slings aren't obsolete in competition. Prone would be way tougher without them.

 

[wojownik]

I just fell back in love with my old school 20" A2. Very recently picked up an M16A2 USGI upper (Capco / Anchor Harvey gov't profile). Replaced my HBAR 20" and will likely never pick up that HBAR again. The M16A2 upper was unissued new old stock, still in plastic with packing grease and paper tube down the barrel. Put that on my circa-1995 Bushmaster lower, and off to the races.

Amazing what just a 1 pound difference will do - I had forgotten how much better balanced the rifle is with a gov't profile upper, compared to the HBAR, truly a pleasure to shoot.

just curious anyone still like and or prefer the old school A2 or even an A3 , fixed stock , 20in barrel ,full size AR15 service rifle or am
in the minority camp ?