AR15: Flattop or Carry Handle

[BerettaNut92]

I plan on getting an AR15 and scout mounting a red dot. Any reason to get a carry handle, or should I get a flattop, and a flip up rear?

Conversely, is there a way to scout mount an Aimpoint, Tripower or other red dot onto a carry handle (A2?) AR15?

 

[gun-fucious]

heres how to mount a carry handle gooseneck:
http://www.americansforguncontrol.com/leaper/

i replaced the leaper with the ARMS 39T

HTH

-Gun-fu

 

[Oleg Volk]

My solution was a flat-top with a standard, fixed front sight and a flip-up rear. Seems to work.

 

[citizen]

Oleg, what make of rifle? Show us (me), please.

 

[375nm]

Mounting red dot sights to A2 upper.

They still let you have AR15s in California?

Anyway--

To mount an aimpoint forward of the carry handle and over the handguards, you need a set of these:

ARMS #39 A2 Plus mount (aka goose neck).
ARMS #22M68 QD throw lever Aimpoint ring.

Or a set of these:

Aimpoint Military Quick Release Ring Mount (aka Rail Grabber.)
Aimpoint AR15 Forward Carry Handle Mount (aka goose neck.)

Having originally gone with an A2 upper, then later purchased a flattop, I'd say go with the flattop. It was a toss up for a while, but lately I prefer my flattop w/ Eotech and BUIS over my A2 w/ forward mounted Aimpoint.

 

[Fed168]

I have had both types of uppers. Currently I have a flat top, and it seems to work better than a carry handle. Since the optic is on the rail, you get a better cheek weld to the stock, downside being that the front sight is in the way. I solved this by zeroing the optic dot to the top of the front sight. The other downside is space. You may have to get a rail in order to mount the optic and irons.
Carry handle- wise, the optic and the irons are right there, but the cheek weld isn't as positive. Solution to that is to get a good cheek piece or make one up.
I think it goes to shooter's choice, and I like the flat top better.

 

[Mute]

If you plan on putting any kind of optic on the rifle than flat top is the way to go.

 

[Steve Smith]

I agree with the above. If you think you're going to put a dot or scope on the rifle, go ahead and get the flat top. You'll be glad you did.

 

[Noban]

Go with the flat top. You can always add an A3 carry handle.

 

[buttrap]

Ditto on what Noban said....

 

[bad_dad_brad]

Depends on what kind of AR you want to start with. My first AR was intented to replace a Mini-14 for home defense, so a 16" Bushy with iron sites was in order, which had the carryi A2 handle.

But the beauty of the AR, with a good quality lower receiver, is that you can apply just about any upper to fulfil the mission at hand. I want to eventually get a flatop Bushy varminter upper.

With an AR-15 you can have your cake and eat it too.

 

[Jack19]

Get the flat top.

 

[Oleg Volk]

Upper is 20" HBAR FN with flat top but standard fixed front (folding front it too fragile AND heats up fast). Rear is a folding GG&G sight but I'd be just as happy with a non-folding one.

EOTech red dot sits forward of the rear sight with just enough toom to get at the switches. Wide field of view, no glare. Rear iron stays at wide aperture as it is the backup sight. I can either put the red dot on top of the front sight post and use irons and red dot at the same time, or raise my eye slightly and have the red dot float an inch or so above the front post.

Not sure how durable the combo is, but it is faster and more accurate than irons alone. Using a three point sling meant I had to remove the extended charging handle. I am keeping a 20" A2 upper for comparison, but the fancier upper seems to work better overall.

 

[BerettaNut92]

Can one of those ARMS A2 scout mounts use the irons?

I'm leaning towards the flattop but just wanna know.

 

[Phyphor]

Hey Skunk, I understood that the standard AR-15 lower reciever wasn't legal TO TRANSFER here in Cali after 2000.....
(which is why I got mine back in '98,)

Am I just misinformed, or what?

(edited because I screwed up. )

 

[BerettaNut92]

Edited for clarification,

I am planning to move out of California as soon as I secure a full-time job, so am planning my AR15 purchase. As I'd like to buy one as soon as I am all settled in (Arizona, Texas, Georgia, anywhere but here with a few exceptions) , I'm doing all my research now.

Planning for the future, and I have to deal with the anticipation somehow.

In the meantime I still have my M1A to shoot while I'm still behind enemy lines.

 

[mark mcj]

I know the current trend right now is to go flat top, and there are lots of different options to go with.
I like to shoot with the standard A2 sights some times, I find it fun to shoot at a 8 inch paper plate standing at 100 yards and get 10 out of 10 rounds on that plate. Though I must say it doesn't happen all that often. Usually 8 or 9 out of 10. Still gotta practice that.
Anyways, for a red dot I personally don't see the need to mount it on a flat top. If I used my AR for varmit hunting and had a 20 or 24 inch bull barrel and was to put a 14 or 16 power scope on it, I would seriously consider a flat top upper.
I like the red dot on my AR's to sit up high, with my head higher I feel it allows for better peripheral vison and general overall veiw of my target area.
With most upper end models of red dots, parallex isn't a problem so a rock solid cheek weld isn't necessary, where it would be with a high power scope.
Just another slanted view.

 

[BerettaNut92]

Mark Mcj, can you use the irons with that set up?

 

[mark mcj]

Skunk, no the irons can not be used with the reflex on there. So far I have noticed that the retun to zero is "almost" dead on after removing the reflex sight from goose neck and remounting it.
I beleave it will be even more repeatable when I get an A.R.M.S mount instead of the cheapy I have right now.
With the set up pictured below the irons are right there.

 

[Kahr carrier]

FLATTOP.