enkindler
Member
with a permanently attached flash hider without resorting to drastic measures like like cutting the hider off?
Can you remove the front site base of an AR15
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dfariswheel
Member
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- Dec 26, 2002
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No.
The sight base can't fit over the flash hider.
The sight base can't fit over the flash hider.
Don't Tread On Me
Member
This is why those 14.5" barrels with permanent flash hiders are a PITA. You can't put a railed free float system on it without major work.
And even after you do the work, then you have to have the new muzzle device permanently attached all over again, otherwise you have a SBR. That's annoying right there.
If you buy a 14.5" with perm flashhider, you must tell yourself in advance that you will be completely happy with the current handguards/tubes, and the current front sight base.
Assuming you don't want to cut off flashhiders and re-attach permanently: If you wanted a new sight, the options would be to change the sight post to something different, but that's about it. I don't think there's any options for a folding sight. If rails is the idea, there are rails that fit in the standard handguard set up, but they will not be free floated (if that's a concern).
One thing that could be done is to chop off the sight tower, grind it smooth and paint/blue the ends. Turn it into a low profile gasblock. Just like the one on the Bushmaster varminter. Then attach a lower-profile front flip up sight to the top of the handguard rails (assuming there's a rail system). This would remove the obstruction of the front sight post, while retaining the option of a front flip up sight.
If I could find a gunsmith to do the flash hider work for me, do it well, and do it cheap - I'd go that route. If I couldn't find a good hook up to get it done cheap, I'd add the non-FF handguard rails....Free floating an AR is fairly worthless unless you set it up as a marksman rifle, with a nice trigger, nice scope and use quality ammo and a quality barrel. Without those things, FF is wasted for the large part. It does shrink groups regardless, but what's the point on a shorty rifle anyway?
Just some thoughts.
And even after you do the work, then you have to have the new muzzle device permanently attached all over again, otherwise you have a SBR. That's annoying right there.
If you buy a 14.5" with perm flashhider, you must tell yourself in advance that you will be completely happy with the current handguards/tubes, and the current front sight base.
Assuming you don't want to cut off flashhiders and re-attach permanently: If you wanted a new sight, the options would be to change the sight post to something different, but that's about it. I don't think there's any options for a folding sight. If rails is the idea, there are rails that fit in the standard handguard set up, but they will not be free floated (if that's a concern).
One thing that could be done is to chop off the sight tower, grind it smooth and paint/blue the ends. Turn it into a low profile gasblock. Just like the one on the Bushmaster varminter. Then attach a lower-profile front flip up sight to the top of the handguard rails (assuming there's a rail system). This would remove the obstruction of the front sight post, while retaining the option of a front flip up sight.
If I could find a gunsmith to do the flash hider work for me, do it well, and do it cheap - I'd go that route. If I couldn't find a good hook up to get it done cheap, I'd add the non-FF handguard rails....Free floating an AR is fairly worthless unless you set it up as a marksman rifle, with a nice trigger, nice scope and use quality ammo and a quality barrel. Without those things, FF is wasted for the large part. It does shrink groups regardless, but what's the point on a shorty rifle anyway?
Just some thoughts.
ArfinGreebly
Moderator Emeritus
Front Sight . . .
Hmmm.
Isn't that where the gas block is?
I've never had an AR apart, but it seems to me I remember the gas tube goes there. Except on the Bushy Dissipator, where the gas block and tube are completely enclosed in the handguard.
I'm presuming that the proposed exercise (when it's completed) leaves the gas system intact?
Hmmm.
Isn't that where the gas block is?
I've never had an AR apart, but it seems to me I remember the gas tube goes there. Except on the Bushy Dissipator, where the gas block and tube are completely enclosed in the handguard.
I'm presuming that the proposed exercise (when it's completed) leaves the gas system intact?
Headless Thompson Gunner
Member
Yankee Hill (and I assume others) make two piece screw/clamp on front sight bases that can be installed onto the barrel without removing the flash hider. That only leaves you with the task of removing the old sight base, which could be cut or ground off. It's a PITA, but it's doable.
The popularity of the 14.5" with their permanent flash hiders eludes me...
The popularity of the 14.5" with their permanent flash hiders eludes me...
DougW
Member
As Headless said, Yankee Hill makes a clamb shell front sight/gas block setup that you can use. You dremmel off the old FS, and add the clamb shell FS with no trouble. It is made with the perminate front end set ups in mind. Look up DAS, M&Am Del Ton, Brownell's and MidwayUSA for the FS's.
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