Carry handle mounted red dot scope on Bushmaster A2?

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silentmajority

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I have a Bushnell 1/321x 32mm 73-0132P red/green dot scope and a bushmaster M4A2 with mounting rail to mount the scope on the carry handle. I saw a discussion on another site's forum asking the same question, but there was only one reply and it was negative.

Would like to hear from anyone on THR if they've used this or any similar scope on top of the carry handle, and how it worked out?

Also, with the scope mounted the gun is about a foot high, and I have had trouble finding a carry case with that interior height. Most of the cases I've seen are just shy of that - about 11.5" inside. Can anyone tell me if it is common practice to remove this type of scope to fit it in the carry case it came with, and then re-attach it for shooting? And if so, once I get it properly sighted the first time, if I remove and re-attach it properly should it remain sighted?

Thanks.
 
Are you trying to put it in the case with a magazine seated? I have two AR-type rifles with optics mounted on the carry handle. Both of them fit neatly into gunshow "assault rifle" cases as long as there is no magazine seated.

I have a 3-9x variable scope on one gun and a dot-sight on the other. No complaints about either one. I did add a detachable cheekpiece for the scoped rifle.
 
here is my experience, when i had my first ar which was given to me it was a a2 model bushmaster and i had a similar set up. i was poor so i bought a bsa red dot form wal-mart and a mount. the first mount that i bought was crap and after 20rds or so the mount and sight would flop around with the recoil.

then i got a better mount and all was well.

so if you are gonna do this get a good mount that locks nicely in place and dosen't move. locktite would be good to have here as well. also get a mount that has the cut out so you can still use the irons if you need to.

as long as you put the carry handle on the same exact place your zero should stay pretty close. if not right on the money. but i wouldn't do that i would get a soft or hardshell case that accomadated the rifle with the optic on the carrying handle, lots of places have them, as a matter of fact the wolf soft case works with that set up and they are rather inexpensive. wal-mart has the taller cases as well i have seen them there a few times, and own a few.
 
My BSA Red Dot sight works fine mounted on the handle of my Bushmaster M4.
I was shooting it a couple days ago at 100 yards to check the zero with some JSP hand loads.
I believe the dot is 4-5 inches and I was getting about 3 inch groups, so that's not too bad.:)
 
[Note: Started typing this before the last two posts were on there]

Joe Demko says: Are you trying to put it in the case with a magazine seated? I have two AR-type rifles with optics mounted on the carry handle. Both of them fit neatly into gunshow "assault rifle" cases as long as there is no magazine seated.

I have a 3-9x variable scope on one gun and a dot-sight on the other. No complaints about either one. I did add a detachable cheekpiece for the scoped rifle.
Click to expand...
The mag is removed and out of the way. The height is just from the bottom of the grip to the top of the scope. Tried angling the gun, etc, but can't get it in the case it came with, with the scope mounted atop the handle.

Would you have a link to the detachable cheekpiece?

Will Learn says: http://www.bushmaster.com/shopping/scopes/eot-12.asp
Click to expand...

Thanks for the link. I have been reading other threads on mounting the scope forward and low, co-witnessed w/front sight. I know some people say having the scope that far forward from your eye doesn't detract from fast acquisition or ability to see the dot, etc. I am not military trained, and I wear eyeglasses. I'm definitley no match winning marksman, but once I get used to a gun, I can generally hit what I want to good enough. I can only go by what "feels" right to me physically and logically, and it just seems more natural to me to have the sight a bit closer to my eye. But then again, I am also used to having my cheek/jaw on the stock.

I'd put the question out to the forum: Taking away the option to remove the carry handle, what is your preference, and pros/cons of mounting the optics on top of the carry handle vs. forward of the handle?

If forward, is it more effective to have the height set for the dot 100% co-witnessed with the front sight or a bit higher up like in the 2nd diagram from Will Learn's link?

Thanks for the advice. I know I am a PITA newbie.
 
RE: The rifle not fitting the case...

Simply seperate the two halves then place the rifle in the case, unless it is intended as a "need it right now!" kind of situation. This was the only way for me to get my scoped Busmaster to settle back into the factory case. Personally, I really don't like my optics sitting that high, even if they are parallax free and have unlimited eye relief... YMMV

Still 2 Many Choices!?
 
romma says: I had my carry handle upper converted to a flat top for $130. problem solved.
Click to expand...

Well, even though I am asking a lot of questions, I'm not ready to call having the carry handle a "problem" - at least not yet. The mounting rail I have still permits seeing through the handle to use the iron sights, so I have the option to shoot without a scope. Based on some other posts about training requirements the military uses, I would definitely like to keep the option to see how accurate I can get using just the fixed sights sometimes.
 
RE: The rifle not fitting the case...

Winning answer:
Still 2 Many Choices!? says:RE: The rifle not fitting the case...
----------------------
Simply seperate the two halves then place the rifle in the case, unless it is intended as a "need it right now!" kind of situation. This was the only way for me to get my scoped Busmaster to settle back into the factory case.
Click to expand...
:banghead: :banghead: :banghead: :rolleyes:

-AR-15 Noob from Hell
 
There are plenty of cases that will allow you to use optics on a carrying handle AR15. My Bushmaster has the carrying handle and I have my Nikon scope on it. I have multiple cases that will accomodate the scope. You may want to purchase a delta cheek piece, so you get the proper cheek weld.
 
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