Cutting a Carry Handle?

[MK11]

Got a Colt AR with an A2 carry handle but I'd like to mount some optics.

Still considering a gooseneck mount and I would just get a flat top upper but my state (CT) has some bizarre laws that's making this difficult. Flash suppressors are a no-no and it seems like most of the quality uppers come with them standard. I don't want to swap out for an upper that's compliant with the law but less reliable than what I already have.

So I'm thinking about having the gunsmith chop my carry handle, leaving the sights in place, then mounting an Aimpoint or Eotech that can co-witness. Would this even work? Is it preferable to a gooseneck mount? What kind of mount would I need? Is this crazy?

CT's gun laws are better than many but just bad enough to jerk you around.

 

[dstorm1911]

you could keep your barrel, just swap out upper receiver, very cheap and extremally easy, you don't have to swap entire upper assembly ya just need the upper receiver

 

[Chindo18Z]

It's your rifle and you can do whatever you want with it, but...

1. You will have destroyed any resale value (by at least 1/2) through butchering the upper. It won't matter who did the job or how nice it looks.

2. The gooseneck solution was the original mount for the M68 Aimpoint (as fielded to the military) and was expressly designed to be the answer to your need. A gooseneck mount is available for EOTECHs as well.

This was my M4A1 in Afghanistan (with gooseneck):

[/IMG]

This is the gooseneck:

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Same thing, but EOTECH variant:

[/IMG]

3. I've used the gooseneck for years in training and for one combat tour in Afghanistan...no problems whatsoever. Iron sight co-witness is built into the design and provides instant availability of same in the extremely unlikely event your optic goes tits up or the battery dies.

I really wouldn't do it...

Good Luck.

 

[MK11]

Thank you both for the quick responses.

Is there a particular gooseneck you would recommend or are they all pretty generic?

 

[Chindo18Z]

http://www.dsarms.com/products.asp?dept=63

http://www.mountsplus.com/miva/merchant.mvc?page=MSP/CTGY/EOTECH_MOUNTS

They are not all the same although they all fit the same weapon. Steer clear of anything advertised as plastic and costing $10-$15.

Surplus mounts can often be found for sale on e-bay, Lightfighter.com, and many of the shooting/firearms forums (like AR.15.com, THR, TFL, etc.)

The ones above are quality aircraft aluminum alloy military mounts.

There is a more expensive ($120-$130) variant which allows you slide the front rail (the part that attaches to the optic) vertically up or down to adjust your co-witness sight picture (where the front iron sight post appears when looking thru your aimpoint or eotech). Some folks can't live without the tip of the post centered in the optic field of view.

The setup shown on my weapon places the tip of the iron sight front post in the bottom third of the field of view. Trust me...it works fine for CQB ranges or long distance.

Hope this helps.

 

[Mike 56]

http://groups.msn.com/TheMarylandAR15ShootersSite/budgetreddotsight.msnw

 

[MK11]

Thank you very much! You've been a terrific help with this.

 

[CWL]

Spend you rmoney on a mount, don't chop your upper unless you absolutely have to.

I use a ARMS #39A2 fully railed gooseneck to put a holosight on my AR15. It is fully witnessed and comes with 'brush breaker' that connects to the front of your handguard so that no branches or junk will wedge between mount & rifle if you ever find the need to run thru heavy brush.

http://www.armsmounts.com/catalog.php?action=124&item_id=41

 

[Pigspitter]

Chindo18Z, I think I see a happy switch on the side of your M4 curtousey of uncle sam?

 

[Dienekes]

Personally I like my compact ACOG. One bolt mounting to the top of an A1 upper and the job is done. Irons still usable through a hole in the mount.

A little pricey but it sure works. Powers are 1.5X through 3X. I have the 1.5X and love it.

 

[cwmcgu2]

Wow, I really like the gooseneck setup. I'm stuck with an old old old A1 upper reciever that my AR's previous owner stuck on before selling the gun. Everything else on the gun, barrel, bolt, lower, is pretty new but it looks like the stripped upper, stock, and handguard came out of the parts bin. Anyway I may use the gooseneck option to mount an Eotech instead of replacing the upper right away.