coloradokevin
Member
- Joined
- Mar 22, 2008
- Messages
- 3,285
Anyone who has owned any variant of these very popular black rifles knows how versatile and customizable these guns are… stocks, barrels, uppers, lowers, calibers, grips, muzzle devices, and the list goes on and on. You can really change just about anything you want to on these guns.
But, one thing I've noticed in the past couple of years is that the A2 variant (the one with the built in carry handle) has all but completely disappeared from the AR-15 scene, at least around here.
Now, I fully understand the advantages of a flattop picatinny rail upper receiver, and I use one at work. That rifle has an Eotech mounted to it, and Troy flip-up iron sights as a backup. It's a good gun, and I really don't have any complaints with it.
But, when it comes to shooting a strictly open-sighted rifle, I've always enjoyed the classic A2 design. I still have one of these rifles in the safe (a 20" barrel fixed stock variety), and I previously carried a carbine at work with an A2 upper. I've always felt that these sights were more durable, simple, user adjustable, and accurate than the open sights that are typically employed on later variants of these rifles (again, ignoring optics, holosights, etc). My Troy flip sights work well, but I think "standard" sights still have an edge on them.
Anyway, these days it seems that you can hardly find a new production A2 rifle out there. Sure, the uppers are still made, but I haven't seen such a gun in a store for years now. I never even realized this fact until I was talking to a guy at a local store the other day, and he pointed out that we've finally reached the point where the only guy with a unique AR-15 is the guy walking around with an A2 setup… I actually think he's right!
So, do you AR-15 aficionados still enjoy the older designs, or do you see these merely as obsolete relics from the past?
But, one thing I've noticed in the past couple of years is that the A2 variant (the one with the built in carry handle) has all but completely disappeared from the AR-15 scene, at least around here.
Now, I fully understand the advantages of a flattop picatinny rail upper receiver, and I use one at work. That rifle has an Eotech mounted to it, and Troy flip-up iron sights as a backup. It's a good gun, and I really don't have any complaints with it.
But, when it comes to shooting a strictly open-sighted rifle, I've always enjoyed the classic A2 design. I still have one of these rifles in the safe (a 20" barrel fixed stock variety), and I previously carried a carbine at work with an A2 upper. I've always felt that these sights were more durable, simple, user adjustable, and accurate than the open sights that are typically employed on later variants of these rifles (again, ignoring optics, holosights, etc). My Troy flip sights work well, but I think "standard" sights still have an edge on them.
Anyway, these days it seems that you can hardly find a new production A2 rifle out there. Sure, the uppers are still made, but I haven't seen such a gun in a store for years now. I never even realized this fact until I was talking to a guy at a local store the other day, and he pointed out that we've finally reached the point where the only guy with a unique AR-15 is the guy walking around with an A2 setup… I actually think he's right!
So, do you AR-15 aficionados still enjoy the older designs, or do you see these merely as obsolete relics from the past?