Initially: Carry handle, or BUIS?

[john5036]

I'm ready to order my first AR15. I'm not in a place money-wise to go all out so please save me the "Oh well you should get this..." recommendations for now.

My personal preferences are torn between staying with the carry handle sight option, or opting instead for the Samson rear BUIS. I've found some reviews doing a Google search, but they are few yet positive. The difference in price for this order is only $10.

But this is THR, and I respect the input of you all.

I have no preference (yet) to the Samson because I'm uninformed regarding them. I have no preference to the carry handle, because I do not intend to keep it on the rifle in the future. Naturally, it will be my only sight option at first, but the future of the rifle does not include the carry handle in my set up. That said, the incentives of one choice over the other are not enough to make this an easy decision for the rookie I am.

 

[Motega]

My carry handle is non-removable and I wish I got a flat top. I didn't know a thing about anything but hunting rifles years back when I bought it. It is completely awkward to carry the rifle by the handle - in fact I think carrying anything around in your hands besides maybe a walking stick is clumsy.

 

[MrCleanOK]

John, If carry handle or Samson BUIS are the only two options you are considering, I would get the carry handle. When/if you are ready for an optic, you can chop the carry handle and use it as a fixed BUIS.

Motega,

The carry handle was never intended for carrying, I don't know why it was named so. It's a throwback to the development of the AR-15 design when the carry handle shrouded the charging handle on the top of the receiver.

 

[Ringer]

I recently had to make the same decision. While long term I plan on having a red dot or low magnification optic, I plan on shooting it stock for a while. I like the idea of having the carry handle for that look and feel. Knowing it would eventually end up in a box, I opted for the flip up sight. Figured it was 10 bucks now or 100 later. That's what I did, others may have other opinions. When I wonder if I will regret it I figure I can always pick up a carry handle later. I know I will want the BUIS at some point so ....

 

[skipjackrc4]

Is this a Spike's gun? Their pricing is the same. I got the BUIS. Glad I did when I put a red dot on it.

 

[chrome_austex]

The detachable A2 carry handle sight is a good proven sight and I'd get it over a flip up for the elevation adjustment alone. (I have both, and prefer the A2, but I'm currently running flips that fit under my optics.) Flip-ups are great as low profile backups, but require futzing with the front post to adjust elevation, which is annoying, and can't be done gracefully in position. Might not be a big deal for you, depending on how much you play with your sight settings. I'm always moving mine around.

Its good to have the A2 carry handle sight in the toolbox, and you might learn to like it.

Chopping it down after you get a red dot is a nice option too, thats I'm planning on doing when the time comes.

The flips are a little lighter-weight, if you're interested in that.

 

[68wj]

If it was my money, and I knew that later I would be mounting an optic, I would start with the BUIS. Though I think they should be "back up" only, they will work for now. Later, I would then have my optic AND the BUIS combo.

 

[Jdann24]

I like the look of the removable carry handle. I got one one one of my rifles and a red dot on another.

 

[Matt-man]

If carry handle or Samson BUIS are the only two options you are considering, I would get the carry handle. When/if you are ready for an optic, you can chop the carry handle and use it as a fixed BUIS.

Agree completely with Mr. Clean. Lots of guys cut down carry handles they already have in order to get an optic-compatible BUIS for no cost.

 

[Tirod]

I bought a used issue surplus "carry handle" just to chop down. At $32 shipped, I didn't see where another $30 would be more accurate, and it would only weigh a scant ounce less. Being able to flip down means it won't be up when I want it, which is co-witnessed in the lower third.

Same for the front, again, the GI FSB for less than $40 vs a flipped down sight for another $40, which makes the BUIS over $130 on average, to do a $70 job. Frankly, on anything in the way of a recreational gun for plinking or hunting, the whole $130 could go for a better optic, or an inexpensive backup optic. Which is what a lot of leading edge, life and death duty guns are moving toward, dual optics, no iron sights at all.

It's all a bit moot if cheap import ammo and surplus mags are used, all that redundancy in sights does nothing if it's malfunctioning and jammed up. If it's important enough to always have working sights, it's important to load reliable ammo.

 

[Birddog1911]

Double tap.

 

[Birddog1911]

Agree completely with Mr. Clean. Lots of guys cut down carry handles they already have in order to get an optic-compatible BUIS for no cost.

Let's face it; this isn't the way to go these days with the removable carry handle. The OP would be raped if he ever decides to sell the upper, and it was chopped compared to a removable carry handle. Not to mention that the A2 sights are the same regardless of removable or fixed. It just doesn't make sense.

 

[Quentin]

I'd also go with the carry handle because you can chop it down later. Actually I did like Tirod and bought a used milspec CH off eBay for about $35. (You have to be careful to get one from a known forge and milspec height - not a cheap knockoff.) In fact I got 5 and cut down the ones that were beat up the most.

A hacksaw, then smoothing up with a file then black paint covers up the cuts. Here's a picture of one (Anchor Harvey forge):

 

[john5036]

Thank You

Judging from the current poll results, my conundrum was certainly a legitimate one. Thanks everyone for the input, I chose to go with the removable handle as my sight option for now. The information provided for both options did not make one option more positive/negative than the other. What I did get was a clearer perception of what I felt I should do for my first AR.

1. Learn the foundation of this particular platform, which includes learning the A2 sights.
2. Having a carry handle in the toolbox in the future is a utilitarian approach I certainly favor.
3. BUIS are available in a wide variety, and I need more research into what each manufacturer is trying to do that differentiates their product. Ultimately, I felt that getting the Samson's in place of the A2CH was a potentially expensive risk for me at this point in my knowledge, in the event I needed to get an A2CH anyways.
4. This is first and foremost a hobby, I should take my time and enjoy the process of learning a new platform. I've got my HD/EDC items where I need them, so I should go ahead and have some fun with this one.

Again, thanks all for the input and the photo! That setup is very close to what I visualize for the future of my AR(s).

The rifle on order is a Spike's ST-15. I had the opportunity to spend the day with one (shoot, field strip, inspect and clean) a few weeks ago and it was from there that I decided to make it my first AR.

 

[Matt-man]

Let's face it; this isn't the way to go these days with the removable carry handle. The OP would be raped if he ever decides to sell the upper, and it was chopped compared to a removable carry handle. Not to mention that the A2 sights are the same regardless of removable or fixed. It just doesn't make sense.

I'm not sure what you're getting at here - did I come across as recommending cutting down a fixed handle A2-style upper? I was referring to cutting down a removable carry handle with the desired result being something like what Quentin posted. The OP didn't specifically say he was looking at a removable handle, but he did say he did not plan on keeping it on the rifle so it seemed clear to me that he was talking about a removable handle.

 

[john5036]

I'm not sure what you're getting at here - did I come across as recommending cutting down a fixed handle A2-style upper? I was referring to cutting down a removable carry handle with the desired result being something like what Quentin posted. The OP didn't specifically say he was looking at a removable handle, but he did say he did not plan on keeping it on the rifle so it seemed clear to me that he was talking about a removable handle.

This is true, the choice in the actual poll specifically referred to the removable type. The thread title however, is ambiguous. Sorry.

I don't think Birddog was thinking that you were referring to a fixed handle though, I think he was just against the idea of chopping the handle in the event I decided to sell the upper receiver and my original "part" was chopped. I could be wrong, but that's what I took from it.

 

[gotigers]

BUIS.. When your ready you can add an optic.

 

[451 Detonics]

I dislike BUIS, I have seen too many damaged or knock out of alignment by door frames, both home and car, wall corners, etc. I feel the best for having Great iron sights and the abilty to low mount an optic is to start with a carrying handle and remove most of it.



A factory upper is also available from Rock River, the UTE2...

 

[LKB3rd]

I voted removable carry handle. I use one on my AR, and don't have a want/need for a scope/dot/what have you. So now that you know that, here's why I voted for that:
They are really good iron sights. About as good as it gets, in my opinion. You could go over to the buy/sell at an ar15 forum and get one used, and cheap. It is a great sight to use to learn/practice with them. You can be surprisingly accurate with them, out to a good distance.
Now, you can get a BUIS , and you'd get a lot of the same things, but you won't get the elevation clicks.
I wouldn't get an expensive/new one. I'd find a beat up, cheap used one, just to have it.

 

[Tirod]

Cutting the A2 upper and then reselling it isn't often the goal. Not everyone is in it to churn their gun collection because the latest Gun of the Month needs financing.

If the upper is cut and rail added, look closely, it allows overhanging the handguard extending the room needed to mount the front sight, unlike the RRA. That's a special riser mount to do it on the A3, but on the A2, just part of the conversion.

It has it's advantages.

 

[Z-Michigan]

I would get a BUIS so you can still use it if/when you get an optic. I don't like a fixed BUIS in the way of a red dot in most uses, so I wouldn't go with cutting down a carry handle. This is my 2 cents, YMMV, etc.

I have the DTI/Samson BUIS and it's pretty good, especially considered the price. However if you expect to get an optic before too long, I would instead get the Magpul MBUS. Their generation 2 just came out and is slimmer and slightly improved. Those run $55.

 

[Prion]

BUIS, you can use them for exactly that when you add an optic, back-up!