Irons on a 17.5" handguard?

[Corpral_Agarn]

Okay so a few years ago I won a 17.5" Odin works handguard at a match. Looks like this:
https://www.odinworks.com/M_LOK_Forends_p/f-17-ml-ra.htm

turns out, I have an 18" barrel and all the fixings to put together an upper. Which is pretty neat for this day and age LOL

I started thinking about what to put on the top and I thought to myself, self, how about a nice set of irons? That would be cool and different, right?
Something like the scalar works or daniel defense irons:
https://www.wingtactical.com/access...ights/scalarworks-peak-fixed-iron-sights-set/

https://danieldefense.com/ar-15-iron-sight-set.html

so the question is:
Would maximizing the sight radius on a 17.5" upper be okay for a standard set of irons?

Would the extra length be a problem that far out?

Just going over my options, here.

 

[Pat Riot]

I would think with a smaller rear peep, or even standard, the longer radius would be excellent regardless of sight maker. Your just adding a couple of inches to the norm.

 

[IdaD]

I have an AR with a set of irons maxed on a 15" handguard and I don't think an extra 2.5" would hurt anything.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

That's about what I figured, thanks Fellas!

 

[Chuck R.]

I've got a set of Scalar Works Irons on my AR15 pistol in .300AAC and really like them:



I also don't think the 17.5" sight radius will be an issue, it will screw with your click values some, but it can be figured out. The Scalarworks are set for a 15" sight radius. Or, you can do what I do and set them back making room for a light at the 12 O'clock position.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

I've got a set of Scalar Works Irons on my AR15 pistol in .300AAC and really like them:

View attachment 978468

I also don't think the 17.5" sight radius will be an issue, it will screw with your click values some, but it can be figured out. The Scalarworks are set for a 15" sight radius. Or, you can do what I do and set them back making room for a light at the 12 O'clock position.

I think for this setup, the light will got to 45 offset

 

[BigBlue 94]

I prefer my rear sight farther forward, though this pic was a bit too far. 15" hand guard. Usually mount em about over the brass deflector.

I like Troy sights. Yankee Hill too

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

I prefer my rear sight farther forward, though this pic was a bit too far. 15" hand guard. Usually mount em about over the brass deflector.

I like Troy sights. Yankee Hill too

Interesting i've always seen them mounted as far back as possible.

What's the rationale for having the rear further forward?

 

[BigBlue 94]

Interesting i've always seen them mounted as far back as possible.

What's the rationale for having the rear further forward?

No rationale, its just were my eyes focus best. I have excellent vision except the first 4" from my face. Scopes dont give me an issue, nor do most traditional iron sights. But the big shielded AR sights get fuzzy for some reason. Maybe thats one reason I shoot the sks so well. The sight is farther out.

 

[JumboJVT]

Isn't that the point of a peep: no need to focus on the sight, just "see the light" and the eye does the rest? I'm 55 and a peep is the only iron sight I can reliably use without perfect light and plenty of time for deliberation. Also don't understand concerns of too long a sight radius. Know nothing about AR's, but what am I missing?

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

Isn't that the point of a peep: no need to focus on the sight, just "see the light" and the eye does the rest? I'm 55 and a peep is the only iron sight I can reliably use without perfect light and plenty of time for deliberation. Also don't understand concerns of too long a sight radius. Know nothing about AR's, but what am I missing?

Just that most irons for AR's are setup for a 15" sight radius and this application would be further than that.

it sounds like it's not a big deal, so I'll go for it.

 

[BigBlue 94]

Isn't that the point of a peep: no need to focus on the sight, just "see the light" and the eye does the rest? I'm 55 and a peep is the only iron sight I can reliably use without perfect light and plenty of time for deliberation. Also don't understand concerns of too long a sight radius. Know nothing about AR's, but what am I missing?

When i use an AR with a standard ghost ring in the standard spot, all I can see is the fuzzy ring. Cant even see through it. Move it just a couple inches forward, and i can see through it perfectly.

 

[Zak Smith]

One thing to consider with that setup is that the shoulder of your barrel will be about 0.1-0.2" behind ("inside") the handguard. If your muzzle device has a large OD, such as a suppressor, this will be problematic.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

One thing to consider with that setup is that the shoulder of your barrel will be about 0.1-0.2" behind ("inside") the handguard. If your muzzle device has a large OD, such as a suppressor, this will be problematic.

this could be a problem.

So with an 18" barrel on a 17.5" handguard it ends up inside it a little bit because the barrel threads into the receiver?

I might have goofed here LOL

 

[Zak Smith]

this could be a problem.

So with an 18" barrel on a 17.5" handguard it ends up inside it a little bit because the barrel threads into the receiver?

I might have goofed here LOL

Hi,

By the barrel shoulder, I mean the transition from the threaded muzzle portion to the full barrel OD. Typically the shoulder is 0.600" behind the muzzle if it is threaded to spec.

In this print, the shoulder is the part at diameter "D" right behind (to the left of) the C dimension.



You would be able to mount a flash hider or most brakes with the shoulder just inside the handguard, but if the OD of the device is larger than the minimum OD of the handguard, it wouldn't fit.

For muzzle devices that are not countersunk (recessed) into the handguard, a barrel length of 0.7" longer than the handguard length is almost always safe from a clearance standpoint.

 

[Corpral_Agarn]

Hi,

By the barrel shoulder, I mean the transition from the threaded muzzle portion to the full barrel OD. Typically the shoulder is 0.600" behind the muzzle if it is threaded to spec.

In this print, the shoulder is the part at diameter "D" right behind (to the left of) the C dimension.

View attachment 978760

You would be able to mount a flash hider or most brakes with the shoulder just inside the handguard, but if the OD of the device is larger than the minimum OD of the handguard, it wouldn't fit.

For muzzle devices that are not countersunk (recessed) into the handguard, a barrel length of 0.7" longer than the handguard length is almost always safe from a clearance standpoint.

Thank you for this!