M1A, ARMS 18, Cowitness?

[NoirFan]

Hello

As the title suggests I'd like to equip an M1A rifle with an ARMS 18 rail mount and a simple red dot like the Trijicon RMR, Burris Fast Fire, or Aimpoint micro dot. These seem to be the lowest red dots on the market, but are they low enough to cowitness the M1A irons? I want to use this setup for speed shooting games at <100 yards. Also, if anyone has set up their rifle in this way I would love to see some pictures.

Thanks

 

[roklok]

I doubt it, The ARMS is about the lowest going, but I believe it will still be too high to cowitness a red dot. Maybe someone else can give a definitive answer.

I had an ARMS 18, and it did not work on my rifle, it was too low for reliable ejection. It is an awesome mount if your rifle will run with it.

 

[PhatForrest]

Check out the M14 Forum, there's a whole section dedicated to optics, and someone can probably point you toward the light.

I'm going to do a Bassett rail on mine soon enough, probably with Leupold glass. Can't wait!

 

[LemmyCaution]

Won't co-witness. The Picatinny rail on the ARMS18 has a half round groove cut in it to allow an iron sight picture through the mount itself. The base of any optics mount or scope ring is coincident with the line of sight for irons.

The only co-witnessing possible that I am aware of is with micro red dots on a forward rail, such as the Spingfield scout rail, amega ranges rail, or ultimak rail.

 

[Ar180shooter]

^^^ Yah, that's basically what you'll have to do to get a co-witness. It is a nice setup though.

 

[briansmithwins]

When it comes time to buy, check out the Larue combo packages. You get the optic for a decent price and they basically throw in a free Larue mount.

BSW

 

[henschman]

Nope, it is just a hair too high for a co-witness. However, you can get a red dot low enough that most folks wouldn't need to raise the comb to get a cheek weld.

If you have extraction problems with the ARMS mount, it is because you have an out-of-spec extractor. Mine used to stovepipe occasionally with the ARMS, so I switched out the extractor for a new GI one... it was amazing how worn that old extractor was! In fact it was hard to remove from the bolt since the edge was almost completely worn down. It must have been on the rifle since the 70s.

Supposedly some of the new Springfields come from the factory with an out-of-spec extractor. If you have ejection problems with your scope mount, send the rifle back to SAI and they will fix it for free.

 

[roklok]

Well, I must have had two out of spec extractors, because with a second GI extractor it continued to have problems. I also replaced the ejector and spring with GI parts, still no luck. I would think that I had the problem figured out, then 40-80 rounds in, I would have another stovepipe.

I went with a Bassett rail mount, but have not mounted it yet.

 

[NoirFan]

Thanks for your input everybody, I'll give this a try and see if it's worth blocking the iron sights.