Took some time off from ARs...

[halfmoonclip]

...and some stuff changed.
Full circle bolt carriers are no longer a big deal.
And plain iron sights have become harder to find.
Always a great fan of same plane rear apertures, and XS 'skunk stripe' front sights. Still think it's a good combination for modest range on a carbine; they work remarkably well on a 10" 9mm.
Anyway, some years back, got an M16A1 16" carbine upper, with a rifle gas system. This leaves the front sight close to the muzzle; kind of a Dissipator. But lots of sight radius.
Shot it some this weekend, and was reminded how much I liked the lightweight (pencil barrel) feel, and how hard it is to see the original sights.
Went looking for XS sights; finally found some on Optics Planet (!); done business with them in the past.
Anyway, don't take time off...
Moon

 

[earlthegoat2]

Yes. A1 receiver and a pencil barrel is my cup of tea as well. I too am a bit fatigued by all the options and wanted something traditional.

Here is a recent build that was made around the A1 upper and 16” Colt LE Carbine pencil barrel. This is a carbine configuration but rifle length pencil barrels are nice too.

 

[jmorris]

I always thought the KNS front sight assortment was one of the better purchases for my iron AR’s, that are not a one target, one range rifle.

 

[uuolf]

Welcome back...lol... They're just a pleasure to shoot IMHO... I'm not sure why long ago I wandered a bit... I guess maybe it's the prodigal son syndrome, 7-year itch, or just plain life... It did feel good getting back involved with my modern sporting rifles though.... I apologized to my 90's Colt Hbar several years ago and proceeded to reacquaint myself with it...lol

 

[DMW1116]

I'm a fan of the KNS variety pack. I seem to be in the minority in that I prefer the V-notch/V Point post using the V Point side. Works like a chevron sight for me at least as far as I've shot it (200 yards).

 

[Peakbagger46]

The platform has definitely evolved. I’ve embraced the changes for the most part but can still run one with a carrying handle just fine.

I still got to have irons on her though (QD scope of course) “just in case”.

 

[troy fairweather]

I don't use optics planet no more, they like staying things are in stock and there not. Had some ripoff Bushnell trs -25 from them to. Shame I used to buy a lot from them years ago.

 

[Mk-211]

Welcome back stormtrooper!!!

 

[Charlie98]

I apologized to my 90's Colt Hbar several years ago and proceeded to reacquaint myself with it.

Same here. After I built my lightweight carbine... something that made my H-Bar feel like a boat oar... it got a pretty good layer of dust on it, setting in the safe. Then I got a burr up my butt, pulled it out, did a GI breakdown and clean, and then started working on some heavy bullet loads for it, to maximize the accuracy potential. Fell in love with it all over again.

I don't really see anything wrong with the A2 sights on a rifle-length barrel... they work well, but you have to work with them, too. I was shooting my lightweight carbine this weekend at 300+ yds, with Troy flip-ups... and if I would have been on Range #1 at Leonard Wood, I would have qualified.

 

[12Bravo20]

One of my favorite AR rifles to shoot is my A2 clone. I like the A2 better since I shoot left hand and don't get hit with hot brass like I did with the M16A1.

 

[halfmoonclip]

I don't use optics planet no more, they like staying things are in stock and there not...

Troy, that is how my Optics order came undone; turned out the same plane aperture was out of stock. Ended up just ordering from XS; they have free shipping.

Have to look at KNS (the pin people?) sights.

Really a fan of pencil barrels; only HBar I've got is one of those 16" CHPS carbines (AR6536), which also has the Dissipator rifle length sights, but a carbine gas system.

Earl, think your rifle is marketed by Colt as a "Government Carbine", AR6520, pencil barrel with A2 carry handle rear sight. It's a really light and handy combination, with no need of the extra weight of the M4 or HBar profile. Great combo, even with the A1 sights on yours.

12Bravo20, there were only M16s or A1s when I was in basic, so the lefties were give Hydramatic guns; they had a rep for ejecting more to the front than the Colts.
Moon

 

[12Bravo20]

12Bravo20, there were only M16s or A1s when I was in basic, so the lefties were give Hydramatic guns; they had a rep for ejecting more to the front than the Colts.

We were still using the A1 at Ft Leonardwood in 1990. The left hand shooters would get issued a plastic clip on deflector. The deflectors worked pretty well.

 

[halfmoonclip]

12Bravo20, saw those in The Black Rifle. That lump of a deflector on A2s really is kinda fugly; you lefties cause all kinds of trouble!
I was at Ord in '70; my basic rifle was an M16dashnothing, and we had to fire M14s for familiarization.
Moon