AR-15 related question for the gun enthusiasts here.

[Cybercowboy]

Originally Posted by markids77

If you purchase that upper find some rail covers and get them to arrive about the same time the upper does. These are snap in plastic fillers that will ease a lot of the sharp edges found on that handguard, and make long range sessions more tolerable. Or upgrade to a more modern style when you order.

I'm going to run a foregrip on it. The "sharp edges" seriously don't bother me.

[Nox]

Originally Posted by JRD77VET

What type/brand of A2 scope mount is that?

Thanks

It’s an original Colt 4 power scope.

[Cybercowboy]

Got my red dot today, still waiting on all the other things. So I decided what the hell, let's mount it on the carry handle to see how it looks. Other than ridiculous, at least the Vortex StrikeFire 2 red/green dot sight is really pretty nice for the money. Not sure if I'll stay with the cantilever mount or not, but I need to have the magnifier mounted behind it so both are on the upper receiver and not touching the hand guard rail, so it very well may be this is the right mount to use.

[JRD77VET]

Originally Posted by Nox

It’s an original Colt 4 power scope.

folks sure are proud of them. they start at $400 and go up from there.

[Cybercowboy]

I got my new upper receiver today. Mated it with the old Colt A2 lower (had to use a front pin adapter thing) and the charging handle would not budge. Also it was hard to get the rear disassembly pin in place (like had to tap it in with a plastic hammer hard.) Long story short the new bolt carrier group I got, a nice nickle-boron jobber, will not work with the old lower. Which is interesting. The bolt from my original upper works fine with the new upper. I suspect it has to do with the lower's bolt retaining device (to keep the bolt held back) as the shape of the new BCG is different from the old one in that area. Essentially with the old BCG you can see about 1/2" of the firing pin, whereas with the new BCG there is more metal there and you can barely see the firing pin. The new BCG in general looks like it is assembled correctly and otherwise seems fine.

At any rate I need to try it with a newer lower to see exactly what is going on. The good news is the old BCG seems to fit the new upper great and although I haven't fired it yet I've tested magazines and chambering rounds and it all looks great. Most likely I'll be ordering a lower kit or maybe one pre-assembled and just have two complete rifles. Going to mount a bi-pod/foregrip on the hand guard too. The new upper is so much lighter than the old 20" H-Bar it's crazy.

[Nox]

I’ve mounted Daniel Defense, BCM, and Bushmaster uppers to a Colt Sporter lower with no issues whatsoever. Interesting that you had problems. Not sure why the BCG wouldn’t swap over, but be careful shooting it. Do a full function check before firing it for the first time.

[Cybercowboy]

Originally Posted by Nox

I’ve mounted Daniel Defense, BCM, and Bushmaster uppers to a Colt Sporter lower with no issues whatsoever. Interesting that you had problems. Not sure why the BCG wouldn’t swap over, but be careful shooting it. Do a full function check before firing it for the first time.

Yeah, it worried me too. I'm going to call Midstate today and see if there's anything they can tell me. The upper itself looks great though, and tests out just fine with the old BCG, no matter which charging handle I tried. I thoroughly cleaned and lubed everything before I tried putting the lower on. It's very weird that it is hard to get the rear take-down pin in place with the new nickle-boron bolt, but easy as pie with the old bolt.

[Cybercowboy]

Got a new assembled lower coming. I couldn't find a better deal than this for a CMMG lower with an adjustable stock.

[C5Longhorn]

Hope the OP doesn't mind slight hijack that is AR related, does anyone have experience with Larue mounts?

[Nox]

Originally Posted by C5Longhorn

Hope the OP doesn't mind slight hijack that is AR related, does anyone have experience with Larue mounts?

Yes. I run Larue mounts and they are simply the best. Their steak rub is good too.

[C5Longhorn]

Great thanks, agree on the steak rub. I also have one of their beverage extraction tools.

[JRD77VET]

Originally Posted by Nox

It’s an original Colt 4 power scope.

Open to sight suggestions that won't break the bank.

Right is a Bushmaster DCM competition model in A2 configuration. Shoots extremely well and alterations are different pistol grip, bipod, leather shooting sling and weight removed from stock ( competition feature ). This would be longer range.

Left is a MP15 in A3 configuration. As purchased with a Troy two point battle sling.

Thanks
Jeff

[Flatbush Harry]

Originally Posted by Cybercowboy

I have a really nice Colt AR-15 Sporter Match HBAR that I got for my wife back in the 80's when she was shooting iron sight competitions. This rifle is set up to be very accurate with just iron sights, but I want to put a holographic sight or some other type of sight to make it more fun to shoot outside the 100-yard range. The rifle has the upper with the carry handle, and stock heat shields with no Picatinny/Weaver mounting rails at all.

So, I know there are a variety of carry handle rails like these that allow you to mount an optic of some sort, either right on the handle or ahead of it. It would be nice to maybe have just a red dot sight, and also maybe a 2x power optical sight, or a holographic perhaps.

Anyone have some experience with this that would want to share their recommendations? I can also go ahead and get new heat shields or whatever they are called with integrated rails or at least places you can put rails, but I'm not planning on putting a light or laser or night vision stuff on this rifle, at least not yet. Also I don't want it for home defense, already have that covered.

Leupold offers a AR 15/M16 Handle Mount part no. 52136, that nicely fits the fixed carry handle of any variant of these rifles with carry handles. They are anodized matte aluminum and have a Picatinny Rail for accessory attachment. I have two uppers for my 1988 manufacture Colt AR15A2: the original upper with fixed carry handle on which this handle mount is used, and; a Colt M4 upper with integral Pic Rail on which I have mounted a Leupold VX-R Patrol scope in 1.25-4x24. I can easily switch the scope between uppers though I use a cheek riser for the fixed handle upper when I mount the scope. The part sells for roughly $30 IIRC.

I use the Leupy integral one piece ring/base mount for the scope.

Good luck,

Harry

[markids77]

Jeff, what is the sight budget? If you want a dot sight I think the best deal on the market currently is the Hi-lux micro-max at about $240 delivered, last one I bought was only $199. If that's steep, Bushnell has a nice (for the price) $50 unit which I do not own but have used. I make that recommendation with some trepidation since I have three broken Bushnell rifle scopes in a drawer here and will NEVER get another.

"Tactical" scope? ACOG unless $$$ is a factor then check out the new Redfield and Weaver lines. Both manufacturers get good press in publications I respect.

[JRD77VET]

Originally Posted by markids77

Jeff, what is the sight budget? If you want a dot sight I think the best deal on the market currently is the Hi-lux micro-max at about $240 delivered, last one I bought was only $199. If that's steep, Bushnell has a nice (for the price) $50 unit which I do not own but have used. I make that recommendation with some trepidation since I have three broken Bushnell rifle scopes in a drawer here and will NEVER get another.

"Tactical" scope? ACOG unless $$$ is a factor then check out the new Redfield and Weaver lines. Both manufacturers get good press in publications I respect.

Sight budget just took a big hit with my transmission in the Suburban taking a crap.

I'm just window shopping for a bit now

[Cybercowboy]

Got the new CMMG lower. Put it on with the new nickle-boron bolt installed, works great. Looks great too IMHO. I'll take it to the range this week and get it all sighted in.

[Nox]

Originally Posted by Cybercowboy

Got the new CMMG lower. Put it on with the new nickle-boron bolt installed, works great. Looks great too IMHO. I'll take it to the range this week and get it all sighted in.

Kind of a roundabout way to end up with two complete rifles, but you still have the same issue with your original Colt Sporter that you began with.

[Nox]

Originally Posted by JRD77VET

Open to sight suggestions that won't break the bank.

Right is a Bushmaster DCM competition model in A2 configuration. Shoots extremely well and alterations are different pistol grip, bipod, leather shooting sling and weight removed from stock ( competition feature ). This would be longer range.

Left is a MP15 in A3 configuration. As purchased with a Troy two point battle sling.

Thanks
Jeff

Realizing you are just window shopping at this time, I can only offer you advise as *I* would equip them, not necessarily the cheapest option. For the MP-15, I'd mount a Close Combat Optic. Your flat top upper is ideally suited for an RDS, and the one I'm currently using is the Aimpoint M68 (Comp M4). However, the Aimpoint PRO is also a nice and somewhat more affordable option. Prior to this, I was using the Eotech XPS 3-0, but their recent zero shift issues turned me off of them. I am told they have since been corrected, but I'm happy with the M68.

For the Bushmaster, I'd probably consider a purpose built optic made for the MK 12 Mod-0 SPRs. You can't go wrong with a Leupold MK AR, Nightforce NXS or Vortex Viper. ACOG is also a nice option. However, nothing is cheap. Generally speaking, proper optics can cost more than the rifle itself.

[Cybercowboy]

Originally Posted by Nox

Kind of a roundabout way to end up with two complete rifles, but you still have the same issue with your original Colt Sporter that you began with.

Well, it's not really a problem per se, I think leaving it the way it is will be the best thing. It's a really nice rifle for what it is, and my wife likes to shoot it (just hasn't in awhile) because it's heavy so very light recoil. And really, is it ever a problem to end up with another gun?

Also the strange mystery why the new BCG would not work with the old Sporter lower will forever remain a mystery. The old BCG woked fine in conjunction with both lowers BTW.

[DAB]

if the stock market keeps doing well, i just may have to get another AR pattern rifle to fill the last open space in the vault. have a SW MP-15 in 5.56mm, maybe something in 6.5 Creedmoor?