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AR iron sight and optics question


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So, Saturday I'm picking up my first AR. it's a flattop 16" with a 15" KMod handguard, and I'm getting it super cheap from a reputable AR armoror. Pretty stoked. I want some iron sights obviously, and plan to ad some sort of red dot down the road. I've always been a fan of the Aimpoint micros, mainly because I see a lot of non-tacticool AK guys use them, and I know they have an awesome battery life, I've never personally used anything other than irons on my AK's.

I was looking on armslist today, and there's a guy local selling a set of aluminum Yankee Hill BUIS, he wants $80 obo, which is about half of what Midway USA is asking for new ones.

From what I've read, most AR iron sights are the same height, to match factory AR sights. I really have no way to confirm this. I just wanted to know what you guys thoughts were, being that I know dick about the AR platform, other than they're cheaper than AK's right now, politicians hate them, mags are cheap, and I want one.

This rifle will be used for what I use all my other rifles for, shooting cans while I'm drinking beer. If SHTF, I'm sure I'd be grabbing an AK, but I could see this one riding in my trunk if I end up liking it a lot. I want to keep it as light as possible, no lasers, vertical trips, can openers, dildos etc. on this one. It might get a flashlight later if it ends up in the car, I don't know.

Really, I'm just concerned with getting some iron sights so I can start shooting, and these YH sights seem cool and have good reviews, I just don't want to buy something that will need to be replaced later. Thanks.

Edited by elvis christ
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Congrats on the new rifle. YHM makes some pretty damn good stuff, but I'm not certain on the height issue. I know some people make railed gas blocks which are shorter and not on the same line as the upper receiver rail, but I'm not sure if they make front sights which are specifically taller for that purpose or not. Anyways, if you end up not liking the YHM sights, I've got a KAC micro 600m rear (running A2 front sight post) BUIS on mine, and I love it. Troy, Midwest, ARMS, Bravo Company (BCM), even *MaTech (rear only) all make some decent sights, as well, so worth checking out. A lot of people also just run Magpul BUIS, but I'd get the Pro series if you go with them. They're steel rather than polymer.  As far as accessories, I think you're smart for keeping it simple, but a light is nice to have and doesn't add much weight. If you can work it into your budget, go with Surefire. I have an X300 Ultra on my Glock 19, and it's enough to see across our 6 acre field from end to end, and possibly more. They're not cheap, but they are worth the money. In fact, I'm going to be purchasing another for my AR when funds allow. All in all, I think you're on the right track with it. A t1/t2 micro, a good light, some good BUIS, and you've got yourself a great rifle without hindering mobility.

 

KAC:

http://www.knightarmco.com/military/?term=sights-military

 

*MaTech (been known by some to have issues, but others like them.):

http://www.amazon.com/MaTech-Mil-Spec-Back-up-Iron-Sight/dp/B002E6SXN4

 

BCM:

http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/AR15-Iron-Sights-s/8.htm

 

Troy:

https://troyind.com/backup-iron-sights/folding

 

ARMS:

https://www.armsmounts.com/default.asp?mode=products&sub=sights

 

Midwest:

https://www.midwestindustriesinc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_ID=78

 

Surefire:

(this is the one I have on my Glock)

http://www.surefire.com/illumination/weaponlights/handgun/x300-ultra-led-weaponlight-3.html

 

(this is the one I'll be getting for my AR)

http://www.surefire.com/m620p-a-scout-light.html

 

One last thing. Some of the KAC BUIS have "USMC" engraved on them. I'd suggest avoiding those. There are some people who speculate that those particular ones were ripped off from the military. Best to just stay away and get the non engraved ones if you go with them. At least, that's what I was told when I was purchasing mine.

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Front sight should go on the forward handguard rail not on the railed gas block. You really have a lot of options here. Everything that has been suggested is GTG, but there are a lot of cheap sights out there that don't require a lot of money down to do what they are suppose to do everytime you pull the trigger. I like the Diamond Head sights myself, and one of my ARs wears them with nothing else. I can break clays pretty consistently at 100m with them. If I miss, I miss small.

 

We live in the same area Elvis. If you want to look or try an assortment out shoot me a PM. I can also help

get you a reliable match trigger on most milspec triggers for free, both AR and AKs

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Don't overlook the Primary Arms microdots. They are excellent quality for a fraction of the cost of an Aimpoint. You can't go wrong with the YHM sights at that price.

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Thanks for all the replies. I went to pick the rifle up and got a god damn delay, so hopefully next week I'll be able to swing back by there, but I'm going to be super busy at work next week, so it'll probably be next weekend. I did get to play around with the gun, its really nice, the handguard is so slim, I don't know if I want to put anything on it. It reminds me of the HK91 standard handguard, very sleek. Spacehog, we gotta get together sometime, I know we've been talking about it for years.

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Something to keep in mind... a free float handguard can be moved relative to the barrel. There's a reason the front sight post is mounted to the barrel. If you put enough pressure on the handguard you will change the point of aim to point of impact. You may want to consider an optic. Also of importance is only mounting the optic to the rails on the reciever for the same reason.

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Something to keep in mind... a free float handguard can be moved relative to the barrel. There's a reason the front sight post is mounted to the barrel. If you put enough pressure on the handguard you will change the point of aim to point of impact. You may want to consider an optic. Also of importance is only mounting the optic to the rails on the reciever for the same reason.

That's a good point. The aimpoint would definitely be mounted on the receiver rail.

Unfortunately, the local guy sold the YHM sights, so I guess I'll keep looking.

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Finally picked it up today, super stoked. I need some sights, I wanna go shoot it! I'm still leaning towards the Yankee Hill with the HK type front, but I think I'm just going to get some used Magpuls for the time being until I can find some used ones or justify spending the asking price on the YHM set.

NCM_0007.jpg

NCM_0006.jpg

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So I went ahead and bought sights, I found these ruger pieces local, and they were cheap, so I thought what the hell? Ruger, right? I also fabbed up a sling with a GP strap and some paracord. It works great, doesn't make noise, and didn't add much weight to the rifle.

NCM_0012.jpg

 

I got out to shoot it today, it ate everything I fed it, green tip, steel case, American Eagle brass, and hollow points. I didn't even have to adjust the sights to start nailing cans, I was very impressed.

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  • 2 weeks later...

the Primary Arms micro dots have taken a shit load of abuse from AKOU, including one that they dragged behind a quad for over a mile on gravel. glass was cracked, case was scratched all to hell, but it still worked, held zero, and failed to leak when they threw it into a creek and let it sit.

 

I hope PAs 1-4x scopes do just as well, as I'm planning on buying one at their Black Friday sale

 

 

As for your AR.. I put mine together thinking the same thing - just wanted an AR to have one, thinking it would just be a range toy or varmint rifle. Instead I found it to be just as reliable as any AK I have. From the first round down the pipe it has eaten a steady diet of Wolf, only lubricated with diesel oil, and just wiped down and boresnake for cleaning. Have put probably a thousand rounds through it now, and has yet to fail in any way, goes bang every time.

 

Mine is a PSA Premium CHF/CL (FN barrel) midlength on a PSA lower, both blems. Planning to build another now, it will also be all PSA.

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Nice, thanks for the reply. I've decided to run this one without cleaning and keep track of how many rounds I can get through it before its starts malfunctioning. From what I've heard, they run fine as long as the bolt stays lived. Thoughts?

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Seems to me to depend mostly on how tight everything is, especially the carrier/bolt within the upper. Sort of like the AK, a little slop in the BCG and between the lower/upper receiver seems to result in a more reliable rifle.

 

In being on arfcom a couple of years, it seems like the guys who have the most picky ARs are the high dollar builds where every part fits together extremely tight.

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