One thing to keep in mind with detachable carry handles, they are not all created equal. The cheap ones have weak detents so when you flip the aperture from large to small or vice versa, it's common that the windage knob also moves. I've noticed this on the cheap carry handles as well as the cheaper A2 fixed sights you can buy. So when someone sees a carry handle for $29.99 and another for $79.99, one of them will have a forge mark and the other will not and the one with the forge mark is higher quality all the way around.
Good point. There are other videos comparing cheap carry handles to milspec ones. With Carry Handles, spend the extra money, unless it's for an airsoft gun.
I was recently issued an A1 (hard to believe, I know) and couldn't figure out why both rear aperture holes were the same size. I originally trained on A4's in the Marines so I kept flipping back and forth wondering if I was just too blind to see the difference in size. Now I know it wasn't just me! Thank you for this video!
Glad to help😃 2 questions: 1. Were you issued that in the National Guard? 2. Did it still have the original triangle handguards, or had they been replaced by A2’s?
@@8mmmauserman I’m actually in the Israeli Army reserves right now. The rifle I’m carrying looks just like a Colt 653 (is marked Colt M16A1 on the lower) but it has a 1/7 barrel. I replaced the handguards with a set that has mlok, the grip is a Magpul and I replaced the aluminum stock with a polymer one (the aluminum was abused and it wouldn’t adjust easily anymore). Most of the guys in my unit carry them with goosenecks and red dots that co-witness. Also, my front sight post is an A2 style post with the squared off top. Depending on how you look at it, it’s either a really cool retro build or a destroyed piece of history lol. We still have lots of original A1’s in service here as well, with triangle handguards and all. These are pretty much only used for training purposes though and only if you have a desk job.
@@11ops11 Interesting. Glad I can help and praying for your part of the world. I'd be interested in seeing that rifle if you wouldn't get in trouble for sending pics to my email, 8mmmauserman@gmail.com
Yes, both aperatures are the same size. However, one is marked L. It puts M193 Ball ammo point of aim at 25m and again at 375m. If the other aperature is used it puts those same M193 bullets point of aim at 42m and 250m BSZ (Battle Sight Zero).
Thank you for your video. Regarding 12:15, the A2 upper has the advantage of a spent case deflector for the benefit of left handed shooters such that a hot empty cartridge case is not ejected towards the face of the shooter.
It is kind of cool that the AR has been in long enough that there are entire generation of people behind each of the type of sighting systems. A lot of folks don't realize but there are situations where an AR15 could be registered an a curious & relic firearm. There are very few samples remaining but they are out there.
The M16A1 (and the M16, and the XM16) sights were *always* set up for meters. The US Army had switched to "metric" sight settings when they adopted the M14 rifle and M60 GPMG in 1957. The Army pretty much metricized ranges, distances, etc., in the mid to late 1950s, as part of the NATO standardization process. The AR10 was also calibrated for meters, and the ARPA/US Army program to develop a "light rifle" in a .22-ish centerfire intermediate power cartridge (i.e., the program the AR15 was developed from the AR10 to meet) *also* specified the sights be designed for metric zero ranges. So, zero the rear on "L" for a 25/375 meter zero, and you should have the standard (unmarked) aperture set for a 250m "far zero".
Thank you for your service!! Also can an A2 be bought and added to any AR? I recently got a new one and it’s high time to have a handle on one, the A2 seems to be the look I want to achieve.
@@kb6069This is one of those questions that bites people in the rear-end. 😂 The short answer is yes, provided the lower receiver being mated, is mil-spec. Lots of higher end civilian AR's are beyond mil-spec and into the proprietary category.
That ability to go 4-6 clicks below the 6/3 or 8/3 is called the RIBZ method. Revised Improved Battle Zero. You have to use a allen wrench and unscrew the set screw on the inside of the range drum and turn the knob back (4 for the Improved Battle Zero or 6 for the Revised IBZ), then tighten it back down together. That allows a 50-200 and a 100 meter range using the smaller aperture for more precise shooting .vs the 0-200 large/low light one.
Hey there, your comments are a good addition to this great video! I have one question maybe you can answer. I understand what 50-200 means, why is there no number in front of the 100? Is that because there is only one place in which point-of-aim and point-of-impact coincide? Thanks in advance for your answer!
@@markmargrave Well pretty much the 4 clicks are for 50 yards and the 6 clicks are for 100 yards both using the small precision aperture. 50 typically corresponds with 200 but I never heard what 100 would correspond with but I would imagine that it would be a far zero of less than 200 due to the ballistic arc of the bullet. Both 50 and 100 are going to be the near zero in this case. 50 to 200 and 100 to, I'm guessing, 170 maybe. A ballistic calculator would be and to give an idea. But really the reason they use this was to be able to use the smaller aperture at closer distances without trying to hold over or under using the bigger, less precise larger aperture.
Was near to getting a Detch. CH and a gooseneck and thsi vid saved me from finding out the hard way. Going to just stick to my cowitness with a red dot and fixed rear iron
I would note that all detachable are most definitely not built the same. NEVER GET ONES WITHOUT FORGE MARKS, and always get forged one. Square forge marks are the most common and best to get, brand aside. I had a colt one I ran for a year and the rear sight completely sized and had to be painfully removed and placed in the spare parts bin of shame. The advantage of carry handle optics mount has to be the height, you can’t mount anything beyond the classic 1-4x scope or red dots, but definitely allows you to mold your skills to what a lot of the old dogs had to learn with.
One thing thatbyou missed and it may not be a big deal to you, but having humped one (m16a1) for extended periods of time, i like the fixed handle because my thumb will fit through it to carry the rifle at the balance point. You showed your fingers getting in there but i apparently have fat thumbs and they dont go through the detachable handles at all. Thats my only gripe.
I guess you have never seen a double ended A1 sight adjusting tool. The large end fits the rear sight windage drum, the small end fits the front sight post. This tool only fits the A1 rifles only. Also a double ended one was made for both A1 and A2 front sight posts. The 5 prong end fits A1 posts, the 4 prong end fits A2 posts.
Found out the hard way that the gooseneck mounts don't fit the detachable carry handles...oh well. Another excuse to build that fixed handle A1 dissipator upper I suppose lol
@@8mmmauserman depends how close u shooting the A2 sights are kinda pointless when u really look into it I mean the AR15 is a 300 meter rifle max effective range is 500 yards with a really good shooter oh and 500 yards is the limit for 5.56 on effectiveness on target
@@BaconSlayer69 id like an a1 sight with an a2 drum. I think a combination of the two would have eliminated all the confusion, and held a better hit probably 0-300
I think because the front of the handle was more square and less round. Not sure if it would work with other brands as detachable handles have some variety.
Great video man! As much as I want to go trade my flat top on for an A2 it just makes since that I get a good attachable handle to start with! Another question how would an attachable handle work with a fold up front site? I have one of each, but I am curious as to how or if that would work. Thanks for sharing!
No idea. I sometimes see them on gunbroker that appear new, but that could just be old stock that wasn't sold. It is a good place to look for carry handle guns though. I also know PSA just started making A1s, but I've been trying to get an A1 lower and they're sold out.
All of these sights are now obsolete. The MaTech BUIS replaced the detachable carry handle sight and it can easily be zeroed for a 300 meter battle sight zero and bullet drop compensation function without fuss on either an M4 or A4. This sight can remain attached and zeroed on an M4 or A4 hosting an ACOG or LPVO. One thing though, the fixed carry handle sight match conditioned to 1/4 min value and finer aperture still rules in NRA Long-Range (1000 yard) Service Rifle Competition, since its greater sight adjustment range than others permits a greater range of holds on target without reaching an adjustment limit. BTW, note that the click value of sights on carbine are greater than when sights are on rifle due to divergence of the sight radius. Also the zeroing procedure for A2/A4 requires a one MOA clockwise offset from 8/3 or 6/3 marking at 25 meters since the 20 inch barrel rifle produces a slightly flatter trajectory than the 14.5 inch barrel carbine. Of course this offset is removed from the sight after zeroing by turning elevation wheel counter clockwise back to 6/3 or 8/3.
@@8mmmausermanfor sure the A2 carry handle is without doubt the route to go still today for the multitudes of shooters out there who have an interest in long range service rifle competition.
I run detachable rear sight assemblies (carry handles) on all five of my ARs; two A3 Style rifles and three differently set up carbines. You should never go cheap on rear sights; save yourself the grief and exasperation. Mine were all purchased from a well-known high grade manufacturer. They were expensive...as in a little over $100 expensive. But you do, in fact, get what you pay for.
I verified all information in this video alongside content made by those trained in the military, such as Paul Harrell, and military documents. As with many things, there is the way they were intended, and the way they were used, but use also changed over time.
@@8mmmauserman well fixed carry handle uppers have been getting quite popular again because people found out the riser mounts were the exact same height as a carry handle.
One thing to keep in mind with detachable carry handles, they are not all created equal. The cheap ones have weak detents so when you flip the aperture from large to small or vice versa, it's common that the windage knob also moves. I've noticed this on the cheap carry handles as well as the cheaper A2 fixed sights you can buy. So when someone sees a carry handle for $29.99 and another for $79.99, one of them will have a forge mark and the other will not and the one with the forge mark is higher quality all the way around.
Good point. There are other videos comparing cheap carry handles to milspec ones. With Carry Handles, spend the extra money, unless it's for an airsoft gun.
I have the $29. Dollar SARCO handles on my guns. They seem good. But I know what you mean 🪖
$79.99 is the minimum one should spend on a carry handle. Unless on sale of course.
I was recently issued an A1 (hard to believe, I know) and couldn't figure out why both rear aperture holes were the same size. I originally trained on A4's in the Marines so I kept flipping back and forth wondering if I was just too blind to see the difference in size. Now I know it wasn't just me! Thank you for this video!
Glad to help😃
2 questions:
1. Were you issued that in the National Guard?
2. Did it still have the original triangle handguards, or had they been replaced by A2’s?
@@8mmmauserman I’m actually in the Israeli Army reserves right now. The rifle I’m carrying looks just like a Colt 653 (is marked Colt M16A1 on the lower) but it has a 1/7 barrel. I replaced the handguards with a set that has mlok, the grip is a Magpul and I replaced the aluminum stock with a polymer one (the aluminum was abused and it wouldn’t adjust easily anymore). Most of the guys in my unit carry them with goosenecks and red dots that co-witness. Also, my front sight post is an A2 style post with the squared off top. Depending on how you look at it, it’s either a really cool retro build or a destroyed piece of history lol.
We still have lots of original A1’s in service here as well, with triangle handguards and all. These are pretty much only used for training purposes though and only if you have a desk job.
@@11ops11 Interesting. Glad I can help and praying for your part of the world. I'd be interested in seeing that rifle if you wouldn't get in trouble for sending pics to my email, 8mmmauserman@gmail.com
Yes, both aperatures are the same size. However, one is marked L. It puts M193 Ball ammo point of aim at 25m and again at 375m. If the other aperature is used it puts those same M193 bullets point of aim at 42m and 250m BSZ (Battle Sight Zero).
Thank you for your video. Regarding 12:15, the A2 upper has the advantage of a spent case deflector for the benefit of left handed shooters such that a hot empty cartridge case is not ejected towards the face of the shooter.
True! This video was mainly about the sights themselves, but I just did a whole video going over (almost) all fixed sight uppers. Check it out!
Love my old school sights, no need to worry about batteries dying, lens broken, knocked outta alignment, they just always work, period!
Yeah. They are underrated for serious use.
It is kind of cool that the AR has been in long enough that there are entire generation of people behind each of the type of sighting systems. A lot of folks don't realize but there are situations where an AR15 could be registered an a curious & relic firearm. There are very few samples remaining but they are out there.
10:06 the A2 looks so sick with that mount!!!
The M16A1 (and the M16, and the XM16) sights were *always* set up for meters.
The US Army had switched to "metric" sight settings when they adopted the M14 rifle and M60 GPMG in 1957. The Army pretty much metricized ranges, distances, etc., in the mid to late 1950s, as part of the NATO standardization process. The AR10 was also calibrated for meters, and the ARPA/US Army program to develop a "light rifle" in a .22-ish centerfire intermediate power cartridge (i.e., the program the AR15 was developed from the AR10 to meet) *also* specified the sights be designed for metric zero ranges.
So, zero the rear on "L" for a 25/375 meter zero, and you should have the standard (unmarked) aperture set for a 250m "far zero".
You may be correct. I've been looking at old manuals, but the earliest I can find is the 1985 update
Did basic training with the a1 m16 best rifle ever in my opinion 👍🏿
I think peak for me is A1 barrel and stock, A2 sights
I like and enjoy your videos. Well done Sir!
Most of my AR's are fixed carry handles. I served in the USMC 02'-06' and it is what tickles my fancy. I prefer the A1 but also use the A2.
They are really cool, and I think they really do have some advantages
It’s like they’ve come full circle. People have modified them so much that an original style is cooler than the fancy modded rifles!😊
Thank you for serving.
Thank you for your service!! Also can an A2 be bought and added to any AR? I recently got a new one and it’s high time to have a handle on one, the A2 seems to be the look I want to achieve.
@@kb6069This is one of those questions that bites people in the rear-end. 😂 The short answer is yes, provided the lower receiver being mated, is mil-spec. Lots of higher end civilian AR's are beyond mil-spec and into the proprietary category.
Dude, I love the series. These episodes are actually answering my questions.
Nicely doneA
Awesome! Glad I could help!
That ability to go 4-6 clicks below the 6/3 or 8/3 is called the RIBZ method. Revised Improved Battle Zero. You have to use a allen wrench and unscrew the set screw on the inside of the range drum and turn the knob back (4 for the Improved Battle Zero or 6 for the Revised IBZ), then tighten it back down together. That allows a 50-200 and a 100 meter range using the smaller aperture for more precise shooting .vs the 0-200 large/low light one.
Hey there, your comments are a good addition to this great video! I have one question maybe you can answer. I understand what 50-200 means, why is there no number in front of the 100? Is that because there is only one place in which point-of-aim and point-of-impact coincide? Thanks in advance for your answer!
@@markmargrave Well pretty much the 4 clicks are for 50 yards and the 6 clicks are for 100 yards both using the small precision aperture. 50 typically corresponds with 200 but I never heard what 100 would correspond with but I would imagine that it would be a far zero of less than 200 due to the ballistic arc of the bullet. Both 50 and 100 are going to be the near zero in this case. 50 to 200 and 100 to, I'm guessing, 170 maybe. A ballistic calculator would be and to give an idea. But really the reason they use this was to be able to use the smaller aperture at closer distances without trying to hold over or under using the bigger, less precise larger aperture.
Was near to getting a Detch. CH and a gooseneck and thsi vid saved me from finding out the hard way. Going to just stick to my cowitness with a red dot and fixed rear iron
Glad to help
I would note that all detachable are most definitely not built the same. NEVER GET ONES WITHOUT FORGE MARKS, and always get forged one.
Square forge marks are the most common and best to get, brand aside. I had a colt one I ran for a year and the rear sight completely sized and had to be painfully removed and placed in the spare parts bin of shame.
The advantage of carry handle optics mount has to be the height, you can’t mount anything beyond the classic 1-4x scope or red dots, but definitely allows you to mold your skills to what a lot of the old dogs had to learn with.
I like the A1 carry handle uppers but I always put the larger A2 apertures in them.
I’ve thought about getting one and doing that too
One thing thatbyou missed and it may not be a big deal to you, but having humped one (m16a1) for extended periods of time, i like the fixed handle because my thumb will fit through it to carry the rifle at the balance point. You showed your fingers getting in there but i apparently have fat thumbs and they dont go through the detachable handles at all. Thats my only gripe.
I thought I mentioned the size difference, but I have the same problem. I can't comfortably carry the detachable ones from the handle.
@@8mmmauserman I think you may have missed his point.
They should have combined the a1 and a2 sight . 0-200. Flip to L for 300. Drum 400 plus
That’s be neat. It is nice how quick the A1 changes.
Thank you for this very informative video! ❤
Iron sights little and big opening are for day and night
Neat LEO AR Mauser Man. (It's also neat that every word in that sentence coincidentally had to be capitalized.
🫨
If they kept making fixed, we’d all get them.
But flat tops work sufficiently enough
For sure. Fixed Carry Handles are really cool
I guess you have never seen a double ended A1 sight adjusting tool. The large end fits the rear sight windage drum, the small end fits the front sight post. This tool only fits the A1 rifles only. Also a double ended one was made for both A1 and A2 front sight posts. The 5 prong end fits A1 posts, the 4 prong end fits A2 posts.
I've seen them, but not in stores. I don't have one because I'd have to order it online, and it's not worth the price to me.
Found out the hard way that the gooseneck mounts don't fit the detachable carry handles...oh well. Another excuse to build that fixed handle A1 dissipator upper I suppose lol
Oh no..... now you need to buy a new gun......Sad to hear.....
Great video! I learned a lot.
Thanks! Glad I could help!
Since the A1 peep holes are small do people modify at least the closer range peep by drilling it larger?
Some people do. You can also buy an A2 type aperture and replace it.
It’s simple the A1 is the better combat sight while the A2 is the better target sight
I get this sentiment, but I think I'd prefer the A2 regardless. I really like the larger aperture for close range.
@@8mmmauserman depends how close u shooting the A2 sights are kinda pointless when u really look into it I mean the AR15 is a 300 meter rifle max effective range is 500 yards with a really good shooter oh and 500 yards is the limit for 5.56 on effectiveness on target
@@BaconSlayer69 agreed, a2 drum doesn’t turn your rifle into a 308 !
@@TheREALLibertyOrDeath exactly only thing I see it good for is to make the adjustments easier to hit 500 yard targets on the fly
@@BaconSlayer69 id like an a1 sight with an a2 drum. I think a combination of the two would have eliminated all the confusion, and held a better hit probably 0-300
Nice acquisition!
Thanks!
12:26 illegal to have that requirment because it's unconstitutional, so *ignore*
It's not illegal regardless. I said that because my outro is "I __________, but I lived on..." and that's the one I chose for this video.
@@8mmmauserman
I'm just going by the constitution. 🤷♂️🤷♂️
@@East_Coast_Toasty_Boy Ok. This was basically a joke anyway.
@@8mmmauserman Ah I see. LOL
Can you say why exactly the gooseneck mount didnt work on the A4 carry handle?
I think because the front of the handle was more square and less round. Not sure if it would work with other brands as detachable handles have some variety.
@8mmmauserman ok good to know, thanks a lot!
Love ur channel btw keep it up
Thanks!!
A2 is the best looking out of the other two.
Hey do you happen to remember what brand that goosestep mount is?
Not sure. It’s milsurp off eBay
Great video man! As much as I want to go trade my flat top on for an A2 it just makes since that I get a good attachable handle to start with! Another question how would an attachable handle work with a fold up front site? I have one of each, but I am curious as to how or if that would work. Thanks for sharing!
Hmm… I’m not sure. I’ve never tested.
Do they still sale the 1st .. old-school blk a2 a1 handle rifles
No idea. I sometimes see them on gunbroker that appear new, but that could just be old stock that wasn't sold. It is a good place to look for carry handle guns though. I also know PSA just started making A1s, but I've been trying to get an A1 lower and they're sold out.
Very nice guns! What's the piece on the charging handle with the A2 upper on it?
It’s just the extended charging handle latch that came on the gun
All of these sights are now obsolete. The MaTech BUIS replaced the detachable carry handle sight and it can easily be zeroed for a 300 meter battle sight zero and bullet drop compensation function without fuss on either an M4 or A4. This sight can remain attached and zeroed on an M4 or A4 hosting an ACOG or LPVO. One thing though, the fixed carry handle sight match conditioned to 1/4 min value and finer aperture still rules in NRA Long-Range (1000 yard) Service Rifle Competition, since its greater sight adjustment range than others permits a greater range of holds on target without reaching an adjustment limit. BTW, note that the click value of sights on carbine are greater than when sights are on rifle due to divergence of the sight radius. Also the zeroing procedure for A2/A4 requires a one MOA clockwise offset from 8/3 or 6/3 marking at 25 meters since the 20 inch barrel rifle produces a slightly flatter trajectory than the 14.5 inch barrel carbine. Of course this offset is removed from the sight after zeroing by turning elevation wheel counter clockwise back to 6/3 or 8/3.
Sometimes we just like older things because they're cool. That's why I like carry handles.
Who cares. Magtech BUIS will always look like shit.
@@8mmmausermanfor sure the A2 carry handle is without doubt the route to go still today for the multitudes of shooters out there who have an interest in long range service rifle competition.
Whats nice is that you can put an A2 aperture on an A1. If you wanted the bigger aperture you can still zero
True. I’ve thought about doing that, but I also like the classics
Is that a s.a.w sling on the 16?
It’s an M60 sling. They’re probably pretty similar
@@8mmmauserman yeah they look pretty similar to our modern MG slings. Awesome videos btw.
I run detachable rear sight assemblies (carry handles) on all five of my ARs; two A3 Style rifles and three differently set up carbines.
You should never go cheap on rear sights; save yourself the grief and exasperation. Mine were all purchased from a well-known high grade manufacturer. They were expensive...as in a little over $100 expensive. But you do, in fact, get what you pay for.
For sure. Limited experience with a $30 detachable handle and it was bad
👽 I believe it's called a OPTICAL RISER is it's real name.
but it's ok I could b wrong & does it matter ?
This may be one of those situations where the technical term is not the common use term.
No offense intended but you sound just like Matpat from Game Theory
👍
The " L " STANDS FOR " LOW LIGHT " SHOOTING........
M16A1 HAS A 250 METER ZERO WITH THE UNMARKED REAR SIGHT.
I verified all information in this video alongside content made by those trained in the military, such as Paul Harrell, and military documents. As with many things, there is the way they were intended, and the way they were used, but use also changed over time.
on the A1 sights shown "L" stands for "Long-Range". The A1 shown didn't have the Low Light Level Sight System (LLLSS).
@@j.bernard6944 correct, so much confusion between a1 and a2 sight out there
A2 is cool. Upper receiver is hard to get because not too manucturers are making it anymore. Thank you for posting
It’s quite sad. I get flat tops are probably cheaper, but these are classic.
H&R is making A2 uppers
@MrBioniclefan1 Thank you posting. They're out of stock.
@@hnguye22 yeah I know and it doesn’t help that psa the owner of H&R is constantly sitting on their asses and not keeping things in stock.
@@8mmmauserman well fixed carry handle uppers have been getting quite popular again because people found out the riser mounts were the exact same height as a carry handle.
Why so complicated? My Ak has way simpler sights.
I don't think any of these are complicated, just a touch different from each other.
🇦🇺😎👍Hey Big John
🇺🇸🤠👌
You had as much or more room with the detachable handle. You need to watch your video
No... you don't. I had it right in front of me. There's not as much room for your fingers
Slow your speach rate for a much better video.
Something I've had to work on. Thanks
You should eat more sonny, you're nothing but skin and bones!
It's the genetics sadly.
@@8mmmauserman start lifting weights and that will change