Hunting Washington Forum

Equipment & Gear => Guns and Ammo => Topic started by: sled on November 05, 2012, 11:09:51 AM

Title: buying an AR. flat top or not?
Post by: sled on November 05, 2012, 11:09:51 AM: Question for ar owners. Did you buy a flat top or not. My concern is that the front sight may be in the way of an optic i might put on down the road. Never owned one before so im looking for some input. For now it will be for target and maybe some varmint hunting.
Title: Re: buying an AR. flat top or not?
Post by: JohnVH on November 05, 2012, 11:17:02 AM: mine is, but I dont have a huge front open sight, you can either cut it off, or replace that with a lower gas block.
Title: Re: buying an AR. flat top or not?
Post by: ORCA_SIX on November 05, 2012, 11:37:33 AM: You can get many AR-15 style rifles with the front sight already removed to be replaced by a front flip accessory or already installed as a flip up.

Check out www.ar15.com (http://www.ar15.com) You don't have to be a member to go through the forums and look at pictures and setups.
Title: Re: buying an AR. flat top or not?
Post by: coop2424 on November 05, 2012, 11:42:19 AM: Have had a couple flat tops with the front sight on them. Even with a scope mounted it does not impact vision through the scope having the front sight. You can replace the front sight with a gas block that does not have the sight or one that flips up.
Title: Re: buying an AR. flat top or not?
Post by: h20hunter on November 05, 2012, 11:48:35 AM: Yep...what he said....just leave it on.........
Title: Re: buying an AR. flat top or not?
Post by: Jim the Plumber on November 05, 2012, 02:45:52 PM: I've owned over 30 Ar-15 style rifles. If you are using optics, go with a gas block that doesn't have a fixed front sight.
Title: Re: buying an AR. flat top or not?
Post by: h20hunter on November 05, 2012, 02:50:47 PM: So Jim.....you know a few things about guns and such....

Why does the scope not "see" the front sight?
Title: Re: buying an AR. flat top or not?
Post by: Bean Counter on November 05, 2012, 03:02:55 PM: I have had both rear and front flip up sights. When using an EOTech, I think having a fixed front post and a flip up rear is fine. Its not too annoying to have that as a cowitness.... sometimes its kind of nice.
Title: Re: buying an AR. flat top or not?
Post by: Blacklab on November 05, 2012, 05:49:45 PM: Sled if your not going to use iron sights. Then just go flat and save a little $$$$. My 223 ar has a fixed carry handle with a m-223. No issues with the front sight, except when you first bore sight it. Nothing that a 25 yard range can't fix. With my first build I went flat top an no iron sights :tup: Good luck, just like anything else it's prefence ;)
Title: Re: buying an AR. flat top or not?
Post by: Bofire on November 05, 2012, 05:54:20 PM: :) Get both!!!!!!!!! :dunno:
Carl
Title: Re: buying an AR. flat top or not?
Post by: FALFire on November 05, 2012, 08:31:42 PM: Quote from: h20hunter on November 05, 2012, 02:50:47 PM

Why does the scope not "see" the front sight?

Depending on the actual scope magnification you may see a slight blur in the field of view but generally the front sight is so close to the objective lens that it simply does not appear while looking through the scope.

On my 2-7 Leupold I can see a slight blur but on my 4.5-14 the scope will not pickup any part of the front sight.
Title: Re: buying an AR. flat top or not?
Post by: KFhunter on November 05, 2012, 08:49:37 PM: would it affect the light gathering qualities?

blocking part of the scope, even though you can't "see" it is going to block some of the light travelling from your target to your scope.
Title: Re: buying an AR. flat top or not?
Post by: FALFire on November 06, 2012, 06:03:44 AM: I've never experienced light gathering problems caused from the front sight, the scope gathers ambient light from all angles.