Carry Handle Sights - Lifting handle. Love it or hate it, this is an outstanding feature of the AR-15. In recent years, their popularity has been revived. Unfortunately, this has led to some confusion and misinformation. So let's take a look at the common models and what makes them different.

This is the original handle. It got its name from the M-16A1, where it was most common. However, it is also found in popular models such as the XM-177. The A1 has an adjustable rear sight. Height adjustable in front. The aperture of the range is L-shaped, two apertures are possible. One for shooting and one for long range. Both openings are small and slightly different in height to compensate for the drop.

Carry Handle Sights

Carry Handle Sights

A tool is required for rear adjustment. Now, "tool" might be too strong a word, because the .223 bullet point works just as well. But this is easier to do with a small screwdriver or similar tool. This tool is only needed to depress the tooth to adjust the wheel.

Ccop Usa Ar 15 Precision Detachable Carry Handle W/ Top Rail Mount

There are variants in the A1 family. The most popular is known as the C7 because it is used in the Canadian C7 family of rifles. It combines the A1 carrying handle with the brass deflector from the A2 (discussed below). This top was in high demand as it was featured on the Colt 733 rifle in the classic movie Heat.

The top of the A1 is easy to recognize. Just look for the height adjustment wheel on the carry handle. If it doesn't, chances are good it's A1 or similar. The rear wind adjustment looks like a small wheel with holes for a lock.

The A1 windage adjustment requires a tool to press the small lock (located between "2" and "3" in this picture)

The top of the A2 added complexity and functionality. First of all, the rear sight has thumb-adjustable windage and elevation buttons. This has caused a lot of controversy, with some saying it is too complex for a battle rifle. The openings have also changed. A large low-light setting is paired with a standard small aperture that is used in most situations. Both apertures are on the same level and fix one zero unlike the A1.

Zeroing The M4 And Ar 15:

The top of the A2 is very easy to recognize. The windage and elevation buttons are very visible. Additionally, a large triangular brass deflector was added behind the exhaust port. The same brass deflector is used on the C7.

Bright numbering is visible on the elevator wheel. Front and rear indicators are adjustable in height. After setting the height of the front of the eye, it is simply placed and then used. The zero setting is "3/8", which is zero at 300 meters. Visible on the side and above the elevation wheel are settings such as "4" for 400 meters and "5" for 500 meters. A full turn ends in "3/8", which is 800 meters. These numbers are not exact for all types of ammunition, but they will at least give you a rough idea.

The prominent windage and elevation controls make the A2's hood easy to spot, along with the brass deflector (below right).

Carry Handle Sights

Personally, I disagree with the frequent complaints about the A2 range. "Zero loss" is easy to avoid. The lift wheel drops to zero or close to it. The safety setting can be marked with a colored pencil or checked with small hash marks under the aperture. Zero settings can also be recorded and saved or stored in the pistol grip as an extra backup.

Retro 4x Carry Handle Optic By Brownells, For “old Style” Ar 15s

The A2 range also allows you to store and use zeros with different ammo. For example, going from M193 to M855 might move the hypothetical zero three clicks up and two clicks to the right. This information can be kept in a notebook or marked with a different colored pen.

The A2 has different aperture sizes (also note the index mark on the large aperture and the hash marks for off-center adjustment).

We come to the commonly mislabeled A3/A4 detachable carry handle. We just call it A3. This is the most popular model because it fits flat. And there are millions of flat top shoes out there. Functionally, the A3 is very close to the A2. The obvious difference is that it can be removed. Another difference is that the much shorter height of the zero is marked "3/6" instead of "3/8".

A3 is easy to recognize. Two large thumb screws protrude from the left side. A small gap is also visible where the A3 meets the Picatinny rail. The "window" inside the carry handle is also much smaller.

X G36 Carry Handle Scope With Top Rail For $45.14

The A1, A2 and A3/A4 carry handle has a small hole at the top for mounting the optic. This was originally used for the fixed 4x scope sold by Colt and copied by others. Today, various other optics are compatible with the grip. Primary Arms' Trijicon ACOG, Meprolight and Trijicon fiber optic reflex sights and prism sights have special carry handle mounts.

Brownells XM-177 shown with Brownells 4x Retro optic. Some sit on the handle of the lift, while others climb forward and fall down. These neck braces help advance the red dot, but can also allow you to witness along with the irons.

Most of these mounting options retain iron sights. Usually a groove or hole is installed in the holder. Exhibits may be partially closed from view, but generally still in use.

Carry Handle Sights

To clone a classic military version of the M-16 or a movie weapon, you need the right upper part. However, if you're not going for a specific type of clone, different features may be interesting depending on your intended use. Users who want to "set it and forget it" prefer the A1. The A2, understood properly, can provide more adjustability for those who want precision matching. The A3 works best with a carry handle, as it can be easily removed and replaced with boring, modern optics. Whichever you choose, a true AR guy should have at least one button.

Dennis Talks Guns: Five Steps To Set Up Your Detachable Carry Handle Ar 15 To Shoot Across The Course

Tony's customs at SHOT 2022 with the A2 (top), C7 (middle) and A1 (bottom) above.

We are committed to finding, researching and recommending the best products. We earn a commission on purchases you make using retail links in our product reviews. Learn more about how it works.

AKA @fromtheguncounter on Instagram. Gunsmith, loader, lawyer and average hunter. Daniel can still occasionally be found behind the counter at a local gun shop. When not shooting, he enjoys hiking, camping and rapping in Utah. The reader is supported. We may earn a commission when you make a purchase through links on our site. learn more

Are you trying to figure out how to mount a scope on an AR-15 with a carry handle? More recently, AR-15 variants came with a non-detachable carry handle. Many of them are still in circulation. Even with a detachable handle, there are those who prefer to keep the handle, but still prefer to use a scope or scope.

Jg Works Airsoft G36 Series Carry Handle Scope X 1 5 Fixed Ris Picatinny Rail

While there are some issues, it shouldn't be difficult to find a scope that does this for you and does it well enough that you can shoot exactly the way you want. In this article, we'll look at the considerations when mounting a scale to a lifting handle, and review our top 7 recommendations for scales mounted on a flat surface.

The biggest problem with mounting an optic to a carry handle is how much higher the scope is compared to mounting directly on top of the scope via a picatinny rail or Weaver. Even when the scope is mounted on the upper receiver, part of the zeroing process compensates for the reticle being about an inch higher than where the bullet exits the barrel.

The carry handle combined with the height of the optic itself can increase this difference by up to two inches. Of course, this has serious implications for monitoring your coverage, but it's also important to consider how it affects your ability to use coverage.

Carry Handle Sights

With this high height, it is often difficult to properly place the eye in the eye socket through the eye relief. If you (like me) are comfortable shooting, it's even more difficult. Between zeroing problems and usability problems, you might wonder why anyone bothers to do this.

Detachable Carry* Handle Rear Sight

There are several reasons why a shooter may want to use an optic with a carry

Ruger 556 review, vg6 epsilon 556 review, msar stg 556 review, sinn 556 review, sinn 556 i review, meridian 556 review, eotech 556 review, precor efx 556 elliptical review, benchmade 556 review, surefire sfmb 556 review, precor efx 556 review, sinn 556 anniversary review