View Full Version : which carry handle would be correct?
I have a flat top 20 heavy with fixed standard front sight I would like to put a carry handle (rear sight) on it but i have heard their are different versions so i am trying to find out which would be correct or if their is indeed a difference thank you
You can just use a BCM carry handle. It'll have the 6/3 carbine elevation wheel. But I've never found those elevation marks to be accurate with my ammo anyway.
Not sure where to find an 8/3 Rifle handle... I'm sure they're out there, but I'd just run the carbine handle.
You have to figure out what you have now. Do you have an A2 or F-marked front sight? And a flat top receiver - A4? Usually DPMS, Bushmaster, ArmaLite and others use the shorter A2 height FSB with a flat top receiver not the proper F-marked.
To compensate those brands use a "commercial height" carry handle not the Colt, BCM, etc. milspec height. If you do have the A2 height on a flat top I'd recommend buying a taller sight post that will raise you up to mispec height (IIRC an extra .04"). BM sells them for under $10. Then you can buy a proper milspec height rear sight, which gives you much more selection.
Front sight base height variance is usually negligible. I'd never buy an off brand carry handle to get a "commercial" height with a standard FSB.
You start getting into cheapo Bushmaster handles or the like.. and you'll end up with a rear sight that doesn't track straight up and down. Believe me. :mad:
Sorry if I made that confusing... I wasn't recommending anyone buy a commercial height carry handle. However if you're already stuck with one it can be reindexed (per Colonel Santose/IBZ) about 14 clicks under 6/3 to raise it to milspec.
Blankwaffe
08-13-12, 15:11
For the money this is hard to beat regardless:
http://www.gandrtactical.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=A3_CH
I see what you're saying. Yeah... he's looking for the handle.
For the money this is hard to beat regardless:
http://www.gandrtactical.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=A3_CH
That's a great price for a Colt CH! And the picture clearly indicates it's milspec height (the steel protective ears rise above the aluminum handle), which of course you'd expect from Colt (and Grant).
Quoting Justin_247 who recently posted excellent pictures of the two FSB heights and the milspec front sight post vs. Bushmaster taller post (that can bring the post in an A2 FSB up to F-marked height).
Check your zero and see if you have any issues. If you're concerned about the height, you can do some measurements based upon the below pictures:
http://ar15barrels.com/tech/front-sight-bases.jpg
http://www.ar15barrels.com/tech/front-sight-posts.jpg
Blankwaffe
08-13-12, 16:22
Quoting Justin_247 who recently posted excellent pictures of the two FSB heights and the milspec front sight post vs. Bushmaster taller post (that can bring the post in an A2 FSB up to F-marked height).
Quentin,
Didn't you have a pictoral comparing the carry handle differences at one time?
I know you have discussed the carry handles numerous times here,but seems I remember a visual comparison as well.
Blankwaffe, I couldn't find a single picture right away but immediately below is a google image of a Bushmaster commercial height handle.
http://cdn.armslist.com/images/posts/634123822637581179jy35vs5n.jpg
Magwa, compare the BM picture above with Grant's Colt below and you'll see the difference. Note that even with the elevation wheel all the way down to 6/3 the steel cage around the aperture sights does not dip under the adjacent aluminum fins of the Colt carry handle. A commercial height like Bushmaster the ears of the cage dip under the aluminum fins by a noticeable amount.
http://www.gandrtactical.com/PDGImages/carry_handle.jpg
Blankwaffe
08-13-12, 18:18
Blankwaffe, I couldn't find a single picture right away but immediately below is a google image of a Bushmaster commercial height handle.
http://cdn.armslist.com/images/posts/634123822637581179jy35vs5n.jpg
Magwa, compare the BM picture above with Grant's Colt below and you'll see the difference. Note that even with the elevation wheel all the way down to 6/3 the steel cage around the aperture sights does not dip under the adjacent aluminum fins of the Colt carry handle. A commercial height like Bushmaster the ears of the cage dip under the aluminum fins by a noticeable amount.
http://www.gandrtactical.com/PDGImages/carry_handle.jpg
I was thinking I had seen a post where you detailed the differences in pictures.Maybe it was a PM....think Im having a CRS moment.
I was thinking I had seen a post where you detailed the differences in pictures.Maybe it was a PM....think Im having a CRS moment.
Blankwaffe, I'm sure you're right as usual but unfortunately I CRS either! :D
Thank you all so much for the great info... My front sight is F marked so if I understand correct I want the 8/3 handle and the 6/3 will not work? going to read this all again to see if i am understanding again many thanks
Thank you all so much for the great info... My front sight is F marked so if I understand correct I want the 8/3 handle and the 6/3 will not work? going to read this all again to see if i am understanding again many thanks
There are no 8/3 carry handles that I've seen.
ETA: The 8/3 and 6/3 sight assembly are different. I believe the threaded portion is longer on the 8/3 allowing it to be cranked up to the "8" index, so if you can mount it in a carry handle it would bottom on the upper receiver before reaching the "3" index. Get a milspec 6/3 carry handle from Colt or BCM.
Sent from my PG86100 using Tapatalk 2
Failure2Stop
08-14-12, 11:27
Thank you all so much for the great info... My front sight is F marked so if I understand correct I want the 8/3 handle and the 6/3 will not work? going to read this all again to see if i am understanding again many thanks
No.
There are no 8/3 carry handles that I know of.
They are advising you to get a decent carry handle from a good company.
Colt is a great choice. There are other decent ones, but if Colt is readily available for a good price, it doesn't make much sense to look elsewhere.
Typos brought to you via Tapatalk and autocorrect.
Got it thank you all very much.....
Blankwaffe
08-14-12, 13:22
For the money this is hard to beat regardless:
http://www.gandrtactical.com/cgi-bin/commerce.cgi?preadd=action&key=A3_CH
Thank you all so much for the great info... My front sight is F marked so if I understand correct I want the 8/3 handle and the 6/3 will not work? going to read this all again to see if i am understanding again many thanks
Buy the one I linked above and you'll be good to go....best bang for the buck without doubt.
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