AR-15 Decreasing back up sight radius for increased ergonomic comfort.
So here is the deal on my mostly stock 16" Colt AR-15 model 6920 I have been thinking recently on the ideal white light and mount. After seeing many examples and holding a few I want to put a pistol style light (TLR-1, X300, or similar) ahead of the FSB at the 12:00 position.
The rifle is primarily a home defense rifle. But I would like to be able to make hits out to 200 yards. It will have an AimPoint pro RDS on it prior to this modification.
This seems advantageous as its lightweight, easy to flash or turn on, casts a barrel shadow down, and will not reflect back as much if you put the rifle barrel against a doorway that the side of the light was in if it was between 9-12 or 12-3.
However even with the stock set to the shortest setting given my anatomy my arm reaching to the end of the front sight is almost straight. This feels very uncomfortable. After looking at some free float tubes, along with a low profile gas block I could use a 9" free float tube with a top rail that would end right about where the stock FSB ends. Put the white light at the very and and a front iron sight about 2.5" back from the stock carbine position.
This allows me a little bend in my arm that I normally have but still gives me perfect position to activate the light.
Seems allot for just a white light but I would have the added benefit of a free float hand guard and be able to add a VFG, AFG, or hand stop as well.
The irons will be used for backup with a RDS and be fixed with a 1/3 co witness.
Thoughts and comments?