Rifle Scopes Best scope for fixed handle AR 10??

Draz1029

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Jul 15, 2012
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I own a Bushmaster AR 10 with a fixed handle. I have a 30x Barska sniper scope.
My issue.. Because the handle is fixed my options ( to my knowledge) are slim on how to mount the scope. I have a pitcany attachment that has 1 screw to mount through the handle. Then the scope attaches to that. 3 shoots later the scope s loose. Today it fell right off. I love my scope but can someone help or suggest a solution. I'm new to the sit as well. Thank you
 
Re: Best scope for fixed handle AR 10??

The best thing you can do, if you can swing the money, is buy a flat top stripped upper receiver and swap out your carry handle upper receiver for the flat top. Then buy a good set of rings and a decent scope.

Considering you bought a cheap scope in the first place, I'm guessing your budget is really low. In that case, perhaps simply using lock-tite will solve your problem with the screw loosening. Even if that does work, I wouldn't expect too much from that mounting setup and scope unless you are prone to be lucky. It probably won't be very accurate, it probably won't track reliably, and you probably will have to rezero from time to time.
 
Re: Best scope for fixed handle AR 10??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Draz1029</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I own a Bushmaster AR 10 with a fixed handle. I have a 30x Barska sniper scope.
My issue.. Because the handle is fixed my options ( to my knowledge) are slim on how to mount the scope. I have a pitcany attachment that has 1 screw to mount through the handle. Then the scope attaches to that. 3 shoots later the scope s loose. Today it fell right off. I love my scope but can someone help or suggest a solution. I'm new to the sit as well. Thank you </div></div>

Welcome to The Hide. You will find some great info here!
At which point in your mounting system does your scope fall off? At the rings to the carry handle mount, or from the carry handle mount to the carry handle?

Chase B.
 
Re: Best scope for fixed handle AR 10??

From the mount to the handle. It came loose and I went to tighten it and the whole pitcany mount that fits into the handle. It has only 1 screw that holds the mount on. And because the carry handle is fixed to the upper it only has one hole drilled through. Thank you for the quick responses.

My scope isn't cheap too. My goal is to turn it into my own sniper rifle. I have a AR 15 that is great but is .223. Wanted bigger round in the AR platform. Love the gun just in a pickle with trying to keep any scope on past three shots.
 
Re: Best scope for fixed handle AR 10??

I have never seen a carry handle mount that was really worth a damn for the most part. They nearly all shoot lose (or at least have the potential to do so) and thus, aren't anything that I've ever been interested in @#$%ing with.

The best advice you can get is to swap out the A2 for an A4 style upper, although I'm not sure where the BM falls in terms of its compatibility (i.e. - DPMS, RRA, Armalite, etc. pattern). It may be possible to get one through BM directly if you can't locate one in the aftermarket that will work properly.

Without replacing your upper altogether...you are stuck with an adapter rail or complete carry handle mount. Short of basically permanently affixing the damn thing to the handle, you may or may not be able to achieve any reasonable or consistent result. By "permanent" I mean bedding the rail into the carry handle and attaching the mounting screw with loctite at a minimum. Also, not all carry handles (especially those for the AR-10 type rifles) are built to any meaningful or consistent tolerances. As a result, finding a mount that fits into the sight channel properly can be a tall order which just further complicates your woes.

Again...fix the fundamental problem with the rifle and don't go chasing a pipedream with the mount: SWAP OUT THE UPPER FOR A FLATTOP!
wink.gif
 
Re: Best scope for fixed handle AR 10??

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Draz1029</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My scope isn't cheap too.</div></div>

Everything I've ever read from an experienced shooter about a Barska scope points to the fact that they are horrifically bad Chinese crap. Here is some reading for you:

http://snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads....mp;Words=barska

http://snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads....mp;Words=barska

http://snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads....mp;Words=barska

http://snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads....rue#Post2795221

http://snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads....rue#Post2863809

http://snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads....rue#Post2795221

http://snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads....rue#Post2683825

http://snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads....rue#Post2792367

http://opticsthoughts.com/index.php?opti...ws&Itemid=4

But hey, if yours holds zero, tracks perfectly, doesn't change POI with magnification changes, has no optical aberrations, has a generous eye box and eye relief, works well at dawn and dusk, and has a good field of view, then we all stand corrected or you are the luckiest Barska customer of all time.
 
Re: Best scope for fixed handle AR 10??

Damn....... Thank you for the info. Ill bite thet bullet and have to get a new upper. It's sucks considering how deep I am into THIS idea. But you def. gave me others and I thank you.
 
Re: Best scope for fixed handle AR 10??

Shit, now I feel bad for putting down your scope.
frown.gif


Anyway, I had a friend in the <span style="font-weight: bold">exact same position</span> as you. He had a Colt AR-15A2 with carry handle and cheap Chinese scope. He struggled to hit targets at 200 and 300 yards. The scope kept coming loose and at one point literally fell off during a match. He made a few critical changes and can now confidently hit at 750 yards.

(1) He swapped the carry handle upper receiver for a flat top upper receiver (note he didn't swap the entire upper, he just moved the parts from his upper receiver to the new upper receiver). $90

(2) He bought a quality, budget scope from Vortex. $500-$1000
Here is a $500 Vortex Viper that is sufficient quality and magnification to use up to 1000 yards. It is a Japanese scope made to US specs and includes great features for the money.
http://www.midwayusa.com/product/183567/...t-reticle-matte

(3) He got a quality 1-piece cantilevered scope mount. $200 (or less if you don't need quick-disconnect)

(4) He free floated the barrel. $120

Those four changes and only three trips to the woods later and he was hitting 750 yards with most shots. This is after literally <span style="font-style: italic">years</span> of struggling at 200 yards.

Granted, these are AR-15 prices. I don't know what the equivalent prices are for AR-10 parts.

Good luck to you.
 
Re: Best scope for fixed handle AR 10??

I use the Leatherwood mount on 2 of my fixed handled AR's and loc-tite the nut to the screw the rifle. They each have a Leupold 6.5-20x50 Vari-X III EFR on the mount have been on the weapons for over 10 years without any problem.
I also agree you need a better scope for your rifle than the Barfka.
 
Re: Best scope for fixed handle AR 10??

Best Scope? Probably a Trijicon ACOG with A2 mount. Trijicon Reflex II in A2 mount is also workable. The AR-10 carry handle needs a secondary hole drilled to adapt AR-15 A2 mounts. Not a big deal.

The AR-10 A2 carryhandle is about .3" lower than the AR-15 A2. Using an AR-15 CH mount like the ARMS #2 will allow any scope to be used.

Best traditional scope on pic rail that I've used is the Leupold 1.25-4x.
This scope has smallest length ocular lens, smallest diameter ocular lens, and can be mounted to an almost perfect cheekweld position. The cheekweld is the big problem with any A2 ch mount...

Not many ch mounts for the AR-10. Drill a second hole to use AR-15 mounts and your possibilities open up...
 
Re: Best scope for fixed handle AR 10??

After going to three local gun stores and asking the question I asked here.. Happy to say that the answers I received here are precise and correct. Thank you all. I'm buying a new upper. Again thanks for the advice.