Rifle Scopes Mounting to an AR-15 Carry Handle

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Bedlam

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Minuteman
Aug 12, 2009
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Washington
#1
A friend of mine has a bone stock Colt 20" AR-15 A2 with a non-removable carry handle.

He has an extremely tight budget so over the years he has bought various cheap gun show mounts (or scopes with built-in carry handle mounts) and not surprisingly all have failed to hold zero. One even had a thumbscrew that unscrewed itself every time you fired. Complete junk.

To get to the point, now he is looking to me for some advice on how to do it right. I can recommend a few good scopes in his price range, but I just don't know about carry handle mounts.

<span style="font-weight: bold">Is there a quality carry handle mount that will hold zero?</span> It doesn't have to be a rail, it can go directly to 30mm rings if that is helpful.

He does not have the money to replace the upper with a flat top. Also, he is a really tall guy so the scope mounted on the carry handle is actually a pretty good height for him. And lastly, he'd like to keep his Colt AR in stock condition.
 
#3
Re: Mounting to an AR-15 Carry Handle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bricktop</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Has he tried using loctite on the one with the unscrewing thumbscrew? If he is really tight for cash, that would be the cheapest option to start with. </div></div>

No, but honestly I think he should throw that one away. It is a NCStar mount he bought for $10 and I have no faith it could hold a zero even if the screw stayed in place.
 
#5
Re: Mounting to an AR-15 Carry Handle

In the "old days", before flattops were common, a lot of guys had a second hold drilled in the handle and added a second bolt, the single "thumb screw" just never seemed to hold the mount in place. It is a very easy mod, and really does make the mount much more stable. I know you said, he want to keep it "stock", for the collector value I guess? A single bolt allows for pivot, two bolts can be, and have been very stable, Leupold makes a mount for this application, a little drilling and tapping he can have a very stable mount. I agree with Powder Burns, a stipped A3 upper is cheap, and there are a lot of "good ones" around, however it would still be much cheaper to make the small mod.
 
#7
Re: Mounting to an AR-15 Carry Handle

I inherited a Colt HBAR from my late stepfather and he has a B-Square mount on it holding an old Redfield. It is beefy and has been solid for me, never loosened and keeps zero.
 
#8
Re: Mounting to an AR-15 Carry Handle

There are 2 Colt product solutions. A 4x20 scope with integrated mount and a separate picatinny rail mount/adapter. Both are machined to mount using the hole and channel in the carry handle. Both products have a thumb screw with locking leaf spring. They don't move. I own and use both. PM me if you need more info.
 
#9
Re: Mounting to an AR-15 Carry Handle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Xshot</div><div class="ubbcode-body">There are 2 Colt product solutions. A 4x20 scope with integrated mount and a separate picatinny rail mount/adapter. Both are machined to mount using the hole and channel in the carry handle. Both products have a thumb screw with locking leaf spring. They don't move. I own and use both. PM me if you need more info. </div></div>

Thanks for the reply. It's interesting, I just found a third Colt-brand product that has integral 30mm rings. That's the perfect solution assuming it will hold a zero.
 
#10
Re: Mounting to an AR-15 Carry Handle

I've got an ARMS mount that I bought about 15 years ago. It has worked well when I've used it. I tried to find a picture of it on the internet but couldn't. They may not make that exact model any more. I would use a pliers to tighten up the nut and it wouldn't loosen.
 
#11
Re: Mounting to an AR-15 Carry Handle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ShtrRdy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I've got an ARMS mount that I bought about 15 years ago. It has worked well when I've used it. I tried to find a picture of it on the internet but couldn't. They may not make that exact model any more. I would use a pliers to tighten up the nut and it wouldn't loosen. </div></div>

Picture right here on the forum. I still have both items, in case I ever get another A2.

bonus.jpg
 
#12
Re: Mounting to an AR-15 Carry Handle

I've got an ar-10a2 carbine with a non detachable handle. I use the same arms screw in handle as the one in the pic above and have a trijicon reflex II sight with the 4 moa dot. don't know how far you what to shoot but out to 400 plus yards mine is dead ass accurate.....I can make center mass hits on 10x10 steel targets rapid fire with ease. Of course, I'm shooting 308 which is a bit different.

If you want a scope just get some bushnell elite 3200 or something with adjustable power in Ffp and se how it works. Or, you can go the more expensive route and build a flat top upper......swap all the parts and mount a real scope set up on it since the optic won't be 3 plus inches above the barrel.
 
#13
Re: Mounting to an AR-15 Carry Handle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SteelShot11</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I use the same arms screw in handle as the one in the pic above and have a trijicon reflex II sight with the 4 moa dot. don't know how far you what to shoot but out to 400 plus yards mine is dead ass accurate.....I can make center mass hits on 10x10 steel targets rapid fire with ease.</div></div>

My friend's goal is to be able to reliably hit a 10" round plate at up to 500 yards. So far he hasn't been able to do this reliably because his gear is failing to hold zero.

Correct me if I'm wrong, but a 4moa dot is 16" big at 400 yards. If you mean your target is 10x10 inches, the dot would completely obscure your 10" target and it would be impossible to get rapid fire center of mass hits. If you mean 10x10 FEET I guess I could see that, but that's way easier than the targets we have at our local match.
smile.gif
 
#14
Re: Mounting to an AR-15 Carry Handle

For that set up I would get an ACOG and mount it directly to the carrying handle, put a little locktite on the screw to hold it in place.
 
#15
Re: Mounting to an AR-15 Carry Handle

The best rigs that I've seen for what you're trying to do is either a ACOG or one of the C-More setups.

Funny thing is that with all that he's dumped into crap trying to make this work, he's probably really close to what it would have cost to build a budget flat top upper.
 
#16
Re: Mounting to an AR-15 Carry Handle

I've used both the ACOG with handle mount and the rail with thumbscrew. IMO, less moving parts, the better.
 
#17
Re: Mounting to an AR-15 Carry Handle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: TonyAngel</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Funny thing is that with all that he's dumped into crap trying to make this work, he's probably really close to what it would have cost to build a budget flat top upper.</div></div>

I agree. In fact, I think we've all done that with something at one point or another. It's part of life's lessons I think.
 
#18
Re: Mounting to an AR-15 Carry Handle

I used an old Leatherman handle mount for years before the flat top came around. Tighten the sh** out of the attachment nut with locktite and it never moved. Of course it's probably going to take a cutting torch to get it off now.
 
#19
Re: Mounting to an AR-15 Carry Handle

FWIW I agree with everyone who says save up and get a flat top. Once he gets his hands on the ease of use with a built in rail, he'll never go back. Also bear in mind if he has an older Colt like mine he'll need to look at using an offset pin to compensate for the different sizes on the upper and lower. Not a big deal. They run about 5.00 or so at Midway.
 
#20
Re: Mounting to an AR-15 Carry Handle

He has small pins, they look standard to me.

I will try to convince him again for a flat top upper, but the guy is unemployed with a mortgage so things like $50 or $80 here and there really add up for him.
 
#21
Re: Mounting to an AR-15 Carry Handle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Bedlam</div><div class="ubbcode-body">He has small pins, they look standard to me.

I will try to convince him again for a flat top upper, but the guy is unemployed with a mortgage so things like $50 or $80 here and there really add up for him.</div></div>
Tell him you heard of a fellow who used a carry handle mount for 20+ years and was quite happy with his 1/2" groups. It'll wait. Family first.
 
#22
Re: Mounting to an AR-15 Carry Handle

Haven't tried to mount a standard scope to the handle. Have successfully mounted both a TA47-2 and a TA48-3 compact ACOG with great success.

6.5x47
 
#25
Re: Mounting to an AR-15 Carry Handle

Not too offend, but a 4moa dot at 400 yards is slightly larger than 4 inches......1moa equals 1.047 inches per 100 yards so hitting. 10 x 10 steell plate at 400 yards is easily achieved.

Just an FYI but this setup works great.
 
#26
Re: Mounting to an AR-15 Carry Handle

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: SteelShot11</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Not too offend, but a 4moa dot at 400 yards is slightly larger than 4 inches......1moa equals 1.047 inches per 100 yards so hitting. 10 x 10 steel plate at 400 yards is easily achieved.</div></div>

I'm not offended at all. I also believe you are wrong. A 4 MOA dot at 400 yards is 16.75", not slightly over 4".

Let me take your own formula:
"1moa equals 1.047 inches per 100 yards"

So your 4 moa dot would be 4.188 inches per 100 yards.

So at 400 yards that would be 16.752 inches.

I stand by my original statement.
 
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