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I'm getting the Black Rifle Itch and have been on ar15.com reading up about the myriad of options, but I still have some questions and getting good answers there doesn't seem too easy.

If anyone here can help me out, I would appreciate it.

What would you like to know? If I know the answers, I'll be happy to give them to you.

I am proud to be the owner of one Bushmaster. Unfortuantely thats the only one. Mine is 16" bbl with standard A2 stock and A2 upper.

Fun rifle to shoot and ammo is inexpensive, but these are things you already know.

What specifically would you like to know?

I'm trying to see if I can afford to build one of these. What I know I want so far is:

16" Chromy Moly Lined Barrel
4 or 6 Position Collapsible Stock
Mid-Length Handguard

I want my wife to enjoy shooting it also, and she doesn't like iron sights. She either wants a red dot or scope on it. I'd like to be able to shoot it with and without optics. My question is what combination of components will give me the best bang for my buck?

1. Do I go for the flat-top and add on a BUIS?
2. If I get the flat-top, will I be able to mount a scope or red dot as is, or would I need to purchase something else?
3. Do I get a detachable tactical carry handle?

There are so many options, I'm having a real problem getting a handle on what the final cost would be.

Thanks for your help

ghentry wrote:I'm trying to see if I can afford to build one of these. What I know I want so far is:

16" Chromy Moly Lined Barrel
4 or 6 Position Collapsible Stock
Mid-Length Handguard

I want my wife to enjoy shooting it also, and she doesn't like iron sights. She either wants a red dot or scope on it. I'd like to be able to shoot it with and without optics. My question is what combination of components will give me the best bang for my buck?

1. Do I go for the flat-top and add on a BUIS?
2. If I get the flat-top, will I be able to mount a scope or red dot as is, or would I need to purchase something else?
3. Do I get a detachable tactical carry handle?

There are so many options, I'm having a real problem getting a handle on what the final cost would be.

Thanks for your help

Well, at the Pasadena Gunshow last week, I've seen 2 Rock River Arms AR15s with your description (A3/flatop, fixed front sight, EOTECH 552, 16" barrel, and collapsable stock) for around $1100 at the AJC Sportshop booth. Minus the EOTECH 552 which is around $400 - $450 or so, the rifle alone without the carrying handle would be around $650 - $700.
It is highly advisable that you have some sort of a BUIS. Unless you have a $1200 ACOG, anything electronics can and will fail.
And as for the carrying handle. It's up to you, but the only AR of mine that has one is the A3 and that's because it comes with the rifle. It's good to practice your iron sights on.

So would you rather have the detachable carry handle with the built in rear sight, or just have the flat top with an added rear sight?

AR15 fan here....I like the carry handle. A2 is my style! I prefer to keep it simple.
Jason

ghentry wrote:So would you rather have the detachable carry handle with the built in rear sight, or just have the flat top with an added rear sight?

I would have a flat top with an added rear sight. Some red dots will let you use the iron sights as "co-witness" and it's pretty quick way to make sure your red dot is zeroed in. Aimpoint will let you do that. EOTECHs won't. If you decided on a carrying handle, there is also a adaptor that goes on top of your handle and it moves your red dot sight forward.

I've got a Bushmaster with a flat-top. There are several good brands out there (Colt, Rock River, etc)

For defensive use I think iron sights are fine. I run my rifle with the detachable carry handle on it.

The AR is so modular you can do just about anything with it.

Is this for home defense, a trunk gun, target shooting, all of the above, or something else?

For home defense a short rifle with a good flash suppressor is the way to go.

The one on the left has the adaptor mounted on the carrying handle for the red-dot

Kinny... Doesn't that put the red dot too high on the rifle?

Paladin wrote:Is this for home defense, a trunk gun, target shooting, all of the above, or something else?

Primarily it would be for target shooting 50-100 yards. Secondarily (is that a word?) as a a problem arises gun.

ghentry wrote:Kinny... Doesn't that put the red dot too high on the rifle?

Actually no. The adaptor pushes the red dot forward and lowers it. It is not as low as the the rail itself on the upper, but it lowers it just enough for you to co-witness your red dot with your iron sights.

IF/when the fundage comes available I'm dead set on getting a Rock River Entry Tactical, 16" and start putting toys on the rail. I like the flat tops with an added handle, just because I think every AR should at least be able to HAVE a handle, even though I would never use it.

FWIW, my best bud is a team leader (alpha team) for a Combat ENGR squad, and during thier stint in Iraq he just used iron sights. As a fellow GOB (good ol boy) the iron sights are more natural than the fancy EOTECHs. He had one issued to him, but only used it for night missions when it would complement the NODS/IR sights.

He was best shot in his squad and just used iron sights, so I would say get real good with those, and THEN add the fancier sights, ie aimpoint, EOTECH, scopes.

I own 2. One I just finished building with a Rock River Upper.

My other is a Rock River 16" with collapsable stock, surefire quad handrail, EoTech and GG&G A2 style flip up rear sight.

The Eotech is a great sight. The outer ring is 65 MOA (that means inches at 100 yards) and the inner dot is 1 MOA. It is very fast at close distances, and the 1 MOA dot makes long range shooting possible as well.

I have shot accurately out to 300 yards with the EoTech.



This is the view thru the Eotech


Thru the Eotech using the flip up rear sight and the sight turned off

ghentry wrote:Kinny... Doesn't that put the red dot too high on the rifle?

If you are referring to the carry handle one, no. The red dot is simply zeroed for that height.

The irons are in the carry handle.