holo/reflex sight placement-AR-15 platform

[JR Hartman]

Flat top 16.5" Ar-15.

Had my holo sight off it last night for cleaning/maintenance. When I was putting it back on I had a thought. What if I placed it on the railed gas block(same height as the main upper rail) instead of above the mag well area?

would this help/hinder accuracy? How about quicker target acquisition in CQB?

I loosely fitted it on and did some dry fire stuff in the house and it seemed to work ok, but obviously its not the same as live fire.

 

[BCShooterGuy]

The electronics may not like sustained fire. Heat is not good for circuits usually.

 

[Wantabe_ Warrior]

Try 1/3 or half way up the handguard (if you have a railed one at least) like you'll find some Canadian special forces do.

 

[JR Hartman]

for now Magpul MOE handguard, so no upper rail on that portion.

I agree about the heat issue, just wondering for sight placement/accuracy

 

[fuzzynuts54]

Your hand will char before the electronics get warm.

 

[metcalfe]

for now Magpul MOE handguard, so no upper rail on that portion.

I agree about the heat issue, just wondering for sight placement/accuracy

I haven't tried that far up, but it is something that some guys prefer. The idea is as you suspect, quicker target acquisition as both of your eyes are working together a bit more with the reticule further away.

If your mounting point isn't 100% solid, then it is pointless as it won't hold zero, and as mentioned, if your mounting point is the gas block, it may cook your optic. I don't know it would or not, but for $500+, I personally wouldn't risk it.

If you want to try it out, get yourself a cantilever mount and see if you prefer the sight an inch or two forward.

I keep my aimpoint right at the joint between free-float handgaurd/upper(rails touch).
My thought process was slightly quicker sight picture, increased strength to handgaurd/receiver joint, and more room for my magnifier and buis. It's at the same position it would be in if I were using a cantilever mount.
Never seen anyone else with a sight setup like mine, but it holds zero so I stick with it.

 

[JR Hartman]

I am only running a $90 red dot. So far so good too, I don't WANT to cook it, but if what fuzzynuts is saying is true, then I am not hugely worried about it.

it is very solid, WW stock railed gas block.

also, as an aside, I had a PTS Magpul airsoft flip up sight on the gas block for the last 700-1000 rounds and it shows no signs of melting. Gas block definitely gets hot tho...

 

[saskplcguy]

I run a scope on top and a holo on a cantilever mount out on the free float rail. Farther out is better.

 

[Maple Leaf Pilgrim]

Run it far enough up the upper receiver so that you can get your BUIS and a QD unit in behind the optic, but not much farther. Other wise you're impinging on space to be used for your IRLAM set and Illuminator and screwing up your moment arm.

-S.

 

[NaOH]

Try forward end of the receiver or rear of the quad rail.