OT gun question...

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Sep 7, 2001
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Those fancy M16 type variants have a funny aperature sight on them. What ranges are for the big hole and what ranges are for the small hole? Or is the big hole only for low light?

:confused:
 
It depends on what type of upper it is. The A1 used the two holes for different distances. The A1 sight tower doesn't have an elevation adjustment which is why the apertures were set up for different distances. I think one was for 0-300 meters and the other was for 300-500. The A2 and some of the detachable or carry handle sights I know of for the A3/4 have both holes in the same spot. The smaller is for daylight or more accurate shots, the larger for dim lighting and CQB type stuff.
 
From the "bible":

Note

The normal rear sight aperture (unmarked) flips forward to expose a larger aperture marked "0-2". Use the 0-2 aperture only when the 3 is aligned with the mark on the left side of the receiver and the sight is rotated down. You will automatically get a zero of 200 meters. Use the 0-2 aperture when shooting at night or at close range, e.g., in a city or in dense jungle.


This applies to the A2 and later.

Additionally, I've seen some rifles meant for service rifle matches with different sized apertures that (supposedly) shot to the same zero. (I say supposedly because I'm told that they never quite do - almost, but not quite.) When we start dealing with the smaller aperture sizes, you can actually wind up with a hole so small that on a sunny day the sight picture is fine, but on an overcast day it blacks out. This application provides for both "sunny" and "cloudy" aperture sizes. I don't know much else about it, as I never really got into match shooting.
 
I'd have to look it up in my books as I can't remember. I think Satori is correct. Me...I just use my Aimpoint Comp. red-dot sight zeroed for about 200 yds. If the "target" is farther away than that, I got no business shooting at it. My back-up (flip-up) sights are also zeroed about the same.

About time for me to build another AR. I have a spare well used "pre-ban" Colt upper and need a complete lower. Should I buy a Colt lower, or would a DPMS, Rock River or Bushmaster be OK? The Colt lowers are at least $150 more than the other three makers I think. Sure, having a matching Colt set would look "cooler", but I dunno if it makes any functional difference. Advice???

Jeff
 
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