I’m not sure if this is the right forum to post this in but it looks good to me.
I’m in the process of retooling my m4 style AR. I’m going with a flat top upper and I picked up a Midwest Industries BUIS (SPLP version) as I was planning on keeping my A-frame style front sight / gas block. However, I’m adding an optic and I was playing around with a similar set up the other day and discovered that seeing the front sight through the optic drove me nuts!
I’m not an operator, I don’t play one on TV and I didn’t sleep at a holiday inn express last night so I think I’m ok if I get rid of it and go with a combo gas block / folding front sight. However, I’m not sure which one I should go with.
I see that MI has one that retails for $150 but I’ve looked at RRA’s that run around $85 and YHM had one for under $80… is the MI front sight that much better that it justifies the extra cash? If i went with a cheaper model what would I be giving up?
On the one hand I like the idea of keeping both sights from the same mfg to make sure everything lines up but I have no desire to spend double the money if I don’t have too… So, any thoughts?
I can’t comment on the MI or RRA units, but I have owned the YHM unit. I have nothing negative to report. I was very pleased with the sight, I found it worth the price.
It was installed on a range only/target rifle, so it was never put to any extreme tests. With over 1000 rds through the weapon I never had loosening issues. Gas port alignment was simple and verified with measurements and marking during installation.
If cost is a factor, then I feel the YHM sight is worth looking at.
I think YHM is good and cost effective. Harrison at ar15perfomance pinned mine on. ARMS has a new one which looks interesting. PRI’s is expensive and rounded protective wings. Vltor’s looks very nice.
Haven’t put it through a lot of heavy use at once (no carbine course), and have only had it for about 5 months now, but the YHM has done me fine through a little more than a case of rounds around the farm. Haven’t been able to get my hands on a RRA or MI though.
My only concern with the YHM sight, was the method of attachment. Naturally pinning is the way to go, I’m not too crazy about screws and clamps as a method of attachment. As you can see in my picture above, I applied slippage marks to the screws to indicate rotation/loosening (something we do in aviation, which I thought could apply here as well).
A damn good idea I should’ve thought of with mine which I just took care of a few minutes ago :D. I’ve just been checking every once in a while manually, but lately have toyed with the idea of trying out a kind of “gentle” staking job.
I considered staking of some type. I also considered replacing the YHM screws with cap head screws designed with safety-wire holes, and running some .020” safety wire through them. But, as I mentioned above, this was just a range/target rifle, so I wasn’t all too concerned with loosening. Loctite 242 kept them secure. Slippage marks provided a means of visual inspection.
