I am new to the Forum (a few days) , this is going to be my first AR-15 and I will kindly apreciate some smart answers to my " new guy " questions. I am putting a scope on the top rail and a Troy rear sight in the back. I will like to also take out the front sight and replace it with a " railed Gas Block " piece , and a Troy flip up front sight, so I won`t have any impediment with the front sight and the scope. The scope , BTW, I am thinking on a Trijicon TR20-2 with a LaRue mount . The gun is a DM4LE . My question is : How dificult is to disassemble the factory front sight , can I do it , and , will this be a good thing to do or not ? Thanks so much… josey88
You “can” do it, but on a brand new gun, and you being new to the AR world,
i would advise that you send it out to a competant smith to have it done properly.
There are some things on guns that are better off being done by someone that
has the proper tools and know-how, rather than trying it yourself.
This is one of those things.
I’m sure someone here can recomend someone to do it.
KyAKGuy
Very well, I will take it to a Gunsmith . Thanks so much … josey88
I wouldn’t just take it to “a gunsmith”
I’d send it out to somewhere like ADCO that specializes in AR work…
I’m sure there are other people that do fine work too, some of them are
probably sponsors on this board too.
KyAKGuy
kyakguy : First, I want to say Thanks for your advice . When I read your reply , I got curious, and started reading about this mod , and I think I can do it … I am pretty good at working with my hands, I have a lot of tools and a great vice, and while not a gunsmith , I am used to fix lots of things. But getting to the point : It requires to take out the gas pin from left to right carefully of course, separate the gas tube , also very carefully , taking out the 2 pins that hold secure the sight and that is it. It will be necessary to be aware of taking precautions as not to marr the barrel or scratch it , and , since it is a new gun , there will not be any carbon obstructions or build up of any kind that wil make the gas tube separation dificult. I will also make sure that the pin hole in the new gas block will be align correctly. If that is all there is to it, I can perfectly do it , but if there is something else, please explain it so I can realize the futility of doing it myself. Thanks again josey88
Another thought…
Have you tried looking through the scope with the existing front sight in place? With most magnified optics, the front sight isn’t really visible.
Eric : My gun will arrive this week , so I can`t do anything . I am trying to have this problem solved so when the gun arrives I would know what to do . I assumed that with a scope it was neccesary to remove the front sight , and that is why I was racking my brains to find a solution . Really, the prospect of replacing a Gas Block, etc , is a pain in the ass , and I also thought to send out the upper piece to GG&G to have them install their Gas Block/flip up sight and avoid the install myself… But if, as you say , the front sight will not be an impediment for an scope , then I will leave it alone. Are you sure of that ? I was thinking in putting a Trijicon TR20-2 on a LaRue mount and a rear flip up Troy sight. BTW, my Carbine is a flat top (removable A3 handle) . Thanks
On the lower magnification you may see a slight blur, but it is minimal. Even less on higher setting. I have a TA01 mounted with the standard front sight in place and it works fine.
I just went through the same thing your going through now. I originally had an eotech on my LMT and hated the FSB. I installed a DD rail and troy flip ups as well. While I was waiting on parts to come in to finish everything (sent the gas block & barrel to be pinned by ADCO) I decided I needed magnification and bought the tr-21 with the larue mount. Now I have it alltogether and because of the magnification I can’t see the front sight at all above the lowest setting and just barely on 1.25. I now run my front sight up all the time and don’t notice it one bit.
I am a newbee and this was my first dealing with working on an AR and only own this one. That said it, ain’t rocket science. The hardest part for me was getting that da*n tube out of the FSB. The pins are relatively easy and there is a block out there made just for this job so you won’t mark anything up.
That also said Steve at ADCO does some fine work and he’s reasonable as well. I got my barrel and gas block back in 6 days from the day I sent them.
IMO, this is the correct answer. A standard front site is hands down the most bomb-proof, reliable option and it simply isn’t visible in any distracting way while looking through magnafied optics. I’d leave the FSB as it is on the upper your talking about. In the event you ever go with a non-magnified optic, such as an Aimpoint, consider having a dedicated upper for that purpose. The rifle below carries an ML3 Aimpoint, with the 3x magnifier behind it. FSB in tact and I’d have it no other way. Truly personal preference, but don’t remove the FSB until you’ve got the gun set up as you want it, shoot it a lot and then determine if your percieved issue with the FSB is a reality, or unfounded.
Yes, I will wait until I have the whole set up together , the scope, etc . No rush , and if the sight doesnt bother me I will leave it alone ...!!! Actually, I was more concern about leaks with the return tube , so , if I dont need to touch it , I won`t !!! Thanks so much for your input, I will follow up on that !!! josey88