I have a Bushmaster AR with a fixed carry handle. I wish that I had bought the flat-top insted but too late now!

Here's my question...is it possible to "remove" the carry handle and weld a rail mount in it's place? I wish I could just buy another gun, but I just can't now.

What do you think??

Milling it off and welding on a Pic base would cost more than just buying a stripped flat-top upper. You can buy an upper for less than a hundred bucks-- probably much less. Back in the old days, they used to do just that-- mill off the handle and make the mount for a scope. Things have come a long, long way since then. They used to make their own free-float tubes and barrel nuts for them, too. Can you imagine the time and expense involved? Gotta love free enterprise system. We have such a wide array of choices for our guns and the things we can put on 'em...

Why not just order a stripped flattop receiver and transfere parts to it from your carrying handle upper?

The stripped Bushmaster uppers are about $150.

Good idea fellas! I never thought of doing that.

Could I change it over myself? I am fairly handy. Do I need any special tools?

Also since I never shot a flat-top AR...I am wondering...dosent that big front sight post get in the way when looking through optics?

I've actually done this both ways ... wanted a non-forward assist flat top for a 9mm top end, so I bought a Vietnam era surplus piece and hacked off the handle.

Then put the upper in a milling fixture and level cut it on a mill. I put a long piece of Accuracy Speaks rail on top of the upper and used socket head screws to hold it down. Worked fine.

If you're just looking for a standard forward assist flat top ... uppers are pretty cheap. Brownell's has DSA uppers for abt $70 dealer cost and they work fine. The insides are pretty slick and require less lube than some uppers. They carry Cardinal Forge marks as do many sold by other companies like LMT.

Be aware that your front sight stand may also need to be changed as the one for flat tops is a different height than the one for A2s.

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Could I change it over myself? I am fairly handy. Do I need any special tools?

Also since I never shot a flat-top AR...I am wondering...dosent that big front sight post get in the way when looking through optics?

It certainly helps to buy a set of action blocks for the upper receiver and a good barrel nut wrench. Total cost is probably less than fifty dollars initially. Then you'll decide to use them to build a new upper, then a new rifle, Then another, then you'll find you certainly not saving any money.

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Originally posted by Leopardtrack:

Also since I never shot a flat-top AR...I am wondering...dosent that big front sight post get in the way when looking through optics?

I would take off the high front sight and install a flat top type gas block.

I would also install free float handguards while you're at it.

No way around it...... these things WILL lighten your wallet!

You didn't mention what barrel length or configuration you had. But I assume it was either a 20" or a 16". Here's a photo that shows the changes I would recommend.

I really like the freefloat hand guard but you will have to remove the front sight base. You might as well plan on installing a railed gas block or popup front sight depending on what configuration you are leaning toward.

You could also leave the original upper as is and get the parts to build a second one.

If you think you are addicted to making more and more AR-15s, don't got to the Brownell AR Builder site! Whatever you do.....just don't go there!

Here' one for not much $$$
http://dsgarms.com/index.cfm?f...play&Product_ID=2637
AR's are like potato chips... It's hard to have just one...

Best o' luck. Let's see pick of the finished unit.

'track asks,

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Also since I never shot a flat-top AR...I am wondering...dosent that big front sight post get in the way when looking through optics?

No, it doesn't detract from what you see because it is so far from the plane of focus that it "gets between" the rays of light going into your scope and essentially disappears. Try this with your eyes and fingers: Hold your index finger up and away from your eyes at near arm's length. Focus on something directly behind your finger. Move your finger slowly closer to your eyes while maintaining focus on the thing behind your finger. Your finger will disappear (or become ghosty) as it moves in because the rays of light are on either side of it. Your eyes see in a very wide arc, so it will not entirely disappear. A rifle scope is a very poor substitute for your eyes-- it takes in light from a far, far narrower angle. I have seen numerous pictures of our soldiers in IRQ and AFG with tons of add-on optics on their rifles-- sometimes with one right behind the other and with the triangular sight base still present. It all comes down to "depth of field." If the sight base is out of the depth of field, it will not be in focus. The plane of focus is way out there, so the sight base essentially disappears...

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Originally posted by homebrewer:
'track asks,

quote:

Also since I never shot a flat-top AR...I am wondering...dosent that big front sight post get in the way when looking through optics?

No, it doesn't detract from what you see because it is so far from the plane of focus that it ..."CUT"... "depth of field." If the sight base is out of the depth of field, it will not be in focus. The plane of focus is way out there, so the sight base essentially disappears...

It will be there and distracting on very low power or red dot scopes. I had a Loopy CQ/T on such a gun and on 1x the front site was a significant distraction. On 3X it wasn't there. Hope this helps

Hope everyone had a Very Merry Christmas!

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It will be there and distracting on very low power or red dot scopes.

Yes, because a low-power scope is like a wide-angle lens on a camera: The depth-of-field is very deep and such a lens can focus well from near to far. A red-dot is usually 1X-- you are going to see the front sight base no matter what. A high-power scope will ignore the sight base entirely...