What are my options??

Hello community, first time on this site and I'm also new to the AR platform so bare with me if I sound stupid...

I'm in the market for an AR obviously... Not looking for a cheap budget rifle but also not willing to drop 2k on a black rifle. I've been looking mostly at colts and spikes tactical and brands along that line....

My real concern is the front sights. I plan on basically just using an eotech, aim point, etc... And do not want a post sticking up as the A2 fs does. I'm not going to be doing drills and it's not a SHTF/home defense so I really don't care to co-witness incase my battery dies.. I have ADD so seeing more than one thing through my sight will drive me up the wall... I like the Troy battle sights but for the most part the only rifles I see that have a bare fsb the only has a rail on it to use flippers are cheap brands like dpms and what not. So my question is, are there nice AR's without the a-2 front sight or can I get rid of it without it looking weird?? Also I like the carbine style. I only plan to put on a magpul AFG 2 so I don't need a bunch of rails and added weight (no tacticool desert runs for me...)


Any help is very greatly appreciated!!!!!

Depending on where you order an upper from, you might be able to upgrade to a lo-pro or railed gas block.

Talo special edition Colt LT6720-R lightweight. 1500 rifle run made last year, and they're getting to the end of their stock levels. In my opinion, you cannot buy a better multipurpose rifle for $1200ish.

Grab it while you still can. I figure there are a handful still in the system waiting to find their first owner.

You could pick up a Sig M400 SRP. I've got the Hunter variety, and even in my inexperienced hands, with lake city arsenal XM193 ammo it produces 1" groups at 100 yds. It's a good weapon, and they're not overly expensive, leaving you room to pick up that aimpoint or eotech.

Before you get too hung up on your sight picture and what it might or might not be, try to get one to hold yourself. I have a T-1 and a fixed FSB. With the Larue mount I chose, it give me an absolute co-witness. I initially had the exact same concerns you do. However, shooting with both eyes open, the front sight ghosts out completely and I don't even notice it.
Again, this is my personal experience, but try to fondle one yourself. It probably won't be a problem for you either.

this is extactly what i was thinking - cause i just bought one a few months ago!!!!!

couldnt be happier, i know i have one of, if not the, best ar15 made, comes with magpul furniture and a quad rail, and light weight

i knew i wanted a colt, but while looking around and researching furniture, i found the special edition and it comes out the box as i would want to set it up

and it wasnt as expensive as the larue or the barret, but i bet it hangs with them, if i am going to spend $1100, i might as well pay $1300 and get the best, no regrets

Maybe I'm just picky but I don't like the mid length hand guard. All I plan on having is an AFG so I think it will look weird with all of that empty space on those rails. So you know if there is anyway to take a regular Colt 6920 (as an example) and make the a2 into a flipper or just eliminate the front sight all together without major gunsmithing or butchering. Maybe cutting the a2 with a hack saw and attaching some sort of locking hindge so I can fold it to the side? Just thinking out loud lol..

Please, please... you're pondering a purchase of a $1000 rifle, plus $500 optic. The ammo alone will cost you many times that over the life of your rifle. Do yourself a favor and don't pull a WECSOG solution for an FSB swap that might cost you $50 or $100 from a competent gunsmith/armorer.

For what it's worth, the Colt OEM/Troy rail on the LT6720-R is 10". About the same length as a carbine handguard plus FSB.

If it really bugs you that much and you don't want an FSB, I also highly recommend a 6940. 7" free float rail and a flip-up front sight on the gas block. $1300-1400.

What about the stag arms model 3 or model 8??? That's seems to be just what I'm looking for and is a little cheaper than I expected to spend. Have you guys had good luck with stag or heard anything negative about them??

Stag Arms is good to go.

I believe the model 8 is piston drive. And the model 3 is direct impingement. I know piston is cooler and cleaner but front heavy. Do you guys think it's worth the extra 250 clams for it?

M8 is piston. M3 is DI, with the modular rail.

I have a Stag 2TL and 2T (similar to the model 3 but with a free float Samson Star-C quad rail and ARMS 40L, and FSB), an M8 (with Daniel Defense Omega 7.0 piston free float quad rail added), and an 8L Plus with the factory Samson Star-C free float added.

If you need/want a piston, the Model 8s are fine. "Worth" an extra $250 is subjective, and the feature set between the two makes it hard to compare. Remember:

-the M8 comes with the Diamondhead sights, which I think are the best BUISes around (+$230 value)
-the M8 does not come with a free float quad rail (-$250 if you add a really good rail like the DD, or add the factory Samson)
-the M3 does not have any sights at all
-you need to pay extra for rail strips for the M3 if you want to add a VFG, flashlight, etc.
-either way, you should be adding $100 to get the Plus Package

If you are dead set on the piston (I have 10 piston ARs and 18 DI ARs, so I'm not going to argue one way or the other), think hard about not getting the Stag. Why? When you add the rail and the Plus Package, you're looking at a $1500 gun. You have some notable competition at that price point, including the Sig 516, the Huldra Arms, the Adams Arms, and (ugh) the Ruger.

If you decide to go DI, you may be like me: You'll decide down the line you should have spent an extra few hundred bucks and bought a Colt. See my suggestions above.

Obviously, I have no Stag hate. I like em fine. I just think you have better options in the general price zip code. But it's your money, and it will be your rifle.

What about a Daniel Defense M4 V7?
It doesn't have all that rail space you don't want.
You can bolt one what you need.
Throw on a set of Troy Flip Ups and an optic and you're good to go.

Not sure if $1350 is in your price range, but it's in stock at riflegear.
http://www.riflegear.com/p-1380-daniel-defense-m4v7-midlength-rifle-lightweight.aspx
You can probably find it for cheaper, but I couldn't find it in stock anywhere else for less.

Man it's a real bummer colt and spikes don't have a rifle without the a2 front sight... :/

Colt does! Get a 6940. I did and its my favorite rifle!

i hate to beat this subject to death....

through more research it seems that while stag is a quality manufacturer, they are indeed overpriced...

I may end up with a 6940 colt, but its hard to swallow 1500 for a rifle that there is still much for me to add to have it the way i want. on that note, it seems like sabre defense as well as S&W make a rifle that is the same style as the stag (carbine length hand guards with no a2 front sight). I've never really heard ANYTHING about sabre and ive only own s&w pistols so I have no room to speak. with a 1000 gun it would leave me the right amount of room to upgrade to AFG, aimpoint, maybe even a harris bipod, new stock, etc....

What do you guys think, and btw thanks for all the help so far in this never ending journey of firearm perfection

man after doing a search on this forum. No one on here has reviewed the S&W. You would think that the 2nd largest gun manufacturer would have a bigger following lol

Stag/CMT makes lots of parts for other AR "manufacturers" including many you've mentioned as being superior in this thread.

Don't get too caught up in the name game. A Stag Arms AR15 is a quality rifle.

S&W mp15 optic ready carbine (mp15OR) I have one and I love it. It flawlessly feeds any type of ammo, I've tried to make it ftf / ftr by mixing ammo types in mags, w brass wolf tula and some tracers. Not a hiccup. I put a magpul dawnguard and + grip on it. It is light fast to the shoulder and accuracy I can't complain. I put the vortex sparc red dot on it and for the money I love the ar. 3k rounds through it and I'm not a huge clean my rifle every time the trigger is pulled guy. Just spray her with lube and have at it. Good luck with your search for your new rifle.

The s&w and the stag is about the same price. Does one have a major feature that the other doesn't?

Reliability doesn't seem to be an issue with either. Is one more accurate or have a better trigger??

If you want a cool, accurate rifle with free float, no FSB and excellent (geissele?) trigger, I'd check out Stag's 3-gun set up. If I were in the market for a nice accurate rifle out of the box I'd probably go with that.

In reality I would (actually I did) home build one with a white oak barrel.

They are practically the same rifle. S&W isn't making their own AR15 parts.

Not sure if serious or sarcasm....

At any rate, here is a Spike's rifle with no FSB:

Yea I meant with a carbine length hand guard. I was never a fan of the mid length because of all the extra rail space. All I want is an AFG and possibly a bipod.

I've got the Stag Model 3 and I'm pretty pleased with it. Managed to get some 0.75" groups with reloads at 100 yards. The stock handguard was more than adequate. I went ahead and put a free float tube on mine, but didn't get a significant improvement.

Watch for it at Bud's Gun Shop. They've got some pretty good pricing.

For what you are seeking, 6940 and call it a day.

For what it's worth, the afg was not designed to give a proper grip on a carbine length rail/hand guard. I'm not saying you won't see people do it, but it was designed to be further out, like midlength or longer. I don't recommend going for looks, as you seem to be doing. By all means, it's your money, but function makes more sense to me

the m&p has a single stage trigger and it is nice, I like it and haven't even thought about upgrading honestly.

Go with the Stag Model 3 and get the 'plus' package. The plus package is an upgraded 1/7 twist 4150 steel barrel and auto bolt carrier group. The heavier auto-BCG will soften felt recoil just a bit. Stag has a lifetime warranty and great service.

If the model three had an option for the Samson free float rail or if the one that comes on it was free float I would be all in. The model 8 is absolutely perfect. It has flip up sights,the option for the Samson free float and I still have enough in the budget for the plus package. But it's piston driven.... I've heard more bad then good about piston AR's

You could always give them a call and see what they'll do for you. Ask if they'd do a free float and flip-ups. That or the 7" rail from Rainier is only $137.

http://www.rainierarms.com/?page=shop/detail&product_id=2926

Don't get a 7" rail without an FSB unless you SBR or have a gas block mounted flip up. 9" at a minimum, in my opinion.

That was exactly what I wanted. Flat top. No a2 front sight instead have a low profile gas block with rail mount for some flip ups. Model 8 from stag is exactly what I want but I'm not sure if I buy into the whole gas piston thing....

Copyright © 1996 - 2013 :: AR15.Com LLC :: All Rights Reserved.
Any use of this content without express written consent is prohibited.