Decent AR-15 carry handle?

qqq1 · June 16, 2013, 08:01 PM

My AR-15 build has be technically able to fire for a month now but I don't have a rear sight. I want a carry handle A2 type sight but anything I can find is either chinese garbage or fairly expensive. Bravo Company has one for $110. Is that what it's going to cost me or do you guys know of something good for a lower price?

Quentin2 · June 17, 2013, 01:08 AM

You can find genuine milspec carry handles used for $50 and under. Lots of folks are pulling them off and replacing them. But you should find out if your front sight is flat top height (milspec, like Colt, DD, BCM, PSA, Spikes, LMT, Noveske, etc.) or A2 height (commercial, like Bushmaster, DPMS, ArmaLite, Oly, etc.)

Those commercial height brands sell shorter carry handles that will zero with their shorter front sight. The difference is only .04" but if you look close you can tell the difference in a picture.

As far as being sure the used CH is US made, look for common forge marks like Anchor Harvey, Cerro Forge, Cardinal Forge and others. A little googling will get you up to speed quick. I bought a couple milspec CHs off eBay for $35 each and free shipping. Just mentioned that to show that occasionally you'll find one someone wants to get rid of. I was the only one that bid because most people want a flip up instead. (Which brings up the point, why not just get a Magpul MBUS2 for $50!)

Mobuck · June 17, 2013, 09:18 AM

edited

Mobuck · June 17, 2013, 09:19 AM

"The difference is only .04" but if you look close you can tell the difference in a picture. "
I challenge that comment. In most cases, .04" is indiscernible with the naked eye unless the two objects are side by side and extremely unlikely from a picture.

allaroundhunter · June 17, 2013, 10:24 AM

Heck, .04" is hard to see with the naked eye even if they are right next to each other...

Quentin2 · June 17, 2013, 12:46 PM

Good grief, have you even compared the two carry handles, guys? You really don't know what you're talking about, it's quite obvious if you look at the height of the aperture's steel protective ears compared to the alloy handle. Google some pictures and you'll see.

qqq1 · June 17, 2013, 12:47 PM

The flipup sights do look cool but I want a classic looking gun. My upper is a PSA 16'' CMV CL Midlength Premium Dissipator, does that tell you what I need? I have many other guns but the AR-15 is new to me, I don't know all the details on things.

Quentin2 · June 17, 2013, 12:54 PM

Take a look at the pictures in the second post in this thread.

http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_18/55...ry_handle.html

Quentin2 · June 17, 2013, 01:02 PM

Quote:

The flipup sights do look cool but I want a classic looking gun. My upper is a PSA 16'' CMV CL Midlength Premium Dissipator, does that tell you what I need? I have many other guns but the AR-15 is new to me, I don't know all the details on things.

Nice choice! And PSA is a milspec AR with the F-marked FSB (you should see an F stamped on your front sight base). So you do want a milspec height carry handle like the second picture in the link I posted above. Note the forge mark too. The keyhole mark indicates it is US made at Cerro Forge. Other US forges have logos too.

Personally, I like to have a good carry handle around so you don't have to apologize for wanting one. A used one is cheap and even if it's dinged up it'll still work. Plus you can pull it off quick and slap on a flip up later.

Quentin2 · June 17, 2013, 01:21 PM

I did a quick search on eBay, here's a Cerro Forge (note the keyhole mark) milspec carry handle for about $37 shipped. Vendor has good feedback.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Colt-223...item232c247b82

qqq1 · June 17, 2013, 01:42 PM

Awesome! Thanks everyone. Now I know the difference and I've got one coming. I can't wait to get this thing to the range.

Quentin2 · June 17, 2013, 01:55 PM

Glad to help!

At that price don't worry about a few scratches, they shouldn't affect function at all. Also many first time CH buyers are concerned about the aperture tilting left but that's normal too. You really have to take a hammer to a milspec CH to break it.

And by the way, my PSA upper has a carry handle on it right now. We're going to take it and others out shooting this weekend. Maybe you can next weekend!

Let us know how it goes...

Quentin2 · June 17, 2013, 01:59 PM

Funny, since the eBay link went up, the guy sold one (to qqq1) and 5 more people are watching the Buy It Now auction!

... And no, I'm not the vendor!

June 16, 2013, 08:01 PM	#1
qqq1 Senior Member Join Date: May 7, 2011 Location: Michigan Posts: 132	Decent AR-15 carry handle? My AR-15 build has be technically able to fire for a month now but I don't have a rear sight. I want a carry handle A2 type sight but anything I can find is either chinese garbage or fairly expensive. Bravo Company has one for $110. Is that what it's going to cost me or do you guys know of something good for a lower price?

June 17, 2013, 10:24 AM	#5
allaroundhunter Senior Member Join Date: May 6, 2012 Location: Southeast Texas Posts: 1,670	Re: Decent AR-15 carry handle? Heck, .04" is hard to see with the naked eye even if they are right next to each other...

June 17, 2013, 01:08 AM	#2
Quentin2 Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2009 Location: NorthWest USA Posts: 1,996	You can find genuine milspec carry handles used for $50 and under. Lots of folks are pulling them off and replacing them. But you should find out if your front sight is flat top height (milspec, like Colt, DD, BCM, PSA, Spikes, LMT, Noveske, etc.) or A2 height (commercial, like Bushmaster, DPMS, ArmaLite, Oly, etc.) Those commercial height brands sell shorter carry handles that will zero with their shorter front sight. The difference is only .04" but if you look close you can tell the difference in a picture. As far as being sure the used CH is US made, look for common forge marks like Anchor Harvey, Cerro Forge, Cardinal Forge and others. A little googling will get you up to speed quick. I bought a couple milspec CHs off eBay for $35 each and free shipping. Just mentioned that to show that occasionally you'll find one someone wants to get rid of. I was the only one that bid because most people want a flip up instead. (Which brings up the point, why not just get a Magpul MBUS2 for $50!)

June 17, 2013, 09:18 AM	#3
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	edited

June 17, 2013, 09:19 AM	#4
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	"The difference is only .04" but if you look close you can tell the difference in a picture. " I challenge that comment. In most cases, .04" is indiscernible with the naked eye unless the two objects are side by side and extremely unlikely from a picture.

June 17, 2013, 12:46 PM	#6
Quentin2 Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2009 Location: NorthWest USA Posts: 1,996	Good grief, have you even compared the two carry handles, guys? You really don't know what you're talking about, it's quite obvious if you look at the height of the aperture's steel protective ears compared to the alloy handle. Google some pictures and you'll see.

June 17, 2013, 12:47 PM	#7
qqq1 Senior Member Join Date: May 7, 2011 Location: Michigan Posts: 132	The flipup sights do look cool but I want a classic looking gun. My upper is a PSA 16'' CMV CL Midlength Premium Dissipator, does that tell you what I need? I have many other guns but the AR-15 is new to me, I don't know all the details on things.

June 17, 2013, 12:54 PM	#8
Quentin2 Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2009 Location: NorthWest USA Posts: 1,996	Take a look at the pictures in the second post in this thread. http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_3_18/55...ry_handle.html

June 17, 2013, 01:21 PM	#10
Quentin2 Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2009 Location: NorthWest USA Posts: 1,996	I did a quick search on eBay, here's a Cerro Forge (note the keyhole mark) milspec carry handle for about $37 shipped. Vendor has good feedback. http://www.ebay.com/itm/NEW-Colt-223...item232c247b82

June 17, 2013, 01:42 PM	#11
qqq1 Senior Member Join Date: May 7, 2011 Location: Michigan Posts: 132	Awesome! Thanks everyone. Now I know the difference and I've got one coming. I can't wait to get this thing to the range.

June 17, 2013, 01:55 PM	#12
Quentin2 Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2009 Location: NorthWest USA Posts: 1,996	Glad to help! At that price don't worry about a few scratches, they shouldn't affect function at all. Also many first time CH buyers are concerned about the aperture tilting left but that's normal too. You really have to take a hammer to a milspec CH to break it. And by the way, my PSA upper has a carry handle on it right now. We're going to take it and others out shooting this weekend. Maybe you can next weekend! Let us know how it goes...

June 17, 2013, 01:59 PM	#13
Quentin2 Senior Member Join Date: June 18, 2009 Location: NorthWest USA Posts: 1,996	Funny, since the eBay link went up, the guy sold one (to qqq1) and 5 more people are watching the Buy It Now auction! ... And no, I'm not the vendor!