New to the platform and shooting in general. Dad (also new) got his Ar and decided to remove his front sight cause he wanted just a scope. Somehow I dont think thats okay. Doesnt the front sight act as a gas block too? Was this unsafe for him to do? Just want to be sure his setup is safe before the next range visit.

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Yes, if he removed his front sight base, he will need to replace it with another gas block. And you don't need to remove the front sight to use with a scope.

Gun won't cycle unless he fitted a new low-profile gas block to replace it. Not dangerous really unless he holds his hand directly above the gas port where the FSB used to be, but basically a bolt action, he'll have to cycle the charging handle every shot.

Pro tip: NEVER alter and attempt to shoot a firearm if you don't know what you're doing.

The point I'm trying to help my dad understand. He going into this all pretty bkindly and refusing to watch the youtube videos or read any articles im using to learn more.

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Lol. Let him shoot it, burn his hand and get blinded by hot gasses, then say "told you so", its what any good son would do.

I'm trying to figure how Dad removed his front sight.

This thread is beginning to sound like when you talk to your doctor, "I have this friend that has erectile dysfunction. and..........."

If I had to guess... I'd say more than half of AR owners don't understand the basic operation of their rifle, so your dad has a lot of company.

This animation takes you step by step through it.
Understand this and you'll be way ahead of the average AR owner.

Depends on what you mean by saying he took off the front sight. Did he remove the entire unit? In that case, he screwed up. Or, did he just cut away the upper part and leave the base intact? Not the way I'd necessarily go about it, but it'll work.

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Pisgah

I have scoped AR-15s, the front site disappears when you look through a high power scope, He could just grind off the sight portion, there are Youtube videos on how to do this, you may have to tie him to a chair and make him watch one.If you grind down too far, you mess up the gas system.

I'd think that anytime a front sight involves a gas block, that anyone attempting to remove the sight, would notice a gas tube poking out there. Especially if it's pinned, which I suppose it will be. Note: I haven't actually used a sight/block combo. Have built three ARs.

Also, if someone removed the front sight block there would be nothing to keep the handguard retainer in place.

All I can say about this thread is......wow.

I've said this before, I'll say it again. Understand the rifle before you touch anything.

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Still carrying my S&W 642

I have seen many people cut down there front sight but leave the gas block unaffected. Mostly it was done so they could put a rail on it but I would not feel comfortable doing it myself. It is good to get yourself educated on the platform. While not hard to understand, it could cost you some cash if you mess with the upper or lower but altering them without knowing what they can/can't do.

What type front sight? assume you're referring to the A frame affair?

This is an interesting thread, but until we know what model gun we're talking about, we can't help.

I have to assume this isn't a model with an A2 front sight we're talking about. If it were, the whole front of the gun would be falling off once the sight is removed. Who would miss that?

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Freedom isn't free.

He probably just removed the front sight post, which should not be a problem.

I wouldn't count on that not being a problem. Mine was thread locked on there so tight the pins would not come out. Had to cut the darn thing off.

Yes, for sure...

I'm thinking (Hoping) that your Dad has a gas block with a MBUS and couldn't figure out how to fold down the sight so he just removed the front sight and left the gas block in place, hopefully unmolested. Otherwise he now has a magazine fed single shot rifle with no front hand guard.


Below are a few things he should think about before loading his rifle.


If someone ground/cut-off the front sight above the gas tube port and left the gas tube in place they have a fully functional but ugly rifle.


If someone ground/cut-off the front sight above the gas tube port and removed the gas tube they will have a blast of super heated gases heading straight for their face.


If someone completely removed the front sight and/or base the gases would be vented back and up, above the shooter.


If it ain't broke, don't fix it.


Class III


Edit: It wasn't broke, until now.

Scopes, with the correct mount for the rifle/scope will look beyond the factory front site. Im new to the AR platform and new to scopes. I found this out first hand by talking to my local gun shop and and asking to hold a scoped AR to see for myself.
Leave the factory stuff alone then in a freak accident if you scope gets damaged just take it off and shoot your iron sites!

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