6/3 Carry Handle (Square Forge Mark) **EDITED**

[vtecluder617]

Hey guys,

Long time S&W pistol owner, but very new to the world of AR-15s. Recently picked up a Sport II, and I purchased a mil -spec carry handle with the square forge mark and it has the 6/3 markings on the dial (was told this came off of a Colt).

My questions is, does this handle work well with the Sport II, or should I be looking for a carry handle with the 8/3 markings on the dial? Or does it even matter? I appreciate any input anone might have.

[cyphertext]

It has been a long time since I was looking at carry handles, but I don't believe you have a Colt take off. If I remember correctly, uppers with fixed handles were marked 8/3 and the removable handles were 6/3... something to do with the cam sizes and that the removable handle couldn't support the longer cam needed for the 8/3.

With that as my understanding, Colt didn't make a removable carry handle with an 8/3 wheel. Not sure who makes what you have there, but post some pics... maybe we can figure it out!

[cyphertext]

Another thing to look at as well... there are two heights of carry handles available, mil-spec and commercial. The mil-spec is designed to work with an f-marked height front sight which you have on your Sport II. The commercial handle is made to work with non-f-marked height front sight... the shelf height is the difference.

[vtecluder617]

Sorry guys, total brain fart!!!![IMG][/IMG] It has the 6/3 marking on it. But I guess my question still stands. Would an 8/3 carry handle work as well? Which would be the most compatible?

[cyphertext]

Ah, so you have a 6/3 drum, not an 8/3... that's better. Now it at least has the possibility of being a Colt takeoff. Measure the shelf height as shown in the image above. If it matches the mil-spec measurement, put it on the rifle and head to the range to zero... it should work fine. If it matches the commercial measurement, you may need a new front sight post (just the post, not the whole assembly) to zero. You won't know until you try though.

[vtecluder617]

[vtecluder617]

[cyphertext]

No, stick with the 6/3... the 8/3 ones are either cheap copies or have the wrong elevation drum in them.

[cyphertext]

It looks legit to me... I would mount it and head to the range. Maybe measure the shelf just for some assurance.

[vtecluder617]

Thank you so much for your help, cyphertext! I'm going to try and measure it a little later as well. I'm leaning towards it being non-commercial, but we will see. It helps that I bought it off of someone stationed at Camp LeJeune, so I'm assuming it is USGI.

[hdwhit]

I have a third-party after-market carrying handle/rear sight. It looks identical to the one shown in cyphertext's photograph. The datum height is 0.835 inches (i.e. Mil-Spec dimension even though the handle was definitely commercially made - probably in China, even though the seller said otherwise) and it works perfectly with the "F" marked front sight of my Sport II.

When I bought my Sport II, it was my intent to maintain it in a condition suited to a SHTF situation so I wanted to use iron sights exclusively as batteries for the electronic sights will be among the first things to disappear.

I initially tried using the Magpul sight that came with the rifle, but while I could get consistent groups, they were always 1 inch low at 25 meters. No adjustment I made to the sight, its placement, cheek-weld or sight picture changed that. I installed the carry handle and within 15 rounds was dialed-in and was ready to move out to 100 meters where I'm consistently getting quarter and half-dollar size groups centered on the bullseye.

[vtecluder617]

Originally Posted by hdwhit

When I bought my Sport II, it was my intent to maintain it in a condition suited to a SHTF situation so I wanted to use iron sights exclusively as batteries for the electronic sights will be among the first things to disappear.

I initially tried using the Magpul sight that came with the rifle, but while I could get consistent groups, they were always 1 inch low at 25 meters. No adjustment I made to the sight, its placement, cheek-weld or sight picture changed that. I installed the carry handle and within 15 rounds was dialed-in and was ready to move out to 100 meters where I'm consistently getting quarter and half-dollar size groups centered on the bullseye.

Thats very promising. I honestly wanted the classic look as well, which is why I initially sought out a carry handle. And I agree with you on using the iron sights exclusively, my intention is to practice using only the iron sights. Maybe down the line I'll pick up some sort of other optic

[cyphertext]

Originally Posted by vtecluder617

Thats very promising. I honestly wanted the classic look as well, which is why I initially sought out a carry handle. And I agree with you on using the iron sights exclusively, my intention is to practice using only the iron sights. Maybe down the line I'll pick up some sort of other optic

Chop that carry handle and you can have the best of both worlds!

Fixed irons that can co-witness with a red dot!

[vtecluder617]

Originally Posted by cyphertext

Chop that carry handle and you can have the best of both worlds!

Fixed irons that can co-witness with a red dot!

It is definitely something I would like to do in the future. Literally have only had this firearm for a couple of weeks now. Baby steps

[vtecluder617]

So I ended up measuring it (using a standard measuring tape) and it came out to 13/16 of an inch, which from what I can gather online translates to .8125. Just a hair off of the .835. I'm assuming if I had one of those digital clamp measuring tools that it would be more precise. I'll take i though!

[cyphertext]

Originally Posted by vtecluder617

It is definitely something I would like to do in the future. Literally have only had this firearm for a couple of weeks now. Baby steps

That's the way to do it. Get out there and shoot it before you change up anything.