Aimpoint Micro on a 15-22

[JLK*]

How far forward should I mount it?
Thanks!
JLK

 

[BillK01]

I believe the most common consensus is "as far forward on the receiver as possible without being on the handguard rail".

That's how my Pro is mounted on my TS. (ignore the "loosen" on this pic)

 

[gotfish]

Mount it wherever it works best for you, but as mentioned above...stay on the upper receiver.

 

[prairie]

Try all mounting positions from the rear of the receiver rail to the front of the railed handguard if you have one. Pick the spot that you are most comfortable with. There is no rule that says you can't mount it on the handguard if that is where the sight works best for you.

 

[gotfish]

There is no rule that says you can't mount it on the handguard if that is where the sight works best for you.

You're right - there is no rule for this...just the advice that the handguard can (and does) flex during shooting (especially if the rifle is on a bipod), and since it is not attached to the barrel, mounting an optic on it will generally result in a point of impact that is all over the place. Mounting on the receiver is usually better because it is directly connected to the barrel.

 

[CrazyFingers]

Nope, no rule against putting it on the handguard.
It's just a really bad idea if you actually want your POA to remain close to your POI, for the reasons given.
But hey, if you're not interested in actually hitting what you're aiming at, go crazy.

 

[prairie]

Nope, no rule against putting it on the handguard.
It's just a really bad idea if you actually want your POA to remain close to your POI, for the reasons given.
But hey, if you're not interested in actually hitting what you're aiming at, go crazy.

Have you tried it?
Wouldn't handguard mounted iron front sights cause the same problem?
We tried an Aimpoint Micro T-1, at several positions on our 15-22 and a couple of AR15's with freefloated handguards. When mounted on the 15-22 handguard, groups remained about the same, 1/4" larger at 50 yards, as when mounted to the receiver. With the accuracy capabilities of the average 15-22, the groups were certainly good enough for short range shooting out to a 50-75 yards. I am sure a free floated handguard would make a difference.
On the AR15's we saw no changes in group sizes and hits out to 200 yards. Didn't shoot at long ranges though.
The main disadvantage to putting a red dot type sight on the handguard is weight distribution. Even a Micro T-1 can give you an overly muzzle heavy feel sometimes. My son and I both have the Micro T-1 and Eotech mounted at the front of the receiver. My son would like them to be farther forward , but that makes them to muzzle heavy for him.

 

[gotfish]

Wouldn't handguard mounted iron front sights cause the same problem?

That's good point, but I'm sure the benefits of a longer sight radius outweighs any other deficiency.

 

[DocSunShine]

You're actually going to put an optic more expensive than the rifle itself on a plinker??? I'm all for having good optics, but if it were my M&P15-22 I'd throw a bushnell TRS-25 or primary arms red dot and call it good... And believe me I'm a buy once cry once kinda guy, but that is a seriously unnecessary!

 

[BillyJack2012]

Bad idea to mount it on the rail. As mentioned, that's a point of flex and does through off your POI. Mount it forward on your flat top receiver. Does it throw off a sight mounted to the rail? Yes it does. However, those are typically backup sights for when your optic goes down. Fixed front is always a better option if you are going to use open sights.

Little one with the 15-22 and Primary Arms Aimpoint clone

Same set up on my AR with a fixed front sight

 

[prairie]

You're actually going to put an optic more expensive than the rifle itself on a plinker??? I'm all for having good optics, but if it were my M&P15-22 I'd throw a bushnell TRS-25 or primary arms red dot and call it good... And believe me I'm a buy once cry once kinda guy, but that is a seriously unnecessary!

I agree! We ended up with Bushnell TRS-25 red dot on the 15-22, and the Micro T-1 is on one of the AR15's. Have not shot it a lot yet, but like it so far. It is not the same as a Micro T-1, but good enough for a 22 plinker.
Used my Cabelas points to get the TRS-25, which was on sale, for nothing.
They are on sale again Bushnell® AR Optics TRS-25 HiRise Red-Dot Sight : Cabela's

 

[JLK*]

I mounted it and shot it tonight on the club's indoor range.
It's an R-1, got it for quite a bit less than the rifle cost about
2 1/2 years ago when they were being discontinued supposedly because the silver color wouldn't sell.
Anyway, I shoot NRA Conventional Pistol and had this one to spare.
I mounted it as far forward on the receiver as possible. It worked great!
I really like it.
Thanks everyone!
JLK

 

[DocSunShine]

I mounted it and shot it tonight on the club's indoor range.
It's an R-1, got it for quite a bit less than the rifle cost about
2 1/2 years ago when they were being discontinued supposedly because the silver color wouldn't sell.
Anyway, I shoot NRA Conventional Pistol and had this one to spare.
I mounted it as far forward on the receiver as possible. It worked great!
I really like it.
Thanks everyone!
JLK

Glad to hear it, but if you ever find yourself with an extra AR-15, I'd consider moving the R-1 over to it.... Functionally it will be as good as an H-1, with an IO cover you can barely tell, purchase an IO cover & have it duracoted ($30) and you'll never know the difference!

 

[prairie]

Bad idea to mount it on the rail. As mentioned, that's a point of flex and does through off your POI. Mount it forward on your flat top receiver. Does it throw off a sight mounted to the rail? Yes it does. However, those are typically backup sights for when your optic goes down. Fixed front is always a better option if you are going to use open sights.

Again. Have you tried it yourself and given it a fair and thorough test?
Not knowing any better, we tried the red dot sights at the front of the free floated handguards of two Ar15's. As far as accuracy off the bench they worked just as well as on the receiver. For offhand shooting hits were just as easy to make out to 200 yards, but the extra forward weight got tiring.
Then I was informed that you can't mount them on the handguard and expect good groups because "everyone" says so. But in asking "everyone", none could say they had tried it, but they all heard it doesn't work. But we proved to ourselves that it certainly can work.
I prefer red dot sights mounted at the front of the receiver, but there is no reason not to mount them on the handguard if it works for you. I will say that I would only do it on free float handguards if medium to long range accuracy is critical. For our 15-22 with the factory handguard groups from the bench were slightly larger, but insignificant out to 75 yards, and not even noticeable when offhand plinking.
I can think of several reasons not to mount them on the front of a handguard, but lack of accuracy is not one of them!

 

[JLK*]

Doc, forgive me...
What is an "IO" cover?
Thanks1
JLK

 

[sound wave]

Doc, forgive me...
What is an "IO" cover?
Thanks1
JLK

tango down IO cover. I have one on my Primary Arms red dot. works great. Sure beats the bikini cover.
TangoDown iO Optic Cover Aimpoint Micro H-1 T-1 Black

 

[WU_Who]

Again. Have you tried it yourself and given it a fair and thorough test?
Not knowing any better, we tried the red dot sights at the front of the free floated handguards of two Ar15's. As far as accuracy off the bench they worked just as well as on the receiver. For offhand shooting hits were just as easy to make out to 200 yards, but the extra forward weight got tiring.
Then I was informed that you can't mount them on the handguard and expect good groups because "everyone" says so. But in asking "everyone", none could say they had tried it, but they all heard it doesn't work. But we proved to ourselves that it certainly can work.
I prefer red dot sights mounted at the front of the receiver, but there is no reason not to mount them on the handguard if it works for you. I will say that I would only do it on free float handguards if medium to long range accuracy is critical. For our 15-22 with the factory handguard groups from the bench were slightly larger, but insignificant out to 75 yards, and not even noticeable when offhand plinking.
I can think of several reasons not to mount them on the front of a handguard, but lack of accuracy is not one of them!

All things considered, most AR's I have seen with rails, the rails are not plastic. It may not flex much on the 15-22 but it does flex.

 

[photoracer]

Have you tried it?
Wouldn't handguard mounted iron front sights cause the same problem?
We tried an Aimpoint Micro T-1, at several positions on our 15-22 and a couple of AR15's with freefloated handguards. When mounted on the 15-22 handguard, groups remained about the same, 1/4" larger at 50 yards, as when mounted to the receiver. With the accuracy capabilities of the average 15-22, the groups were certainly good enough for short range shooting out to a 50-75 yards. I am sure a free floated handguard would make a difference.
On the AR15's we saw no changes in group sizes and hits out to 200 yards. Didn't shoot at long ranges though.
The main disadvantage to putting a red dot type sight on the handguard is weight distribution. Even a Micro T-1 can give you an overly muzzle heavy feel sometimes. My son and I both have the Micro T-1 and Eotech mounted at the front of the receiver. My son would like them to be farther forward , but that makes them to muzzle heavy for him.

but that is different. The ARs have rigid handguards unlike the polymer of the 15-22. If you want to see the flex in action mount a sight on the handguard then try shooting it off a rest. Try no pressure then gradually add more pressure on the handguard. Your zero will get progressively worse. If you swap out the stock handguard for a modular AR one the effect is not so bad. In fact if you do that then tie the receiver to the handguard rail by bridging it with a 6" riser most of that effect will disappear.
A lot depends on whether you use the handguard cap or not. Leaving it on causes the barrel to lose accuracy because it does not free float. Taking it off will make the barrel float but then the handguard can flex more. Its a Catch-22 situation. You can do the riser bridge thing to help it out.

 

[prairie]

but that is different. The ARs have rigid handguards unlike the polymer of the 15-22. If you want to see the flex in action mount a sight on the handguard then try shooting it off a rest. Try no pressure then gradually add more pressure on the handguard. Your zero will get progressively worse. If you swap out the stock handguard for a modular AR one the effect is not so bad. In fact if you do that then tie the receiver to the handguard rail by bridging it with a 6" riser most of that effect will disappear.
A lot depends on whether you use the handguard cap or not. Leaving it on causes the barrel to lose accuracy because it does not free float. Taking it off will make the barrel float but then the handguard can flex more. Its a Catch-22 situation. You can do the riser bridge thing to help it out.

That is why I said a free floated handguard would probably make a difference. But I was not thinking about free floating the flimsy existing OEM handguard, but instead using a rigid/stiff aftermarket type that won't flex, such as the ones on our DPMS Recon or RRA Operator.
The free floating handguards on the Operator and Recon are very rigid and stiff. When shooting from the bench using sandbags under the handguard, we intentionally tried to apply pressure to the hanguard to see if we could cause a POI change, but no change was noticeable out to 200 yards. I can't imagine a bipod causing POI change either. Maybe someone snugged up very tightly in a sling attached to the front of the handguard could shift the POI.

 

[BillyJack2012]

Again. Have you tried it yourself and given it a fair and thorough test?
Not knowing any better, we tried the red dot sights at the front of the free floated handguards of two Ar15's. As far as accuracy off the bench they worked just as well as on the receiver. For offhand shooting hits were just as easy to make out to 200 yards, but the extra forward weight got tiring.
Then I was informed that you can't mount them on the handguard and expect good groups because "everyone" says so. But in asking "everyone", none could say they had tried it, but they all heard it doesn't work. But we proved to ourselves that it certainly can work.
I prefer red dot sights mounted at the front of the receiver, but there is no reason not to mount them on the handguard if it works for you. I will say that I would only do it on free float handguards if medium to long range accuracy is critical. For our 15-22 with the factory handguard groups from the bench were slightly larger, but insignificant out to 75 yards, and not even noticeable when offhand plinking.
I can think of several reasons not to mount them on the front of a handguard, but lack of accuracy is not one of them!

Yep. Tried it myself and my groups went from just under 6 MOA at 50 yards (yes, I know that group isn't good to begin with) to over 8 MOA. It was definitely noticeable and no, I don't just spout off internet hearsay as it will always bit you in the tush.

As far as my free floated AR, the difference is not even noticeable when I bag rest. I attribute that to a much more advanced mounting system (Samson Evo 12.37 FF) and materials vs. a polymer rail that is held in place by slide on barrel nut and retention nut.