my sites on my AR

T77911S · 04-16-2019, 07:07 AM

just bought this ar-15 A2.
first time I shot it at 25yrds it was extremely low and to the left.
they replaced the removable handle.

I got it to line up and it its hitting pretty much where I am aiming.
the front site is all the way down , at 25yds
the rear site is all the way to the right.

I assume I still have a problem

id10t · 04-16-2019, 07:40 AM

For elevation - possibly wrong front sight height. This will depend on where the gas block is located (rifle length gas, mid-length, or carbine length). A lower front sight could fix this for you, but I'd want to try at a distance greater than 25 yards first...

For Windage - either your rails are off, the carry handle is off, or the front sight isn't top dead center and the groove for the alignment pin on the barrel is off a tad.

John Rogers · 04-16-2019, 08:35 AM

Hummm, that target looks like it was shot with a shotgun! You left out some info that might help such as make of the rifle (Colt, DPMS or 80% upper), is it chambered for 5.56 or .223, what ammo are you shooting, was the rifle new or used and if used why did they sell it although at 25 yards it might be obvious and finally what is the barrel twist rate. Are you shooting from sand bags/rest/Lead Sled or off hand? Finally, is the barrel straight with the upper which would take a gunsmith to check?

legion · 04-16-2019, 08:42 AM

I would try removing and reinstalling the rear sight/carry handle and then sight in again. The bolts for the clamps on the carry handle are supposed to run in grooves on the picatinny rail. I've seen some crappy installation jobs over the years (which is ironic, because a picatinny rail is very easy to use).

john70t · 04-16-2019, 09:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by legion

I would try removing and reinstalling the rear sight/carry handle and then sight in again. The bolts for the clamps on the carry handle are supposed to run in grooves on the picatinny rail.

Yeah. Wiggling anything around while tightening screws makes it stick.

Jeff Higgins · 04-16-2019, 09:16 AM

As high above the bore axis as standard AR15 sights are mounted, it should be hitting quite low at 25 yards. I wouldn't touch a thing until you can shoot it at at least 100, if not 200 yards. At least elevation-wise. You do appear to have a problem with windage. I bet the front sight is not clocked at 12:00.

T77911S · 04-16-2019, 04:02 PM

its new.
its a palmetto state armory gun.

no im not a good shot with it. but you can see there is a windage issue.
I figured the elevation would not be correct at 25yrds. I just got it and wanted to shoot it. really no place around here to shoot 100yrds.

its 5.56 and 223. shooting 5.56

I know its a cheap gun and I new the MOA would not be good but I don't think I should have to crank the windage all the way to the right.

John Rogers · 04-16-2019, 04:23 PM

The reason I asked about 5.56 and .223 is the chambering of the 5.56 NATO rifle is slightly longer than .223 Remington and if it is a 5.56 NATO rifle you can shoot both. If it is a .223 Remington chambered rifle then the 5.56 NATO rounds can cause issues or jam, ETC. We used to see lots of that at our range several years ago when the AR-15 was at it peak here in CA and it has died away since the state made them illegal. The ammo you use could cause the way the gun shoots and the horizontal spread could be that?

Jeff Hail · 05:45 PM

When you are aiming focus on the front site post so its clear and sharp as possible. Your site picture should look like this. Front site sharp, rear fuzzy is ok. If you aim correctly your whole site picture and point of aim will change and be more consistent.

If you have set up your short point of aim at 25 meters should be correct at 300 meter battle site zero. (NOT YARDS)

This should help you get it dialed in.

https://www.armystudyguide.com/content/army_board_study_guide_topics/m16a2/zero-and-m16a2-rifle.shtml

Eric Coffey · 04-16-2019, 05:52 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by T77911S

its new.
its a palmetto state armory gun.

no im not a good shot with it. but you can see there is a windage issue.
I figured the elevation would not be correct at 25yrds. I just got it and wanted to shoot it. really no place around here to shoot 100yrds.

its 5.56 and 223. shooting 5.56

I know its a cheap gun and I new the MOA would not be good but I don't think I should have to crank the windage all the way to the right.

Could be a canted/bent front sight base, and/or misaligned barrel extension/pin, and/or clocked barrel from a sloppy receiver/barrel alignment (narrow extension pin and/or wide receiver notch).

Take the carry handle off, and see if the FSB looks centered when sighting down the rail. If you extend your arms and hold it out in front of you, it should be obvious.
Take a look at the barrel extension feed ramps to see if they are aligned with the receiver feed ramps (if any). Also check the gas tube to see if it is offset to one side.

Regarding accuracy, even a PSA rifle should be good for 2 MOA. To zero as intended, BZO @ 36 yards using the small aperture. This will give you a happy coincidence @ 300 yards. Or, for better (IMO) "all around" use, you can use the modified BZO @ 50 yards using the large aperture. This will give you a happy coincidence @ 200 yards. Either way, start with the rear sight drum at its lowest setting (6/3) and zero using only the front sight post for elevation.

abisel · 04-16-2019, 06:02 PM

Check to make sure the front sight base is pinned perfectly vertical relative to the upper receiver. This will effect windage. Also, it looks like the rear sight is not an A2 sight 'cause it doesn't have elevation adjustment. Take it back and get a carry handle that has a rear sight with both elevation and windage.

Check to make sure the removable handle is properly attached to the upper receiver and not canted one way or the other. If the carry handle is off either horizontal or vertical, it will effect windage and elevation.

Flip the rear sight aperture to the smaller diameter.

What is the twist rate of the barrel? This will dictate what bullet weight to use.

What does your sight picture look like?

How well do the upper and lower receivers fit? Do they rattle?

If you can't get the windage centered and the carry handle is properly secured to the upper receiver, then I suspect the front sight base is canted.

Shoot it at 100 yards.

Take it back for refund. Then get a Colt (now FN) or Rock River.

abisel · 04-16-2019, 06:08 PM

Check to make sure the front sight base is pinned perfectly vertical relative to the upper receiver. This will effect windage. Also, it looks like the rear sight is not an A2 sight 'cause it doesn't have elevation adjustment. Take it back and get a carry handle that has a rear sight with both elevation and windage.

Check to make sure the removable handle is properly attached to the upper receiver and not canted one way or the other. If the carry handle is off either horizontal or vertical, it will effect windage and elevation.

Flip the rear sight aperture to the smaller diameter.

What is the twist rate of the barrel? This will dictate what bullet weight to use.

What does your sight picture look like?

How well do the upper and lower receivers fit? Do they rattle?

If you can't get the windage centered and the carry handle is properly secured to the upper receiver, then I suspect the front sight base is canted.

Shoot it at 100 yards.

Take it back for refund. Then get a Colt (now FN) or Rock River.

id10t · 04-16-2019, 06:14 PM

FWIW I have this rear sight - https://www.amazon.com/UTG-Super-Picatinny-Fixed-Sight/dp/B07MZX8GHR

And the matching front on my "irons" carbine (irons and red dot actually), also from PSA. Like the rear much better than the carry handle...

A930Rocket · 04-16-2019, 08:10 PM

Meet Tim and I at Twin Ponds rifle range in Awendaw. They have a 100 yard long gun range and a 25 yard pistol range.

T77911S · 04-17-2019, 07:12 AM

yea, we went there with stan a few years back, well probably more than that.
that is where I was planning on going.
didn't you go with us. I think you had a BMW back then didn't you.

talk to tim, lets set up a shooting day.

I don't want to get into messing with it too much because right now the responsibility is still on PSA.

it I s chambered for 5.56

T77911S · 04-17-2019, 07:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jeff Hail

When you are aiming focus on the front site post so its clear and sharp as possible. Your site picture should look like this. Front site sharp, rear fuzzy is ok. If you aim correctly your whole site picture and point of aim will change and be more consistent.

If you have set up your short point of aim at 25 meters should be correct at 300 meter battle site zero. (NOT YARDS)

This should help you get it dialed in.

https://www.armystudyguide.com/content/army_board_study_guide_topics/m16a2/zero-and-m16a2-rifle.shtml

I am not too bad with a handgun and that is how I line up my sites and try to teach my wife and girlfriend (just friends) how to shoot.
the AR trigger is VERY bad, that does not help. also just not comfortable shooting it yet. my daughter dates an army guy that teaches shooting. he said he will help me with shooting but he is in another state. might as well get something out of that relationship.

John Rogers · 04-17-2019, 09:15 AM

If you have a "bad" trigger I.E. sticky, hard to pull, doesn't break cleanly and such things, that can cause the rifle to move to one side slightly as you finger tries to fire the round. It has been years since I shot AR's but there are replacement triggers that are adjustable and have nice clean break and make shooting more accurate.

T77911S · 04-17-2019, 10:05 AM

going to get one, want to get the sights fixed first before I break the warranty

A930Rocket · 04-17-2019, 08:59 PM

That’s right. We did go to the range with Stan.

You should see it now. Great place since they re-modeled it.

Ranger on site to keep the yahoos away.

Tell me when.

Quote:

Originally Posted by T77911S

yea, we went there with stan a few years back, well probably more than that.
that is where I was planning on going.
didn't you go with us. I think you had a BMW back then didn't you.

talk to tim, lets set up a shooting day.

I don't want to get into messing with it too much because right now the responsibility is still on PSA.

it I s chambered for 5.56