M4 Flat Top and Optics

[pizzainthemorning]

Technically this question is with regards to a real steel M4 type carbine, but I figure airsoft feedback would be just as valuable in this case.

Somewhere down the line I'd like to can an M4 style rifle. I have a friend with a TM M16 with fixed carry handle and looking through the scope on it puts your cheek pretty far up from the stock. For this reason I was thinking about getting a flat top model, but then the question is:

Will a flat top model require a mount riser or extra high rings when it comes to optics?

I'm just worried that it'll be the opposite and that I'll have to squish my face down to look through the scope. I've seen them mount really low before, I just want to hear some feedback on how comfortable it is and how well it works. Also, would those front sights get in the way?

Thanks,
Alex

usually no. From a firing position, optics on the flat top receiver work fine. And to be honest, you want all your optics inline with eachother. So, lets say you have a RDS on your flat top, really, you want to red dot to line up exactly with your front sights. This way, if your RDS battery goes dead, you can still look through it and just use your front sights,
Many people run backup optics. A RDS with a set of flip up backup iron sights...all in line.

Many armalites end up going with fronts that have flip up front sights instead of the regular front sight.

this gun, randomly takes from arnies pic thread, has the RDS aimpoint at a comfortable height. But as you can see, its exactly lined up with the front sight...and behind the RDS is the backup flip up iron sight.

This PTW below has the Acog optics right in-line with the front optics again.

This one below, the optic is slightly higher then the line between the two.


This guy here, with the RDS up high...in airsoft it may not matter that much, but in real life, your gun is gonna be shooting a few inches lower then where you aim.


Now I know your thinking "but damm, everyones optics must be obscured by this big fuzzy front sights"
But what happens is you look right through it. You can put a scope right on plane with the front sight, move it right up to it, and you'll see right through it. As for RDS, its not quite the same, you still see the front sight, but you hardly notice it.

If its concern about your face getting to close to the gun,

[Lakonian]

damn.. those sopmods look fuckin' SWEET ! (last pic)

US$175.00


US$134.00

totally do-able

[Lakonian]

fuckin' A. I think I'm gonna start a project soon.

[pizzainthemorning]

perfect, thorough answer. Thanks.

[thePiRaTE!!]

Just thought I'd add a little note since I've recently gone through some optic altitude tweakage.

I had my RDS on the same plane as my BUIS - I had wanted the instant back-up, but found that they were... a little intrusive. They basically blend in, but I found if I moved my head a bit off target then the rear BUIS could obscure my reticle. So I researched and bought a product made by Yankee Hill (YHM-220) Eotech Riser mount. All it does is lift the Eotech up a fraction of an inch so that the BUIS can still be sighted in the bottom 1/4 of the Eotech window if necessary, but the window is primarily cleared of any clutter than my be derived from the co-witness. Below is a few pics of the result - perfect for me!