First service rifle: A2 or A4??

[sugarmaker]

Hi All,

I'm taking the plunge into service rifle, about to squeeze off on an RRA NM A2 or A4. I am wondering if the detachable handle on the A4 is one more thing to go out of adjustent or can it provide an advantage? Is there and difference in receiver rigidity, ability to securely hold bbl / float tube, etc between the two? Not so much concerned with the price (it seems like every time I hiccup in this game a 100 dollar bill falls out of my pocket), just what works best.

Thanks in advance,

Sugarmaker

 

[Howard Roark]

Either or, makes little difference. The advantage for the detachable handle is that the sight can be pinned and lapped in, then transfered to another upper without having to re-work the sight. This is why the Army uses them. They don't reuse uppers when they rebarrel, they use a new upper. The detach handle eleminates the need for constantly building sights. For normal folks this is not an issue, either is fine as long as the sight tracks.

 

[shooterer]

I went with the A2, less parts to loosen up when you don't want them to.

Jim

 

[paul s]

Go A2, one less thing to worry about, why would want to mount a scope? Service rifle is iron sights and learning how to use them! Get the A2!

 

[Rottweiler]

One thing to consider. The rear sight on an A4 has less elevation adjustment than an A2. For most people this is a non-issue. BUT you may run out of elevation when going out to the long ranges (600yards+) with the A4.

I didn't think of this either when I was getting into service rifle competition. A buddy who is a Distinguished Marksman pointed this out to me.

Go with the A2 for service rifle competition

 

[Howard Roark]

For the record, there is not enough elevation on any service rifle rear sight to come up from 200 to 1K yards. Past 600 the front sight is lowered, 5 min per revolution.

 

[SupraBo]

A2 hands down. Don’t get a RR either, get a white oak service upper with any lower with a good 2 stage trigger.

 

[dzelenka]

All of my service rifle uppers are A2s; however, if I were to build another, I would go with the A4. The newer carry handles done by White Oak have enough sight travel to shoot out to 600 yards. Also, the AMU has gone to the A4 because of the ease of mounting a scope. Service rifle competition is an iron sight sport, but testing ammunition is best done with a scope. That factor alone, which removes your eyesight and other consistency issues from the equation, is enough to tilt the balance in favor of the A4.

Dan

 

[WNTFW]

Hey, who let the Bayoushooter guy in here?

 

[Howard Roark]

Also, the AMU has gone to the A4 because of the ease of mounting a scope.

Not even close!

They use A4s because they do not reuse an upper when they rebarrel. Instead of constantly building sights on A2 uppers they simply put the carry handle with tuned sight on the new upper.

 

[WNTFW]

Howard,
I've known Dan for a couple of years and he knows of what he speaks. I would not bet against him on a gun related issue. It is a safe bet the info he has came from a very reliable source. I don't doubt you are of similar background. I'm guessing you got your info from an AMU guy. If so y'all probably have mutual friends.

Dan is a very accomplished shooter. He also is very generous in giving back to the sport by helping out shooters in many ways. Dan is also involved in gun rights - fighting the good fight. Over the time I've known him he has been a great help to me. On two occasions I have had shooting experience that stand out as highpoints because of Dan. Dan even loaned me his Giraud trimmer - it was his idea.

In all this time probably the biggest thing I did was buy the man a hamburger. Kind of pales in comparison.

 

[Howard Roark]

WNTFW,
I didn't catch who it was and I have heard of Dan and understand him to be A#1. We do know the same people at the AMU, there ain't that many of them!

I asked one of them last at a match why they were shooting the A4 and that is what I was told.

Dan is correct. Normal people need a scope to test ammo for rifles. The AMU has permanent mechanical rests on Easley and Maertens range to test ammo on. They are massive units on concrete that have adaptors for various rifle platforms. The rifle is clamped in pointed at the target and shot. They don't have a need for a scope. Normal folks don't have access to stuff like that so we must do the best we can holding off a bench.

I mean him no disrespect and didn't catch who it was. There sometimes are people that post something as gospel that they got off the TV.

 

[Pat M]

I would agree with SupraBo. I had the wrong rifle altogether when I started shooting in my club matches....an Armalite flattop with the detachable handle. After several matches I was hooked, installed a Rock River 2-stage trigger that was given to me, and ordered the low end White Oak Armament upper with the pinned rear sight. I'm very satisfied with the White Oak upper.

 

[WNTFW]

Howard,
I figure you both talked to different AMU guys and got two reasons. I have read your post on here and always had the feeling you are a first rate guy and knowledgable of the topic at hand. Looking forward to more of your post in the future.

 

[dzelenka]

Not even close!

They use A4s because they do not reuse an upper when they rebarrel. Instead of constantly building sights on A2 uppers they simply put the carry handle with tuned sight on the new upper.

Howard,

You are right on this one (almost). AMU wasn't replacing their uppers with every rebarrel, but they were replacing more frequently than you or I. Because of the amount of hand fitting involved with the match sights, they decided to go with the removable handle uppers. The fact that they can be scoped easily is a side benefit.

Good call.

Dan

 

[GL17oxford]

If one gets a White Oak A4 upper with M4 ramps, what detachable handle is suggested?