I need an A2 Front Sight Tool. Is there one that is better than others or any alternatives to a front sight tool. (It seems odd that an AR would require a proprietary tool to adjust the sight. What if it gets lost or breaks at a real bad time?)
a notched 556 casing works. Fire up the dremel and crank some out.
The one I carry in my pants pocket came from Trijicon. It's set up for the A1 sight on one end, A2 sight on the other. Small, pretty robust, and has knurling on the sides so it's easy to use.
Technically, you don't need a front sight tool for an AR, a loaded round is all you need. Push in the detent with the bullet, spin the sight post.
Nobody cares about the front sight, 'cause once you have it set, it's SET for all intents and purposes. Nobody adjusts elevation - especially on the front sight - in the field unless something really funky happens. Therefore zeroing the front sight is considered an 'administrative' thing - to be done on the calm, cool, relaxed square range.
Hope that helps!
Quote from: Bravo on March 10, 2008, 04:33:01 AM
Technically, you don't need a front sight tool for an AR, a loaded round is all you need. Push in the detent with the bullet, spin the sight post.
Now remember folks, what Bravo is really telling you is that the AR is much older than the sight adjusting tool. The troops used a 5.56 round, bullet in the detent, or a nail instead of the bullet. You can even use the AR firing pin, so if I were looking for a back-up sight adjuster, well, mine is a firing pin.
5.56 FMJ rounds. Hunting ammo will probably make a mess due to the exposed lead tip.
The adjustment tools are pretty cheap if you buy them. You can get them for just the front sight (4 pins or 5 pins) and you can get the tools that are combo tools for both the front and the rear sight (M16A1 style) that also work great for the Tech Sights on the LTRs.
Nickel I used your nail suggestion and got my new KNS .034 front sight installed (per funfaler's suggestion), sans-tool. ;D
Woo Hoo! Now it's off to the range to get zeroed... now where did that thread go on Zeroing an AR? ;D ;)
Thanks a bunch guys!