TM M4 Sight/Optics questions

[lyphe]

I recently got my TM M4 G&P Metal Body and have some questions regarding the sights/optics.

This was the setup the previous owner had, however the red dot doesn't line up with the front sight! So when i look through the red dot i see the centre of the front sight. I found scope mounts but i don't think they are meant for my red dot. Looks like i need some sort of a rail riser, does such a thing exist? Can i just remove the front sight?

Another option is to forget about the optic (as its largely useless since the gun's range isn't too far) and just go for iron sights. Is there much difference between the carry handle sight and the regular small one

If i go with iron sights, should i get the above one off ASC or this one from airsoftpark ($10 off coupon and free shipping) better? Is CA better then DBoys?

Thanks in advance!

[Moonschlagen]

I'd suggest get a quick release 1/2" riser for your red dot sight and perhaps a BUIS for the rear in-case the red dot fails.

[Danke]

You can get a rail riser. You can also go with a carry handle and new mount. You can get a low profile gas block too that will give a clean view.

It is always going to be a good idea to have iron sights as a backup in case your battery dies or someone shoots out the glass.

Don't worry too much about seeing the front sight in the optic. With a red dot you use it with both eyes open. On the field your brain will focus past that and print the dot right on the target.

[lyphe]

Originally Posted by Moonschlagen

I'd suggest get a quick release 1/2" riser for your red dot sight and perhaps a BUIS for the rear in-case the red dot fails.

If possible, can you add a link to a place i can get the above or just a picture of it? I'm not too familiar with the terminology. Thanks!

[L473ncy]

Personally the way I have my M4 setup is a TM KAC 300m BUIS against the standard triangle front post and a red dot sight on a Knights Aimpoint Offset Mount thing. I don't have my gun with me at the moment but I hope you can picture how it would work. It's actually a pretty bare TM/G&P SOPMOD style M4 with a few personal touches like a Tango down vert grip and PEQ15 (battery box).

Pretty much like this: http://demigodllc.com/~zak/DigiCam/M...2_4267_img.jpg

KAC BUIS: http://www.gandrtactical.com/PDGImages/300M_BUIS.jpg
Aimpoint with offset: http://img.alibaba.com/img/pb/433/06...065433_393.jpg

It cowitnesses the front sight for me so it's all good.

EDIT: Found this: http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...items/left.jpg Maybe you can try to do something similar?

[lyphe]

Originally Posted by L473ncy

Personally the way I have my M4 setup is a TM KAC 300m BUIS against the standard triangle front post and a red dot sight on a Knights Aimpoint Offset Mount thing. I don't have my gun with me at the moment but I hope you can picture how it would work. It's actually a pretty bare TM/G&P SOPMOD style M4 with a few personal touches like a Tango down vert grip and PEQ15 (battery box).

Pretty much like this: http://demigodllc.com/~zak/DigiCam/M...2_4267_img.jpg

KAC BUIS: http://www.gandrtactical.com/PDGImages/300M_BUIS.jpg
Aimpoint with offset: http://img.alibaba.com/img/pb/433/06...065433_393.jpg

It cowitnesses the front sight for me so it's all good.

EDIT: Found this: http://i42.photobucket.com/albums/e3...items/left.jpg Maybe you can try to do something similar?

This is great stuff!

To confirm, this is the rail i need to get my Red Dot higher, right? Then all i'll need is this rear sight? Does this make sense?

Sorry for the questions, i just don't want to get trigger happy and buy up a whole whack of stuff i don't need just yet!

[L473ncy]

You have to realize there are many different types of rail risers. For sure they can come in 2cm and 2.5cm high as I've seen those two types in person. I don't know which size you'll need to make your red dot cowitness....

Also you can't guarantee perfect fitment/it to line up unless you're there in person to mount it all and try it out. However I would wager that if the rear sight and front sight cowitness already it's just a matter of having something a bit higher to force the red dot to line up with everything, whether that's 2cm or 2.5cm, I can't say but hopefully one of those two works.

[lyphe]

Is there any great advantage to paying $35 for this , $45 for this compared to only $17 for this? I understand Mad Bull is a brand, but is it worth twice the price? Any reason why i wouldn't want to get the cheaper one?

[m102404]

Originally Posted by lyphe

Is there any great advantage to paying $35 for this , $45 for this compared to only $17 for this? I understand Mad Bull is a brand, but is it worth twice the price? Any reason why i wouldn't want to get the cheaper one?

The first one is a two piece design...so that they can be put close together, or spread out to accomodate whatever spacing you need.

The second is a single piece...um...not much more to say than that.

Those two essentially raise the rail about the thickness of a rail.

The third is some unknown brand single piece and I'm not sure how far it actually raises things.

Re. Cost. You're comparing a well respected brand name, landed price in Canada to a no-name part on a foreign website. Take shipping/customs into account...often that $20 ends up being $35 when it's finally in your hands. That said...mostly you are comparing a brand name part to a no-name clone/part.

Re. brand vs. no-brand/acm/whatever.....you quite often get what you pay for. More than the odd time, the no-brand/acm/whatever stuff ends up loose/crooked/tilted. The part may look like what you want, may be pretty damn close, but might be off a bit.

That may not be a big deal for some parts/pieces...but for some fit and functions it's a killer.

E.g.

I didn't know what Aimpoint RDS mount I wanted...and wanted to match a 3x magnifier to it as well, preferrably on something QD. I bought a handful of different mounts...all Dboys/dunno brand stuff...definitely cheap. They certainly looked ok in the packages. When I went to set up the optics I found that NONE of them lined up properly with the top rail of my rifle/iron-sights. One set held the optic off center, another set was loose on the rails, another was just barely ok. And definitely...none of the mounts would work from another of another pair. When compared to each other, they were completely off. And I never even bothered with any of the twist/flip QD mounts...they were so shoddy and wobbly that it was just too fragile/annoying to waste a dime on.

My $10 cheapo scope rings from Bass Pro were at least straight and centered (although not tactically L33t)

I'd rather spend more to see the part in hand...I'd rather select a company who consistently machines parts nicely/accurately.

[lyphe]

Fair enough m102404, i'll be meeting with Duy and trying out the Mad Bull rails he's got tonight.

To make sure i'm not buying gold rims for my tricycle, the TM M4 with G&P metal body is worthy of an expensive part such as this correct? Will i be able to continue buying high-end parts to get the gun to where i want it? Or will i have to get a better quality canvas first?

[m102404]

That's the never-ending story...

Rules of thumb stays the same.
- wherever possible...get as much info as you can on what you're looking at
- if possible...test fit (that's not going to happen much if you're buying new parts)
- if possible...actually see it before you buy it...(again, that's not the easiest thing to do, but once you know who/what you can trust it's not an issue)
- trusted name brands are what they are because they prove it out time after time, item after item. King Arms, G&P, Madbull, etc...have good reps for a reason. Dboys has a shitty rep for a reason too.
- Try not to mix brands for structural parts. There's small variances everywhere...and they add up. Some good brands account for this...others don't. There's also design/compatibility issues between brands. For example...if you use a G&P body with a TM outer barrel and then want to add a CA RIS...you're going to run into issues. You may not if you switch to a MB outer barrel/KA end cap and a G&P delta ring. Again...there's no set in stone combinations, but just try to hedge your bets.

Or...give it to an experienced builder/gun-doc...tell him what you want and he can worry about what parts do/don't work together.

[lyphe]

Got the $35 two-piece rail from Duy @ Airsoftparts.ca. Red Dot fits awesome and just the perfect height! Also got a Troy rear flip-up sight, but it wobbles left-right about 3-4mm, making it difficult to use. Is this normal?

When i flip up the sight, the actual flip-up part wobbles right-left. I've used a piece of electrical tape on the rail to ensure the base if firmly attached.

[lyphe]

Duy failed to address my concerns about the extremely-wobbly front sight (Troy) i bought from him. It was brand new and a bit pricey ($30), yet no recourse. I'm not one to cause a fuss, so i've started making further purchases elsewhere :/