Lowering battlesights on an AR

An earlier entry showed how to raise the sights on an AR style rifle. This brief photoblog entry will show how to lower those sights. The AR rifle used in these photos is a Smith and Wesson M&P 15T, but the information in the blog also applies to all battlesight-based rifles.

Lowering the battlesights on an AR rifle is fairly easy. I usually start with the rear battlesight (pictured below). The stud you need to press in is located on the left side of the battlesight when the rifle is facing forward.


The first step is to press the stud in toward the center of the battlesight. This may take a little pressure if the battlesight is new.


While you are pressing the stud in on the left side of the battlesight, press down and to the rear with your free index finger to lower the battlesight. The battlesight will lower toward the stock of the rifle. It does not matter which aperture is "up" at the time.


Lowering the front battlesight is the same as lowering the rear battlesight. First, you will need to press in on the stud located on the left side of the battlesight.


In the following photo, you can see when you press in on the stud, the battlesight support pushes out on the right side.


Now you can press down on the front battlesight to lower it. The battlesight lowers toward the stock of the rifle as in the photo above.


Nothing to it!

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Different sights on an AR rifle

There are two kinds of sight options available on some AR rifles. This particular Smith and Wesson M&P 15T I have been using for the blog photos has a dual-aperture sight on the rear battle sight. This photo blog will illustrate the difference in the two sight apertures and how to best utilize each one for sighting a target.

Apertures on this particular model of AR rifle makes acquiring targets much easier. The photo below is a closeup of a rear battlesight on a Smith and Wesson M&P 15T with the larger aperture up and in place.


You can change the aperture to a smaller focus fairly easy.

To change between large or small apertures, just pivot the rear battlesight by pressing up or down, depending on the aperture you require. In the photo below, by pressing down on the large aperture, I am bringing the smaller aperture up into use.


It is pretty straightforward. The next photo is a photo of the rear battlesight with the smaller aperture in place.


Now the smaller aperture is up and in place. So what exactly do you use the small and large apertures for? By themselves, the apertures are useless. But using them in combination with the front sights on your rifle (or handgun), you will hit your target no matter if it is moving or standing still.

This next photo and the bounced flash off the front sight was a complete accident, but it illustrates perfectly how to use a battlesight (or for that matter, any iron or "fixed" sights.)


You want to look THROUGH the rear sight (the one closest to you) and look AT the front sight (the one farthest away from you.) In the photo above, the front sight is white because of the bright flash. Your focus should be on the front sight and placing that front sight on your target. The rear sight is used to help focus your front sight targeting, just as it appears in the photo above.

This next photo is the view through the smaller aperture through the battlesight. You will notice your eye is more focused on one specific area.. right on the target.


This aperture setting is useful for aiming at stationary targets and also best for use in "long range" firing. Your eye is pulled into the immediate sight area and is more attuned to the target and not so much to the distractions of the surrounding area.

This next photo is the view through the larger aperture through the battlesight. You will notice your eye is more open to the surrounding areas of the target, and not so focused on one specific area.


This aperture setting is useful for aiming at moving targets and for use in "normal" range firing. Your eye is free to look at the surrounding areas, pick up movement as it is coming into the firing range, and adjust your position or the rifle's direction accordingly.

Remember, to switch to the large aperture, push down on the front portion of the rear battlesight to pivot the large aperture up into position. To switch to the small aperture, push down on the rear portion of the rear battlesight to pivot the small aperture up and into position. The following diagram illustrates this procedure as the battlesights are in-between transition.


Battlesights alone will not hit the target, though. You must practice with your rifle at the range to see where the sight falls on certain distances and adjust your aim accordingly. Like the old saying goes, practice makes perfect!

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Handgun grip 101

I was working on a photo blog showing the proper way to grip a handgun, but while I was doing research for it, I saw Handguns magazine already had a page on this topic on their site.

Take a look at http://www.handgunsmag.com/tactics_training/grip_0925/
You can see on that page how to properly hold and fire a revolver and automatic firearm. Its clear, concise and has enough photos to make their points very clearly.

You might wonder "what difference does it make how I hold a handgun?' The truth is it makes a massive difference. Holding a handgun correctly will not only make firing the weapon much more comfortable, but will also improve your accuracy and make follow-up shots much more accurate as well.

Try one of the grips listed on the article above the next time you are practicing at the range. Then try your "regular" grip. A good, proper grip makes all the difference on whether you will hit your target or miss it completely.

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Raising battlesights on an AR rifle

The following photos will show how to raise the front and rear battlesights on an AR rifle. The AR rifle used for illustration is a Smith and Wesson M&P 15T, but the information generally applies to all AR style rifles.

Some AR rifles have carry handles, others come with sights. This particular model came with front and rear battlesights. The FRONT battlesight is the sight near the end muzzle of the rifle. The REAR battlesight is toward the stock of the rifle. The photo below shows the REAR battlesight.



To raise the rear battlesight into position, just lift up on the sight.



Once you lift up far enough, the rear battlesight will click into position. The battlesight will remain locked in this position until unlocked at the base. (Which will be illustrated in a later blog entry)


The front battlesight works the same way as the rear battlesight.


To raise the front battlesight into position, just lift up on the sight.


Once you lift up far enough, the front battlesight will click into position. The battlesight will remain locked in this position until unlocked at the base. (Which will be illustrated in a later blog entry)


Familiarizing yourself with the use of these "iron" sights is a very good idea. You should not completely rely on powered sights or accessories to acquire your target. Built in "iron" sights on an AR are always in place, never need batteries, and never flake out in extreme weather conditions. You do need to practice with them to become proficient, though.

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Adjusting a collapsible stock

This next photo collection will show how to extend and collapse a adjustable stock. Although the stock illustrated is attached to a Smith and Wesson M&P 15T AR rifle. it applies generally to all collapsible stock types.

Once I tried a collapsible stock, I never went back. So what is a collapsible stock? A collapsible stock is a basic stock that attaches to the back of a rifle, but allows you to change the length of it to suit you needs. Sometimes you want a long stock for taking shots at a faraway target... sometimes you want a short stock for handling of use in close areas where a full stock would be too much length.



To change the length of a collapsible stock, place your thumb on the lever on the bottom of the stock and use your fingers on the top of the stock as a grip and balance.



Now push up with your thumb on the stock lever toward your fingers on top of the stock.


While holding up with your thumb, slide the stock back to the position you want.


When the stock is in the position you want, release your thumb and pull the stock slightly until it "clicks" into a locked position. That's it!


To collapse the stock, just push up on the lever again and push forward on the stock until it is in the position you want it to be.


If you look under the stock, you can see the positions available for the stock to lock into.


From the photo above, you can see there are two more positions forward the stock can move from where it is currently locked. Once you adjust your stock once or twice, you will know the extent of what your specific collapsible stock is capable of.

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Loading an AR rifle with the charging handle locked back

The next series of photos show how to load an AR style rifle when the charging handle has been locked back in an open position. The rifle used in this illustration is a Smith and Wesson M&P 15T rifle. The information on how to do this procedure generally applies to other AR style rifles as well.

Loading an AR when the charging handle has been locked back is very similar to loading an AR with a magazine as mentioned previously. It is still a fairly straightforward task. First, take the magazine with ammunition and align it at the bottom of the firearm.


Press the magazine up into the AR rifle using a smooth motion. Press up on the magazine until it "clicks" into place. You do not need to slam the magazine into place, but you do need to press up a little more force than you usually would with a typical handgun magazine. Just press up on the magazine until you hear the "click" of the magazine locking into place.


Now you need to locate the bolt catch on the AR rifle. On the Smith and Wesson M&P 15T, it is located on the left side of the rifle.


Now with your thumb, press the bolt catch in toward the AR rifle.


The next photo is a side view of the bolt catch you want to press in toward the rifle.


As soon as you press in the bolt catch, the charging handle will move forward. When the charging handle moves forward, a round of .223 or 5.56 ammunition will be loaded from the magazine into the chamber of the AR. The AR rifle is now ready to fire.


As always, DO NOT FORGET THE FOUR RULES!


#1 ALL FIREARMS ARE ALWAYS LOADED
# 2 NEVER POINT THE MUZZLE AT ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO DESTROY
# 3 KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET
# 4 - BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET

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AR safety

This brief photo essay will illustrate where the safety selector is located on the AR style rifle. Although the rifle presented in this entry is a Smith and Wesson M&P 15T, the information generally applies to all AR style rifles.

First, I want to go over the four rules. You should know them by heart by now if you have been reading this blog from the first entry. But here they are again...

#1 ALL FIREARMS ARE ALWAYS LOADED
# 2 NEVER POINT THE MUZZLE AT ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO DESTROY
# 3 KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET
# 4 - BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET

On most AR style rifles, there is a Safety Selector Lever on the left side of the firearm. Although most AR rifles have this safety select lever, this does NOT mean you can ignore the four rules. Always keep the four rules in mind regardless of the firearm you are using has a safety select lever or not.

In the photo below, the AR rifle is in SAFE mode. While the AR rifle has the Safety Select Lever set to SAFE, the AR rifle WILL NOT discharge when the trigger is pressed.


To switch the AR from SAFE mode to FIRE mode, just move the Safety Select Lever on the left of the AR rifle with your thumb or index finger up to the FIRE position by pressing down on the lever. When the pointer on the Safety Select Lever is pointing to FIRE as it is in the photo below, the AR WILL discharge when the trigger is pressed.


To switch the AR safety back on, just move the Safety Select Lever on the left of the AR rifle with your thumb or index finger to the SAFE position by pressing up on the lever. Once the Safety Select Switch is in the SAFE position like it is in the photo below, the AR rifle will not discharge when the trigger is pressed.


Like the old saying goes, no matter how many safety devices there are on a firearm, there is no substitute for the safety device behind your eyes.

ALWAYS REMEMBER THE FOUR RULES.

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How to load an AR rifle with a magazine

This blog entry illustrates how to load an AR style rifle with a magazine. Although the AR rifle illustrated is a Smith and Wesson M&P 15T, this information presented generally applies to all AR style rifles. Click on any of the photos to enlarge them.

Loading an AR rifle is a fairly straightforward task. First, take the magazine with ammunition and align it at the bottom of the firearm.


(NOTE: In the photo above, the magazine has been turned to face the camera for illustrative purposes only)

Now, press the magazine up into the AR rifle using a smooth upward motion. Press upward on the magazine until it "clicks" into place. You do not need to slam the magazine into place, but you do need to press up a little more force than you usually would with a typical handgun magazine.


Just press up on the magazine until you hear the "click" of the magazine locking into place.

Now grab the charging handle on the rear of the AR. You can perform the next step by using just two fingers as in the illustration below.


Once you have the charging handle in your grip, pull it directly back away from the body of the AR rifle in one strong motion. Don't be afraid to exert some force to get the charging handle to move back on the AR.


Once the charging handle has moved as far to the back as it can, let go of the charging handle. At this point, when the charging handle moves forward, a round of .223 or 5.56 ammunition will be loaded from the magazine into the chamber of the AR. The AR rifle is now ready to fire.

When you pulled the charging handle back, the dust cover on the side of the AR will have popped open if it was not open already. In this next photo, you can see the charging handle has been pulled back and the magazine with ammunition is visible through the dust cover.


This next photo is an overhead side view of the AR when the charging handle has been pulled back. Notice the bolt behind the ammunition in the magazine. When the charging handle is released, the bolt will come forward, pushing a round of ammunition into the chamber.


The next photo was taken just as the charging handle was released. Notice how the internal mechanism works.


...and another photo on the side of the AR rifle after the bolt has traveled fully forward after the charging handle was fully released.


The AR rifle is now loaded and ready for use.

As always, DO NOT FORGET THE FOUR RULES!


#1 ALL FIREARMS ARE ALWAYS LOADED

# 2 NEVER POINT THE MUZZLE AT ANYTHING YOU ARE NOT PREPARED TO DESTROY

# 3 KEEP YOUR FINGER OFF THE TRIGGER UNTIL YOUR SIGHTS ARE ON THE TARGET

# 4 - BE SURE OF YOUR TARGET

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How to load ammunition into an AR magazine

This brief photo collection will illustrate how to load .223 (or 5.56 ammunition) into an empty AR magazine. Although the illustrated AR magazine is from a Smith and Wesson M&P 15T AR rifle, this information also generally applies to all other AR style rifles.

Click on any of the images to enlarge them.

Loading ammunition into an empty AR magazine is fairly straightforward. The Smith and Wesson M&P 15T can use 5.56 or .223 ammunition. In this example, .223 ammunition is used.


Start off by placing the magazine in one hand with the rear of the magazine facing the palm of your hand. Then get a .223 cartridge in the other hand.


Place the cartridge on the top of the magazine as illustrated below.


Now push the cartridge straight down into the magazine. It should snap in with minimal pressure.


Now get another cartridge and place it a little to the right of the initial round of ammunition on top of the magazine.


Now push this second round of ammunition down into the magazine just like the first. It should move down with a minimum of pressure.


The top of your magazine should look like this. The ammunition offset slightly and one cartridge off center and on top of the other.


Continue loading the magazine with a left-right combination. Place a cartridge slightly to the left on top of the magazine and push down. Next place a cartridge slightly to the right on top of the magazine and push down. Then place a cartridge slightly to the left on top of the magazine and push down.


Continue until the magazine is fully loaded or you have loaded the number of cartridges you require. This next overhead photo shows how the magazine will look as it is almost fully loaded with ammunition.


Loading an AR magazine with ammunition is not difficult. I personally find it easier than loading most handgun magazines.

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