I have been reading some threads in here and have noticed quite a few pictures of AR rifles with a carry handle with scopes mounted on them. They look impressive but how accurate can that be over long distance?
The relationship between the centerline of the scope and the bore of the rifle is quite large. Doesn't that defeat the purpose for repeating accuracy over a wide range of distances.
I always assumed that if the scope was mounted that far from the barrel that it would only be accurate for the distance it was sighted in at.

This post has been edited by KENNYOHIOHUNTER: November 24th 2008 9:06 PM

I don't think it should cause many problems as long as your shooting past 100 yards... think about it. You can get several different ring height sizes, and if you get a scope with a BDC, if you zeroed at 100, it will still accurately hit at 200, 300, etc... irregardless of ring height. I think its just that initial zero, though I think that under 100 yards, things start getting off fast.

hopefully someone with more knowledge will pop in soon.

in retrospect.. think of it like a laser. if the laser is mounted below the barrel, it has to have a slight upward tilt to be zeroed at a set distance, now the farther the distance past the zero, that beam is still at an angle and the further you go, the further off its going to be...

i had a scope mounted on my colt once upon a time, but i took it off before i ever plinked with it at various distances. i wish i had now. i got it zero'd in at 100 but didn't shoot anything else.

i agree with you kenny, and i think it won't really work that well at distances over 300, but like i said, i don't know for sure.

All scopes are only accurate without adjustment to where you zero it at.

Farther out you have to compensate for drop. The fact the scope is mounted high or not doesn't matter. Some of the automated gun systems don't even have their optics/sighting systems mounted anywhere near the barrel.

Bushnell even makes a .223 6X25 called the Sweet just for the AR and is featured in ads on the carry handle. It has different adjustment covers with yardage on them for the different grain sizes, 55 or 62.

This is not as unusual question as you would think. The same question came up often when the M16 was introduced with its very high iron sites. Its the same principle. You're looking where the bullet is going to hit, not necessarily following its path.

TJ

That is the answer I was looking for, thanks TJ.
I just didn't know if it would have any adverse affect on bullet drop at extended ranges.
With all of my hunting rifles I try to mount the scope as close as possible to the barrel and did not know how it would change things with a scope mounted several inches above the centerline of the bore.
That makes sense, thanks again TJ.

Well there is the one problem. Some scopes won't adjust low enough at distance. I mean the principle is the same just the scope recticle won't go low enough. It bottoms out. I haven't had this problem with the better scopes.

Its why on my carry handle long 24" I use a graduated recticle. Its easier anyway for fast follow up shots at longer distances than adjusting the scope by simply using the graduations to predict drop.

I think that is why hunting grade optics require close mounting tolerances, the limited amount of windage and elevation adjustments vs a target grade or similar long range optic.
I also prefer a drop compensation reticle of sorts as well for faster repeat shots or engaging multiple long range targets in short order.

TJ's already covered most of the advantages to a high mount like the carry handle except one, for military purposes a high mount comes in very handy when attempting to shoot prone with a kevlar helmet on, it's also the reason Stoner designed the carry handle as high as it is with the irons on it