The Civilian M4 Style Carbine

A Guidebook for Preppers

Created by Randy Wilson Randy803@gmail.com

Contents
Introduction .................................................................................................................................................. 3 Why the M4?................................................................................................................................................. 4 Exploded Diagram ......................................................................................................................................... 5 MILSPEC Myths ............................................................................................................................................. 6 Function ........................................................................................................................................................ 7 The Gas System ............................................................................................................................................. 8 Buying a M4 style carbine ............................................................................................................................. 9 The Lower Receiver ................................................................................................................................... 9 The Upper Receiver.................................................................................... Error! Bookmark not defined. The Barrel ................................................................................................................................................ 10 The Bolt Carrier Group ............................................................................................................................ 12 Manufacturers ........................................................................................................................................ 14 Magazines ................................................................................................................................................... 15 Ammunition ................................................................................................................................................ 16 Optics .......................................................................................................................................................... 18 ACOG ....................................................................................................................................................... 18 AIMPOINT ............................................................................................................................................... 19 VECTOR ................................................................................................................................................... 20 Burris AR-332 .......................................................................................................................................... 21 EOTech .................................................................................................................................................... 22 Leupold Mark4 CQ/T Scope .................................................................................................................... 23 Technical ..................................................................................................................................................... 24 Iron Sight A1 Zero Target ............................................................................................................................ 25 Iron Sight A2 Zero Target ............................................................................................................................ 26 ACOG Zero Target ....................................................................................................................................... 27 AIMPOINT Zero Target ................................................................................................................................ 28

Created by Randy Wilson Randy803@gmail.com

Introduction
Preparing for disasters is a worthwhile endeavor and will insure that you and your loved ones have a survival advantage in time of crisis. You are probably putting a lot of effort into your preparations, I know that I am. Storing food, water and many other crucial supplies to insure my family is taken care of if and when the time arises. A frequently overlooked element of preparing is the ability to defend what you have stored. The reality of the situation is that those who can will take from those who cannot defend what they have. I am always surprised when I meet a fellow preparer who does not own a suitable weapon for defense or is not trained in using what they do own. Having the correct firearm and knowing how to use it is an important step in your survival planning. There is so much to do and know to be prepared sometimes it seems overwhelming. Thankfully we Preppers are almost always willing to share knowledge and insight. I have learned so much from many of you and this book is my opportunity to give back to our growing community.

Created by Randy Wilson Randy803@gmail.com

Why the M4?

When we speak of the M4 style rifle we are speaking specifically to an AR15 16inch barrel carbine. The actual M4 designation is a military rifle not available to civilians. There are some Colt M4 semi auto law enforcement rifles out there but they are hard to get and expensive. The M4 style carbine is a reasonable choice for self defense use. Its light weight and short barrel length make it easy to carry and store. The M4 style carbine has very light recoil and can be fired by most anyone making it highly usable. The M4 style carbine is accurate and capable of engaging targets effectively up to 400 yards. M4 style carbines can be purchased relatively cheap these days starting at around $650.00 at the time of this writing. These attributes make the M4 style carbine a good choice for those preparing to defend themselves. Is the M4 style carbine the best rifle for your defense? Maybe, it really depends on your situation. A weapon is simply a tool like any other. Does one screwdriver meet all the needs you might have? Weapons are the same way and no single weapon will be perfect in all situations. I do believe however that the M4 style carbine will meet most of your self defense requirements. There are always tradeoffs when selecting weapons and the M4 style carbine is no exception. So what will we be giving up to have a light weight low recoil carbine? Well for one thing you will be sacrificing range. The 5.56 or .223 round is small and limited in its ability to inflict damage at long ranges. But considering you are concerned with self defense your engagements will most likely be limited to 200 yards or less. The other consideration is the ability to stop a threat with one shot. This is where much debate has raged over the years but I assure you the M4 style carbine will stop a threat used within reasonable ranges. Modern ammunition has helped the M4 style carbine platform achieve acceptable stopping power. Later in the book I will go into the ammunition in great detail. The modern M4 style carbine is a reliable weapon. Based on the M16 rifle the AR15 has been updated along with the US Militaries M16 over the past 30 years. If kept reasonably clean and lubricated the carbine will provide good service.

Created by Randy Wilson Randy803@gmail.com

Exploded Diagram

Created by Randy Wilson Randy803@gmail.com

MILSPEC Myths
It seems that everyone today is an arm chair warrior who knows everything about the AR15. I was in a gun shop the other day and heard a sales person berate a customer over not having purchased a MILSPEC AR15. I shuffled on over smiling and pleasantly said so what is a military specification rifle and what does it consist of? The sales person puffed out his chest and started to explain what he thought it meant. He of course was wrong. I hear people say to make sure your AR15 is MILSPEC. I have a secret for you nobody owns a true MILSPEC AR15 or M4 carbine because such a thing does not exist. OH I see the look on your face. Some of you are now gnashing your teeth and wringing your hands. Calm down and let me explain my take on the matter. The government does not contract for AR15 rifles. They contract for M16 rifles. The government has onsite inspectors at each contract location to ensure quality control all the way down to the metallurgy used in the receivers (yes I have been part of this process in my lifetime). Everything is exacting and any deviance is cast out (you would cry at what they destroy). Now as far as I know no one is contracting Ar15 rifles as part of a government contract, thus none of the Ar15 rifles have been held to military specification. Hence none of you has a MILSPEC AR15. You might own a MILSPEC M16. I suppose that is fully possible but not an AR15 and you NEVER will. Many manufacturers claim to make MILSPEC AR15 rifles but without the military representation onsite they could never be certified as MILSPEC. The good news is that you can still own a high quality dependable M4 style carbine buy following the suggestions in this book.

Created by Randy Wilson Randy803@gmail.com

Function
The M4 style carbine is a lightweight, 5.56 mm, air-cooled, gas-operated, magazine-fed semiautomatic rifle, with a rotating-lock bolt, actuated by direct impingement gas operation. It is manufactured with the extensive use of aluminum alloys and synthetic materials. The main mechanism of operation for the rifle is known as direct gas impingement. Gas is trapped from the barrel as the bullet moves past a gas port located above the rifle's front sight base. The gas rushes into the port and down a gas tube, located above the barrel, which runs from the front sight base into the M4 style carbines upper receiver. Here, the gas tube protrudes into a gas key (bolt carrier key) which accepts the gas and funnels it into the bolt carrier. The bolt and bolt carrier together form a piston, which is caused to expand as the cavity in the bolt carrier fills with high pressure gas. The bolt is locked into the barrel extension, so this expansion forces the bolt carrier backward a short distance in line with the stock of the rifle to first unlocks the bolt. As the bolt carrier moves toward the butt of the gun, the bolt cam pin, riding in a slot on the bolt carrier, forces the bolt to turn and unlock from the barrel extension. (The gas system only serves to unlock the bolt while the projectile has long exited the barrel). Once the bolt is fully unlocked it begins its rearward movement along with the bolt carrier. The bolt's rearward motion extracts the empty cartridge case from the chamber, and as soon as the neck of the case clears the barrel extension, the bolt's spring-loaded ejector forces it out the ejection port in the side of the upper receiver. The bolt is much heavier than the projectile, and along with the recoil-spring pressure inside the stock buffer-tube performs the cartridge ejection function and chambers the following cartridge. Behind the bolt carrier is a plastic or metal buffer which rests in line with a return spring that pushes the bolt carrier back toward the chamber. A groove machined into the upper receiver traps the cam pin and prevents it and the bolt from rotating into a closed position. The bolt's locking lugs then push a fresh round from the magazine which is guided by feed ramps into the chamber. As the bolt's locking lugs move past the barrel extension, the cam pin is allowed to twist into a pocket milled into the upper receiver. This twisting action follows the groove cut into the carrier and forces the bolt to twist and lock into the barrels unique extension.

Created by Randy Wilson Randy803@gmail.com

The Gas System

The M4 style carbine has been around a very long time. It has gone through a lot of upgrades over the years and after 30+ years it has become a dependable weapon. If you want to read the history of the rifle it is out on the Internet. The M4 style carbine design is inherently accurate due to the bolt locking into the barrel extension and the straight travel of the bolt motion. The .223 or 5.56 cartridge is also an accurate round only adding to the overall accuracy of the rifle. There is one major design flaw in the M16 and AR15 design. The rifle poops where it eats! OK maybe your laughing, maybe not (what is this guy talking about?). What I mean is that the gas used to cycle the weapon dumps right into the area the rifle loads a new round in. It deposits carbon at alarming rates into an area designed with close tolerance. This causes malfunctions and stoppages thus giving the rifle some of the negative reputation it has earned over the years. This need not be a liability if the rifle is kept clean and properly lubricated but short of that you are going to have issues.

Recently gas piston conversions have become popular to replace the direct gas impingement system used on the AR15 rifle. While these systems do seem to increase to reliability (if properly installed) they have not come without problems. I have seen them break rendering the rifle useless. I have also seen them wear out the bottom of the buffer tube. Is the gas piston really the final answer to the AR15 design problem? I dont know but to date I have decided to stay with the original direct gas impingement system on my rifles and carbines. I do currently

Created by Randy Wilson Randy803@gmail.com

have one M4 style carbine with a self installed Osprey 416 piston system that has seen in excess of 500 rounds with no problems to report so I hold out hope for this technology.

Buying a M4 style carbine

When selecting a quality M4 style carbine you need to consider a few things. In a crisis situation you want the carbine to be dependable. This means that you need to shoot your M4 style carbine a lot prior to a crisis to assure its reliability and your proficiency. Only high quality parts should be used in the manufacture of you carbine to insure they can stand the test of time. The following is a list of features you should ensure any potential carbine has before purchase.

The Lower Receiver

The M4 style carbine lower receiver should be made from forged 7075 aluminum with reinforcement updates.

Created by Randy Wilson Randy803@gmail.com

The Upper Receiver

The M4 style carbine upper receiver should be made from forged of 7075 aluminum. You can choose a flat top or a fixed carry handle, it about your preference here. I prefer the flat top as a removable carry handle can be attached with ease or an optic solution.

The Barrel
The barrel rivals the bolt in terms of how critical it is to the long term reliability and functionality, as well as accuracy of the firearm. Clearly, accuracy may be sacrificed to some degree in favor of longevity in terms of a chromoly and chrome-lined barrel. The features that are included in the barrel section, the next eight items on the chart, are all related to the longevity of the barrel as well as the reliability of the firearm, with some features being somewhat optional as they pertain to use of certain projectiles and other shooter-defined needs. Barrel Steel This is a science unto itself but I am going to simplify it for you. The best barrels are 4150 hammer forged chrome lined. Other barrels may be used including stainless but the 4150 hammer forged is superior in longevity. High Pressure Test (HPT) Barrel This means the same thing, and is done for the same reason, as the HPT of the bolt. Magnetic Particle Inspection (MPI) Barrel This means the same thing, and is done for the same reason, as the MPI of the bolt. Chrome Chamber and Bore Chrome-lining of the chamber and bore serve to protect both from corrosion due to the heat of combustion of the gunpowder in the bullet as well as "neglect" in humid or other harsh environments. The chamber and bore are directly related to the accuracy potential of a firearm, and damage to either in the form of pitting will negatively impact the accuracy potential. The trade off is that chrome is often applied unevenly, at the microscopic level, meaning that it may negatively affect the accuracy potential in and of itself. The potential for damage due to other factors is generally considered greater than the small amount of uneven application, and so Created by Randy Wilson Randy803@gmail.com

chrome-lining is generally considered desirable. No, it cannot be added after the fact as barrels intended for chrome-lining are first slightly overbored with the lining then reducing the internal diameter to the proper dimension.

5.56 Chamber There is a common misconception that .223 and 5.56 are the same thing. They are not. 5.56 is often loaded to a higher pressure, among other things, which is the most critical issue. There are other dimensional differences pertaining to throat, bullet seat, etc. but what it comes down to in practical terms is that you can shoot .223 in a 5.56 chamber but the reverse is not a good idea. Generally speaking the barrel will be marked with one or the other but unfortunately those markings cannot always be trusted. If you think you may ever shoot 5.56 ammunition it is a good idea to get a 5.56 chamber from a maker that can be trusted. 1:7 barrel twist 1:7 will stabilize bullets in the 55 to 90 grain range. Like all things this is not a given, and any barrel should be tested with the intended ammunition to ensure the desired results are achieved. M4 Feed ramps M4 feed ramps refer to the feed ramps in the barrel extension being matched up to feed ramps cut into the upper receiver. The alternative is Rifle feed ramps which stop at the end of the barrel extension and do not continue into the upper receiver. Longer projectiles, soft-point projectiles, and carbines with faster cyclic rates tend to benefit from the extended M4 feed ramps. There are no known downsides to having the extended feed ramps. "F" Height Front Sight Base Front sight bases come in two basic varieties. One is the front sight base intended for use on carbines and rifles with fixed A2 uppers, the other (The "F") is intended for carbines with flattop uppers. In order to ensure compatibility with the various aftermarket rear back up iron sights, the "F" is more desirable. Not all "F" height front sight bases are marked with the "F" (LMT for example), and some that are marked are not true to the correct height. Taper Pins at Front Sight Base (FSB) A minor issue, but taper pins hold the front sight base better and tighter than a straight pin. Some makers attempt to make up for this by using slightly oversized straight pins that can be extremely difficult to remove. Parkerizing under FSB Parkerizing under the front sight base (or FSB) is done by very few makers. Most prefer to attach the base to the barrel and then parkerize the assembly as a whole. If parkerized as an assembly, both the outside of the barrel under the rings of the base and the inside of the rings themselves do not get the protective coating of the parkerizing process. There have been some reports of these parts rusting in the unprotected area, but it is unlikely that rust in these locations will affect the function of the carbine. Created by Randy Wilson Randy803@gmail.com

Double Heat Shield Hand guards The added diameter and extra shield serve to keep the shooter's hands cooler over prolonged

The Bolt Carrier Group

This is the part that moves back and forth in the upper receiver chambering fresh rounds, extracting and ejecting empty rounds, and generally ensuring that your rifle or carbine operates as it should. As such, in terms of reliability, the BCG is the heart of the gun, and having as high a quality BCG that is assembled correctly out of the correct materials and which has been properly checked for flaws is key to the continued reliability of the AR-platform firearm. Shot Peened Bolt There are many resources available online as to the exact process and how it affects the structure of the part at the molecular level, but essentially the goal is to increase the resistance of metal to fatigue. The bolt, in the performance of it's duties, is put under a considerable amount of stress as the gun fires. Ensuring that this part lasts as long as possible is key to the continued reliability of the firearm over time, and increasing the resistance of the part to fatigue increases its service life. High Pressure Test (HPT) Bolt This is also sometimes referred to as "proof loading" or "proof firing". Essentially it is a test fire of the bolt (and barrel) in order to subject the part to a pressure that could cause it to fail in use. This is a preparatory step in order to prepare the part for the next step. Not all companies perform this step and prefer to "batch test" their bolts and barrels, or to test a representative sample of each batch.

Created by Randy Wilson Randy803@gmail.com

Magnetic Particle Inspection (MPI) Bolt Like shot peening, there are resources available online as to what the exact process is and how it works, but the intended purpose is to check for surface cracks in the part that may not be detectable by the naked eye and that may have been caused by the HPT. Not all companies perform this step and prefer to "batch test" their bolts and barrels, or to test a representative sample of each batch. This is a crucial step following the HPT in order to observe the results. Black Extractor Spring Insert The crucial element here is, in fact, the 5-coil extractor spring which the black insert indicates as there is some debate as to the actual chemical or physical properties of the insert itself as compared to the rifle version which comes with the 4-coil spring and is blue. The shorter gas system of the carbine makes for a quicker and more violent operation of the BCG which can cause the extractor on the bolt to jump over the rim of the case and not properly extract the empty case. To some degree this can be mitigated by gas port size, but beefing up the spring tension to cause the extractor to clamp more tightly on the case ensures proper function. Properly Staked Gas Key The gas key on top of the bolt carrier is the part that the gases (which have been re-directed through the gas port, then the gas block or front sight base, and into the gas tube) pass through in order to expand within the carrier, push back on the carrier against the bolt, unlock the bolt and cycle the firearm. As such it is under tremendous pressure and is critical to the continued operation of the firearm, and must remain sealed in order to allow all of the gas pressure into the carrier to do its job. The key is held on to the top of the carrier by two screws, typically allen but sometimes torx, that are tightened to a specified torque. After tightening the metal of the key should be "staked" in such a way as to prevent the screws from loosening. In order for the staking to perform its job properly it must deform the metal of the key sufficiently to make contact with, and perhaps even deform a bit, the attachment screws. Use of Locktite is not sufficient, as virtually all versions of Locktite are weakened by heat.

Created by Randy Wilson Randy803@gmail.com

Manufacturers
There are some great M4 style carbine manufacturers out there building high quality rifles. The trick is to make sure we get the right one. I caution you to remember, civilian manufacturers even the best of them occasionally put out a turd, military contractors do not (your tax dollars can afford all the testing ever needed). So you want to buy a quality AR15 M4 carbine right off the shelf. I have a few manufacturer recommendations for you based on my experience in order of quality COLT (specifically the 6920) Lewis Machine & Tool Company LWRC International, LLC Vltor Rock River Arms DPMS STAG Arms (Government contractor) (Government contractor)

Many of you have rifles by manufacturers not listed above and they work very well for you. My list is based from experience in the field shooting more than 1500 rounds through each rifle. If you have an AR15 that you shot more than 1500 rounds without failure in a day please let me know the make!

Created by Randy Wilson Randy803@gmail.com

Magazines
To the Ar15 rifle nothing is more important than the magazine. I have tried them all and there is only one brand I use or recommend. The PMAG MAGAZINES by MagPul are far superior to any other magazine available. This statement has caused great debate but remember this is my opinion based on years of experience. No other magazine functions and feeds ammunition to the Ar15 rifle as dependably as the PMAG. Military magazines are inferior and at only $15.00 at the time of this writing they are an incredible value. Trust me on this. Buy the PMAGS and only PMAGS for your AR15 rifle. I do not work for MagPul or have any affiliation they are just the best hands down.

In early 2007 Magpul announced the PMAG 30-round 5.56 NATO Polymer Magazine for AR15/M16 platform weapons. With millions fielded to military, law enforcement, and commercial users, PMAGs have become the de facto standard for magazine reliability and durability. You should have at least twelve MPAG 30 round magazines for each of your rifles. The PMAGs can be loaded and left in storage for many years without issue so they are always at the ready. Use the provided caps that lock on for long term storage to alleviate the pressure on the upper feed lips of the magazine. NOTE: A note on magazine rotation practices. It is a common practice for people to keep several magazines loaded for a period of time and then rotate them and load others for a period of time. It was once believed this would extend the life of magazines. I will not go into the science but due to the way springs work loading and unloading magazines is the worst thing you can do for them! The compression and decompression of magazines is what weakens the springs, not leaving them loaded.

Created by Randy Wilson Randy803@gmail.com

Ammunition
The AR15 rifle shoots a very anemic .224 diameter bullet (thats a .22 caliber). Military ammunition is very light weighing in at 55 to 62 grains based on ammo type used. There are varied opinions on why the US military adopted this light varmint round for a combat rifle. Some say the intent was to wound not kill in the field of battle. Others claim it was because the ammunition is light and a soldier can carry more. I have read that the light recoil and accuracy was the primary reason and this sounds most plausible to me. Whatever the reason the military ammunition is unacceptable for the intended purpose of defense. Yes I said the MILITARY ammunition is not adequate for your defense. There are reports coming out of Iraq and Afghanistan where soldiers are shooting multiple times to stop a threat. In the real world you cannot always take the headshot, in fact you should not even try, shoot center mass. So what is needed to insure a one shot incapacitation of a human from an AR15? Well you have some options with todays modern ammo technology. One option is the DRT ammunition from Dynamic Research Technologies offered in 55 and 79 grain bullets. This ammo will stop a human with a single shot to the torso 90% of the time, Special Forces refer to it as DEAD RIGHT THERE ammo. It has a powdered tungsten steel core that explodes in a target after about 3 to 4 inches of penetration. My testing also shows it will fully penetrate class 1 body armor at 75 yards. The second option is to purchase modern civilian ammunition. Short of DRT ammo I use any good 75 to 77 grain JHP bullet. Remember when it comes to defense heavier is better if your barrel can stabilize the bullet. Up to 77grain ammo will feed in the AR15 platform without issues. I am going to go a little more into military ammunition as it is highly available and at the time of my writing fairly inexpensive. The military uses two basic rounds one is a 55grain bullet with a cantilure designated XM193 in its older rifles with slow twist rates. This round is only dependably lethal out to 200 yards (you will never see that in a manual but it is true). The bullet will travel much further than 200 yards but we are talking stopping power not range. The 55grain round when traveling very fast will strike its target and yaw creating a serious wound channel due to the cantilure destabilizing the round. The problem comes in after 200 yards the bullet speed has dropped to low to dependably cause the yaw effect on impact. So if you are going to use this round 200 yards and closer it will perform satisfactorily.

Created by Randy Wilson Randy803@gmail.com

The other round the military is fielding in its newer rifles with faster twist rates is the 62grain SS109 or M855 bullet. This bullet is often inaccurately identified as armor piercing, it is not! It does have a small steel penetrator that helps it go through enemy Kevlar helmets but it will not go through armor. This round though heavier is actually worse than the 55grain round against soft targets as it tends to zip right through. Look I am not saying it will not kill, it just is not optimal.

NOTE: Always use brass case ammo in the AR15 rifle. DO NOT use steel case lacquer coated ammunition from Russia unless it is an emergency in an AR15. This ammo will eventually gum up the chamber and cause your rifle to fail.

Created by Randy Wilson Randy803@gmail.com

Optics
Iron sights are a wonderful thing and no optic should ever be used to replace them. Always have backup iron sights available and zeroed on your rifle regardless of other add-on optics. First and foremost when it comes to optics you get what you pay for (and not always then). Do not buy cheap optics and put on your AR15 rifle. It is also counterproductive to mount anything more than a 4x power optic on an AR15, they are not sniper rifles (even though they use them in the movies). NOTE: ONLY buy optics from reputable dealers, there are many forgeries from China and they can be difficult for the novice to spot. If the deal is too good to be true. I warned you!

ACOG
The number one best optic for the AR15 is the Advanced Combat Optical Gunsights (abbreviated ACOG) TA31RCO-M150CP: Trijicon ACOG 4x32, ARMY Rifle Combat Optic. It just doesnt get any better than this. You are going to pay about $1400.00 for this optic but it is worth every penny.

Standard issue with many governments worldwide. Specified for use by the Marines, U.S. Army and Navy Seals, self-illuminating Trijicon scopes and sights have earned a reputation as the most sophisticated and dependable combat optics on the battlefield.

Uses Batteries: Magnification: Water Proof: Fog Proof: US Military Use: Durability: Glass Quality:

NO YES YES YES YES

Created by Randy Wilson Randy803@gmail.com

AIMPOINT
The next best sight is the Aimpoint Patrol Rifle Optic. While you do not get any magnification you do get stellar performance. A single battery will last three years turned on! They are used by the military and are tough and accurate for around $400.00

Designed with input from a distinguished group of current and former professionals, the Patrol Rifle Optic incorporates many never before seen features to maximize this sight's performance within the challenging conditions faced by modern law enforcement. A hard-anodized 30mm tube was utilized, enclosing a high efficiency circuit that allows the sight to be turned on and left on for up to three years using a single battery.

Uses Batteries: Magnification: Water Proof: Fog Proof: US Military Use: Durability: Glass Quality:

YES NO YES YES YES

Created by Randy Wilson Randy803@gmail.com

VECTOR
I know that some of you are on a very tight budget but still want a tacticool optic that will work dependably. There is only one that I know of and it is the Vector Red Dot Sight SCRD-06. It is a red dot site for around $140.00 that has held up pretty well in my testing. I have dropped them, soaked them and generally abused the sites and they still seem to work and hold zero. While not the quality of the ACOG or AIMPOINT they can be used. They do eat batteries so you will need a good supply for the long term if you choose this optic.

Uses Batteries: Magnification: Water Proof: Fog Proof: US Military Use: Durability: Glass Quality:

YES NO YES YES NO

Created by Randy Wilson Randy803@gmail.com

Burris AR-332
I wish I could tell you something about this optic but I have yet to get my hands on one. Its Burris so it cant be to bad but I refuse to give a rating or opinion with testing as I have the other optics. I simply include it becouse I know it is out there and some people have said it is great. It does have one cool feature - The reticle is illuminated, but it appears black if not illuminated or if the batteries are dead. That's a great feature I think as you're not dependent on batteries.

The Burris AR-332 is a 3x tactical prism sight thats rugged, compact, and waterproof. The Burris AR-332 features a unique Ballistic/CQ reticle. This Close Quarters reticle also performs at long range too, with bullet drop compensation out to 600 yards. Uses Batteries: Magnification: Water Proof: Fog Proof: US Military Use: Durability: ??? Glass Quality: ??? YES YES YES YES NO

Created by Randy Wilson Randy803@gmail.com

EOTech
I do not recommend this optic for use on anything except light duty urban use. It is somewhat fickle and uses batteries up quickly. I have had them open up and dump batteries during a live fire exercise so I cannot recommend it to you. Prices start around $350.00

Uses Batteries: Magnification: Water Proof: Fog Proof: US Military Use: Durability: Glass Quality:

YES NO YES YES YES

Created by Randy Wilson Randy803@gmail.com

Leupold Mark4 CQ/T Scope

It is expensive ($1000.00) and I do not see the reason I would EVER choose it over the ACOG or AIMPOINT optic offerings. I have used them and cannot say I have had any problem. Leupold makes good stuff but it wouldnt be my first choice.

Multi-function, red-dot and optical sight has variable power settings for fast, accurate engagement of close and distant targets. Use at 1x where the large field of view is excellent for close-in, both-eyes-open target engagement. The 3x setting permits precise target acquisition to 300 yards and beyond. Circle-Dot reticle gives accurate ranging plus hold-over and lead on moving targets. Circle subtends six feet at 100 yards. Reticle has ten brightness settings, including two for night vision devices; remains visible when not illuminated. Mil-Spec, Picatinny rails, on the top and right side, let you attach accessory lights, night vision equipment or laser designators. Dual mount system fits both Flattop and A2, carry handle receivers. Uses Batteries: Magnification: Water Proof: Fog Proof: US Military Use: Durability: Glass Quality: YES YES YES YES UNKNOWN

Created by Randy Wilson Randy803@gmail.com

Technical
There is no valid reason for me to re-write all the procedures the US military has documented so thoroughly. All owners of M4 style carbines must have a copy of the militaries TM9-1005-31910.pdf technical manual. This manual explains the operation, maintenance and zeroing of your rifle. Locations to download this manual for free: http://www.ar15.com/content/manuals/TM9-1005-319-10.pdf https://docs.google.com/leaf?id=0B6TXMzzHWDbyN2NkZmIyOTQtMDhlOC00MGIwLTlhNjItM2 ZmOTE3NjBkNDhi&sort=name&layout=list&num=50# www.xmarks.com/site/www.ar15.com/.../TM9-1005-319-10.pdf

Created by Randy Wilson Randy803@gmail.com

Iron Sight A1 Zero Target

Created by Randy Wilson Randy803@gmail.com

Iron Sight A2 Zero Target

Created by Randy Wilson Randy803@gmail.com

ACOG Zero Target

Created by Randy Wilson Randy803@gmail.com

AIMPOINT Zero Target

Created by Randy Wilson Randy803@gmail.com