How do you remove the front sight on the M16A4?

Question

I have the Jing Gong M16A4, and after a few tries, I decided not to get a scope for it, and to buy the reflex red-dot instead and mount it onto the built in rail, but the front sight would be blocking it's view.

How do you remove the front sights?

Answer 1

I build match AR-15's.

The front sight tower is actually the gas block assembly that makes it funciton.  You cannot simply remove the tower - you need to replace it with a modified gas block.  The tower is held on by two drift pins that are directional - they only go in and come out in one direction.  Remove the flash hider, tap out the two pins and slide the old tower off.  Slide on the new gas block, be sure to line it up straight - tap the two pins back in the same hole they came out of.

This is not rocket scientist stuff.  However, be sure you really like the new gas block.  There are lots of models out.  The more you remove and re-install those pins, the greater chance they will work loose.

If you take the rifle to the range it no longer works in semi-auto...... then you did not get the new block gas hole lined up with the barrel gas vent.  Tap 'em back out, try again.

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Don't do anything at first. I was looking through a red dot scope on a flat top reciever at a gun show and could not even see the front sight. Becasue of the optical focal length, the front sight was totally invisable.

Answer 3

I don't know how to take it off, but i would suggest leaving it on... you can get a flip up rear sight too, and it will make a good back up if your scope breaks or batteries run out.