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...or they could be aluminum sights or even polymer I guess, in keeping with the spirit of the rifle, which is a Windham Weaponry Carbon Fiber 15.

I visited Adelbridge & Co. gun store on north San Pedro in San Antonio earlier this week for the first time. They had racks and racks of ARs and AKs on sale, and among them I found this "DPMS Miniature Assault Panther" on sale for $2K. (When you go to the link, be sure to click on the photos to see them in correct aspect ratios).

I have several of those already in that exact same color, plus a couple others in snow and woodland camouflage patterns, more than I really have room for, so I passed on that one (btw Adelbridge has a miniature panther companion model in desert markings as well). But when I told my wife about the Panthers, she was so pleased that they carried that line she said I should buy a gun from them and call it a Christmas present from her!

So I moved on that REAL FAST, and today a Windham Weaponry Carbon Fiber 15 came home with me for $589 plus tax.

I hefted a Carbon-15 years ago in a gun store and found it intriguing. Of course I am an AK guy, so pretty much all ARs are lightweight to me.

As sold it comes with a picatinny rail over the receiver, and picatinny gas block, but no sights. So I am in the market for some non-optical sights. I have a couple red dots around the house, I may put one of those on as well.

Suggestions are welcome. As I said above, in keeping with the lightweight nature of the rifle, I notice that Magpul makes some polymer sights. Anyone have experience? Are they solid, reliable, not too breaky or bendy?

Does a front sight for a gas block rail differ in anyway from a rail over the handguard? It appears to me that the gasblock rail height is the same as the receiver, so I should think a rear/front pair of sights from the same manufacturer should work just fine?

Probably lean towards folding sights. Oh, and I am budget-minded about this - this rifle, while would like it capable of self-defense use, is not going to be my primary combat weapon, so this is not a money-is-no-object rifle.

Any suggestions much appreciated.

ETA: and yes this is my first AR, as I said I'm an AK guy. I'm reading the manual, and it describes all these mysterious gadgets: forward bolt assists, tiny little safety levers, spring-loaded dust covers...

AndyC wrote:I use a Magpul front and a Matech rear - the latter makes it easy to adjust instantly for different distances up to 600 yards. You find those inexpensively on Ebay, interestingly enough.

Thanks!

ELB wrote: I visited Adelbridge & Co. gun store on north San Pedro in San Antonio earlier this week for the first time. They had racks and racks of ARs and AKs on sale, and among them I found this "DPMS Miniature Assault Panther" on sale for $2K. (When you go to the link, be sure to click on the photos to see them in correct aspect ratios).

Is that a Cerakote finish or Ion Bond on that Assault Panther?

I have a Magpul Gen 2 Flip up and am quite satisfied. Matechs are nice too.

I have a Magpul BUIS Rear sight on mine, the gas block had a flip up front sight. I'm very happy with the Magpul

Magpul BUIS are fine as long as you don't need to change your elevation... Rear Magpul BUIS offer only windage adjustment. Typically you don't need to make any major adjustments to elevation inside of 200 yards... but rear Magpul BUIS will not work very well for you at 400+ yards.

DocV wrote: ...Is that a Cerakote finish or Ion Bond on that Assault Panther? .

The mini assault panther comes with a all natural coating that automatically replaces itself if any part of the coating is lost during battle. (In fact, the whole weapons system is self-cleaning). The only problem is the self-regeneration process tends to leave discarded coating material all over the house...

I'm looking at the Matech backup sights on eBay per AndyC's suggestion. Got a bid in, we'll see how it goes.

Paladin wrote:Magpul BUIS are fine as long as you don't need to change your elevation... they offer only windage adjustment. Typically you don't need to make any major adjustments to elevation inside of 200 yards... but the Magpul BUIS will not work very well for you at 400+ yards.

They are just like normal sights. So they do adjust, but don't have any way to really do on the fly adjustments. Just wanted to clarify for someone that might misunderstand and think it was a static fixed front post.

I should clarify I was referring to the Rear Magpul BUIS. They do not have elevation. The front Magpul BUIS do have elevation, but the front sight adjustment is used only for zeroing.

Matech rear sight is mil-spec with elevation and would be a better general purpose rear sight.

ELB wrote: Got a bid in, we'll see how it goes.

If that bid fails, Surplus Ammo has MaTechs on sale.

DocV wrote:

ELB wrote: Got a bid in, we'll see how it goes.

If that bid fails, Surplus Ammo has MaTechs on sale.

I did have the winning bid, but thanks, appreciate the info. didn't know about that website, so another to put in "favorites".

One thing to keep in mind is if the Matech doesn't stay folded, take a pocket knife and slide the pins over to the left. I believe it's the catch pin and its left. I know mine would pop up when fired until I slid the pin over.

ELB wrote:.
As sold it comes with a picatinny rail over the receiver, and picatinny gas block, but no sights. So I am in the market for some non-optical sights. I have a couple red dots around the house, I may put one of those on as well.

Be aware that the gas block gets hot with extended strings of firing. Putting a polymer sight such as a Magpul on it isn't the greatest idea (Magpul specifically states not to do this with their polymer BUIS). I would shoot for a steel or aluminum front site if you intend to mount it to the gas block.

SigM4 wrote:

ELB wrote:.
As sold it comes with a picatinny rail over the receiver, and picatinny gas block, but no sights. So I am in the market for some non-optical sights. I have a couple red dots around the house, I may put one of those on as well.

Be aware that the gas block gets hot with extended strings of firing. Putting a polymer sight such as a Magpul on it isn't the greatest idea (Magpul specifically states not to do this with their polymer BUIS). I would shoot for a steel or aluminum front site if you intend to mount it to the gas block.

Thanks, I wondered about that earlier today, went googling, and found that very warning. I've ordered a steel sight made for gas blocks.

AndyC wrote:I use a Magpul front and a Matech rear - the latter makes it easy to adjust instantly for different distances up to 600 yards. You find those inexpensively on Ebay, interestingly enough.

I think I will try one of these. I don't like the fact that the MagPul MBUS rear sight doesn't have elevation adjustment.