M4 carbine help.

[41Dude]

I know we are the Ruger forum but with all of the knowledge here I thought this will be an easy question.
I understand (a little) red dots, scopes and suppressors. But what is that box like item just forward of the Scope?
I see them on some soldiers rifles and not on others. Same thing for law enforcement carbines. Some do some do not.
Thanks to all. Happy Saturday

 

[hittman]

Looks like a light to me.

 

[41Dude]

Looks like a light to me.

I will look for a better image.

 

[turd]

Camera?

 

[Fox Mike]

Probably this:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/AN/PEQ-15

 

[41Dude]

That's it. Thank you. I did not know what term to use for a search.

 

[PRichardson87]

That's an IR setup

 

[turd]

Shows what I know.

 

[hittman]

So, it is a light.

 

[tazbigdog]

IR laser

 

[Kevin]

I read the Wikipedia page and still can’t understand what it’s for.

What does it do?

 

[Aqualung]

@Kevin
Basically, it's a laser, like you would see from Crimson Trace, but instead of working in the visible light spectrum, it's infrared. It allows the shooter to "paint" a target and see it with their night vision gear.

Aqualung

 

[Kevin]

@Kevin
Basically, it's a laser, like you would see from Crimson Trace, but instead of working in the visible light spectrum, it's infrared. It allows the shooter to "paint" a target and see it with their night vision gear.

Aqualung

Now that would be sweet! Thanks for the explanation.

 

[blume357]

I think it is both IR and a laser and the shameful thing (probably actually good) is we common citizens can't buy one. Seems the laser is supper powerful and will cook the eyeball of someone you point it at... at least that's how I read it in Wikipedia. Back when my wife was in Mensa there was some guy there who knew how to enhance regular laser pointers so that they would burn a hole through a stylophone cup....

 

[Chief 101]

I see a picatinny rail with nothing on it...what's up with that?

 

[s4s4u]

IR laser

This ^^^

For night vision.

 

[41Dude]

I see a picatinny rail with nothing on it...what's up with that?

That's saved for the beer can holder

 

[the_leper_colony]

... what is that box like item just forward of the Scope? ...

What is it? Some folks might say "it's part of the reason military ARs are no longer light weight!"

 

[RonEgg]

I will look for a better image.View attachment 58668

It is both visible and ir laser as controlled by switch on body of unit.

 

[eveled]

Am I the only one who prefers the bare bones VN era M16?

 

[41Dude]

Am I the only one who prefers the bare bones VN era M16?

Nope. Plain Jane is good. I like the peep and post sights. A good sling and some extra ammo and I am a happy guy.

But I appreciate the info on IR

 

[krw]

Wilcox laser designator

 

[XUSNORDIE]

Nope. Plain Jane is good. I like the peep and post sights. A good sling and some extra ammo and I am a happy guy.

But I appreciate the info on IR

Well....I gotta say......the A2 sights were an improvement......and the ACOG was and still is a pretty good optic. They are finally being phased out now.....I'm hoping to find a beat up one surplus if and when they hit the market. I'd like one for old time sakes on my M4orgery carbines.

Iron sights have minimal value on a carbine anymore......the Marines don't even use irons in basic anymore and have changed their quals. Do they have a place? I think so......but todays battles are a far cry from what they used to be. Or I'm told by the younger service members.....can't wait for Thanksgiving they will be at my house and comment on my "old man gun collection"....

 

[hittman]

Colt SP1 works for me

 

[XUSNORDIE]

Colt SP1 works for me

Ahhh....the old civilian Colt Sporter...."old slab sides"...I have a 1974 stripped lower I need to do something with.....eventually.

 

[hittman]

The SP1s are a monster. Can’t take it to the range without drawing a crowd.

 

[XUSNORDIE]

Around here they wouldn't know the difference between it and the plethora of ARs that are on the range at any given moment. What draws a crowd for whatever reason at my range is my M1A and AK47's. Both are owned in abundance but you don't see them at the range much. Probably cost and availability of ammo. I dunno......

 

[hittman]

Oh yeah …. Rattle a few rounds through a MAK90 and heads will turn here too LOL

 

[XUSNORDIE]

I miss my Norinco AK47...forced to sell before I transferred from Cali (another EX-wife thing).......the MAK90 with the thumb stock would draw a crowd here same as a Hi Point carbine.....just tell them you were in the original Planet Of The Apes movies.....

 

[blume357]

Got to shoot one of these new fangled AR-15 / M4's with one more fancy red dot on it and a magnifier that you could flip over to the back of it. Rife did not seem to balance right to me and I'm not much of a rifle shooter as of late but it was just not comfortable shooting while just standing.