Best M4 Carry Handles: Are They Mil Spec?

Why Equip The Top AR Carry Handles?

In the modern sporting rifle field, a carry handle is considered an old-school accessory for the M4. Having a carry handle on your M4 rifle can turn it into a traditional, Vietnam-War-era looking rifle. However, some people might not know this but a carry handle has its functions and benefits.

Other than aesthetics, the carry handle can serve as a rear sight too. Even though it is an old-school accessory, there are still a number of carry handles available on the market. We have made a list of the best M4 carry handles but before moving on to the list, we provided a guide on how to choose an M4 carry handle and the perks of having a good one.

Keep reading to find out more and you can pick the best carry handle for your M4 rifle.

How to Pick For Your M4?

Just like any firearm part, the most important thing is reliability. To be able to find a reliable M4 carry handle, you would want to buy from a trusted and reputable manufacturer and go with their proven models.

Another thing to look out for when choosing carry handles is whether it is mil-spec or commercial. The main difference between a mil-spec and a commercial carry handle is that on the mil-spec carry handle, the rear sight is 0.835 inches from the top of the base to the bottom of the rear sight and for a commercial carry handle, it’s 0.795 inches.

Regardless of whether the carry handle is mil-spec or commercial, you still need to match the height of your front sight. Usually, the rear sight of a carry handle should have two apertures and standard adjustment dials for you to adjust accordingly.

Perks of Having a Great AR 15 Handles

Carry handles are made to be similar to a trigger guard for the AR-10’s charging handle. However, the function of carry handles is becoming obsolete but detachable carry handles are one of the requirements for a mil-spec M4.

Not many people are a fan of carrying their weapon around like a briefcase. It gives poor muzzle control and you might look like a fool so people just don’t use it that often anymore. There are attachments available to mount accessories like a sight on top of the carry handle, but this is not common and you have a top rail for mounting accessories.

Nevertheless, there is still one benefit that many people like about carry handles. A carry handle provides a solid and stably-mounted style of rear aperture sight and if you want a reliable sighting system, a carry handle would be the best choice.

Best M4 Carry Handles On The Market

With a better understanding of how to pick an M4 carry handle and what are the benefits of having one, we can now proceed with the list of the 4 best M4 carry handles on the market.

1. Colt AR-15 Assembly

Specifications

  • Mil-spec rear sight
  • Forged aluminum body
  • Attaches to Picatinny upper receivers
  • Hard coat anodized

Features

First on the list is a carry handle by Colt, a well-known firearms company in the industry and all their products are made in the USA. This carrying handle is commonly used on military issued rifles so you don’t need to worry about its reliability.

This AR-15 carrying handle can be used on an M4 because most parts are shared between these two rifles. The Colt AR-15 Carrying Handle Assembly comes with a mil-spec rear sight and the elevation adjustments are effective up to 600 meters. On top of that, the windage adjustments can be done accurately too.

Mounting this carry handle is extremely easy too. It can be mounted on to any Picatinny rails with two thumb nuts. The thumb nuts are also made to be easy to hold so that you can easily adjust the carry handle sturdily in place.

This M4 carry handle is made of forged aluminum and is hard coat anodized to give excellent durability and strength. On top of that, it is corrosion-resistant too. Just like all A2-style carry handles, this piece will allow you to mount a scope.

You will like this product if:

You want a carry handle that is easy to mount. This carry handle can be easily mounted onto any Picatinny rails using two thumb nuts.

You are looking for something durable. The aluminum construction and hard coat anodized ensures that this product will last for a long time.

You are a fan of adjustable sights. The sights are adjustable for windage and elevations accurately so it would be the best choice if you’re a fan of it.

You will not like this product if:

You don’t plan to spend so much money on a carry handle. There are carry handles on the market with the same high-quality build but offered at a much lower price.

2. Palmetto State Armory

Specifications

  • Mil-spec height
  • Machined from 7075-T6 aluminum
  • Hard coat anodized
  • A2 aperture

Features

Palmetto State Armory is a trusted firearms distributor in the USA and they are known to give the most reliable products to their customers just like this carry handle made by them. They have used the data gathered to develop this high-quality carry handle and this means that it will be a reliable product.

Not only are you getting a USA made carry handle with top of the line standards, but you are also getting it at an affordable price. This carry handle is also a mil-spec handle and you will find it to match with taller F marked front sight bases.

This M4 carry handle is made from forged 7075-T6 aluminum through precise machining and is a standard for modern sporting rifles. With such a construction, you can expect a sturdy and durable carry handle.

In addition to the strong construction, this mil-spec carry handle also includes staked thumb screws, an A2 aperture and 6/3 windage drums. If you like a clean carry handle with no brand name or logo on it, then this carry handle would be the best option too.

You will like this product if:

You are looking for a durable carry handle. The aluminum construction and hard coat anodized finish is able to make sure that this carry handle has great durability.

You prefer products that are made in the USA. PSA manufactures and assembles all their products in the USA and would be the best choice for you if that’s what you’re looking for.

You want a carry handle that comes with other features. This carry handle comes with staked thumb screws, an A2 aperture and 6/3 windage drums.

You will not like this product if:

You are not a fan of the slightly reflective surface. The surface of this carry handle is slightly reflective which might affect the aperture use.

3. Aero Precision A2 Detachable

Specifications

  • Forged from 7075-T6 aluminum
  • Mil-Spec hard coat anodized
  • A2 sight assembly
  • Dual apertures

Features

The Aero Precision A2 Detachable Carry Handle is another American-made carry handle that we think is the best for your M4 rifle. Aero Precision is a brand name that you see very often in the firearms industry because they are one of the best manufacturers for firearms and firearm parts.

This A2 Detachable Carry Handle is constructed with high-quality 7075-T6 aluminum and finished with a mil-spec type III hard coat anodized for incredible strength. The use of this material ensures that this carry handle is tougher than the typical 6061 alloys that are used.

An A2 rear sight is included and this sight is adjustable for windage and elevation for enhanced accuracy when you are shooting long range. On top of that, it also includes dual apertures for improved accuracy at short-range too.

Another feature that many shooters appreciate about this carry handle is its compatibility. You will find that this carry handle can be mounted on various modern sporting rifles with ease. Additionally, it weighs 8.96 ounces only, which is decently light compared to others.

You will like this product if:

You are looking for a lightweight carry handle. As compared to other carry handles on the market, this carry handle is considered to be lightweight.

You want the best value for your money. This carry handle is meant to compete with the Colt carry handle but at a lower price, you are getting similar features as the Colt carry handle but you don’t need to spend as much.

You prefer a carry handle that can last for a long time. This carry handle by Aero Precision utilized a high-quality 7075-T6 aluminum construction with a mil-spec type III hard coat anodized finish to ensure its durability.

You will not like this product if:

You prefer having a non-glare finish on the rear sight. The finish on the rear sight doesn’t fully eliminate glare and can affect the accuracy of your shots.

4. NcStar AR-15 Detachable

Specifications

  • Adjustable for elevation and windage
  • NcStar warranty
  • Hard coat anodized
  • 9.1 oz.

Features

The last best M4 carry handle on this list is the NcStar AR-15 Detachable Carry Handle. NcStar is a firearm parts manufacturer based in California and has been around for over two decades. They aim to produce affordable and high-quality accessories such as this carry handle.

Similarly to other carry handles that were mentioned, this carry handle has an aluminum and steel construction and is hard coat anodized to ensure excellent durability. Additionally, if there are any defects found on the carry handle, you don’t need to worry because this product is covered by the NcStar warranty.

Mounting this NcStart carry handle is extremely easy as well. It can be mounted on to your M4 rifle with two thumb nuts and no tools are required to mount it. This carry handle comes with a classic A2 rear sight and is adjustable for windage and elevation. On top of that, you can expect the adjustments to hold even after firing over 50 rounds.

This M4 carry handle is the best choice for shooters that are on a budget and is looking for something functional. It is sold at a lower price range compared to others while maintaining a decent quality and finish. This carry handle is also slightly heavier than the previous model but can still be considered as a lightweight carry handle.

You will like this product if:

You are looking for something cheap. This carry handle is the cheapest among all the other best M4 carry handles and is the top option for you if you have a small budget for carry handles.

You want a decent quality carry handle. Even at a low price, the quality of this carry handle is still decent, it is constructed with aluminum and steel and has a hard coat anodized finish.

You want a carry handle that is easy to mount on your M4 rifle. This carry handle can be easily mounted on to your M4 rifle with just two thumb nuts and no tools are required.

You will not like this product if:

You prefer to have the best quality carry handle. This carry handle has decent quality but it is not the best so if you are looking for something top-notch then this would not be the best choice for you.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need a carry handle?

Based on the design of M4/AR-15 rifles, the barrel is at a specific level relative to the shooter’s shoulder. Due to the shooting position, the sights are required to be higher which means a carry handle needs to be added. The carry handle is primarily used to raise the sights to a higher level.

Is a carry handle relevant today?

Yes. A carry handle is relevant on a modern M4/AR-15 rifle because you will be able to fire at a position that is optimal, which is a lower position. Plus, you can also benefit from the reduced recoil by shooting in a lower position.

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