Originally Posted by mr. orange

Ok, so I am almost completely new to the AR-15 platform but I am seriously buying one for myself for my B-day in October. I have been looking around and decided that I would really like a flat-top for mounting optics, but on the other hand I will more than likely have a wait a bit before I can drop the cash for the optics I want ( probably an eotech or aimpoint) so I would also like the option to have iron sights. With that in mind I was thinking of getting a flat-top with removable carry handle( Im guessing the carry handle still has the stock iron sights). My real question is how the models with removable carry handles are designed. Are they just flat-top recievers with a carry handle that mounts the same way the optics would? Also since the rifle will more than likely not have a full length rail on top, could I still use flip up rear sights with the stand front sight?