AR15 hanguards

[Vaquero]

Could it possibly be more confusing?

I've got some build stuff on the way. 16" low profile gas block yada yada....
I want a free float hanguard. Damn the options are limitless!

I don't need a bunch of rails, or any rail for that matter.
Help me pick a comfortable, heat shielding handguard.

Bench shooting will be top priority. Some off hand close range.
A mag dump now and then.

Thanks.

 

[Mexican_Hippie]

The new key mods seem nice because they're lighter than rails but still very flexible if you want to change them up later.

 

[Rebel]

Corncobs/Triangles or bust.

 

[Vaquero]

See? It's a quandry! So many makes and models of key mod stuff, it's maddening.

I'm leaning towards a houge overmold rifle length. No attachment provisions.

 

[outdare]

I had a good experience with Odin works. They have key mod rails.

 

[Anger]

Lots of positive feedbacks in the UTG pro line, relatively inexpensive, made in usa. I prefer the superslim profile (top rail only) and the regular non-keymod is your best bet price wise. Keymod accessories are an awesome idea but you pay 20% more for the rail and the accessories are more too.

 

[Charlie]

I bought a free float front end with rails several years ago; top, bottom, and both sides, all the way back to front. Ninety percent more rails than I'll ever use. If I had a 2" or 3" rail on the end of the handguard on top and bottom, I'd have plenty. All those rails look good but I won't ever use what I got. 'Course then I had to buy rail covers!

 

[vmax]

I put a quad rail on mine and just cover them with snap on covers by magpul

That way, I don't have anything but a smooth surface, but if I need to I can go all tactical

I want to put a free floater on my 20"

 

[Mexican_Hippie]

I have this one from MI on a 556 and I love it. Light weight and feels nice but I can add rails where needed without taking it off. The vents let it cool off.

http://www.midwestindustriesinc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_ID=450

 

[Charlie]

Mine is vented as well, really like that.

 

[Mexican_Hippie]

Screwed a sling swivel stud on the front end with a rubber washer under it. Now I can throw on a standard Harris bipod if I ever wanted to.

 

[Anger]

I have this one from MI on a 556 and I love it. Light weight and feels nice but I can add rails where needed without taking it off. The vents let it cool off.

Midwest Industries: Gen2 SS-Series One Piece Free Float Handguard

I have two of these on two guns that have never been fired (12" and 7"). They are super light. Several people now have told me that the tabs on the bottom eventually meet flat and the fingers on the back eventually snap off with repeated removal cycles of the tube.

To me, UTG offers a similar weight for much less $$.

 

[Anger]

I put a quad rail on mine and just cover them with snap on covers by magpul

That way, I don't have anything but a smooth surface, but if I need to I can go all tactical

I want to put a free floater on my 20"

This setup never worked for me, the overall assembly feels way too big around to my hands.

 

[vmax]

This setup never worked for me, the overall assembly feels way too big around to my hands.

I hear ya, I have gorilla hands and it actually feels good to me

 

[dubbleA]

I have big hands, didn't want or need a bunch of rail but wanted the suppressor hidden under the hand guard on this SBR so I went with a JP. It's clean other that the removable AFG.

 

[Savage20]

Made in Texas. need I say more?

https://tbrci.com/product-category/upper-parts/

 

[TKG]

Another vote for the UTG Pro's. Much different than some of the chinese crap they've put out in the past. I have the original (non keymod) version and it was a great deal and with some MI panels, very comfortable. I'll post a pic tomorrow.

 

[vmax]

Another vote for the UTG Pro's. Much different than some of the chinese crap they've put out in the past. I have the original (non keymod) version and it was a great deal and with some MI panels, very comfortable. I'll post a pic tomorrow.

I've got one of those and it's stamped Made in USA

 

[AaronP220]

I think the Geissele SMR hand guards are some of the best in the business. They've got a HUGE Ti barrel nut, extremely precise fit, they're comfortable and they are pretty much bomb proof.

Here's my order of preferred hand guards...

1. Mega MKM (requires their upper though so it doesn't really count. It's EXTREMELY comfortable and robust).
2. Geissele SMR.
3. Primary Weapon Systems.
4. Knights Armament.
5. Wilson Combat T.R.I.M (most comfortable rail I've used other than the MKM.

 

[hoghunting]

I have the Midwest Industries 15" keymod hand guard on my 16" upper and it works wonderfully.

Midwest Industries: SSK-KeyMod Series One Piece Free Float Handguard

Anger... Several people now have told me that the tabs on the bottom eventually meet flat and the fingers on the back eventually snap off with repeated removal cycles of the tube.

Never had a problem with mine, don't understand the repeated removal, but the tabs are only to help align the handguard, you can align the rails on the receiver to the handguard. Mine have never broken, but I don't pry the handguard off either. I don't have a clue what the tabs eventually meet flat means, the MI handguard is the best one I've used.