4 Rail and Free Floater on H-Bar

[evilamerican]

Hi Guys,

I am looking to convert my Colt H-Bar to a free float with the rails instead of hand guards similar to my 308 SASS. Who has the best available set up to do this? Who has the best price on it? Is this a newbie project or will I need a pro? Special tools?

Also...

What about a stock to go with it?

Thanks,

Dave

[Daniel187]

I like the LaRue but its around $300. but looks sweet. Best place to get it would be there site, because they trow a bunch of cool stuff in the box too. like a bottle opener and a hat.

[BadShot]

LaRue is first choice for this type of setup.. Daniel Defense second, Troy third .. and if weight isn't an issue but price is more of one then Midwest Industries. You can send your upper to LaRue and they'll mount the rail for you, several DD rails require a proprietary wrench, but are do-able on your own, Troy I'm not sure about, and MI just requires that you cut the Delta ring and spring off (dremel's rule) ...

DD and Troy can run a bit more than LaRue and as stated, LaRue shwag rulez!

[Colorado Osprey]

I've heard good things about the FIRSH from Olympic too.

$110 for a carbine, $136 for a rifle.
As easy as installing a free float tube.


http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k175/ColoradoOsprey/firsh.jpg

Simple tube design with rails.


But,
That depends on what you're looking for. If all you care about is a place to hang a flashlight.... However, there are several advantages to the LaRue...

1. The top rail lines up perfectly with the top rail of the receiver. I have yet to see a FIRSH that does this properly
2. Weight.... FIRSH rails are well built, but heavy. LaRue and Daniel Defense both make a sturdy product that weighs considerably less than the FIRSH
3. Indexing... the FIRSH rail leaves it up to you to index it. If you want your rails at some kind of un-typical configuration, this is great. If you want them at the normal 12/3/6/9 o'clock locations, the larue and dan def have indexing pins to insure that a) it doesn't move, and b) it's in the right place. The FIRSH only has two allen head screws (that strip or break the washers easily) to clamp onto the barrel nut. It works, but is not nearly as sturdy in my opinion
4. "tube" size... the FIRSH is made basically as a free float tube with rails on it. It's round, in other words. LaRue and DD both have their rails designed more as an oval. They are slimmer and fit tighter to the barrel, but the top rail is "higher" than the others to allow it to line up with the receiver rail

[Dr_Fwd]

I like DD more than LaRue...

[sniper7]

Go to ar15.com and check out the ar15 forum and then under build it yourself.

You will see how to take off a front sight and install the rail yourself. I did a piece on there about cutting off the delta ring and putting on a midwest industries 2 piece free float. You save yourself the hassle of removing the front sight.

Now if you have a low profile gas block it is a piece of cake, if not you will have to either punch out the pins and take the front sight off, or if you want to get an extended rail that goes over the gas block, then just cut down the front sight with a dremel and put the rail over it and it won't be seen.

Midwest Industries makes a 2 piece rail that requires you cut off the delta ring. I bought one and I think next time I will spend the extra money and get a Daniel Defense or better off a Larue rail.
Samson maufacturing also does some nice rails.

Price wise and quality wise I say larue wins with DD coming in close behind them.

Check out the ar15.com piece first before you buy and see what you are getting yourself into.

[sniper7]

I forgot to add Yankee Hill Machine (YHM). I have a couple guns with their rails and they are of good quality although they have a very very minor hint of purpleish to them (not bad at all but I really like the solid black annodized finish most other rails have...and you pay for it.)

They range from $90-140 for the carbine through rifle lengths I believe. Check Del-ton.com aimsurplus.com and they should have what you are looking for.

[evilamerican]

I like the LaRue but its around $300. but looks sweet. Best place to get it would be there site, because they trow a bunch of cool stuff in the box too. like a bottle opener and a hat.

Got the new toys coming. Damn, it's easy to drop a grand there. Looks to be good stuff though.

[Daniel187]

post some pics when you get it all buttoned up