School me on FF handguards

[nisils14]

I've been looking at some rifle length FF handguards to have a longer sight radius. I have one question in mind, how is the durability of a FF handguard? With a FF handguard obviously only being supported by a single point. How prone is it to bending, breaking, etc? I won't be banging the rifle around but I was wondering this raises in concern in terms of ultimate durability. Also any recommendations in brands of handguards, a few in particular that I like were the Daniel Defense MFR, JP VTAC.

[ray1970]

This free float rail by Daniel Defense seems to hold up quite well. The Aimpoint really impressed me more than anything in this video.

6YzXLSK5u_w

[Batteriesnare]

Buy a Troy Alpha and you'll never look back. Unless you feel like carrying several extra ounces/pounds for unused quad rail, in which case DD is probably your best bet.

[BPTactical]

You get what you pay for. For your premium dollar you get lighter, stronger and impeccably engineered products that fit well.
Troy, Larue, DD all good bits.
For the cost conscious crowd Yankee Hill Machine, Midwest Industries are decent bits as well..

[00tec]

I have a Yankee Hill diamond on my rifle, I don't see it being practical to spend much more than that on one. I know they get lighter, but $200+, no thanks.

I don't see bending or breaking the thing unless you are swinging it from the buttstock like a baseball bat.

[cebeu]

"...any recommendations in brands of handguards,

I run a DD Omega (7.0) and while I've not beat the hell out of my carbine it's been solid. For absolutely no good reason I have been looking into a Centurion (http://www.centurionarms.net/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=123&Itemid=154) C-4 Carbine Cutout recently, all nice products, and Troy of course.

[Skully]

This free float rail by Daniel Defense seems to hold up quite well. The Aimpoint really impressed me more than anything in this video.




That was a good video, seen it before and what they do to that carbine was killer. I like the drop from the helicopter. FF rails are a lot stronger I think than the standard handguard with cap system. The video Ray posted shows how much abuse the FF rail can take. Unless you plan on doing that to your rifle I think you should be pretty safe with any of the FF systems out there.


I have had almost all of the FF hand-guards. I personally do not like full quad rails just cause I never used all that space.

I have had TROY, Midwest, and YHM.

YHM and Midwest for the price are great but I found they are a little heavier than others.

TROY is great product, currently I have VLTOR and Samson and actually like SAMSON a little more than the older TROY that used their own barrel nut. TROY now has the Alpha versions that use the standard barrel nut so they are pretty equal now. Plan on using a new Alpha TROY FF rail for my next build.

Daniel Defense everything I see and have heard are great product but the price for me at least, is very unnecessary. I also have heard great things about CENTURION but again they are pretty pricey.

[SideShow Bob]

If you are concerned with bending a FF guard and throwing off your front sight, you can go with a railed gas block or an A-2 front sight base mounted to the barrel in front of the FF.
This will add an extra inch or two to the sight radius, and be a rock solid front sight.

[Wiggity]

Daniel Defense RIS II FTW




http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t95/Knifejester/181e5478.jpg

[ray1970]

I've tried many of them. I agree with others that a full quad rail is pretty much a waste for me. I do like a full top rail to give me flexibility with optics. Besides the top rail, a couple of smaller sections to maybe put a light or forward grip is all I would need. I am partial to the Troy TRX or Alpha ones but the Midwest Industries ones are a good bargain for the price. I recently picked up my first VLTOR handguard and really like it except for the fact that finding optics mounts to co-witness with the iron sights are difficult. Here are a couple of pictures. The top is the VLTOR CASV-M and the bottom one is the Troy TRX Extreme.

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m98/rjs1970/utf-8BSU1HLTIwMTIwNjAxLTAwNDAxLmpwZw.jpg

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m98/rjs1970/utf-8BSU1HLTIwMTEwMzIwLTAwMTMzLmpwZw.jpg

[Hoser]

I am partial to LaRue and PRI. Both very solid and light. They are easy to install.

As a bonus both companies are very easy to work with.

[ray1970]

I am partial to LaRue and PRI. Both very solid and light. They are easy to install.

As a bonus both companies charge a premium price for their product.

There. Fixed it for you. [Coffee]




Great products but a little spendy for my lifestyle. If you have the means and desire to buy them, you can't go wrong with either. [Awesom]

[jmg8550]

I did this to mine, looks stock from the outside. It is a midlength.

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x191/jmg8550/CustomMid-Lengthfreefloattube001.jpg
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x191/jmg8550/CustomMid-Lengthfreefloattube002.jpg
http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x191/jmg8550/CustomMid-Lengthfreefloattube003.jpg

[nisils14]

I did this to mine, looks stock from the outside. It is a midlength.


I'm not seeing what you did there.

[ray1970]

I'm not seeing what you did there.

Looks like someone took a DCM rifle type free-float tube and retrofitted it to a mid-length barrel to me.

[nisils14]

http://files.sharenator.com/i_see_what_you_did_there_RE_Anyone_else_see_it_RE_ I_AM_NOT_DIXLESIC-s450x545-95526-580.jpg

[jmg8550]

That free float handguard tube was originally for a full length handguard. They don't make one for a mid length. I had to modify it by shortening and rewelding.

Those free float tubes are for service rifle competitions since the rifle has to appear stock. The stock handguards go over it.

Just thought I would show you another option since most assume a free float is a quad rail type.

[Great-Kazoo]

Looks like someone took a DCM rifle type free-float tube and retrofitted it to a mid-length barrel to me.


Thats what he did, interesting project and very cost friendly from go.

I have a few MI drop in rails. YHM FF, Troy, samson etc. Not really a full quad rail guy, however if you act quickly when posted for sale ,used has been very wallet friendly for me. I scored a YHM quad carbine, ball milled the top and installed on my AA SBR for less than 1/3 the price of new.

[ray1970]

I have a few MI drop in rails

I had one of those too. It went on easy and had zero movement once installed. Good deal for the money. My only complaint about it was that it was a bit fat, especially with rail covers. Going used is definitely a good way to get a decent handguard on a tight budget. Lots of people buy one and then change their mind and buy something else.

Here is one of the Midwest Industries drop-in units.

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m98/rjs1970/utf-8BSU1HLTIwMTEwNjA1LTAwMzQxLmpwZw.jpg

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m98/rjs1970/utf-8BSU1HLTIwMTEwNjE1LTAwMzczLmpwZw.jpg

[Cylinder Head]

Kac URX III rail is excellent and gives enough rail space to mount what you would.

[Twinscrewed05gt]

The Seekins BAR & SAR are pretty nice...light from heavy scalloping, but still strong. I think they look great and are also right around the $200, which isn't too bad.

[20X11]

Drop by Bowers Tactical and check out the Troy Alphas, etc. Their pricing is good, service is impeccable, and you can see/hold/feel for yourself. Plus they probably have a rifle or two laying around with them so you can get the full MOUNTED experience. They also treat even a "newb" like myself as a valued customer.

[whiskeyjack]

VTAC/JP are really good
http://www.jprifles.com/1.4.4_hg_mod.php

[AirbornePathogen]

I have a LaRue 7" free float rail on mine, and love it. No significant weight difference between it and the MOE handguards I used to have.

http://www.laruetactical.com/larue-tactical-70-handguard-lt15-7

[King]

I have a spikes/seekins BAR. its one big rail. I like it and it looks sweet but isnt that practical unless you are running a can. Now I really like the vtac trx rail. Sleek, light, and simple.

[Sharpienads]

I just ordered a Centurion Arms C4 Carbine FSP cutout (http://www.centurionarms.net/index.php?option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=177). I'll let you know how it is once i get, get it installed, and run a few rounds with it.
http://www.aimsurplus.com/eos/images/product//large_XCENT0609CC1.jpg

[nisils14]

I decided on a 11" samson guard, so hopefully it work well. It seems like quality piece. now if it'll just show up at my door step.

[Kaiser.Shooter]

I decided on a 11" samson guard, so hopefully it work well. It seems like quality piece. now if it'll just show up at my door step.

did you pick a samson evo 11"?
I just ordered one to give it a try

[nisils14]

did you pick a samson evo 11"?
I just ordered one to give it a try


Yes

[Skully]

Yes


I love my Samson evo rail, it fits beautifully and better in some ways than a Troy. I have the 11" as well.

Here it is on an upper;
http://i394.photobucket.com/albums/pp29/SkullyandRoxy/firearms/SkullysToyMK19.jpg

[Sharpienads]

I got my Centurion Arms C4 Carbine Cutout yesterday. It was easy to install and is super sturdy. Here's a few pics:

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m591/Sharpienads/Rail1-1.jpg

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m591/Sharpienads/Rail2.jpg

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m591/Sharpienads/Rail3.jpg

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m591/Sharpienads/Rail4.jpg

http://i1133.photobucket.com/albums/m591/Sharpienads/Rail5.jpg

[Skully]

I got my Centurion Arms C4 Carbine Cutout yesterday. It was easy to install and is super sturdy. Here's a few pics:



Looks good, very nice! [Beer]

I really like the Centurion C4 rails, but just cannot figure out why they are more than TROY or SAMSON. I also don't need all the rail real estate. Why I haven't taken the plunge on one, ....yet. [Tooth]

[20X11]

Whatcha gonna fill 4 extra feet if rail space with?

[Sharpienads]

Whatcha gonna fill 4 extra feet if rail space with?

Something tacti-cool, of course.

[NightCat]

I'm using a Troy 11" Bravo Rail.

http://www.weaponsandgear.com/pictures/_T/_Troy/STRXBR111BT00_1.jpg

I'll get pics up soon.

[Skully]

Something tacti-cool, of course.

Light, laser, bottle opener, and then leave the other side for grading fresh parmesan cheese for your camping spaghetti. [Coffee]

[Sharpienads]

Light, laser, bottle opener, and then leave the other side for grading fresh parmesan cheese for your camping spaghetti. [Coffee]

And some sort of quick detach carry system for an MRE spoon. Standard.

[nisils14]

Don't forget tactical matches and tinder. You never know when you need a fire, best to carry it on your rails.

[EKJ]

I've tried many of them. I agree with others that a full quad rail is pretty much a waste for me. I do like a full top rail to give me flexibility with optics. Besides the top rail, a couple of smaller sections to maybe put a light or forward grip is all I would need. I am partial to the Troy TRX or Alpha ones but the Midwest Industries ones are a good bargain for the price. I recently picked up my first VLTOR handguard and really like it except for the fact that finding optics mounts to co-witness with the iron sights are difficult. Here are a couple of pictures. The top is the VLTOR CASV-M and the bottom one is the Troy TRX Extreme.

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m98/rjs1970/utf-8BSU1HLTIwMTIwNjAxLTAwNDAxLmpwZw.jpg

http://i102.photobucket.com/albums/m98/rjs1970/utf-8BSU1HLTIwMTEwMzIwLTAwMTMzLmpwZw.jpg
What length barrel is that with what length troy? Looks good![Beer]

[Skully]

What length barrel is that with what length troy? Looks good![Beer]

That looks like the barrel is 16" that would be a 15" battlerail.

[kwando]

Daniel Defense RIS II FTW




http://i158.photobucket.com/albums/t95/Knifejester/181e5478.jpg

What fwd grip is that?

[Skully]

What fwd grip is that?

MAGPUL RVG grip with an AFG with the back cut to the shape of an RVG and then mounted up close to each other....... [Coffee]