I wanted to upgrade my handguards but the free floating ones are kinda pricey and I don’t have any experience with them. What are people’s favorite handguards? I would like to be able to mount a IR laser to the front end.
i only run free floating handguards these days… i think in total i have maybe 1 with traditional handguards at this time. I’ve got a lot of favorite different free floating handgaurds so it just depends on the look im going for, but one of my favorites in the hand guards side is Geisselle handguards. .they are awesome… pricey but awesome.
Yeah once you free yourself from the barrel you’ll have so many more options and freedom of lengths. As for what I like best, meh? They’re all pretty similar. I prefer M1913 rail on top, but I’m not a stickler for full-length or not. Depends how much weight I want. M-LOK 3/6/9 o’clock as a minimum, on the 45 degrees in-between is a nice bonus. Skinny feels nicer to my hand, but doesn’t always work over adjustable gas blocks, especially over the amazing Riflespeed block. For a system, I thought the Aero M4E1 Enhanced where the handguard screws into an extended upper receiver is super secure at the expense of being portly. Don’t care about QD slots because I attach steel QD cups to avoid tearing out the aluminum.
Maybe someone has a strong preference, but M-LOK is more comfortable and lightweight than quad-rail, and that’s about as far as I worry about it. Find something that’ll fit your upper without breaking the bank and give it a shot. You didn’t mention if you have a front sight block or not, but if so you’ll have to pick a handguard with a cutout for it.
I’m a little confused…a handguard is kind of pricey, but you want to buy IR equipment?
It may be more cost-effective to buy another complete upper with your desired handguard. YMMV.
Are you talking about using an upper with a mil spec front sight? Because if you are, I hope you have the tools for the job. You you will spend as much as a budget PSA handguard upper for the tools needed. This is on sale for 260 + tax now
PSA 16" Mid-Length 5.56 NATO 1:7 Nitride Timber Creek Enforcer 15" M-Lok Upper - Without BCG or CH
If you just want a laser, you can get a Magpul MOE drop in handguard that will allow you to attach whatever you want.
In order to give you a fair recommendation you need to set a price you are willing to pay…
Least to comfortable to OMG too expensive…
also what length are you wanting, that does have a key factor in a suggestion and cost…
If you are mounting an IR laser then I am to assume it is to be a fighting rifle …yes.
I personally have been using Midwest Industries for 15+ years…
They are TOP quality and duty proven, not the cheapest but not the most expensive either…I trust my life to them…
Remember 3 points…
Will you Trust your life to your equipment…
Buy Cheap get cheap…
Buy once…cry once…and never look back.
To give you some idea on how many there are to choose from…
https://midwestindustriesinc.com/gun-type/ar-15-accessories/ar-tactical-handguards/
For cost, my concern is wanting to buy once/cry once and not chase 10 different latest and greatest that is common with gear.
The Midwest ones (NIghtfighter, Combat, and 2 piece free float) are the ones I was looking at and the cost is OK. And I am always considering if there is a PSA option when shopping just to support the work they are doing in the industry.
As for the latest and greatest (that is a constant in the gun world), that’s one I don’t worry about with the MI handguards…if you really want to change them out, the nice thing is you wouldn’t have to change the barrel nut each time, for the most part they stay with the same design… most of the time…and you can always sell the old one on arfcom if you want too… I have done it a few times.
As for your choices, I would not go with the 2 pc freefloat if I am getting your intentions for the rifle correct…that handguard was designed with a specific purpose in mind. It is for those in commie states that have to pin and weld the muzzle devices on. That way they can have a Freefloat handguard as well without having to go to a gunsmith… A one piece would be better suited for you I think.
With all due respect to PSA on their handguards, of which I have two of them, although one of them did not match up to the upper receiver, they are adequate and work for the intended purpose, … I am guessing you are looking for a bit more if you are going to mount a IR laser on it…Anyway hope it helps…
Magpul MOE all the things. AKs and AR platforms. Thank me later.
I always found PSA’s handguards to be quite good for the $, meaning I don’t find the more expensive brands to offer any real improvement other than the sex appeal of an expensive, designer brand handguard. I’m not knocking brands like Geissele/Midwest Industry/VLTOR/etc, but they command a hefty $. I used to think ALG (Geissele’s daughters company, and mostly known for their AR and AK triggers) had some good handguards for the $.