Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles What's the best way to get a "warm" forend/handguard?

Aluminum forend handguards seem awfully cold in the winter. What's the best thing to have a warmer forend?

Hogue overmolded seems awfully fat, something slimmer would be nicer.

Hmmmm?

Gloves?

Carbon Fiber.

Haven't tried one (yet) but looks sound:

http://www.uniquetek.com/site/696296/product/T1471


I can think of a few older integrally suppressed sub guns that had leather lace on wraps on the can so quite a few different ways you can get to where you want to be on the issue.

Magpul MOE maybe?

I've been looking into this a little too and so far it seems like the carbon fiber tubes or a NM Service Rifle tube & handguards are the only ways to go. I'm thinking the Clark is probably the lightest, but will it stand up to sling use?
Another one I see people praise is the AP Custom.

I don't see the Armalite fiberglass tube on their website anymore.

would plastic hand guards would be that much better?

Maybe it's the texture or finish but the BCM KMR handguard doesn't seem to feel as cold as aluminum. It's a blend of almuinum and magnesium alloy and super light weight. A very nice and simple handguard for anyone looking.

I have used �vet wrap� in white on aluminum hand guards. It does a good job of insulating your hand from the cold hand guards when the temps drop down below 0. The last time I used it I was able to find a roll with printed on snow camo. It work like a charm but will hold in moisture so not a permanent fix.

http://ads.midwayusa.com/product/17..._ci_google-_-pf_ci_google-_-pf_ci_google

This

Also have carbon fiber, its not that much warmer to my touch bare handed when the gun gets cold.

Hogue overmold? That would be my bet but I'm generally wearing some gloves when it gets cool enough to matter.

Gloves just don't get it. AL will soak the heat right out of them when you get down in the 20s. Makes me wish that even the D-ring was made of wood!

Fleece wrap would work or black pipe insulation tape

A2 handguards stay warm.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Gloves and mittens already here, but when it's below zero, metal sure gets cold anyway.

Next step will simply be closed-cell foam pipe insulation.

The Clark Custom is a lightweight, rigid as hell FFT. Should handle any kind of sling use you put it through, it has an aluminum backer behind the stud. The only weakness might be the epoxy used to join the tube to the barrel nut. I rough both up and degrease well and use devcon steel epoxy and acraglas a time or two and have had no problems.

Carbon fiber is much better in cold weather than ANY aluminum hand guard (IMO of course).

HTI Skid Plate
http://ustacticalsupply.com/htisniperskidplate.aspx

Pull the trigger rapidly.

could you duct tape some of those chemical hand warmers to the tube? I am sure it would not look pretty...

Honest I don't suffer from -30 degree weather so don't really know. However my rifle is usually on my lap or on my shoulder when I am hunting I only have to hold it briefly...

That looks pretty slick there.

It does a darn good job keeping your hand from freezing even though it's not the intended purpose.