Home Forums Hunting & Shooting AR and Tactical Rifles Handguard decisions on build

Well I have almost all the spare parts just laying around to build a few different ar’s. Mostly decent quality parts

Round 1

Gonna build a 350 legend rifle for Ohio deer hunting and maybe some hog hunting. Kids can use it as well

A1 stock
BCM upper and PSA lower (custom green anodizing on them)
Wilson combat barrel(16” with thread protector)


Let’s pick a handguard??

Prefer mlok. Free float. 13-15”. Light weight or at least not chunky

Prefer barrel nuts that don’t require timed but that’s not a deal breaker

What’s your thoughts

Aero,the one without a full pic rail.
Think it called the Atlas.

I had looked at the atlas S

I like aero products!

UTG pro got good reviews, w note that the supplied screws sucked. Indeed, the factory upgrade to diff screws still sucked.
Odd metric deal, ordered some from diff source and had to dress em down ( torx- stainless ) and then Gunkoted em.
Decent now

Buds have Atlas. Slick setup.

I gotta remind myself I don’t need geissele lol. Doesn’t mean I don’t want one

This gun ain’t going into combat
And deer don’t need vertical grips or lights

I could also go free float tube sans mlok I guess

Lighter weight for this build is definitely a priority

The a1 stock was given to me free because the recoil pad plastic that goes around the storage compartment was cracked. It’s a colt vintage the mid 80s. Came with spring buffer and rifle length tube Wasn’t in great shape. I can fix that though

Gotta track down a top screw for the recoil pad still

Fixed recoil pad plastic with jb weld. Sanded and it is good to go now

Sanded stock because it had been painted. Gonna paint it aervoe FDE or coyote or some kinda green. That’s up in the air still color wise

This is a mix and match build!!!!

Function and form. Not beauty

I got a diamondback mlok 15" free float for $45 at Primary Arms last summer. Works fine for me. They have a lot of sales

I am trying to learn this stuff, what makes one handguard $50 and one $200?

Materials
Coatings
Rigidity
Complexity

But probably
Mostly marketing and name

Same reason folks buy a Harley instead of a honda

Have you seen the price of Hondas lately? 😊

Marketing and branding have a lot to do with the cost - the name sells sometimes mo' betta than the product qualities do.

But - reality, the cost difference is alloy of the metal used - better alloy, more cost - you'll pull accessories off of cheap rails when the soft metal gives way.

Complexity of the handguard - how much machining does it take to make the tube, cut the rails, any mounting points for slings, etc.

Proprietary parts - to use "our rail", you have to use "our barrel nut", or "our barrel nut wrench" - or both.

Hardware - cheap rails "generally" have cheap hardware - either off-sized (the one metric allen wrench you don't have), or are soft metal - they strip out in the head, or in the rail mounts - as noted above.

An noted - metal finish - "hard anodized" verses "baked on" verses "painted" - they all have a different half-life.

Its doesn't take a "combat tour" to have some of these problems show up - it can be as simple as bump going to and from the range, or in and out of the truck.

Good question. If I were in your shoes and wanted a good handguard for a BCM upper, I'd look at buying a BCM handguard. You said 15", look at the MCMR. Its an excellent handguard. Very tough, yet lightweight and slim. I'm running a KMR on my BCM. That is the key mod version, and I like it. Be warned though, you need a heat gun to mount it to the receiver:


If you are wanting a more budget friendly handguard that also works very well, look up KM Tactical. They have some nice ones at very reasonable prices (under $100). Here's one that does not need to be timed and locks up very securely on the upper:



This one in particular was less than $90. I used it and it works great. Fit up was good, but there was a slight misalignment with the rail:

Not too noticeable, but it was there. I think that is where you see the price difference in hanguards. More attention to detail is met with the upper end stuff. Like Troy, BCM and Noveske..

One thing that needs to be said about the UTG pro series is they are made in the USA. Or at least they were when I bought the one for my Armalite. It seems to be a good handguard, but is a little sharp. Not quite like a cheese grater, but still a little sharp.


They aren't bad for the money..

BTDT. After buying my S&W performance center and finding the barrel loose because those idiots didn't tighten down the barrel nut. Scary huh? I tried to find a damn barrel nut wrench for that Alpha rail with no damn luck. I made one that works very well, but before cutting this one out, I ordered one on line. I didn't want to wait a week to shoot my new rifle, so I cut this one out with the plasma..:


After that ordeal, I prefer a barrel nut that takes a crescent wrench or standard sized wrench.. My Noveske NSR's just use a 27mm or 1 1/16" open end wrench.

I like the 13” BCM mcmr in FDE as the receiver set is anodized green

So that could be cool

Can’t find in stock anywhere though.

Some of them are Chinesium junk. Some of them aren't.

Replace "name" with "reputation based on years of producing high quality products".

I buy "the name" all the time. Because of what all has gone into building that name.

If you can handle it being a little on the heavy side, WOA's handguards are very good & are a best value at $140, but you will need a tool unless you can make something work.

Rugged, smooth & a very good steel barrel nut.

I've used a couple of them now.

MM

Truest post ever made Blue.

Yeah, the UTG pro was US made but the screws were junk.
They sent me the new style quick ( exc customer service ) but the new screws also sucked.

Had to go outside the loop to get it right.
Think I spent 13 bucks total for the fix. Plus my time.

I like torx better anyway. The heads were a little smaller but hell theres 6 of em and they were close enough in dia.

May upgrade to an Aero. Its just a backup yote rifle so proly dont need to waste more money on it.

That's a nice looking handguard. I didn't have any issues with my screws.

I got one of those km tactical float tubes you were talking about. I got the one you have to time. But the two shims the supplied worked perfect.

Hey, I thought that looked familiar on your new build. That m lok looks great on that rifle. You'll have to keep us updated on how it holds up. What are your initial impressions of it? Price is very reasonable.

I was impressed with fit and finish now how durable will
It be?? I don’t know I’m not one for hucking my rifle across the yard to test the durability. I truly don’t know what guys do on here to test the durability on such items?

Well I rolled a 4 wheeler with one stuck in the rack on the handlebars. Figured that was a good test but one I don’t wish to repeat…

Yeah, me neither. I was hoping you are a little harder on your stuff than I am. At most, I use a bi-pod for shooting from the bench, or prone, but that is about it. I don't hang big heavy flashlights off the handguards or any other tacticool device on them. I'm a minimalist in that regard. I actually sold the NSR look alike and made a profit at one of my clubs gunshows. I decided to keep the one without the full rail. Both great handguards, as far as I could tell.. Damn hard to beat the price tag too. I know I posted this before in another thread, but a buddy and I were at an AR shop and saw some handguards for $270.00+. There wasn't a damn bit of difference between the one I paid $87 for and those, except for who made it. Both handguards made in the USA as well... Keep us posted buddy..

That would have been a good thread. Pictures would have been great too.

That was an unintentional check on durability.. my bud a several yrs ago just graduated AIT he reclassed. Anyhow takes leave before he has to report to ft hood. Heads home to Idaho goes deer hunting with friends. He’s putting along a road on a wheeler, somehow manages to roll wheeler. He had his Kimber rifle, he broke his leg and cracked the stock. He layed up their for few hours until his hunting partners found him. Sent the rifle back to Kimber and they put a new stock on it along with a new barrel. Another unintentional check on durability lol. Oh and he got out of hood assignment they sent him to Carson closest installation cause he ended up in Utah to surgery on his leg.

Good luck that missing Hood I think. We used to shoot at Hood a lot. That was another damn hot and dry dusty place.. Did I mention it was hot.

79S & BSA,

I don't see any weight listed on that rail.

Did either of you weigh the ones you've used before installing it?

MM

Dang, I did not. I will say it was very comparable to my Noveske rails. For a long time, those NSR's were the chidt and known for being very light. A 15" NSR weighed in around 11-12 ozs with the steel barrel nut. The knockoffs are so similar to the Noveske rails, it isn't even funny. I also believe they are made in the USA.

OK, thanks.

MM

I got 16 ounces on my scale. I ordered another a few days ago it showed up today. Remembered to weigh this time.

You must like them if you ordered another one. I like mine as well... You should try the half rail next time..

I can't remember who was wanting $270 for the same exact thing.... ????? This one pictured was only $90. I went to this style because the ones that are timed, can be a biotch sometimes. That includes the $250 Noveske NSR's.. You guys already know that though..

I prefer full rail keeps it service rifle legal. Can’t use half rails for service rifle setup.. Not my rules, CMP/NRA rules.

Ah, I see. Good thing they don't make you shooot old school schidt huh? ha ha..



This would be a fun one. Remember when they looked like this? You up late man. What you doing? Stoking the fire? Just put some coal on it and go back to sleep....

It’s only midnight up here, some guys still use the ol A2 platforms, like you have. But majority now use optics with A2 hand guards on a float tubes. I just prefer the free float hand guards.

Yeah, I hear you on that. The freefloat handuards help with accuracy. This old Colt does pretty good though with its A2 handguard. I won't change it any time soon. How's the weather been down there? Figured you'd be showed in by now. Probably cold a fu ck there anyway. 19 deg. F here now.. Probably much colder where you live.

Currently balmy 19 degrees and it snowed some yesterday not a whole lot though. Been a decent winter up here, we did go a week of of -15 type weather that sucked lol

Midwest Industries makes good rails MiUSA