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AR15 Forend & Quad Rails F.A.Q.
Forends for AR15 style rifles are available in many
different style and configurations. To make it simple we will break it down
into 3
categories.
Basic 2 piece snap on handguard, 2 piece clamp on handguards and 1 piece
free float handguards.
Basic 2 piece snap on handguard - The
2 piece snap on forends is the same style as found on the old M16 rifle.
This is a 2 piece design
typically made of polymer
material that uses a round metal band for connecting
to the front sight base and then snaps in place to rear inside the delta
ring. These
are easy
to
install
as they do not require removal of the front iron sight and usually require
no special tools. They are lightweight, inexpensive and some units have
rails for mounting tactical accessories. These forends tend to have some
play and
may fit a little loose as the 2 pieces do not clamp together and have no
provision to keep them from moving.
2 piece clamp on handguards
- The 2 piece clamp handguards are
typically made of aluminum and they usually install in the same manner
as the 2 piece
snap on handguard except they are designed for the top and bottom half
to be clamped together which makes for a very nice solid mounting platform.
You can usually mount optics to these and they will hold zero.
1 piece free float handguards - Free
floating handguards are designed so that the barrel will ride inside the
handguard
tube without touching any surface except for the barrel nut. This design
offers the most accuracy benefits of all the forends because the free
float tube allows the barrel to resonate freely shot after shot providing
consistency
that is beneficial to accuracy. The free float handguard will usually
require an armorers wrench or other special tools to install. Depending
on the length of your gas system and length of the handguard, the gas block
on your rifle may be covered up partly or completely by the handguard. In
these situations your gas blocks must have a very low profile design so that
it can fit inside the handguard. You may also choose to set up your front
gas
block
so that it is completely uncovered
by the handguard. This is typically the option used when you plan on using
a front iron sight mounted to your gas block. Regardless of the type of handguard
used, the gas block will have to be removed in order to install the handguard.
The exception is if your rifle has a low profile gas block installed,
then the handguard can be fit without removal of the gas block. Various
manufactures use different methods for attaching their handguard including
new barrel nuts or locking
set screws.
Typically
free float handguards will be the most solid of all the forends and
ideal for attaching optics and accessories. These type of forends used to
be very heavy and bulky but companies like Jp Enterprise, Midwest Industries
and Troy Industries
have brought new designs to the marketplace that are extremely solid
yet lightweight. The other
consideration when selecting a handguard whether you
use a standard gas impingement system or gas piston type system. Most
handguards are designed specifically for use with standard AR15 gas inpingement
systems but there are several companies that do offer forends which are
designed to accept some gas piston systems. Those handguards will have extra
room on the inside to accommodate the reciprocating piston.
With the increased popularity for the AR15 family of rifles,
the consumer can benefit from an amazing variety of handguard options for
their rifles which include multiple colors, various materials, multi-rail
setups, single rail setups, smooth handguards, different shape handguards
and much more. Also make sure that you choose the appropriate handguard for
your specific caliber rifle. AR15 and AR10/AR308 handguards are not compatible.
We carry a wide variety of handguards for most applications so please feel
free
to contact us
and we will be happy to help you select a handguard to fit your specific
needs.