AR15 Handguard Perspectives and Complaints UPDATE

[lazyengineer]

UPDATE:
Breaking the handguard down into its different components and intended use, I'd like to hear people's feedback on the various design points.

I. Handguard attachment method to the upper receiver

• Standard Mil Spec barrel nut and handguard cap attachment, non free-floated, nut requires armorer's wrench with teeth
  
• Threaded free-float nut with holes for gas tube with external threads for featureless straight tube
  
• Handguard clamps to upper receiver 1913 rail, free float
  
• Cylinder free float nut with flats for common wrenches, handguard clamps to nut
  
• Cylinder free float nut with wrench flats, handguard screws to nut with set screws
  
• Non Mil Spec upper with independent handguard attachment with set screws, with wrench flat barrel nut underneath that doesn't contact
  
• Non Mil Spec upper with independent barrel nut and pipe fitting style screw attachment of face to face
  
• Monolithic welded handguard to upper
  
• Monolithic billet
  

II. Handguard shape and human interface

• Conical bakelite prototypes
  
• Triangular 2-piece with handguard cap
  
• Ribbed A2
  
• Ribbed carbine
  
• Cylinder aluminum tube
  
• Ribbed dual heat shield M4
  
• KAC RIS/RAS 4x1913 rails
  
• SIR
  
• 1913 12 o'clock, streamlined tube with vent holes
  
• 1913 12 o'clock, streamlined, with 3,6,9 shortchanged rail sections up front
  [*]1913 12 o'clock, octagonal cross section
  

III. Handguard adaptability to sling attachment, aiming and illumination device interface

• [*]Sling attachment via QD sockets, how many QD socket options
  
• White Light attachment and activation options (pressure switch vs tailcap)
  
• IR Laser Aiming Module and activation with or without White Light/IR filtered white light
  
• Bipod attachment ease of mounting, stud vs 1913 clamp-on, swivel post

IV. Handguard resistance to deviation from alignment with the barrel



V. Handguard Material

• Wood
  
• Bakelite
  
• Glass nylon with aluminum heat shields
  
• 6061 Tubular aluminum
  
• 6061 aluminum extrusions
  
• Al/Mg alloy
  
• Al/Li alloy
  
• Billet 7075T6
  
• Billet 6061
  
• Carbon fiber
  

When it comes to handguards, I have favorites for different settings and configurations. All of this is of course IMHO, and we all have our preferences.

For 20" National match, I quite like the classic A2 plastic handguards, over a free float tube.

For 20" AR Tactical, where I will run a bipod (and where Grendel really shines in that 600 yard course), I like a more typical modern aluminum handguard, free floated of course.

For M4 style level high speed rapid fire, at a sustained high rate of fire, I've learned the hard way that the nifty bare aluminum handguards become too hot to hold onto after about the 3rd magazine. And for anything select fire or othewise intended to be able to do 90 rounds of fire in one or 2 minutes, a heat shield and plastic is the way to go. The Magpul line is excellent, for the reasons already stated.

For general purpose patrol-rifle M4, my own bias these days is for a very light weight comfortable build, that's easy to maintain. For me, running something like a skinny FAXON Gunner Profile, or Pencil profile. When made here in modern times with our modern high QC metalurgy, machining, finish, and stress relieving, , I've personally found skinny barrels can deliver excellent accuracy and excellent sustained accuracy even when hot. Which was something not to be expected, even 10 years go. So to that end, with a more KISS but with features (ha, no contradictions there), on a patrol rifle general purpose build, I've grown to really like this particuar handguard, from PSA of all places.

https://palmettostatearmory.com/psa-cust...guard.html

I particularly like this unit because:
-Extremely light weight.
-Middy length is plenty long for the longest I typically hold my rifle (I've never been one to reach out past the gas block on how I use my gear, personally). But longer than the 7" carbine length, which really is too small and short.
-Yet it stops just short of the gas-block, which allows access to maintenance of the block. With the more common adjustable blocks these days, they tend to sieze up adjustability, unless stroked or accessed. And sometimes one wants to pull off the gas-block, which now can be done without screwing with removing the handguard. And just a personal preference, but I actually like my gas block exposed.
-Has machined in QD points on both sides, with ratchet components even. Meaning closer to KISS, since I don't have to add an addition mass of a sling addition point, the holes are already there. I like this.
-Diameter. I like the smooth and skinny surface and diameter, and find it very comfortable and prefered for my particular hands.
-Free float. It comes with a barrel nut, and attaches only to the barrel nut.
-Stable generation. PSA went through seveal steps of generation with securing systems, with earlier ones rotating when hot, etc. This one has little ears that revent rotation, and a lock point to prevent sliding back and forth. Simple, yet secure.
-Expandable, if I want more rail, it's very easy to M-Lock add particularly what I want, and only add that. I don't care for the look, weight, or feel of unutilized rail-space, personally.
-Value - this is actually a high quality well machined and well finished handguard, that is sold at PSA prices.

Here is what it looks like on my current patrol rifle configuration, which is my favorite overall general 16" M4 .223. On this one, I run a low-blast but still effective BCM break, that I also just love. I run the same handguard on my 14.5" pin and weld Grendel.

(gun in background is an MDRx. I like bullpups, I like 6.5, that's the only 6.5 bullpup ya can get)