[Uncle Alvah]

To get right to the rat killing, I'm considering changing out the VLTOR CASV handguard on my AR.

Aside from the ability to add picatinny segments for accessories and such, what makes one free-float handguard better than another?

I was looking at the different ones available and they vary widely in price!

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Some common variances in different free-float handguards:

1. Weight
2. How they install (remove barrel nut or use existing barrel nut)
3. Rails (or lack of them)
4. Type of rails - 1913, Weaver, or "manufacturer special"
5. Material used - various grades of aluminium, carbon fiber, polymer
6. Anti-rotation features

[Z-Michigan]

It's hard to add much to Roberts' fast reply.

To state the obvious, you get what you pay for with rail handguards. The cheap ones tend to be large, heavy, and out of spec.

[Uncle Alvah]

you get what you pay for with rail handguards

Agreed, as with anything.
However, I'm having trouble sorting through the suitability of, say, a $90 DPMS Carbon tube FF and a LaRue $300 unit (which is what some folks have told me I "need").

This is the rifle as purchased.

http://i18.photobucket.com/albums/b134/UncleAlvah1/DSCF0512.jpg

I'm looking to either lose the ACOG, or the CASV. Because the ACOG is too high. I'm leaning toward keeping the sight and outfitting the gun with just a simple FF handguard, like the DPMS perhaps.

[Z-Michigan]

What do you want to do with the rifle?

I mistakenly assumed you wanted rail handguards vs. considering FF tubes generally, and my comments were more on point for quadrail setups. Without rails, a $30 aluminum FF tube works fine if you want to do simple target shooting and aren't too weight sensitive, and don't plan to attach anything. It's not especially big and has nothing to be out of spec, but it is heavier than some options and the cheapest ones are not ventilated. It's when you want to attach things or have fancier needs that the differences become more important.

[Uncle Alvah]

I mistakenly assumed you wanted rail handguards

Well, they are nice to have I suppose, but, truth be told, I've removed all the picatinny segments from the gun, I'm not much on lights, lasers or whatever.

What do you want to do with the rifle?

Bought it as shown, looking to make it a bit more suitable for dusting eastern coyotes:mad: brought to call.