converting to free floating handguard with factory barrel

[helz_mcfugly]

I just ordered my free floating handguard for my bushmaster flat top ar15 16" barrel. Im just wondering if anyone else has converted to free floating with the factory barrel and if your groups have improved and if so how much.

 

[FlyinBryan]

ive never converted one or owned one with a full floating barrel but i was at the range on sunday and there was this guy with an ar with a full floating barrel and his groups were,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,oh wait,,,,,,,,,,,,,you were between me and him so you already know this story.

 

[FlyinBryan]

im interested to see where this goes since you ordered me and dave one too.

oh by the way, im ordering an armorers wrench and an action block to do um with.

 

[GunDoctor]

Works. well. I put them on all the time

 

[brian923]

its been done tons of times, with both factory and aftermarket barrels. the other great thing about it is that , if you are at least a little confident about your use with handtools, you can do a lot of up-grades and mods to your AR. have fun, and most of all....................POST PICS!!!!!!!

 

[feedthehogs]

I've got a bushy 20" Target and a Bushy Varminter with a free float hand guard.

At a 100 yard comparison between the two since the flat top Varminter has a scope and the target has iron sites so longer distances with my eyes on the iron sites is foolish, they both shoot dime size groups from a rest with numerous one holers with hand loaded 62 grn.

My Bushy DCM with standard hand guard out shoots both the other ones. Different twist rate though.

 

[DnPRK]

It seems like a million years ago (1984) when I had a skinny-barreled Colt SP1. I found that by varying tension on the handguard, it would open groups to 9" at 100 yds. If I used the magazine as a monopod without touching the handguard, it would shoot <1" groups. At the next gunshow, I bought a then new-on-the-market one piece aluminum free float tube, the kind you installed with a strap wrench. The next range session, the SP1 was shooting <1" no matter how much tension I put on the FFT. I've been a believer in FFTs ever since.

 

[Onmilo]

Yet another short answer.
If you have a good barrel to begin with, free floating the handguard will only improve the barrel qualities.

If you have a substandard barrel, the results won't be so dramatic.

Contrary to what the internet experts on some sites will tell you,
Bushmaster offers some very, very good barrels.

 

[helz_mcfugly]

the only AR ive ever had is a Bushy and from what ive seen of the others its up there in the high quality range. Ive had my hands on some Ar's that felt like they were going to fall apart they were so floppy. and Ive heard more good then bad about the bushy barrels. The internet experts should just stick to being experts of the internet and leave firearm wisdom to the firearm experts.

 

[skinewmexico]

I did, but I never checked the groups after.

 

[FlyinBryan]

Contrary to what the internet experts on some sites will tell you,
Bushmaster offers some very, very good barrels.

i agree,,,,,,,,these are the barrels we are putting the free float tubes on.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=392277

the thread starter also ordered the same floater kits for me and my brother.

if they improve on these groups by a measurable amount i will be thrilled.



if not the original thread poster will be scorned and ridiculed till our throats are sore.

 

[helz_mcfugly]

the results will be posted on a new thread after this weekend.

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=396586