FAL Handguards

[Robert]

So at the last match I shot my FAL and found the barrel gets very, very hot. So hot that I could not really touch the handguards. I have the DSA "mil spec" handguards and they look great on the rifle, but function takes place over form. I had the thought of lining them with really heavy duty tin foil, sort of a poor mans heat shield but keeping all the heat around the barrel can not be a good thing. I could drill more air holes in them to promote airflow over the barrel. Or I could do both. What do ya'll think?

I have been kicking around the idea of throwing the DSA float tube on there, yeah I know it is not a true float tube because it clamps to the barrel. Be that as it may it has a larger volume and sits farther off the barrel. Does anyone have real world experience with these and are they worth it?

 

[Steve in Allentown]

I have the DSA float tube on a medium contour barrel SA58. The float tube adds a noticeable amount of weight to the front of the rifle. Some guys use adhesive backed foil from the plumbing section of the hardware store. Some use tin snips to fashion heat shields from roof flashing. Some guys replace the plastic handguards with wooden Israeli light barrel handguards.

Personally, I think DSA could make money by designing a completely new set of handguards with built in heat deflectors like those on the M-16.

 

[Robert]

Personally, I think DSA could make money by designing a completely new set of handguards with built in heat deflectors like those on the M-16.

Agreed.

Israeli light barrel handguards.

Does anyone know where to find these? All the places I know are out of the complete handguards. The have the wood inserts for them but not the complete assemblies. I love the look of the Izzy guards and would love to have a set.

 

[evan price]

Ha ha, check out the "chicken mitt" on FAL files.

 

[powermad]

I picked up a set of Aussie HG's for $35
200 rounds in less than an hour and while they got warm I did not have to put a glove on.