Railed handguard or not?

[DirksterG30]

Help me decide - I am about set to buy my first AR- a RRA Elite CAR A4.
I can't decide on whether I should order it with a standard handguard or a quad-rail handguard.

I like the idea of having a vertical foregrip on the gun, and I probably would only hang a light on the rail, but what do you guys think? Do you prefer a rail or not? Is it comfortable to use with rail + railcovers if I don't have the vertical foregrip attached?

Does the vertical foregrip make it easier to shoot/more accurate, or is that more of a gimmick (I can see where it is necessary for FA M-16s/M-4s)?

 

[rem870]

Personally, I do not like a vertical foregrip. On a 16" barrel I prefer regular M4 handguards. This is just a personal preference. Others may like vertical foregrips, but it just isn't my cup of tea. The best advice I can give you is to find an AR with a vertical foregrip and compare it to one with standard handguards. In the end you are going to have to shoot it, so I cannot really tell you what you need, you will have to find out what suits your tastes and needs best.

 

[f4t9r]

I like the standard alot better
railed is ok if you want to put a bunch of stuff on it

 

[TIMC]

I bought my M-4gery with the standard handguard and added a rail to it later for the foregrip. I don't particularly like the 4 rail handguards.

 

[MechAg94]

I don't care for the vertical foregrip myself. Doesn't seem that it would feel right aiming the rifle that way. I haven't shot a rifle with it though.

I would go with the standard grips and then look into upgrading later if you don't like it.

 

[desert_scorpion]

It is a matter of personal preference, I personally own a Colt HBAR with the standard round stocks, and a Bushy with the Four rail 2-piece handguards. I like both for different reasons, however the four rail handguards with rail covers are plenty comfortable to use. And besides it gives one a variety of options as well, Like being able to mount a light, vertical grip, laser, or sling mount. As for the question of using a vertical grip, I personally like the additional grip it gives during during quick movement and rapid firing. As for the Colt with its round grips, I plan on in the future some time purchasing a set of full lenght four rail grips to give me more options with that rifle. Simply put buy one or the other, then buy a extra set of handguards. it gives you the best of both worlds.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

I prefer the rail system just because it gives me a common interface to add accessories and is much more solid than an aftermarket rail added to plastic handguards. I also like that it freefloats the barrel.

I would recommend trying a vertical grip first though; not everybody cares for them and if you do not like them then you can add a light to regular handguards with a SOTech light buckle ($14) and save yourself some money.