Thoughts on AR handguard add on rails

[Shifty]

My AR has stock carbine handguards and an m4 contour barrel and is already more accurate than I am capable. Even the non freefloat railed handguards are kinda pricey...... So my question is, for mounting a light in the 10 o'clock position, would a bolt on 2.5 inch rail be a decent option? Does anyone have any experience with this type of thing? Positive and negative feedback welcome and appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Auto426]

I'd swap the stock round hand guards for Magpul units. The carbine length hand guards are about $30, and !agpul sells a bolt on scout light mount for about $10 that works with a number of Surfire lights. They also have a set of mounts designed to work with a Surfire pressure switch.

 

[MrCleanOK]

I have been down the "bolt stuff to stuff that is bolted to carbine handguards" road, and I didn't like it. There are more elegant solutions out there to achieve what you want to do. In order of my preference, given your starting point, you could:

Do this to mount directly to a carbine handguard.

Or switch to the inexpensive MOE handguard, and use a dedicated light mount or rail section.

Or this, to mount a light to your front sight base.

 

[Shifty]

Thanks for the replies gentlemen. Will keep an eye out for a good price on the Magpul. Not a huge fan of its look, but it appears light and comfortable.

 

[Destructo6]

Vtac makes a pretty nice offset light mount that could attach to a top-mounted rail section and put the light at about 10 O'clock.

A short rail section mounted to the standard handguards.

Not the best way, but it should work and it is not too expensive.

$140 should get you a decent railed handguard.