to float or not

[Soybomb]

I'm building at ar for use at the range and potentially as a shotgun replacement at home. I'm thinking 16" barrel, mid length gas system, rifle length sights, an eotech on top, and perhaps a flash light if it is for home use. I don't see using it past 100 yards too often. I think the standard hand guards are kind of ugly in this configuration and I'm tempted to put something like the larue's on there but for the shooting I describe, usually off hand, are the full float rails really going to get me much more than looks for $300?

 

[Outlaws]

If you are not looking to shoot well under sub MOA, a floated handguard offers nothing. And in a self defense rifle, a nice tight .5 MOA group does nothing better than a 2 MOA vertical string.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

In my experience, a free-floated handguard cuts around 0.5MOA off your group at 100yds using military quality ammo if you can get a nice stable position (bench or prone).

The rail systems generally keep the rifle cooler though (aluminium transfers heat better and many, though not all, railed handguards have better ventilation) and make it easy to add accessories in the future (lights, bipods, sling swivel where I want, lasers, sights, etc.)

The Larue are generally considered a top-notch product; but there are also some good values out there with other brands. YHM makes a nice lightweight handguard that is affordable (~$173 IIRC).

 

[Soybomb]

Thanks, I'll look into the yhm, it might be a good compromise. I see cmmg lists both a standard and light weight rifle length rail from them.

Would there even be an easy way to put a light on a full length standard hand guard setup?

On a side note cmmg is talking about the "M10 multi-role barrel" on their dissapator style models. Does anyone know if its heavier than the m4 profile or about the same? I'm trying to keep things relatively light.

 

[rbernie]

I switched from floated handguards back to regular handguards for my basic field carbines, specifically to save on weight located forward of the magwell. They don't run lights or vertical grips or get used as high-precision long range tools, so the utility of a float tube is generally lost upon them anyway and they handle 'faster' with less weight forward.

 

[taliv]

what bart said, except i thought they were a lot cheaper. I think I only paid about $70 for my YHM customizable rifle-length forearm.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

Would there even be an easy way to put a light on a full length standard hand guard setup?

You can use a small section of rail fastened to the handguard and then a scope ring or dedicated flashlight mount like the Vltor for around $30-50 minus flashlight cost. You can also use a nylon flashlight buckle like the Sotech Universal Flashlight buckle ($14). This mounts the light at 4:30 or 7:30.

Not sure about the weight of the M10 barrel. You'd have to ask CMMG. A 16" lightweight barrel is about 1.9lbs. A 16" M4 is about 2.2lbs. A 16" HBAR is about 2.7lbs.

 

[Zero Knives]

Falcon makes a nice aluminum rail that fastens perfectly on the standard handguards. I mounted a 7" rail on both a Colt Carbine and Sporter and they were tight and dependable. A bit pricey at $28, but better than the cheapo polymer ones you find at most gun shows.

One note about the YHM customizable handguards: they get a bit warm without rails/rail covers. I have the non-floated version with only a 6 o'clock rail and it gets a tad toasty when I monopod the foregrip. But hey, it's Texas, heat is what we do...