AR handguard quad rail quality

LarryFlew

New member
Questioning whether "better quality" means much for quad rail free floating hand guards. IE guards for $50 vs $150 when both are free floaters what kind of differences are we talking?
 
Over all weight, quality of material used and machining accuracy are what you pay for generally. YHM and MI make a good product that is not overly priced.
 
Handguards

FWIW

When I bought my first AR from Fulton Armory the guy told me that it had a Yankee Hill three piece free float tube which is supposedly better than a two piece. Why? I have no clue but they wrote the book, literally, so I'll take their word at it till I hear a valid argument otherwise.

Sail
 
Larry this is going to be one of those personal choice issues. I went with a UTG MOE quad rail for $59.95, it fit with no problems and went on in a snap. I used the two piece instead of a free float model.

If your going to fight a war overseas I probably recomend a Daniel Defense hand rail, nice looking and better materials, but not needed for my use.

$59.95 or $289.95 it's your choice and budget.
Jim
 
My problem is with a builder that insists his free float is better than another free float with a price difference of over $50. Picture wise they both look about the same, both are aluminum and both are free float. I was and am inclined to think they are enough the same to go with saving $50. Expensive one is single pc and cheaper one is 2 pc.
 
This is the cheap two piece.

Jim

SAM_0263.jpg



You can up grade any time you want the parts are all interchangable.
 
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No two or three peice free floats is correct. Why do you want a free float on a carbine?


This is a free float

IMG_0481.jpg


You may have to remove your gas port to install a free float, specially if you have the A2 front sight.
 
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I understand what free float is but several out there that are 2 pc say they are free float so wondering why a 2 pc could not be made as 2 pc that go together and the attach at the receiver/upper?
 
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hence the "I understand what free float is" but that didn't answer the 2 pc question or those that claim their 2 pc is free float. IE one claims the 2 pcs go together and then attach to the upper and that they are free float so my question is why can't that be true? It would appear that the attachment part would be the same as a 1 pc free float.
 
If I understand what you are asking:

To be truly "free float", the quad must be attached to the receiver. I imagine if there are 2 piece kits that are claimed to be free floating, it is because that when assembled, the 2 halves are locked together rock solid securely, and connected to the upper reciever, rock solid as well.
 
Technically it doesn't touch the barrel, only point of contact is the gas port on your rifle, true free float would not touch any part of the barrel assembly. I do not think accuracy would be effected unless you are shooting 600 meter or longer then your AR will not look anything like a AR, I have seen some of them and they look like something from outerspace.


Just my 5 and 1/2 cents.
Jim
 
There are indeed actual 2 pc free floating handguards. They lock to the barrel nut- the Daniel Defense Omega Rail is a good example of this type, and very high quality. Midwest Industries also has one that requires chopping off the delta ring with a Dremel, but it would also free float without much trouble.

The quality differences are usually centered around the rails being in spec (the cheaper it is, the more often I hear about out of spec rails), weight (cheaper = heavier), the quality of the finish, and the profile (higher end ones have a more ovoid profile, which fits the hand better).

Quite honestly, free floating a tactical style AR isn't all that necessary. You aren't generally going to pick up much accuracy, but you will spend more. If you want to attach things, with the way the Magpul MOE is, I have a hard time recommending the less expensive (sub-$150 or so) rail systems. They aren't going to do the job any better and they'll work just fine for a forward grip and weapon light.
 
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