help me pick a handguard

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - help me pick a handguard

Posted: 1/30/2016 6:32:58 PM EDT

I'm doing some changes to my 16'' rifle. Turning it into a dissipator. I had a Midwest inc 9'' hand guard but I put that on my 10.5'' pistol build. and I have a Magpul STR stock on it currently which I'm changing out for an ACS. Now I still need to decide on a hand guard and I have it narrowed down to 2.

This is basically what I'm going for besides the hand guard

Option 1 on the hand guards- MI G3 M-series FF
http://www.midwestindustriesinc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_ID=2469

or option 2- MI SP-series FF
http://www.midwestindustriesinc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_ID=2519

So what do you guys think?? Also I'm getting a Surefire Warden, so keep that in mind

Posted: 1/30/2016 6:55:21 PM EDT

[#1]

I have a MI G3 M-LOK rail. I will be ordering more of them

They are slim, lightweight, has numerous integral QD's, anti-rotation feature and all at a price that is great.

Can't go wrong with one of them IMHO.

Posted: 1/30/2016 7:02:14 PM EDT

[#2]

Cosmeticaly I like the SP series
Functionally I like the M series The thinner one will be lighter too.

Posted: 1/30/2016 7:47:49 PM EDT

[#3]

I think the SP looks nice and clean. But both my other rifles have MI T series gen 2 which have small holes along the rails like the M series. And I like when all my stuff matches a little bit. This really is killing me

Posted: 1/31/2016 12:53:53 PM EDT

[#4]

I have to say I do like the looks of the SP series, but the lack of QD slots and the added weight are certainly something to consider. Both are good choices in my opinion and I am a satisfied MI customer with my 15" SS Gen2.

Posted: 1/31/2016 4:59:31 PM EDT

[#5]

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I have to say I do like the looks of the SP series, but the lack of QD slots and the added weight are certainly something to consider. Both are good choices in my opinion and I am a satisfied MI customer with my 15" SS Gen2.

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Yea I like that one too. I recently put 2 15" and a 12" SS Gen2s on for 3 different friends rifles

Posted: 1/31/2016 6:33:10 PM EDT

[#6]

They don't look to bad, but I would personally recommend Bravo Company keymod hand guard. I have had MI and Troy alpha rails, and my BCM is my favorite. Light weight, and solid on the receiver.

Posted: 1/31/2016 11:04:15 PM EDT

[#7]

I vote Gen3 but there would be two reasons to go with the SP series: 1) if the warden is less than 1.75" OD and you want to be able to take off the handguard without taking off the warden and 2) you intend to shroud a suppressor in the future.

Otherwise, I think the regular Gen3 M series is the way to go, bc of lighter weight and narrower outside diameter. The outside diameter of the Gen3 is narrower than the inside diameter of the SP. To me, that is a big deal.

So ask yourself when and how are you going to be using the rifle, and base your decision on that. ...but idk what the diameter of the warden is, if the warden is less than 1.3" (which is the inside diameter of the gen3 m series) or you don't care about having to take it off to take off the handguard then defintiley go with the gen3 m series.

ETA - the biggest reason to go with the gen3 m series is that you dont have to time the barrel nut....huge plus!

Posted: 2/2/2016 10:21:46 AM EDT

[#8]

Quote History

Quoted:
ETA - the biggest reason to go with the gen3 m series is that you dont have to time the barrel nut....huge plus!

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I did not realize that. That might of just Ben muy selling point!

Posted: 2/3/2016 2:06:10 PM EDT

[#9]

Quote History

Quoted:
They don't look to bad, but I would personally recommend Bravo Company keymod hand guard. I have had MI and Troy alpha rails, and my BCM is my favorite. Light weight, and solid on the receiver.http://

View Quote

+1 to this. I've tried to keep up to date with handguard design for the last 5 years. Currently, I consider Bravo Company's KMR line (magnesium alloy) to be the very best. For starters, they are the lightest among the many common brands. My KMR10 with titanium nut weighs 5.6 oz total, and it neatly covers a middy lo-pro gas block. Quality is excellent and the barrel nut doesn't require indexing for the gas tube. Cost was high, over 3 hundred counting the extra Ti nut, but worth it for a lightweight build. - CW

Posted: 2/3/2016 7:52:30 PM EDT

[#10]

I just ordered the MI KeyMod 12' rail. Hopefully I'll get it next week and get some pics up for you.

Posted: 2/3/2016 11:19:06 PM EDT

[#11]

Be gone, shill - Eric802

Posted: 2/3/2016 11:27:06 PM EDT

[#12]

Be gone, shill - Eric802

Posted: 2/3/2016 11:40:22 PM EDT

[#13]

Edited - Eric802

Posted: 2/4/2016 8:25:01 AM EDT

[#14]

The big difference here is 1.5" OD vs. 2" OD.

That's a choice only you can make for what suits you.

Posted: 2/4/2016 12:08:51 PM EDT

[#15]

Quote History

Quoted:
yea MI handguards are still in the expensive range...I hate to say this, but I kinda wish another company would make something very similar and charge a lower price. There is no reason for an aluminium handguard to cost $200 and [DELETED] is a little bit of evidence of this fact. ...let the bad mojo rain down upon me.

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Quoted:

Quoted:
I had a Midwest industries hand guard and it was good but I recently purchased a mid length keymod rail from a company I'm affiliated with that I'm shilling for. I was a bit skeptical because how cheap it was however it has turned out to be a great purchase. Really durable hand guard with a steel barrel nut, Defiantly worth it.

yea MI handguards are still in the expensive range...I hate to say this, but I kinda wish another company would make something very similar and charge a lower price. There is no reason for an aluminium handguard to cost $200 and [DELETED] is a little bit of evidence of this fact. ...let the bad mojo rain down upon me.

There is when it's designed and made inside the US. Midwest Industries makes quality parts at a competitive price. The Company you and keaton are referencing is selling no-name Chinese knockofffs of name-brand, quality parts.

OP, for what it's worth, I prefer the slimmer handguards so I like the G3s better.

Posted: 2/4/2016 1:24:45 PM EDT

[#16]

Quote History

Quoted:

There is when it's designed and made inside the US. Midwest Industries makes quality parts at a competitive price. The Company you and keaton are referencing is selling no-name Chinese knockofffs of name-brand, quality parts.

OP, for what it's worth, I prefer the slimmer handguards so I like the G3s better.

View Quote View All Quotes

View All Quotes

Quote History

Quoted:

Quoted:
I had a Midwest industries hand guard and it was good but I recently purchased a mid length keymod rail from a company I'm affiliated with that I'm shilling for. I was a bit skeptical because how cheap it was however it has turned out to be a great purchase. Really durable hand guard with a steel barrel nut, Defiantly worth it.

yea MI handguards are still in the expensive range...I hate to say this, but I kinda wish another company would make something very similar and charge a lower price. There is no reason for an aluminium handguard to cost $200 and [DELETED] is a little bit of evidence of this fact. ...let the bad mojo rain down upon me.

There is when it's designed and made inside the US. Midwest Industries makes quality parts at a competitive price. The Company you and keaton are referencing is selling no-name Chinese knockofffs of name-brand, quality parts.

OP, for what it's worth, I prefer the slimmer handguards so I like the G3s better.

I really like MI's G3 rail. They really are not getting the credit they deserve.

Lightweight -- check
Slim -- check
Numerous intergral QD's -- check
M-Lok or Keymod flavors-- check
Anti-rotation feature -- check
Timing-less barrel nut -- check
Relatively inexpensive -- check
Made in USA -- check

Best new rail on the market IMHO. Hell, every QD you add to any other rail, picatinny, M-Lok or Keymod, will add an additional ~$20 for each one (as well as more parts), and MI's come standard with 5 QD's. If one wanted to add that many QD's to another manufacturer's handguard, you'd be looking at ~$100 on top of your rail purchase.

Until something "better"comes along, the G3 handguard will be used for all my builds from here on out.

Posted: 2/4/2016 6:29:23 PM EDT

[#17]

I decided on the M-series. should be getting delivered tomorrow along with an ACS stock.

Also, I didn't expect it to ship that fast, this morning I saw it should be getting delivered tomorrow and I'm still missing my optic. I wanted to wait a little bit for the optic but I just had to have everything NOW. so I paid like 8 bucks for one day shipping on a Vortex viper 1-4 MOA and mount. Christmas in February tomorrow :)

AND going back to the Midwest/cheapo debate, I love Midwest and all of their products. They have some of the best looking handguards around IMO and especially being made it the USA they definitely have good prices compared to a lot. I've built 7 rifles... 6 have had a MI handguard and the other had a Magpul MOE on it.

Posted: 2/5/2016 12:01:47 AM EDT

[#18]

I used a G3 on my 300 blk build, and love it.

Im very tempted to replace my Rainier Arms Quad rail with another G3 on my 5.56 build

Posted: 2/5/2016 8:39:47 PM EDT

[#19]

well here it is and I'm in love!
My plan:

My result:

Still have plans to get a Surefire warcomp flash hider

Posted: 2/5/2016 9:13:52 PM EDT

[#20]

Looks good, what scope is that?

Posted: 2/5/2016 9:31:23 PM EDT

[#21]

Quote History

Quoted:
Looks good, what scope is that?

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Vortex Viper PST 1-4x24 I love the reticle on this guy! and I'm really liking Vortex as a whole. currently also have Vortex Sparc 2 and planning on getting their Viper PST 6-24x50

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - help me pick a handguard

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