I have a 20" A2 with the standard HG which to me feel cheap, so I would like to try out a rail system.

What brand is the upper/handgaurds?

The upper is a J&T Dist. I think, and I don't know what brand the handgaurds are. I'll try to get some pics tonight.

Most plastic hand guards are cheap.  Most are injection molded.  Colt uses compression molding which makes for a much better plastic parts.  Plastic is plastic and is never going to feel like wood or metal but it is the way these guns were designed.

I agree with the carbine and ACOG.. My wife can hit a 9" steel plate at 300 yards consistently with her Armalite M-15 A4 flat top and Holosight off the bench granted she shoots in this envirnment regulalry, so dont worry about the SHTF factor.

I have always believed people put way to much a emphasis on accuracy for SHTF puposes. Snipers and bench resters aside.

If you look at some of the most accomplished military snipers in history there weapons with few exceptions were not even 2 MOA.

To agree with the others AMMO, AMMO and more AMMO.. Shoot as often as you can afford and buy ammo like its not going to be available next week.

Valery Zaitsev the famed Stalingrad sniper used a stock Mosin rifle and a 3.5x scope I think.

Vassili Zaitsev

The museum in Stalingrad in his honor talks of his courage and craftsmanship. These are the things to hone.

He was a common goat herder with a natural talent. Initially he was thrust into battle with no weapon and then had nothing but a stock rifle with no optic.

Thanks..I knew I had the first name wrong...

My Neighbors brother in-law recently retired from the 3rd infantry division. He just purchased after years / decades of research if you will a RRA carbine w/ the Aimpoint and 3x coupler set up.  He believes scoped rifles are better used as a unit based set up. This being for combat conditions of course really.