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Posted: 9/13/2026 8:15:25 PM EDT
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Crazy. I love them. I never thought the day I try one would ever come but it did and I was mind blown. Its girthy, stays cool and most importantly it exposes bad shooters who rely on their weight to control the rifle rather than using posture. So why are we and the military ditching these? |
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You mean the good old plastic handguards? Probably because of free float and wanting to attach a bunch of stuff out on the handguard. I personally prefer the plastic clamshell handguards over the fancy stuff though.  I have exactly 1 AR out of 11 with a free float rail and it's a Colt 6940.
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Originally Posted By 556Cliff: You mean the good old plastic handguards? Probably because of free float and wanting to attach a bunch of stuff out on the handguard. I personally prefer the plastic clamshell handguards over the fancy stuff though. I have exactly 1 AR out of 11 with a free float rail and it's a Colt 6940.This |
GOA, Florida Carry
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Going? Done gone. Where have you been? Cause it’s not 1990 anymore and we have better shit to put on them. Nothing wrong with them for most shooters, but they aren’t anywhere as light weight comparatively as you think they are if they have heat shields and FSB etc. Plastic handguards don’t expose poor shooters. That’s fucking nonsense lol |
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Originally Posted By KorneoDahGreat: Crazy. I love them. I never thought the day I try one would ever come but it did and I was mind blown. Its girthy, stays cool and most importantly it exposes bad shooters who rely on their weight to control the rifle rather than using posture. So why are we and the military ditching these? The fuck boomer shit is this? Sorry but not sorry. The world has moved on because tech moved on. Laser designators. NV. Lights. As well as improved accuracy happened. In 2000 plastic was still common. By 2005 rails everywhere. |
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We need our nightlights. I have a kinda crossover bushmaster from the day. It’s got 2 little rail sections you can bolt up to its thicc clam. Attached File I need to shoot that more. Always liked it, it’s one of the first piston uppers out there, over a bushy lower. |
If life was easy nobody would quit.
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Originally Posted By KorneoDahGreat: Crazy. I love them. I never thought the day I try one would ever come but it did and I was mind blown. Its girthy, stays cool and most importantly it exposes bad shooters who rely on their weight to control the rifle rather than using posture. So why are we and the military ditching these? That’s great that you love them, and I have a couple on shoot by walking on top for fun guns. But what do you actually use your rifle for? The military and law-enforcement use rails because they need to attach enablers like white lights, IR lights, lasers and thermals. In the real world, identifying and killing threats before they identify (and kill) you is the whole point of having a rifle. Yes, positive identification of targets so you don’t shoot your own people is kind of important too. |
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Why has the US Military moved away from muzzle loaders? I love them. They stay cool, save ammo, and expose bad shooters who rely on needing more than one round. Crazy. |
Practice, the master of all things. - Augustus
IG: @cqbr.kurdt
Want To Buy: Savannah Mk18 RIS II in light blonde/bronze - LMT SOPMOD Gen 1 Tan - Geissele S3G
IG: @cqbr.kurdt
Want To Buy: Savannah Mk18 RIS II in light blonde/bronze - LMT SOPMOD Gen 1 Tan - Geissele S3G
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I just got a PSA 20in upper for preservation purposes. Now I need a bayonet. |
The “Three Stupid” Rule: “Do not go to stupid places, with stupid people, and do stupid things”
Religion is a handy device for keeping the philosophically deficient in line.
Religion is a handy device for keeping the philosophically deficient in line.
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Heh, run an FRT in the modern aluminum handguard, and you discover real fast; by about the third mag, the appeal of the plastic handguard. I'll say that. Otherwise, Hope you keep a glove in your kit or are running a forward pistol grip. Which is cool, but more shit hanging off your gun or stuff to keep up with. Most people don't. |
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Plastic handguards have their place on retro rifles and range toys. Other than that, they're very much sub-optimal. Originally Posted By Claytonhoneyberry: Lots of ridiculous justifications in here with zero data to back it up. Just sayin… So, just another day on arfcom...
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Don't forget about the Trail of Beers Happy Hour!
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Originally Posted By Claytonhoneyberry: Lots of ridiculous justifications in here with zero data to back it up. Just sayin… "I want one" Seems like an awesome justification to me. 😎 |
The “Three Stupid” Rule: “Do not go to stupid places, with stupid people, and do stupid things”
Religion is a handy device for keeping the philosophically deficient in line.
Religion is a handy device for keeping the philosophically deficient in line.
| It is interesting how we don't see more heatshields with metal handguards. I know the Issued mil handguards have them and for good reason. Maybe with the explosion of FRT's we'll start seeing them make a comeback. And I'm talking the built in one's not the wraps and such |
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Originally Posted By Stillnothere: It is interesting how we don't see more heatshields with metal handguards. I know the Issued mil handguards have them and for good reason. Maybe with the explosion of FRT's we'll start seeing them make a comeback. And I'm talking the built in one's not the wraps and such Agree… That’s one of the things I really like about the 6940 is that it has riveted in place aluminum heat shields. |
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They went away with it years ago. The title makes it sound like it’s a recent decision. I would say since the intro of the m4a1 they never had plastic handguards again. I think the main reason is to mount accessories on the rifle though there isn’t any sort of official source as to the reason. I think the first was the m16a4 to feature the kac rail and then sometime at that point the m4a1 was released with the kac rail. Here’s my take on why they went with a pic rail for the m16a4. When they changed the carry handle to the acog they wanted to still carry the carry handle so what better way than to have the carry handle mounted on the side of the rails. This way you can quickly change out the acog to the carry handle under pressure. At the time they didn’t really have all that much accessories to put in the pic rail other than some grips. |
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Originally Posted By dalle0001: They went away with it years ago. The title makes it sound like it's a recent decision. I would say since the intro of the m4a1 they never had plastic handguards again. I think the main reason is to mount accessories on the rifle though there isn't any sort of official source as to the reason. I think the first was the m16a4 to feature the kac rail and then sometime at that point the m4a1 was released with the kac rail. Here's my take on why they went with a pic rail for the m16a4. When they changed the carry handle to the acog they wanted to still carry the carry handle so what better way than to have the carry handle mounted on the side of the rails. This way you can quickly change out the acog to the carry handle under pressure. At the time they didn't really have all that much accessories to put in the pic rail other than some grips. Never saw anyone haul around a carry handle either...though I'm sure it happened. That's not really the way the military would make the decision to field quad rails. |
Your boos mean nothing, I've seen what makes you cheer
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Originally Posted By dalle0001: They went away with it years ago. The title makes it sound like it’s a recent decision. I would say since the intro of the m4a1 they never had plastic handguards again. I think the main reason is to mount accessories on the rifle though there isn’t any sort of official source as to the reason. I think the first was the m16a4 to feature the kac rail and then sometime at that point the m4a1 was released with the kac rail. Here’s my take on why they went with a pic rail for the m16a4. When they changed the carry handle to the acog they wanted to still carry the carry handle so what better way than to have the carry handle mounted on the side of the rails. This way you can quickly change out the acog to the carry handle under pressure. At the time they didn’t really have all that much accessories to put in the pic rail other than some grips. The military didn't issue quad rails so that soldiers could carry their rifle like a suitcase and keep it as a BUIS. Just because accessories weren't commonly issued doesn't mean that HSLD types didn't have them. "I like horses, they don't take gas and they're nice and quiet. Why would anyone want to go away from them?" The entire premise of OPs threads is to troll tech. Someone should do something about that. |
Malcolm X was right about liberals.
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Originally Posted By LeadBreakfast: The military didn't issue quad rails so that soldiers could carry their rifle like a suitcase and keep it as a BUIS. Just because accessories weren't commonly issued doesn't mean that HSLD types didn't have them. "I like horses, they don't take gas and they're nice and quiet. Why would anyone want to go away from them?" The entire premise of OPs threads is to troll tech. Someone should do something about that. M4a1 had the backing of the sopmod accessories for approved accessories. Even then once it was integrated to the big army, no known accessories list existed for “regular” troops. But the marines m16a4 sort of just came with the quad rail with no approved accessories that I could find. Basically they released the quad rail either as a future proof situation and/or there is some missing documentation as to what expected items could go on the quad rail. I guess what I’m saying here is that my guess is as good as anyone’s else because we’re all just guessing. Perhaps some more educated than others but still they are all speculations. I would say this could absolutely be a tech thread since we have a few members who was around during the time switch. We have cold blue for the m16a2 adoption but no one really here for the m16a4. I’d be interested to know what the quad rail switch was intended for exactly. At the time they didn’t have a whole lot of things to put on there even for a regular troop to use other than a grip or someplace to keep your carry handle sight. |
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Originally Posted By dalle0001: M4a1 had the backing of the sopmod accessories for approved accessories. Even then once it was integrated to the big army, no known accessories list existed for "regular" troops. But the marines m16a4 sort of just came with the quad rail with no approved accessories that I could find. Basically they released the quad rail either as a future proof situation and/or there is some missing documentation as to what expected items could go on the quad rail. I guess what I'm saying here is that my guess is as good as anyone's else because we're all just guessing. Perhaps some more educated than others but still they are all speculations. I would say this could absolutely be a tech thread since we have a few members who was around during the time switch. We have cold blue for the m16a2 adoption but no one really here for the m16a4. I'd be interested to know what the quad rail switch was intended for exactly. At the time they didn't have a whole lot of things to put on there even for a regular troop to use other than a grip or someplace to keep your carry handle sight. |
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Originally Posted By RolandofGilead: I was around during the switch. We were issued PEQ-15s as I already mentioned. I was watching an interview with a former Marine who was talking about them getting issued PEQ-2 during his deployment and them not ever having been trained on how to use it. I assume he was telling the truth but I wasn't sure when the 15 started rolling out. What year did you guys start getting your A4's? I love that we have people with personal experience in so many of these changes. |
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Originally Posted By JellyBelly: "I want one" Seems like an awesome justification to me. 😎 Originally Posted By JellyBelly: Originally Posted By Claytonhoneyberry: Lots of ridiculous justifications in here with zero data to back it up. Just sayin… "I want one" Seems like an awesome justification to me. 😎 Wanting one doesn’t need any justification. Saying they make you a better shooter does need data to back that particular justification. |
Your painted rifle is ugly, but I’m uglier, so send it to me and I’ll make it look good!
If it weren’t for double standards, we’d have no standards at all.
If it weren’t for double standards, we’d have no standards at all.
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Originally Posted By Vague: I was watching an interview with a former Marine who was talking about them getting issued PEQ-2 during his deployment and them not ever having been trained on how to use it. I assume he was telling the truth but I wasn't sure when the 15 started rolling out. What year did you guys start getting your A4's? I love that we have people with personal experience in so many of these changes. I was trained in the basics of PEQ employment in '07, but my unit was not issued them since we were not combat arms. |
Your boos mean nothing, I've seen what makes you cheer
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Originally Posted By dalle0001: They went away with it years ago. The title makes it sound like it’s a recent decision. I would say since the intro of the m4a1 they never had plastic handguards again. I think the main reason is to mount accessories on the rifle though there isn’t any sort of official source as to the reason. I think the first was the m16a4 to feature the kac rail and then sometime at that point the m4a1 was released with the kac rail. Here’s my take on why they went with a pic rail for the m16a4. When they changed the carry handle to the acog they wanted to still carry the carry handle so what better way than to have the carry handle mounted on the side of the rails. This way you can quickly change out the acog to the carry handle under pressure. At the time they didn’t really have all that much accessories to put in the pic rail other than some grips. RIS/RAS came out as a solution to guys having to hose clamp and ad hoc shit to get lights and lasers on their rifles. Dudes that were issued ACOGs bolted their carry handles onto the rail of their rifle to avoid losing it, and having to pay for it later, or because some NCO told them to as policy. Either way, it's dumb, same as having to shift the carry handle sight to fit the gun in existing racks. Now, the real question for this thread is whether or not the M4 RAS is considered a clamshell handguard as per the OP's premise. |
| As early as 2001 (?), the Air Force started replacing the old fiberglass handguards with RAS/RIS on A2's and M4's. The other branches were probably ahead of us. The Air Force hasn't gotten weapons stuff first since the original M16. The Army and Marines always get that shit first. |
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LaRue Armorer, Colt 1911 Armorer, Colt M16/AR15 Armorer, Glock Armorer
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Originally Posted By CATM: As early as 2001 (?), the Air Force started replacing the old fiberglass handguards with RAS/RIS on A2's and M4's. The other branches were probably ahead of us. The Air Force hasn't gotten weapons stuff first since the original M16. The Army and Marines always get that shit first. Good food and AC v. new guns. USAF. Aim High. |
GOA, Florida Carry
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Originally Posted By RolandofGilead: I was around during the switch. We were issued PEQ-15s as I already mentioned.
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Arfcom Callsign: Meth
Never tell a bride, with dogshit on her dress, to "chillax"
Never tell a bride, with dogshit on her dress, to "chillax"
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Originally Posted By Deadtired: Nonsense. The Marines got M5 RAS so they had somewhere to mount their carry handles after they were issued ACOGs.
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Your boos mean nothing, I've seen what makes you cheer
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Originally Posted By CATM: As early as 2001 (?), the Air Force started replacing the old fiberglass handguards with RAS/RIS on A2's and M4's. The other branches were probably ahead of us. The Air Force hasn't gotten weapons stuff first since the original M16. The Army and Marines always get that shit first. |
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Here's Trey Knight speaking on what happened to the clam shell and Knight's RIS/RAS rail. Video starts at 1:15:06. Live Q or Die Podcast | Episode 69 | Trey Knight | Part One |
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I haven't handled any rail handguard yet that are as ergonomic as an A2 style handguard, they all feel like crap because they're round cylinders not oval and tapered like the plastic handguards. But if you need an IR laser then you need one. I never found lack of free floating to be an issue for me. |
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