Anybody have one of these? Opinions?

Its okay, but the Fulton Armory version is better.

Chris

In what ways is the Fulton Armory forend better than the BMAS?

I have a BMAS carbine forend and it is extremely solid and functional.  I have read other posts on this board of people criticizing the BMAS forend but I think most of these people either do not have one and don't know what they are talking about or they are pissed because they payed much more for an equivalent forend from another company.  It also looks very good and if you use the rubber suregrips it looks even better and really protects your hands from the heat from the barrel.  One cool aspect of the BMAS is that you can install a swivel stud in four different positions at the front of the forend(top, bottom, right, and left).  As far as I can see it is a high quality product.  Here are some links to picture of my rifle.  Tell me what you think.

[img=right]http://bigbikeriders.com/photopost/data/500/492custom_ar1.jpg[/img=right]

[img=right]http://bigbikeriders.com/photopost/data/500/492custom_ar3.jpg[/img=right]

[img=right]http://bigbikeriders.com/photopost/data/500/492custom_ar4.jpg[/img=right]

[img=right]http://bigbikeriders.com/photopost/data/500/492custom_ar5.jpg[/img=right]

[img=right]http://bigbikeriders.com/photopost/data/500/492custom_ar1.jpg[/img=right]

[img=right]http://bigbikeriders.com/photopost/data/500/492custom_ar3.jpg[/img=right]

[img=right]http://bigbikeriders.com/photopost/data/500/492custom_ar4.jpg[/img=right]

spacemenow1 - nice looking rifle.  I'm also looking for a ff forend and thought about the BMAS.  Was it hard to install?  Are the rails really sharp and/or uncomfortable to hold without the rubber suregrips?  Do the suregrips feel like they stay on pretty good?

Also, what about heat dissipation?  The BMAS forend looks like it's got enough vent hols to help keep the barrel cool.

Again, nice looking rifle.

I do not know how difficult it is to install the BMAS forend as I purchased it already installed on the upper from Bushmaster.  The suregrips snap onto the foreend and stay on very solidly and do not come off unless you want them to.  Without the suregrips the forend is less comfortable to hold but not too bad.  The main benefit of the suregrips however is that since they are made of a hard rubber they insulate your hands very well from the barrel.  I went to the range recently and shot 5  30 round clips and the barrel and forend were quite hot.  And the forend does dissipate the heat very well.  However, because of the suregrips, the forend was still very comfortable to hold.  Without the sure grips, I would not have been able to touch the forend.  Also, with the suregrips, the forend has an almost completely round shape and fits the hand very nicely.  

EKrutz64,
Feel free to kick me in the butt if you feel like I’m hi-jacking your thread.  [:D]

spacemenow1,
Did Bushmaster charge you extra for installing the BMAS?  I really want an A3 upper with a 20”, fluted, free-floated barrel.  I just can’t decide which float tube to use and I couldn’t figure out why the BMAS was so much more reasonably priced than a RAS or SIR.  It really looks like a nice setup.

One of my friends, zzxx99, has a rifle almost identical to yours except he has the aluminum ff hand guard which gets HOT.

Is that a sling lug on the front left of the hand guard?  

GrumpyM4,
I second the request to explain your statement regarding Fulton Armory.

Since I purchased the upper receiver from Bushmaster, the gunsmithing was free.  Even if you only buy the forend from Bushmaster, and send them your upper receiver assembly, they will install the forend at no extra charge.  T

The SIR is much more expensive because it is a very complex forend that requires a lot more machining and manufacturing.

Yes, it is a sling lug on the front left of the forend.  This is one cool feature of the BMAS forend.  You can install a sling stud on either the left or the right, or on the top and bottom.  It all depends on what type of sling setup you want.