Bushmaster A2 rifle handguards

Comp or Inj molded?

www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=118&t=208581

Definately injection molded.  Compression molding is generally for soft materials, IE the soles of your Nikes.

They're identical. They use slots/grooves instead of holes/posts.

Quoted: Compression molding is generally for soft materials, IE the soles of your Nikes.

That's funny the drawings call for compression molded handguards for M16s (the way Colt does it).  I'd definately say they were not soft.

Compression molding is stronger and will char when hot before it melts as injection molding will.As far as sneaker and boot soles like military issue jungle boots are a rubber/pvc mix thats injection molded,call ALTAMA DELTA theyll tell you how they make their soles..the pvc provides stregnth while the injection process keeps them flexible aka a little softer.

The Mil-Spec boot soles are made of rubber and not PVC/Polyurethane.

The Commercial Spec soles are made of PVC/Polyurethane (injection molded IIRC).

When PVC is burned, toxic fumes are released and this can present a problem in close quarters/confined spaces. I.e. A fire starts inside the hull of a Bradley and a soldier's boot starts burning. A Mil-Spec boot will not be releasing toxic fumes inside such cramped quarters whereas a Com-Spec boot such as an Altama that features a PVC/Polyurethane boot sole, would be releasing toxic fumes.

I know this because I have several pair of combat boots. One was the issued full-leather/rubber sole combat boot. I bought a pair of Altama Mil-Spec Jungle Boots because the issued boots were total junk when it came to traction, comfort, and weight. I had to notch away a lot of the material on the issued boot sole to make it flexible and have better traction in the mud. I still prefer the Panama sole though.