hello all, im a new kid on the block. im considering installing the armalite tactical rail handguard on my ar-10, and m15, but im curious, using the s.i.r. rails it says the barrel is free floating, would it be with the rails from armalite? they come in 2 pieces and connect in place of the standard hand guards.  then u set screw them togather. i think the s.i . r is basicly the same except its longer and runs back to the reciever rails and connects there as well. so i guess my question is,are they both free floating?

I doubt they are free floating if what you described is the same thing I'm thinking of. The SIR free floats in that it attaches at the receiver and then doesn't touch the barrel, handguard cap, front sight post, etc. What I think you talking about is just a 2-piece hand guard with rails to replace the current round handguards, They touch at the delta ring and at the handguard cap (which directly touches the barrel).

The advantage of free floating the barrel, is that any pressure from sling use, different shooting positions will not put pressure on the barrel and cause point of impact to change. Free floating generally costs more money, so just have to decide if you really need this.....

If this is the handguard your talking about then it is not free floating..


taken from this page www.armalite.com/sales/catalog/components/mounts_rings.htm