AR Sponsor
Posted: 7/4/2009 10:46:54 AM EDT
|
If the upper has a 20 inch barrel why only have a 6-8 inch hard guard?
Why not the full size hand guard? Is there any advantage/disadvantage with the shorter hand guard over a longer one or is it simply cosmetic preference? I figure the gas tube is no shorter, but is that supposed to be an advantage? Based on the material, I can't image being a weight issue. |
| Any pics showing what you're talking about? I'm having trouble visualizing plastic carbine/midlength handgaurds installed on a rifle length gas system, unless its a free-float tube or rail system. In that case, I would imagine it being a weight issue. Still sounds kinda goofy, though. |
|
My questions isn't about a specific barrel length but rather the hand guard length as related to barrel length.
Click here and view the 2nd reply as it contains an image with a few rifles. Notice that the shorter the barrel, doesn't always mean a shorter hand guard. What dictates the hand guard length? Is there any advantage/disadvantage with the shorter hand guard over a longer one or is it simply cosmetic preference? I figure the gas tube is no shorter, but is that supposed to be an advantage? |
|
If you are using a free floating handguard you can use any length rail as long as you have a low profile gas block. I have a rifle length handguard on a 16" carbinr because I like the look of it. Plus I can mount a bipod, flashlight, laser, or anything else I want to on it. So all in all, you are only limited in rail length if you are using the standard gas block/sight combo. Otherwise, nothing really determines how long the handguard has to be.
Here's an older pic of said rifle. 
|
|
The length of your handguards is determined by the length of the gas block/Front Sight Base (The FSB can be seen on the barrels of the 2nd and 4th rifles in the pic). If the rifle has an FSB, you can mount any type of handguard or rail system, so long as their length matches the FSB.
If the rifle does not have a FSB (1st and 3rd rifles in the pic), then they use a low profile gas block, which basically replaces the front sight base, and allows you to mount any length of free-float tube or rail system. Hope this helps. |
AR Sponsor