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Posted: 2/17/2008 2:28:52 PM EDT
| I'm looking at getting a free float for my AR, and in looking at them, whats really the difference? i like to have most of the berral covered, i really like the badger ordanance which is more like a G3 guard, but i was looking at larue, and surefire, and all the other brands.. and really, they all seem alluminum, they are all quad guards, so really whats the difference between eachother? |
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There are differences, such as I had a Troy FF and put it on my Colt. It looked good but it seemed to be wider. I compared it to my Larue which was much sleeker in design and there was a difference when it came to placing a TD Vertical Grip. I put a TD on my Troy and it was very hard to put on and I used a mallet with the help of my son. The TD had a little play once seated and locked in no matter what I did. I then put the TD on my Larue and it went on very easy and locked in with zero play. I removed my Troy and sold it and now have another Larue. You should also know there are weight differences in Rails. |
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Weight, length, 2 piece easy install, or one piece(FSB removal). Width also as the previous poster stated. Some have different finishes. 1913 specs may not be perfect, although I've never seen this effect anything but a Tango Down grip. Oh, and of course price. I only have one FF rail. It's the Midwest Industries two piece free float rail: MI#21. I chose it for price and easy installation. I've been very happy with it so far. There are a lot of choices and it took me a while to finally decide on which one to get. Here's an FAQ thread with some good info. It hasn't been updated in awhile so I know that the weights for the Midwest Industries rails are from the first generation. www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=3&f=12&t=172238 |
Let me rephrase the question for you: I was looking at a Ford 3/4 ton pickup, a Chevy Corvette and a Honda Accord. They all have metal bodies, internal combustion engines and 4 rubber tires so really what's the difference? |
You asked about Surefire, which are installed like normal plastic haguards so no free-floating, and Larue, which free floats the barrel but uses it's own barrel nut assembly so the installation process is a little more complicated. being made from aluminum and have rails are about the only thing they do have in common. And then you throw in Badger Ordnance which are made for target rifles, have nowhere near the ventilation and didn't even have rails in their original design. |
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well i understand that the badger is totally different... but the other two im clueless on, obviously.... and i was just using them as examples off the top of my head... but what i wanted to know is the main difference between FF handguards... so larue uses a different design to mount, how about others? it seems i won't really know till i can hold a few sets at the same time, which will prolly not happen due to lack of gun stores... |
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You should really rome through some of the picture threads and check out a few of the sponsors on the top of the page. Bravo Co. in particular has a lot of FF rails for sale and a lot of pictures. There are just to many details to explain everyone of them. Pick out a couple you like and then ask questions. Then it will be easier to help you. |
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There are baiscally 4 categories of FF railed handguards IMO. The first ff rail was the collared rail. It it identified by it own round collar where the delta assembly normally is. This system uses a replacement barrel nut, has pins to keep the rail in allignment with the nut and a cap that screws on the back of the barrel nut to the railed handguard to hold everything together. Examples can be found from KAC, DD, Larue, etc. The second are rail systems that have an attachment to the receiver rail on either part or usually all of the receiver rail. This raises optic height and weight but provides additional security and strength and is a built in anti rotaiton device. ARMS SIR, KAC RAS2, POF Predator, etc are examples. These can be designed to keep the delta assembly or replace it. They can use a proprietary barrel nut or some use the original or keep or ditch the delta ring. Third are the rails that bolt directly to the original barrel nut in two pieces, replaces the delta assembly and usually try to provide a continuous top rail with the receiver. Some can retain the front handguard cap and some require its removal. Examples can be found from Troy, Samason, and LWRC-ARM, etc. The final rail system would be in the "other" category. You have rails with their own barrel nut and ditch the delta assembly but a continous top rail like the DD Lite rails or KAC URX rails and then there are FF rails that have a continuous top rail and allow you to keep the factory barrel nut and delta assembly like the DD Omega rail. As far as deciding on a FF aluminum rail you need to think about the following... What rail width works for me? Am I picky about optic height? Is there a mount that will work with my optic with a raised rail? What weight do I want? How easy of an install do I require? (Do I have to replace the barrel nut?REQUIRES FSB REMOVAL... Do I have to replace the Delta assembly? REQUIRES CUTING IT OFF IF FSB IS NOT REMOVED. Do I have to replace the handguard front cap? REQUIRES CUTTING IT OFF IF FSB IS NOT REMOVED) Do I desire KAC style clip points for KAC rail covers on the rail? Do I need or want the utility of adding and removing rails on my rail system? What price do I want to pay? How much quality am I willing to pay for? Do I want a rail with some sort of anti rotational features? Are there any other feaures that I might desire? (access to a piston or removeable bottom rail to mount an M203 etc) Answer all your qestions and there will only be a couple of viable choices. |
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You can simply save yourself a lot of time, effort and trouble: Get the VLTOR CASV EL. -It free floats. -It is easier to install then even the plastic guards. Nothing has to come off except the old HG's. -It can be morphed into something like the Badger (smooth and KISS) or totally railed all around for the most tacticool add-ons possible. The rails are removable, too. -once mounted you can access the barrel, the gas tube, the gas block, the barrel nut, the end cap, or the inside of the guards by simply removing the bottom panel. I looked at every single rail system for one year, and asked these fine gentlemen on ARFcom about the same things as did you....and I came up with the CASV. There really is nothing more versatile and modular. You are locked into nothing with this system. It can be anything you want it to be with ONE exception: your BUIS will not co-witness with an EOtech, because the monolithic rail does raise the optic about .5". But, for my purposes, I couldn't give a rat's ass about that. If you have a mid-length, VLTOR solved even that problem with the CASV-M and their new BUIS system. |
Why do you want a FF? Do you need/want rails? Is weight an issue? |
+1 If your not hung up on hanging a bunch of stuff off your gun take a look at a carbon fiber ff tube. I have one on my 20" AR and I really like it. It's strong, light(6 oz) and looks really cool. Mine is a Clark tube I bought from Brownells ZM |
Since when did corvettes bodies change to being made of metal? |
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Thanks for the info guys... that helps alot... all i use my gun for is shooting paper, or if im on private property, bowling pins, lead plates etc, im not in a sandbox, im not hunting... Reason i want a FF is that i have a beo .50 upper and it is my understanding that the normal handguards won't fit, only a free float will... as you can tell im a total noob to this kinda stuff.. so far the hardest thing to install on my AR was a CAA grip, (not saying it was hard, but thats the hardest) i didnt know FF were so complicated upon install... I've looked at the tubes and they are not really my cup of tea... the vltor (??) with removable apanls looks nice, and the badger i like... i also noticed the omega which seems pretty sweet... so thats where i stand... im not putting a foregrip on, or flashlights.... ill have iron sights, and a red dot... and maybe a bipod, or ill take the irons off and put a rifle scope on it... but the ballistics only allow the .50 to go like 150yrds... |
I had orginally typed '55 Corvette. |
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