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Posted: 7/9/2008 12:13:36 PM EDT
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Looking at upgrading one rife (a bushy 16") and building some more. The more time I spend with the rifle the more I appreciate the value of accessory points (rails). I don't really plan to mount any optics on the fore-end but lights and slingpoints will probably go there. My question is.. considering my planned uses and the pre-existing fixed front sight, is the free-float system more trouble than its worth? If I go FF then I have a few in mind but I have seen no input comparing the values and benifits of various non-FF forearms. Oh, and weapon weight is an issue... Any input appreciated! |
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I had the same question recently, and decided to sell my Bushy M4 style rifle, and build new in the configuration I wanted. I did take a hit selling the gun, probably would have been a wash. If you buy your free float rail from bushmaster, you can have them install it inexpensively - it may even be included in the purchase price if memory serves me correctly. While you are free floating the forend, a flip front site / railed or micro gas block might not be a bad idea. If you do go the optic route, it's nice to be able to get the front sight out of the field of view. Not entirely necessary, but nice for sure. |
| I just floated another 16" carbine last weekend, and it helped my groups by about half. Sometimes it does nothing, other times it helps. I've never seen a carbine shoot worse from floating it, but like i said, sometimes it doesn't do a thing. One thing it does help is if you are using a bipod, floating seems to hold down the vetical stringing a bit. Definatly makes the gun a bit heavy, though. Spending the extra cash on ammo instead, is never a bad idea. |
I FF'd my Middy and could not tell any diffrence in accuracy with my M193 and M855 loads. Now if I shelled out $1 a bullet for some match ammo I might have seen a small diffrence but probley not much. i agree with some of the others in that you should get a non-FF and spend the rest on ammo or if you do have money to throw around, go ahead and get the Larue
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I would have to agree with this statement. Practice & ammo before extra gear, but I do like the FF handguard I have on my carbine. Mine is extended out under the front sight, allowing me to put it on sandbags underneath the front sight, without touching it. But I cut out the area on the top of the rail where the front sight can poke through, as I'm a litte old fashioned and like my front sights firmly attatched to the barrel - NOT the handguard. For times when I'm doing a lot of fast shooting, the FF handguard does a very good job of keeping my grip cool and unaffected. No more scorching my hands! And yes, mounting a foregrip and light is a breeze too. If money is tight, get a little redneck-engineering going and put a little 1913 on the plastic guard at the 4-5 'o'clock position for a light. I did that with an old set of M33 handguards years ago and it worked great! Didn't look as sleek as a bone-fide railed handguard, but it worked like a hammer smashing glass. And it only cost me $20 for a little rail and a cheapy 1" scope ring. Sean / Tex78 |
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