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Posted: 6/25/2010 5:15:29 PM EDT
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So I'm looking for the best FF handguard for my SHTF/beater rifle. I want to attach it to a BCM Middy and I plan on running it hard. Im leaning towards the Vltor CASV-EL mostly due to the looks and ease of assembly but I've heard some things about the bottom section coming loose over time. I'm also thinking about the DD Omega rail.
Thoughts? |
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Of the choices you mentioned, I'd take the Omega hands down over the CASV, if for no other reason than it's 5.5 ounces lighter. The Omega has an excellent reputation as well.
My favorite handguard though is the JP/VTAC Modular piece. It doesn't look tacticool but it's solid, light, comfortable, and gives you tons of options for mounting stuff. |
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Well then it looks like the DD Omega is the way for me to go. I do like the way the casv-el looks but 5.5 ounces is a pretty big difference.
Does anyone have any pics of their DD Omega thats been beat to hell? Or even just on a painted rifle? Thanks for the info |
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Reliability, durability, simplicity, and weight......factor in your needs/criteria and make your choice.
My next builds will have an MOE handguard, then another with a lightweight handguard where rail space is continuous on the top and rail peices can be added to the bottom and sides. |
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I've been using my LaRue 9.0 for over four years now and it is still running fine, it even fell on the floor once sideways while leaning on a wall without any damage.
Most of the FF handguard problem is that it could get loose from its mounting when used in the extreme conditions, so the proper rail design that would survive it would be the ones with the locking system like the LaRue, DD Lite, and DD RIS II (also other brands with similar feature). If it doesn't have these locking feature even the use of blue Loctite on the mounting rings and mounting fasteners don't usually work according to past threads here in the archives that I've seen over several years. |
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Quoted:
Of the choices you mentioned, I'd take the Omega hands down over the CASV, if for no other reason than it's 5.5 ounces lighter. The Omega has an excellent reputation as well. My favorite handguard though is the JP/VTAC Modular piece. It doesn't look tacticool but it's solid, light, comfortable, and gives you tons of options for mounting stuff. I have the Troy Extreme 13" and I love it. My hands aren't huge and I can get an excellent grip on them. Plus without the rails it is only 11.5 ounces. The long sight radius is nice too. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Of the choices you mentioned, I'd take the Omega hands down over the CASV, if for no other reason than it's 5.5 ounces lighter. The Omega has an excellent reputation as well. My favorite handguard though is the JP/VTAC Modular piece. It doesn't look tacticool but it's solid, light, comfortable, and gives you tons of options for mounting stuff. I have the Troy Extreme 13" and I love it. My hands aren't huge and I can get an excellent grip on them. Plus without the rails it is only 11.5 ounces. The long sight radius is nice too. I just got my first Troy Extreme TRX Battle Rail, and I love it. The lockup design is so much better than my YHM rails that I'm probable going to make the change on my other AR's soon. |
| I think the OP is looking for a 2 piece FF rail so he doesn't have to remove the FSB and muzzle device. That limits his options considerably. I would lean toward the DD Omega or Troy 2 piece. If I had to bet my life on the rail in a SHTF event I would much prefer Larue or DD Lite. |
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Quoted:
Thanks everyone! So what makes the DD Lite better than the Omega? And is there any reason the Larue rail would be better than the DD Lite? I was hoping to do without cutting off my D-ring but if it gets me a more reliable rail then I'll do it. More secure attachment, they both use special barrel nuts that attach to the rail via bolts and/or keepers. The Omega rail clamps around the existing barrel nut and uses set screws to tighten the whole affair up. It is a pretty secure arrangement but nowhere near as substantial an attachment point as the DD lite or Larue rails. Note: In order to install the Larue or DD rails (other than the Omega) you have to remove the front sight base and flash hider as well as the stock barrel nut and delta ring assembly. You are thinking of the Midwest Industries and Troy 2 piece rails with regard to cutting off the delta ring. Hope this helps! |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
Thanks everyone! So what makes the DD Lite better than the Omega? And is there any reason the Larue rail would be better than the DD Lite? I was hoping to do without cutting off my D-ring but if it gets me a more reliable rail then I'll do it. More secure attachment, they both use special barrel nuts that attach to the rail via bolts and/or keepers. The Omega rail clamps around the existing barrel nut and uses set screws to tighten the whole affair up. It is a pretty secure arrangement but nowhere near as substantial an attachment point as the DD lite or Larue rails. Note: In order to install the Larue or DD rails (other than the Omega) you have to remove the front sight base and flash hider as well as the stock barrel nut and delta ring assembly. You are thinking of the Midwest Industries and Troy 2 piece rails with regard to cutting off the delta ring. Hope this helps! Thanks Is removing the front sight base, flash hider, and the stock barrel nut a hard thing to do? As in should I plan to let a gun smith do it? |
| It isn't particularly hard to do but you have to have the proper tools, as in a vice, armorer's wrench, upper receiver block, and a set of punches. If you are not a "do it yourselfer" then you can pay a smith to do it (ADCO is who I'd recommend). If you are a "do it yourselfer" then buy the tools with the money you would save from paying someone else. |
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Is removing the front sight base, flash hider, and the stock barrel nut a hard thing to do? As in should I plan to let a gun smith do it? Take a look at these instructions, if you have the proper tools and think you could do it yourself, it's not too hard, I did it myself when I installed my LaRue rails following these same instructions. The only problem with having tools and having done it is that your AR will multiply. 
If it's too much hassle, I agree let someone else do it and just send it to ADCO. Assemble Your Lower, Upper, Free Float, Trigger, Gas Block - Step by Step Instructions - tacked thread link |
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Quoted:
Tubular with all the gripping surface you could want, and slightly narrower than most... With all the rail surface a squad could ever need. Blackheart International is what I run with. http://www.bhigear.com/images/Handguard-Closeup.jpg That looks just like the rail from Apex Machine. |
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Quoted: Quoted: Tubular with all the gripping surface you could want, and slightly narrower than most... With all the rail surface a squad could ever need. Blackheart International is what I run with. http://www.bhigear.com/images/Handguard-Closeup.jpg That looks just like the rail from Apex Machine. It sure does, thanks for that bit of information  |
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Quoted: What prevents the DD Lite and Omega from shifting under torque, besides friction and pressure? If I recall, the LaRue was designed with some means of countering rotation but my memory may be incorrect. The set screws on the Omega/Omega X chew into the barrel nut at 4 spots. The DD Lite appears to clamp together on the barrel nut applying compression at the fore and aft of the nut. If they gave a free barrel nut wrench and got the name "Daniel Defense" off the handguard (call it DD or something), I'd buy the DD Lite. |
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