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Posted: 2/18/2012 7:12:45 PM EDT
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I recently purchased/built my first AR(I ordered the upper but built the lower)
Since I hadn't made up my mind I just ordered my upper with the standard handguards. My birthday is coming up though and I'm looking at replacing the standard handguard. Does free float make a huge difference? Is there such a thing as a free float that you can drop in, I don't know if I'm comfortable enough yet to tackle replacing with solid rail or handguard. Otherwise, what is the best drop in style rail/handguard. I don't plan on putting much on it other than maybe a vertical grip. Thanks, Paul |
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I recently purchased/built my first AR(I ordered the upper but built the lower) Since I hadn't made up my mind I just ordered my upper with the standard handguards. My birthday is coming up though and I'm looking at replacing the standard handguard. Does free float make a huge difference? Is there such a thing as a free float that you can drop in, I don't know if I'm comfortable enough yet to tackle replacing with solid rail or handguard. Otherwise, what is the best drop in style rail/handguard. I don't plan on putting much on it other than maybe a vertical grip. Thanks, Paul look at DD omega7 rail a drop in two piece with screws that go into the barrel nut its free floating shot about 1k with it on before i went to a longer rail. |
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I recently purchased/built my first AR(I ordered the upper but built the lower) Since I hadn't made up my mind I just ordered my upper with the standard handguards. My birthday is coming up though and I'm looking at replacing the standard handguard. Does free float make a huge difference? Is there such a thing as a free float that you can drop in, I don't know if I'm comfortable enough yet to tackle replacing with solid rail or handguard. Otherwise, what is the best drop in style rail/handguard. I don't plan on putting much on it other than maybe a vertical grip. Thanks, Paul look at DD omega7 rail a drop in two piece with screws that go into the barrel nut its free floating shot about 1k with it on before i went to a longer rail. Thing looks really sweet! How hard is it to install? Paul |
| Midwest Industries and Troy Industries make some good 2 piece free float and non free float rails at a decent price. To go free float, you will have to cut off your delta ring assembly, so long as the free float you choose uses the standard barrel nut. As far as rail covers go, they are to protect your hands from the rail. Sometimes the edges are a little sharp, and with a lot of shooting the rails will get hot. |
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Which is more solid, the Troy drop in or the DD Omega drop in? I've had rails where the bottom section would move side to side with a vertical grip attached, so I'd like to eliminate that movement. Good point. I'd like to know about the Midwest Industries 2 piece free float also. Looks like a nice rail for a nice price Paul |
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Which is more solid, the Troy drop in or the DD Omega drop in? I've had rails where the bottom section would move side to side with a vertical grip attached, so I'd like to eliminate that movement. Good point. I'd like to know about the Midwest Industries 2 piece free float also. Looks like a nice rail for a nice price Paul I've got a first generation 2 piece non free float MI rail on my middy, it is heavy but doesn't have any slop. I did just install a Centurion Arms on my 11.5" and it is NICE, but higher than your specified price range. I am planning on going free float on my middy soon to lighten it up, and I am thinking Troy, Samson, or Centurion. I have never used a Troy rail, but everything I have read about them is good. |
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Which is more solid, the Troy drop in or the DD Omega drop in? I've had rails where the bottom section would move side to side with a vertical grip attached, so I'd like to eliminate that movement. Good point. I'd like to know about the Midwest Industries 2 piece free float also. Looks like a nice rail for a nice price Paul I've got a first generation 2 piece non free float MI rail on my middy, it is heavy but doesn't have any slop. I did just install a Centurion Arms on my 11.5" and it is NICE, but higher than your specified price range. I am planning on going free float on my middy soon to lighten it up, and I am thinking Troy, Samson, or Centurion. I have never used a Troy rail, but everything I have read about them is good. I have a Troy MRF rail. Its a very solid and high quality rail. That being said, I won't use be using them on my future builds because they are heavy. About the same weight as the Midwest Industries two piece free floats. |
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Which is more solid, the Troy drop in or the DD Omega drop in? I've had rails where the bottom section would move side to side with a vertical grip attached, so I'd like to eliminate that movement. Good point. I'd like to know about the Midwest Industries 2 piece free float also. Looks like a nice rail for a nice price Paul I've got a first generation 2 piece non free float MI rail on my middy, it is heavy but doesn't have any slop. I did just install a Centurion Arms on my 11.5" and it is NICE, but higher than your specified price range. I am planning on going free float on my middy soon to lighten it up, and I am thinking Troy, Samson, or Centurion. I have never used a Troy rail, but everything I have read about them is good.[/quot I have a Troy MRF rail. Its a very solid and high quality rail. That being said, I won't use be using them on my future builds because they are heavy. About the same weight as the Midwest Industries two piece fre About the same weight as the older gen1 Midwest Industries two piece free floats. Which have been on closeout and i don't think are being made any more. The newer MI gen 2's FF must be the best kept secret around ! Check out the weights on the gen2's and subtract the weight of the cut off delta ring assembly and your within a half ounce of DD omega's............ http://www.midwestindustriesinc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=422 |
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Quoted:. The newer MI gen 2's FF must be the best kept secret around ! Check out the weights on the gen2's and subtract the weight of the cut off delta ring assembly and your within a half ounce of DD omega's............
http://www.midwestindustriesinc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=422 Now those are interesting. On a fresh install, I'm assuming you don't need to leave the front handguards cap on? As that's what it looks like in the Midwest pics. I need some sub-$300 2 piece, free float quad rails to experiment with (i.e cut up to fit a carbine length Noveske Switchblock in) |
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Quoted:. The newer MI gen 2's FF must be the best kept secret around ! Check out the weights on the gen2's and subtract the weight of the cut off delta ring assembly and your within a half ounce of DD omega's............
http://www.midwestindustriesinc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=422 Now those are interesting. On a fresh install, I'm assuming you don't need to leave the front handguards cap on? As that's what it looks like in the Midwest pics. I need some sub-$300 2 piece, free float quad rails to experiment with (i.e cut up to fit a carbine length Noveske Switchblock in) No you don't need to. I leave the handguard cap on. It gives it a nice finished look. Just installed a rifle length rail sunday on a 20" and it lined up perfectly as usual. Their measurements are exact precise. The rifle length is 14.6 oz's. DD omega 12.0 is 13.5 oz's. To be fair the delta ring assembly weight should be taken off the MI gen2 weight which brings it to 14 oz's. Only a half ounce more than a DD omega and less in cost plus free shipping. They are a good value right now. I own DD rails also and they are nice but i paid pretty dam good for em too. |
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Quoted:. The newer MI gen 2's FF must be the best kept secret around ! Check out the weights on the gen2's and subtract the weight of the cut off delta ring assembly and your within a half ounce of DD omega's............
http://www.midwestindustriesinc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=422 Now those are interesting. On a fresh install, I'm assuming you don't need to leave the front handguards cap on? As that's what it looks like in the Midwest pics. I need some sub-$300 2 piece, free float quad rails to experiment with (i.e cut up to fit a carbine length Noveske Switchblock in) No you don't need to. I leave the handguard cap on. It gives it a nice finished look. Just installed a rifle length rail sunday on a 20" and it lined up perfectly as usual. Their measurements are exact precise. The rifle length is 14.6 oz's. DD omega 12.0 is 13.5 oz's. To be fair the delta ring assembly weight should be taken off the MI gen2 weight which brings it to 14 oz's. Only a half ounce more than a DD omega and less in cost plus free shipping. They are a good value right now. I own DD rails also and they are nice but i paid pretty dam good for em too. I think I am sold on this MI Gen 2 Free Float 2 piece. This is probably stupid but if you leave the handguard cap on would it interfere with the free floating? Paul |
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I would cut it off. Centurion Arms should be in your $300 budget too. I went with them and they are definitely nicer than my Midwest Industries. Nothing wrong with MI, but I like my Centurion feel and finish more.
ETA: budget was from a different poster. MI would be perfect for your budget. |
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Quoted:. The newer MI gen 2's FF must be the best kept secret around ! Check out the weights on the gen2's and subtract the weight of the cut off delta ring assembly and your within a half ounce of DD omega's............
http://www.midwestindustriesinc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=422 Now those are interesting. On a fresh install, I'm assuming you don't need to leave the front handguards cap on? As that's what it looks like in the Midwest pics. I need some sub-$300 2 piece, free float quad rails to experiment with (i.e cut up to fit a carbine length Noveske Switchblock in) No you don't need to. I leave the handguard cap on. It gives it a nice finished look. Just installed a rifle length rail sunday on a 20" and it lined up perfectly as usual. Their measurements are exact precise. The rifle length is 14.6 oz's. DD omega 12.0 is 13.5 oz's. To be fair the delta ring assembly weight should be taken off the MI gen2 weight which brings it to 14 oz's. Only a half ounce more than a DD omega and less in cost plus free shipping. They are a good value right now. I own DD rails also and they are nice but i paid pretty dam good for em too. I think I am sold on this MI Gen 2 Free Float 2 piece. This is probably stupid but if you leave the handguard cap on would it interfere with the free floating? Paul No it won't interfere. The handguard cap doesn't touch the rail. Very close but doesn't actually touch. |
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Maybe this is a dumb question, but if the cap doesn't touch the rail, what is the point of leaving the cap on there? It just seems it would be extra un-needed weight.
Also, does anyone know if the internal diameter on these MI rails large enough to accept a suppressor inside of the rails? |
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Maybe this is a dumb question, but if the cap doesn't touch the rail, what is the point of leaving the cap on there? It just seems it would be extra un-needed weight. Also, does anyone know if the internal diameter on these MI rails large enough to accept a suppressor inside of the rails? Like i said i prefer to leave the cap on cause it gives it a nice finished capped off look.. Besides i don't want to remove the FSB (xtra work) and half of my ar's have pinned FH's. The inside diameter is the same as a round handguard cap. |
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I've tried several non-FF rails and the best I've found is the DS-416 from Doublestar. It is modeled after the HK 416 rail system in that it is thinner on the sides - sort of oval, if you will. It is rock solid, fits in tight, and is ridiculously light (much lighter than competing non-FF systems); not too pricey either. As for FF vs. non-FF, this past weekend shot a 0.67" 3-shot group at 100 yards with these rails installed from the bench. So I'd say that's pretty good. If you are looking for accuracy, a better trigger is probably more important than a fancy rail system.
Check 'em out: http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/Double-Star-Tactical-Handguards-Carbine-DS416-p/dsc%20416.htm |
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It's an intriguing system, never seen it before. Don't wanna have to remove my front sight post though
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