What is your favorite length for an AR15 handguard and why?

**Gunsnwater** · April 17th, 2019, 07:52 AM

Originally Posted by Socialist_Millennial

Pretend that someone offered you a free handguard, regardless of whether or not you own an AR.

My first thought was that’s a dumb question. Then you cemented that opinion with your next post. I’m reminded of the movie 40yr old virgin. Sack of sand.

Imashooter2 pointed out why.

Now I’m going to ask a question. Anybody know a woman who asks questions she isn’t going to listen to the answer to? Questions she doesn’t care about? Questions that cause you to stop whatever you are doing to think about the answer.

Why do they do that?

**Gunsnwater** · April 17th, 2019, 07:54 AM

Originally Posted by Noah_Zark

Carbine length, slim; not the ginormous M4 type.

Noah

Magpul slim? I like those in all lengths.

**Socialist_Millennial** · April 17th, 2019, 10:56 AM

Originally Posted by Gunsnwater

My first thought was that’s a dumb question. Then you cemented that opinion with your next post. I’m reminded of the movie 40yr old virgin. Sack of sand.

Imashooter2 pointed out why.

The only dumb question is the one you don't ask

The reason I'm asking this question is that I did actually get offered a free AR handguard because I won a contest. I don't actually own an AR, but I do intend to build one in the distant future. I went with the 15 inch option since it provides more barrel coverage and helps control muzzle rise.

**Gunsnwater** · April 17th, 2019, 11:13 AM

Originally Posted by Socialist_Millennial

The only dumb question is the one you don't ask

The reason I'm asking this question is that I did actually get offered a free AR handguard because I won a contest. I don't actually own an AR, but I do intend to build one in the distant future. I went with the 15 inch option since it provides more barrel coverage and helps control muzzle rise.

Purpose is the 1st question. That will determine barrel length and that determines hand guard length. 15 on a free float will work on 16in barrel but if it’s held on by a delta ring and plate behind a standard front sight your going to be looking a 20.

Your real question, being specific about what situation you were in would have supplied much better answers specific to you. Have a general plan when acquiring parts or you’ll always have parts left over and the building will never end.

**Socialist_Millennial** · April 17th, 2019, 12:54 PM

Originally Posted by Gunsnwater

Purpose is the 1st question. That will determine barrel length and that determines hand guard length. 15 on a free float will work on 16in barrel but if it’s held on by a delta ring and plate behind a standard front sight your going to be looking a 20.

Your real question, being specific about what situation you were in would have supplied much better answers specific to you. Have a general plan when acquiring parts or you’ll always have parts left over and the building will never end.

It's going to be a general purpose rifle, a little bit of longer range shooting, some rapid firing, etc. I don't see myself building an ar pistol. The shortest barrel I would possibly go for is 16 but longer ones are also an option. I agree that a plan is required, otherwise I will end up with a ton of parts that don't suit the purpose. This isn't something I am going to be working on now, but down the road when I have a better foothold.

**Noah_Zark** · April 17th, 2019, 01:16 PM

Originally Posted by Socialist_Millennial

. . . I went with the 15 inch option since it provides more barrel coverage and helps control muzzle rise.

If that's the look you're going for, I think it's fabulous.

Noah

**Gunsnwater** · April 17th, 2019, 10:31 PM

Originally Posted by Noah_Zark

If that's the look you're going for, I think it's fabulous.

Noah

Why are the uncircumcised ones called dissipators?

**bluetrane2028** · April 18th, 2019, 11:04 AM

I prefer mid length gas systems on 16" barrels, unless of course it's a pistol or SBR. As for hand guard, I think my ideal answer is as much hand guard as possible for the length of the barrel. That's how the ones I have that are free floated are setup. That said, I don't dislike my more "standard" uppers.

The thing I like about the 15" hand guard on a 16" upper is that it lets me put the front iron all the way up by the muzzle. Max sight radius when using irons, seems to work out fine. That upper has a carbine system, it seems my hand rests most comfortably right where the gas block goes, the free float guard allows for that with no problem. Was part of how I figured out that I like mid length gas systems. Makes sense that you'd learn a thing or two with your first rifle. It's stock aside from the guard and gas block, so I did mostly OK on the purchase decision vs building outright.

**Edg** · April 18th, 2019, 01:56 PM

Originally Posted by imashooter2

I'd have to know how long the barrel was first...

and gas system

**Nickel Plated** · April 27th, 2019, 09:02 AM

I only own one AR and don't really plan on getting more. A basic DelTon carbine, A2 upper, light A1 profile 16" barrel. I'm a traditionalist, so I guess for me it would be a standard slim CAR handguard on a 14.5" barrel. (gotta get mine trimmed and welded)

Or a standard rifle handguard on a 20" rifle barrel. Round or triangle depending on how retro I'm feeling.

Not a fan of rails. I don't like to hang a bunch of crap off my gun. Alot cheaper and easier to just install a flashlight with a barrel or gasblock clamp. No sense installing a $100+ rail system just to clip a flashlight to it. And rail covers, to cover all that useless rail you just spent money on. But to each their own ofcourse. I like to keep it old school. For the most part, my AR is just a range toy anyway.