The AR15 is one of the most popular rifles in the world. It’s known for being versatile and easy to customize. A key part of the AR15 is the handguard. This article will explain how handguards protect shooters from heat, allow for customization, and improve accuracy. We’ll look at the technical details and practical benefits that make handguards so important for AR15 rifles.
Key Functions of AR15 Handguards
- Protect hands from barrel heat during shooting
- Allow mounting of accessories like scopes and lights
- Improve accuracy (free-float designs)
- Make the rifle more comfortable to hold and use
- Let you customize how your rifle looks and works
What Is an AR15 Handguard?
An AR15 handguard is the part that goes around the barrel of the rifle. It does many important jobs. It protects your hands, lets you attach things to your rifle, and helps make it more stable. There are two main types: drop-in and free-float. Drop-in handguards are easier to put on and usually cost less, but they can affect accuracy because they touch the barrel. Free-float handguards don’t touch the barrel, which can make the rifle more accurate, especially when shooting far away.
People choose between drop-in and free-float handguards based on what they need, how much they want to spend, and how they plan to use their rifle. Drop-in handguards are fine for casual shooting and some tactical uses. Free-float handguards are better for competitive shooters and people who want their rifle to be as accurate as possible.
Heat Protection: Keeping Your Hands Safe
When you shoot an AR15, the barrel gets really hot. It can reach over 5000 degrees Fahrenheit where the bullet fires. The outside of the barrel doesn’t get that hot, but it can still burn you, especially if you shoot a lot. This is why the AR15 handguard is so important. It acts like a shield, protecting your hands from the heat so you can keep shooting safely.
Different materials protect from heat in different ways:
- Aluminum: Good at resisting heat and can handle up to 220°F after 300 quick shots. It’s strong, light, and helps spread out the heat.
- Polymer: Lighter than aluminum and good at first, but can melt or change shape if it gets too hot. Not great for shooting a lot.
- Carbon fiber: Very good at resisting heat and super light. Great for competitions and shooting a lot.
Some handguards, like our Vigilante Handguard, use special materials like American Walnut. This gives good heat protection and looks unique. The wood, combined with modern design, makes a handguard that works well and looks cool.
Modularity: Customize Your Rifle
One of the best things about AR15 handguards is that you can customize them. This is a big reason why AR15s are so popular. You can add, remove, or change parts easily to make your rifle fit what you need. This makes the AR15 good for many things, from home defense to long-range shooting.
There are different ways to attach things to handguards:
- M-LOK: A new system that’s becoming very popular. It’s sleek, easy to use, and holds attachments securely.
- Picatinny rails: An older system that’s still widely used because it works with many accessories. It’s strong but heavier than newer systems.
- KeyMod: Another newer system that’s lighter and sleeker than Picatinny rails. Not as popular as M-LOK, but still has fans.
With these systems, you can add many things to your AR15, like:
- Grips to help you hold the rifle better
- Lights and lasers for shooting in the dark or aiming
- Bipods to help you shoot more steadily
- Extra sights in case your main sight breaks
- Places to attach a strap for carrying
- Stops to help you hold your hand in the same place each time
Improved Accuracy: Free-Float Handguards
Free-float handguards are popular with people who want to shoot very accurately. Unlike drop-in handguards, which touch the barrel in several places, free-float handguards only attach to the upper part of the rifle. This lets the barrel move freely when you shoot, which can make the rifle more accurate, especially when shooting far away.
Here’s how free-float handguards can make your rifle more accurate:
- They let the barrel vibrate naturally when you shoot, which can make bullets fly more predictably.
- They allow air to flow evenly around the barrel, helping it cool evenly. This can keep the rifle accurate during long shooting sessions.
- They provide a stable place to mount scopes, which can help keep your aim true even in tough conditions.
- They can help your rifle shoot the same way even when you’re holding it differently or using different supports.
Tests have shown that free-float handguards can improve accuracy by up to 0.6 MOA (minute of angle) compared to drop-in handguards. This might not sound like much, but it can make a big difference when shooting far away. For example, it could mean hitting 6 inches closer to your target at 1000 yards.
Remember, how much the accuracy improves depends on things like how good the handguard is, how well the rest of the rifle is built, the quality of the ammunition, and how skilled the shooter is. But for people who want their AR15 to be as accurate as possible, a good free-float handguard is often considered essential.
Choosing the Right AR15 Handguard
Picking the best AR15 handguard means thinking about several things to make sure it fits your needs and makes shooting more enjoyable. Here are some things to think about:
- What you’ll use it for: For home defense, a shorter, lighter handguard with a place to attach a light might be best. For competitions, a longer, free-float handguard might be better for accuracy. Hunters might want something light and tough.
- Weight: The weight of the handguard affects how the rifle feels and handles. Lighter ones make the rifle quicker to move around. Heavier ones can make it more stable for precise shooting.
- How you attach things: Choose between Picatinny rails, M-LOK, or KeyMod based on what accessories you have or want to get. M-LOK is becoming very popular because it’s versatile and sleek.
- Cost: Handguards can be cheap or very expensive. Think about what features you need and how much you’re willing to spend.
- Material: Aluminum, polymer, and carbon fiber each have different benefits in terms of weight, heat resistance, and toughness. Think about where and how you’ll use your rifle.
- Length: Longer handguards give you more space to attach things and can make the rifle more stable. Shorter ones are lighter and easier to move in tight spaces.
- Compatibility: Make sure the handguard fits your rifle and works with any special parts you want to use, like suppressors.
- Look: While how it works is most important, you probably want your rifle to look good too. Choose a handguard that matches the style of your rifle.
Conclusion
The AR15 handguard is a very important part that affects how well the rifle works, how versatile it is, and how good it feels to use. It does many important jobs, from protecting your hands from heat to letting you customize your rifle and potentially making it more accurate. When choosing an AR15 handguard, it’s important to think carefully about what you need, how you shoot, and what you’ll use the rifle for.
The right handguard can make your AR15 much better, improving how it works, how accurate it is, and how it looks. Whether you want something light for competitions, tough for tactical use, or precise for long-range shooting, there’s a handguard made for you. By understanding the different types, materials, and features available, you can make a good choice that will make your AR15 rifle better in both looks and function.
Remember, the best handguard is one that fits your shooting goals and what you like. Take time to research, compare options, and if you can, try different types of handguards to see what feels best for you. With the right handguard, you can make your shooting experience much better and get the most out of your AR15. Happy shooting, and we hope your choice helps you enjoy and shoot better with your rifle!
