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Posted: 7/18/2004 6:24:16 AM EDT
| I'm getting ready to purchase a RRA with a 16" barrel. What are the plus/minuses of a short handguard vs. a mid-length handguard? |
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Mid length gives you a lower port pressure - which slows down the cyclic rate. This improves long term durability and reliability. It also gives you a slightly better sight radius. The downside is there are fewer 'railed handguard' options, and nobody makes a LW mid-length (meaning you'll have to spend an extra $50 to send it to Kurt or ADCO to have it turned down and reparkerized). |
| I don't have a midlength but I like the idea of an extra couple of inches to hold onto. I have a large frame and usually find myself holding on near the FSB. A middie might be kind of nice. The drawback, atleast for now, is the availability of other handguards and mounting a bayonet. |
That's exactly why I bought a midlength. I usually end up grabbing the area near the FSB. It looks different, too. |
If by LW mid-length, you mean railed forend, Yankee Hill makes one.  Lonny |
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For a long time I considered a 'M4' type upper, but after considering all of the advantages mentioned above, I went with a light-profile mid-length. I don't regret it one bit. BTW, ACDO usually has the LW mid-length uppers in stock, so although you still have to pay the extra $50, you won't have to wait for it. |
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