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Posted: 3/20/2007 5:09:59 PM EDT
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Hey all. Can someone give me a simple breakdown on the difference in the standard M4 handguards? The reason I ask is some M4s I see seem to have a much thinner handguard: bushmaster.com/shopping/weapons/bcwa2s16m468.asp While others appear wider: www.rockriverarms.com/item-detail.cfm?ID=AR0840X&storeid=1&image=uentry07.gif&CFID=36611844&CFTOKEN=32259999 Is there some sort of standard/classification here? Thanks, BB |
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Hello, You're correct that there are two different sizes of "standard" carbine handguards. One, the one on the Bushmaster rifle, are the original dimension "skinny" handguards that have been being used on carbines almost since they were first introduced with the XM177 series. They have a single heat shield on the inside, and are generally referred to as "carbine" handguards, and the same general type was used by the military since the XM177 to the Model 727 carbine, which was the predecessor of the M4, which was almost identical, but with a fixed carry handle. The fatter handguards were introduced around the time of the first M4 carbines, in the mid nineties, and I've also heard that very late in the production of the 727, the fatter handguards were available as an option. As produced they also featured a double internal heat shield, which was their main distinguishing factor, to better contain the heat off the barrel from firing, and it also corrected the tendency of users to grip the handguards too tightly, interfering with a stable position during firing, instead of letting the handguards rest in their hands. All real M4's with standard handguards thus come from Colt with the "M4" or "fat" double heat shield handguards. Some commercial companies now, however, have begun to use single heat shield handguards, but with a fatter "M4" profile, while others offer both options, or the M4 handguards as double heat shield units. The RRA ones you linked to are, IIRC, the single heat shield ones, but I may be wrong. HTH, ~Augee |
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I run the stock Bushmasters on my home defense carbean. They are pretty cheesy but they do the trick. I would change them out, but I've spent a bunch of time and effort installing flash light mounts to them, so I'm stuck with them. The COLT handguards, which are the same dimensionally, are infinitely higher in quality. |
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