Handguards are essential on an AR weapon to protect the shooter’s hand from making direct contact with the barrel during firing. Without AR handguards for rapid firing, the heat of the barrel would make it impossible for the shooter to hold or touch the barrel.
There are many different types of AR handguards on the market, and every gun owner has his or her favorite. While this is a way to customize a weapon, these components also serve a very important function. Before taking anyone’s word for the best handguard to upgrade a weapon, stop and think about what is needed and then choose a handguard that meets these requirements.
To help to provide an overview of three different types of AR handguards, a summary of the qualities, functions, and installation of each is included below. Taking the time to consider these factors will help decide which is the best match for your personal shooting needs.
Quad Rails (Free Floating)
For someone looking for a stockier, more military look to the weapon combined with lots of space for mounting accessories, the free floating quad rails are a good choice.
These mount to the upper receiver and do not touch the barrel, ideal for mounting scopes and optics as they will not move at all during use of the weapon. Additionally, with rails on all sides, additional accessories are easy to add.
Drop-In Handguards
Short, simple and basic, the drop-in handguards require no gun experience to replace. These are two piece design that is installed or removed by pulling back on the delta ring and pulling out the old and dropping in the new. Some are designed with mounting options while others are strictly used as handguards.
There are also styles of drop-in handguards that have rails. These allow for mounting of accessories with the exception of optics. For those using lasers, lights, bipods or additional grips this is a nice look and a practical option to consider.
