why would I change over to a CF handguard

fastarget · Mar 14, 2012

Been seeing several manufacturers make the carbon fiber handguards, ultra light etc.........
Why would I want one on my 3G rifle?

aeropb · Mar 15, 2012

to make it ultra light

fastarget · Mar 15, 2012

at the 3G nationals there were 20" with VTAC guns, JM uses a carbon fiber in his video. I thought a little weight is a good thing, but maybe there is a trend to set up ARs differently.

jtischauser · Mar 15, 2012

Because Chris Andersen uses one. End of story!

Chris_Andersen · Mar 15, 2012

Oh lord.

I like CF hand guards on my rifles because of the overall feel I get with the setup I am using. Less weight upfront can mean quicker transitions. But you are right, a little weight is not necessarily a bad thing. Go to a match and handle a few rifles with different setups and see what feels good to you. I have handled plenty of guns with aluminum hand guards that feel great too.

Wall · Mar 15, 2012

Jesse Tischauser said:
Because Chris Andersen uses one. End of story!

This is why I went with CF

fastarget · Mar 15, 2012

Chris_Andersen said:
Oh lord.

I like CF hand guards on my rifles because of the overall feel I get with the setup I am using. Less weight upfront can mean quicker transitions. But you are right, a little weight is not necessarily a bad thing. Go to a match and handle a few rifles with different setups and see what feels good to you. I have handled plenty of guns with aluminum hand guards that feel great too.

Not one CF handguard on this side of the mountain in CO. The hunt started for a different handguard on my firebird since my forward hold is bringing me in contact with the gas block. Nothing else seems to fit the firebird nut for extra lenght other than carbon arms CF tube, thinking of getting one, not many other choices . Now that I am having Loki assemble a billet upper with the double fluted 18", this would be an opportunity fo choose the standard vs CF from them. It would be good to have both rifles with the same feel.

RyanReed · Mar 15, 2012

I just went with a Troy Vtac over the carbon fiber. The Troy 15" weighed 14.4oz with the nut.

fastarget · Mar 15, 2012

Troy has good hanguards, have an Extreme on a rifle, nice grip. Most CF guards are in the 5-6 oz range..

jtischauser · Mar 15, 2012

Here are some wieghts of the handguards I have or have had.

JP Enterprises 12" (Rifle Length)
24 oz Complete handguard with 3" rail and sling swivel stud
13.4 oz Handguard only
,9 oz 3" Rail
.4 oz Sling Swivel Stud
2.4 oz Barrel Nut

PRI 15" Carbon Fiber Handguard
13.8 oz w/barrel nut, sling swivel adapter, 3" bi pod rail
10.8 oz w/sling swivel adapter, 3" bi pod rail
8.7 oz w/nothing
11.8 oz w/barrel nut
The detachable portion of the sling swivel weighs 0.6 oz
1.2 oz Entire sling swivel unit

I have the numbers on my 15" Samson Evolution handguard too but I can't seem to find them in my million email folders.

fastarget · Mar 15, 2012

no wonder my ctr feels a bit nosy , midweight with 15" VTAC. It does have a special balance about it, but I would not want to carry it all day.

RyanReed · Mar 15, 2012

fastarget said:
Troy has good hanguards, have an Extreme on a rifle, nice grip. Most CF guards are in the 5-6 oz range..

Never came across one that light. Every one I looked into in the 13-15" range were 10-13 oz with the barrel nut.

Specs on the 15" Lancer is 12oz and the 12" Carbon Arms comes in at 5.5oz, but that's just the tube. Add the necessary barrel nut and it's 12-14 oz.

fastarget · Mar 15, 2012

correct just the tube, the nut is there, and does not upset the balance much since it is kind of part of the upper. Here is what I looked at prviously, on a VTAC that would more than half the weight.

http://www.carbonarms.us/Carbon-Feather-Handguards/Carbon-Feather-FF-Tube-JP-Long.html

Pigfish73 · Mar 31, 2012

I recommend the Carbon Arms tubes. You can order them to use the JP or Firebird barrel nut. Send MarkCO a message on BE if you have any questions about their products. He did a great deal of research before he put the tubes on the market. There are a lot of CA tubes out there in 3GN. That ought to say something right there!

fastarget · Mar 31, 2012

thanks for the info, yes I have corresponded with MarCo a couple of times. He actually is the only option with the firebird nut, I tried to contact firebird regarding a longer guard but .....However MarCo is quite prompt. The extra long JP guard maybe making my CTR be heavy at the end of the day, There must be some considerable savings I would think replacing that one as well with a CF.

DoctorJJ · Mar 31, 2012

I love my Lancer 15" slotted hand guard. It feels great in your hand, being octagonal. I didn't weigh it but it seemed like there was a lot of weight in the barrel nut assembly. I even drilled mine to lighten it a little. I spent about an hour gun drilling the barrel nut in 8 different places. I probably saved 0.5 oz. LOL!

jtischauser · Mar 31, 2012

DoctorJJ said:
I love my Lancer 15" slotted hand guard. It feels great in your hand, being octagonal. I didn't weigh it but it seemed like there was a lot of weight in the barrel nut assembly. I even drilled mine to lighten it a little. I spent about an hour gun drilling the barrel nut in 8 different places. I probably saved 0.5 oz. LOL!

Those lancer Carbon handguards definitely are high in the cool factor! The drilled holes get you cool custom gun points so you're good to go.

DoctorJJ · Mar 31, 2012

Jesse Tischauser said:
Those lancer Carbon handguards definitely are high in the cool factor! The drilled holes get you cool custom gun points so you're good to go.

Well, since my shooting sucks, at least I have something going for me.
The drilled holes are under where the hand guard bolts to the barrel nut so you can't see it. I suppose it's a stealth custom mod. Haha!

Matt1911 · Mar 31, 2012

I'm dead set on troy extreme handguards myself for the strength and lightweight.
Some swear by the carbon fiber ones but I just don't see a significant enough of a weight savings to justify possibly losing some of the strength going from aluminum to carbon fiber.

fastarget · Mar 31, 2012

Matt has a point about strength.........in my case I am stuck, to shoot that gun well with my hand forward, I am indexing right on the gas block. If I was going to lighten the front of the CTR, the carbon fiber is worth it there, not sure at the difference between a 15" VTAC and a 15" CF has to be half a pound.

My house gun has the troy, I am going to put one on my wife's carbine, the small diameter, holes and texture make for a fantastic gripping surface, but alas will not fit on that firebird nut, but I am going to measure the OD of that nut, maybe I will drill holes in something, to make fit...