Handguard length on a 16" barrel

[Skogkat]

Hi fellas,

I'm looking for input here from your collected experiences. I'm just getting into competitive shooting, and looking at getting a new handguard for my AR.

I'm pretty tall at 6'3", so my concern is that a 12" may be too short. If I'm running a 16" barrel, is a 15" handguard too long?

 

[Wall]

15's not too long, just don't accidently grab out too far & get your hand near the comp

 

[Skogkat]

Yeah, and that's my concern actually as I want to put a Miculek on there. I guess one way or another it likely wouldn't be a mistake I'd repeat...

 

[drmitchgibson]

I'm 6'1" and I have a 16" carbine with a standard 12" length rifle tube on it. It doesn't seem too short and handles well, but it's definitely not as comfortable as the 15" handguard on my rifle. I think arm length is the determining factor, not height, although the two generally go hand in hand. My arms are really long.

 

[mikey80]

Did you know, if you stretch your arms out, parallel to the ground, measure from tip to tip of your middle fingers across your chest, that the length is equal to your height?

#jalapenorelish
#mindblown
#smart

 

[Wild Bill1]

Did you know, if you stretch your arms out, parallel to the ground, measure from tip to tip of your middle fingers across your chest, that the length is equal to your height?

#jalapenorelish
#mindblown
#smart

The more you know....

 

[Wall]

Yeah, and that's my concern actually as I want to put a Miculek on there. I guess one way or another it likely wouldn't be a mistake I'd repeat...

You can put a small rail segment at the end of the support side of the handguard to use as an index.
That should keep you from reaching out too far.

 

[Matt1911]

Did you know, if you stretch your arms out, parallel to the ground, measure from tip to tip of your middle fingers across your chest, that the length is equal to your height?
#jalapenorelish
#mindblown
#smart

We both listened to the same teacher in 3rd grade!!
#smat.... I mean smart

 

[G Tinney]

I run a 15" midwest handguard and a titan comp on a 16" barrel, got my finger too close just once... That was all I wanted of that!

 

[pdh]

Get a 15", you want as long as possible to be able to reach out. As said above use something as an index point, I use a pearce grip glock extension screwed into my troy rail, DIY but it works

 

[Skogkat]

Thanks everyone, I'll be getting the 15", and definitely setting up an index point.

 

[jtischauser]

I'm 6"1"ish. My support hand doesn't get anywhere near the end of a 15" rail. Just don't geek out like Costa and duck your head under your shoulders while hyper extending your elbow. A 15" reach isn't any faster in transitions then a 12-13" reach.

Kinda like a 16" barrel isn't really any faster then an 18" in transitions.

 

[michaelclm]

Same as Jesse and Mitch, I'm right at 6'1" and I also have a 15" MI forend on my 16" M4gery. As far as indexing the hand on the forend, get yourself some of this awesome right here: http://www.impactweaponscomponents.com/product/weapon-control-mount/

 

[Burk Cornelius]

Did you know, if you stretch your arms out, parallel to the ground, measure from tip to tip of your middle fingers across your chest, that the length is equal to your height?

#jalapenorelish
#mindblown
#smart

Did that really just happen?

use something as an index point, I use a pearce grip glock extension screwed into my troy rail, DIY but it works

I like this idea. Improvise!

 

[pdh]

Did that really just happen?


I like this idea. Improvise!

I did steal it off someone from youtube, cant remember where, although it works well

 

[Skogkat]

Thanks for the tips guys! As soon as I decide on a handguard (leaning toward MI) I'll pick out something that seems to pair well for indexing. Thanks again!

 

[G Tinney]

There's a QD swivel hole at the end of the Midwest that I've learned that's my indexing point

 

[Matt1911]

I used to use a small rail section at the end of my hand guard at 6 o'clock to give my finger a stopping point, but I realized that most of the time that I didn't put my hand out far enough to reach that point so I took it off to shave a couple ounces.

 

[striped1]

As a wise and somewhat metro-sexual professional 3 gunner, or is it somewhat wise and metro-sexual pro 3 gunner, recently advised me, be careful getting a hand guard too close to the end of the barrel because some stages require you to shoot through holes that aren't big enough to get the hand guard into. I went with a 15" SLR with an 18" satern barrel and a Fortis red muzzle brake

 

[Fleche]

I'm 5'9" and hate you all. (in the best possible way of course...damn freaks of nature)