Free Floating Handguard, Worth It For Me?

[WardenRoss]

Greeting Sport Fans,

I know the free floating handguard improves accuracy.

I have a box stock Sport.

How much long distance shooting would one need to do to justify the cost of the free floating handguard. I rarely shoot over 100 yards. I do sometimes get out and shoot further with my 9 power scope. But not very often.

The only accessories would be a small LED light, if that matters.

I'm under the impression that if you shoot occasional 300 yard shots (not hammering away for hours) you won't notice much difference in accuracy between the stock handguard and a free floating one on the Sport.

Those in the know, please enlighten me and thanks.

 

[JaPes]

How much long distance shooting would one need to do to justify the cost of the free floating handguard.

There is no set amount. To be absolutely honest, the only justification you need to put anything on your 15-Sport is whether or not you want it.

Sounds like you want a free float handguard regardless of how much long distance shooting you do. Go for it. Life is short. Can't take the $$$ with you when you die. Might as well enjoy it now.

 

[Shinny]

^^^The same premise I used to buy my sport!^^^

 

[Maddmax]

As crazy as it sounds. I don't know if there are too many people on here that have "stock" anything AR's. ) The fever is going to get you sooner than later... so don't fight it. Jump in the waters great.

 

[BRITINMN]

Greeting Sport Fans,

I know the free floating handguard improves accuracy.

I have a box stock Sport.

How much long distance shooting would one need to do to justify the cost of the free floating handguard. I rarely shoot over 100 yards. I do sometimes get out and shoot further with my 9 power scope. But not very often.

The only accessories would be a small LED light, if that matters.

I'm under the impression that if you shoot occasional 300 yard shots (not hammering away for hours) you won't notice much difference in accuracy between the stock handguard and a free floating one on the Sport.

Those in the know, please enlighten me and thanks.

I'm in the same boat - and keep going back and forth between 'I NEED to free float the barrel' and 'I can do so many other things with the money... there are other things I need to buy... it is too much of a pain to do myself... the wife will KILL me if I spend any more money on this hobby!'.

I shoot mostly out to 100 yards, sometimes to 200 yards. But once one of my good friends gets some berms built there will be a possibility to really stretch the Sports legs

This 'problem' is only made worse by how darn accurate these rifles are ... even in the hands of newbies like me!! I was expecting to buy the Sport just as a CQB type weapon ... and MAYBE try to get somewhat accurate out to 100 yards or so - then further down the line, once I was sure that I would enjoy shooting rifles, to maybe buy something that would be fun to play with out to 300-400 yards.

So far this thing has been a blast to play with - and I have definitely got the rifle 'bug'. So... what kind of difference could one expect to see with free-floated vs non free-floated barrels out to 200yds, 300yds, and beyond?? What kind of groups are people seeing before and after free floating using bulk ammo? Are there any drawbacks to free-floating, other than the cost??

 

[oneyeopn]

I havent found any draw backs to free floating. Most of my hunting is between 200 and 300, I really like it when the little buggers give me a 100 yard shot. The biggest drawback is how much money you want to spend. I put a rifle length Nordic on my Sport, it has a smaller diameter and fits my hand better, it involved changing the gas block out and the barrel nut, I bartered for a carbine length DPMS that I have on my wifes AR that I built, I am now trying to figure out how to put my A2 front sight on hers cause it is the CQB rifle in the house (for now) as soon as I get my 45acp Carbine I will be taking the eotech style sight off of it and putting a scope on it anyway. and it wont be the CQB rifle so I dont need the front sight....see my mind is wandering sorry LOL

 

[Maddmax]

I have a box stock Sport.

How much long distance shooting would one need to do to justify the cost of the free floating handguard. I rarely shoot over 100 yards. I do sometimes get out and shoot further with my 9 power scope. But not very often.Those in the know, please enlighten me and thanks.

Give or take and sooner than later... I say about half a 30 round mag.

 

[storeyteller]

You don't have to shoot past 100yds to benefit from a free float hand guard. The longer the distance the greater the benefit but it will still help. This article might be helpful Ask Foghorn: What Does a "Free Float" Barrel Do? | The Truth About Guns

 

[Martimus]

Personally I find free floating handguards to be a multi-faceted change. They provide some degree of improvement to the accuracy of the rifle, they seem to lighten and improve the comfort of holding the rifle, and they reduce the ability to decorate the rifle with all that tactic-cool stuff that many of the "operators" like to weigh down their rifles with.

Just recently I broke down and converted my M&P15A to a free floating handguard. Soon after purchasing the rifle I had replaced the stock handguard with a DD EZ CAR. The quad rail was cool but it seemed like the rifle was just too heavy (even with nothing other than plastic railroad covers on the quad rail). Well I pulled off the front post, the stock gas tube, quad rails, and the delta ring... replacing them with a vltor lo pro gas block, YHM black gas tube, and Troy Vtac rail. I'd swear that it's literally a different rifle now...

The only possible downside I see is that I'll likely now have to start shooting with gloves. The quad rail had the benefit of more surface area so heat was able to dissipate faster. That Alpha rail is likely gonna get warm...

 

[oneyeopn]

Martimus...that handguard is real similar to the Nordic I run and I do not have any heat issues with it. I also have a non-vented DPMS tubular on my other rifle and I havent had any heat issues with it I have done multiple mag dumps any way 3 20's in a hurry and burned myself on the barrel but the DPMS handguard wasnt hot

 

[JaPes]

Ok. To which one of you guys can I send my 15-Sport for a low pro gas block & free float handguard treatment?

 

[oneyeopn]

Ok. To which one of you guys can I send my 15-Sport for a low pro gas block & free float handguard treatment?

If you buy the parts just send me your upper!!! LOL

 

[Maddmax]

This article might be helpful Ask Foghorn: What Does a "Free Float" Barrel Do? | The Truth About Guns

Nice little read. Simple and to the point.

 

[Martimus]

Martimus...that handguard is real similar to the Nordic I run and I do not have any heat issues with it. I also have a non-vented DPMS tubular on my other rifle and I havent had any heat issues with it I have done multiple mag dumps any way 3 20's in a hurry and burned myself on the barrel but the DPMS handguard wasnt hot

That's good to know! Now that my mini-build is finished, I need to take the M&P up to the range to make sure everything is ok.

Got the screws on the gas block tight but don't want to loctite them till I make sure that the gas system is working ok. I used compressed air to make sure that I was getting air flow through the gas block into the barrel... but I can't guarantee that the hole in the barrel is centered under the hole in the gas block. Fortunately the hole in the gas block looks larger so even if I'm slightly off, it should be ok.

 

[rebs081]

I don't think you get enough of a return on the investment to put a free float on the Sport. Mine shoots 1/2 inch groups at 100 yds just as it is. What would there be to gain ?
It may to more on a 20 or 24" barrel.

 

[Maddmax]

I don't think you get enough of a return on the investment to put a free float on the Sport. Mine shoots 1/2 inch groups at 100 yds just as it is. What would there be to gain ?
It may to more on a 20 or 24" barrel.

That's why I cheated. I got a fantastic deal on a 15T for a little less than the Sport and pounced on it (Dicks Sporting Goods had $100 off sale and if you got a new Dick's Card,you also got 20% off and I also grabbed some extra "do-dad's" for it). It already had "about" everything I would have done to the Sport anyway.. So I have a "Sporty" T. I paid all but a few bucks off (had to use the card) and paid the card off when I got the bill (they charge 26.8% ? on the card if you don't pay it off in full,YIKES!!!). Sports are almost impossable to find around here and the wait is who knows when. Long on back order's for sure.

 

[oneyeopn]

Rebs...I agree the sport is great to 100yards but it was in shooting further and after a few shots that the free float comes into play. I really liked my Sport and figured out pretty quickly that it would make a great varmint rifle and where I live you get way more 200 to 300 yard shots than 50 to 100. In fact when calling predators you may see them at 800 yards or more with your binocs before you ever get a chance to shoot at them. Coyotes in particular seem to circle in ever decreasing circles until they make a dash and come on in. If they catch your sent or see you when they are circling then they are gone. I found that my sport after a few rounds would start pulling to the left and up. That was what the heat would do to it. Now with it free floated it shoots the same group whether I have shot any rounds or 20 rounds so for me free floating the barrel is definitely worth it

 

[WardenRoss]

...I found that my sport after a few rounds would start pulling to the left and up. That was what the heat would do to it. Now with it free floated it shoots the same group whether I have shot any rounds or 20 rounds so for me free floating the barrel is definitely worth it

Now we are talkin.

I can relate to what you are saying.

 

[Maddmax]

Rebs...I agree the sport is great to 100yards but it was in shooting further and after a few shots that the free float comes into play. I really liked my Sport and figured out pretty quickly that it would make a great varmint rifle and where I live you get way more 200 to 300 yard shots than 50 to 100. In fact when calling predators you may see them at 800 yards or more with your binocs before you ever get a chance to shoot at them. Coyotes in particular seem to circle in ever decreasing circles until they make a dash and come on in. If they catch your sent or see you when they are circling then they are gone. I found that my sport after a few rounds would start pulling to the left and up. That was what the heat would do to it. Now with it free floated it shoots the same group whether I have shot any rounds or 20 rounds so for me free floating the barrel is definitely worth it

Any regulations/season on hunting Coyotes there ? It's all open here.

 

[oneyeopn]

its all open here also but if you wait till winter you can sell the hides or the whole animal, I dont know what they are paying this year but it was $22 last year.