Magpul Carbine Hand Guard w/out A2 Style Sight?

[cryptiq]

I've been searching the forum and looking at other threads regarding the hand guard but I wasn't able to find the specific answer to my question.

I want to use a Magpul carbine length hand guard but not the A2 style front sight. I know there are some parts I need to change around the barrel nut to allow different hand guards, but my main concern is with the front hand guard end cap that I've seen in some of the other threads. It seems the end cap is essentially held in place by the A2 clamp on sight? Instead of the A2 sight, I wanted to use the MBUS sights from Magpul.

With that in mind, are there any solutions to use an end cap with the Magpul hand guards...or is it even necessary for that matter? I would think I would need something to help secure the front of the hand guard so it wouldn't travel in relation to the barrel but I don't know what's required. Thanks guys.

 

[Incredible Me]

with the MOE you need a frontcap.

The A2 post is made for our barrel, you can use other gasblocks where you mount the ring on, but you'll need an insert to make the block fit our barrel.

 

[shawnr5]

I used a clamp on quad rail gas block and a piece of brass tubing as a shim on mine when I first put it on. A low profile gas block would be a very clean look.

 

[shawnr5]

Primary ARMS has a Yankee Hill low profile gas block for $22.99. https://www.primaryarms.com/Yankee_...rk=gdfV25369_a_7c1748_a_7c6696_a_7cYHM_d_9383

 

[tlm3210]

Primary ARMS has a Yankee Hill low profile gas block for $22.99. https://www.primaryarms.com/Yankee_...rk=gdfV25369_a_7c1748_a_7c6696_a_7cYHM_d_9383

It needs to be a clamp on gas block, not a pin on.

 

[shawnr5]

That one uses two set screws on the underside. The hole in the side is to go through the gas tube, not to pin it to the barrel. This one would work fine, but not to use a MBUS. The MOE handguard is taller than rail height, so a rail height gas block is necessary.

 

[tlm3210]

That one uses two set screws on the underside. The hole in the side is to go through the gas tube, not to pin it to the barrel. This one would work fine, but not to use a MBUS. The MOE handguard is taller than rail height, so a rail height gas block is necessary.

Ok, makes sense.

 

[JCKoLnturn]

I would be careful with a MBUS on a gas block. On a regular AR it will melt. I'm not sure how hot it will get on these 15-22's. The gas isn't running though it but it is still attached to the barrel. I'm not sure if this was part of the OP's original intent but it was mentioned.

 

[shawnr5]

He would have to run the mbus on the gas block. The MOE forend is taller than the rails on the receiver and the sights wouldn't be coplanar if the front was mounted on the forend. That's one advantage of going with the A2 front sight. As long as your rear sight is mounted on the receiver, the A2 front sight is coplanar. The MOE forend is quite comfortable to use. I tried it in both carbine and mid-length before I gota VLTOR CASV-el for my 15-22. Both MOE forends are sitting on the shelf, now.

 

[photoracer]

Why don't you just use a handguard that does not need a front cap? A high end Troy or Samson handguards or lower price Nordic or JP don't use any kind of front attachment because the barrel free floats. I use a 7" Samson Evo on my HD AR DPMS carbine but that one is getting replaced by a 10" one(plus a low profile gas block) and the 7" is going on my #2 15-22.

 

[cryptiq]

Wow you guys rock! Thanks for all the feedback. I still need some advice so I know what I'm getting into though.

I ended up checking out the local gun show this weekend to get my hands on some of the Magpul accessories I've been interested in. It didn't look like the Magpul handguards will accept a sight...they're slotted on the top, but the accessory rails are only at the 10, 2, and 6 o'clock positions, so all things considered, I guess I'm leaning towards the A2 sight again. The only reason I was considering the flip up sights is because I wanted to be able to fold them out of the way when I'm using a red dot or scope, but I'm thinking maybe a better option is to have a setup with a red dot sight that allows you to cowitness your iron sights in the lower 1/3rd? I don't know if that opens up a whole new can of worms...like how do you know what mounting height you need on the red dot to achieve this...or is it just a matter of purchasing the red dot first then measuring to see what kind of risers you need on the rail? So I guess embedded in there is my first concern...is there a standard height for the A2 sights that will line up with the rear sights or do you have to be cautious of this when purchasing?

My next question has to do with when do you actually need a gas block? Is it more or less a cosmetic piece or is it required to stabilize the front of the handguard - or does the answer to that depend on which handguard you go with? Is this what we're talking about when "freefloat" is used in the context of handguards? Are there some handguards are rigid enough that they only need to attach to the barrel nut?

I guess maybe to make this easier, let's just say I wanna go with the Magpul handguard. I know I need the parts like the free float adapter that tacticool sells, and a deltaring? What do I need up front assuming I want to go with the A2 style sight? Are there any A2 sights made for our barrel diameter or do I need to have a shim fabricated? And what kind of gasblock would I need...is there one that would sort of fit flush with the open end of the handguard to help keep debris out?

Thanks guys, I appreciate all the feedback, I'm a total novice so any input is greatly appreciated.

 

[sound wave]

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I guess maybe to make this easier, let's just say I wanna go with the Magpul handguard. I know I need the parts like the free float adapter that tacticool sells, and a deltaring? What do I need up front assuming I want to go with the A2 style sight? Are there any A2 sights made for our barrel diameter or do I need to have a shim fabricated? And what kind of gasblock would I need...is there one that would sort of fit flush with the open end of the handguard to help keep debris out?

Thanks guys, I appreciate all the feedback, I'm a total novice so any input is greatly appreciated.

the a2 sight includes the gas block.
members of this site directed me to this website for the a2 front post: TRUE SHOT TECHNOLOGIES SMITH WESSON 1522

apparently from an e-mail conversation with them, it is an actual a2 site that has been modified to fit our barrels. no shim needed.

you would also need the hand guard front plate. where you can.... you know what.. have you read this thread? http://smith-wessonforum.com/smith-wesson-m-p-15-22/277994-carbine-conversion-finally-done.html

tlm and others helped me a lot in that thread.

this is where i got my handguard cap. HANDGUARD CAP, ROUND | Brownells

then what i did, at the advice of tlm, was to tap the hole in the gas block of the a2 sight. i used a 5mm - 0.8 tap and went down to about the gas tube retaining pin hole or about 1" in the sight. then i cleaned out the gunk in there and screwed in an M5-0.8 screw (about 1/2" long or more is all you really need.) just enough to secure the end cap to the gas block a2 sight. normally the system's gas tube would go in that hole, but the 15-22 doesn't use one.

so this is the front post already attached to the handguard cap.

i can't show you the part actually going on over the barrel... because tacticool's parts are taking over two weeks to get here. . a penalty of living in Hawaii I suppose.

but the hand guard cap is what holds the front handguards together.

pretty simple, ONCE ALL THE TOOLS COME IN. LOL

sorry, it is a pretty choppy explanation. it is 240 in the morning. and i am sleepy.