My final AR accessory purchase: B5 Systems KeyMod Handguard

[JaPes]

I'm burning out on the AR-15 platform. This is my last AR accessory purchase. As you all know, I'm one of the nut-jobs who turned a perfectly good 15-Sport into a tacti-cool monster.

While I like what I've done to the 15-Sport, I lament that I turned a great lightweight rifle into a heavy rifle. I decided to lighten my 14.5" AR.

Before:

After:

I took off the Magpul MOE handguard & VFG, and mounted a B5 Systems Keymod handguard. I took off the carry handle. I pulled a Troy fixed rear sight from my parts bin, and put it on. Not only is the rifle lighter, but I find I really like the slim/narrow diameter B5 handguard.

The B5 Keymod handguard is narrower than the stock 15-Sport handguard. The heat shield fit is tight. I think I rubbed off some of the phosphate finish on the barrel slipping the handguard on. No biggie. IMO, if there are any 15-Sport owners who what drop in handguards with heat shields the B5's are the way to go.

I'm thinking of removing more of the Magpul furniture and putting stock pieces back on. I think I've come full circle in the modding addiction. Less is more.

 

[JaPes]

I reinstalled a standard grip and a standard stock. Both are lighter than their Magpul counterparts. I honestly can't tell much difference between the Magpul MAID and a standard grip. It's nice to have the traditional sling point on the standard stock again. The BAD Lever is gone. The special star-hex head stripped. I had to drill out the screw. It's nice to have a regular old ping-pong paddle to practice with again. I'm leaving the RRA 2-Stage trigger and KNS pins. Those actually serve a purpose.

It's nice to have a tricked out 15-Sport and a mostly basic AR-15. Best of both worlds.

 

[uncledoggle]

"My final AR accessory purchase"

Yeah, right.

 

[JaPes]

Nope. That's it. Nothing left that I want to do. I'm good now.

My name is John. I'm an AR-15 addict. The last time I ordered a part was one week ago...

 

[modelbuilder56]

We have been there and if you expect us to believe this is the last accessory purchase, well...................... I'am afraid I'll wear out the weld spring from changing the hand guard on my sport.

 

[bhayles]

Nope. That's it. Nothing left that I want to do. I'm good now.

You fergit I'm a recovering alcoholic...I know an imminent relapser when I see one...

 

[Rastoff]

My name is John. I'm an AR-15 addict. The last time I ordered a part was one week ago...

Step one is admission. You're there friend.


If you want to off load that stock, let me know. I've got a lower and a parts kit, but no buffer tube or stock yet. The stock will get me part way to a lower and buffer tubes are easy to get.

 

[JaPes]

I was shouldering the standard stock with no pad, and it wasn't nice. I put the MOE stock back on.

 

[cyphertext]

So you finally broke down and bought a keymod handguard! I think I am truly the last hold out. Narrow like the stock hand guard, but with a heat shield... I think I want that.

 

[JaPes]

So you finally broke down and bought a keymod handguard! I think I am truly the last hold out. Narrow like the stock hand guard, but with a heat shield... I think I want that.

Link to B5 Goodness

^$28 + free shipping. Last week, I got a promo e-mail from AIM and checked it out. Previously there was only one online vendor selling them at $26 but the shipping costs were through the roof.

Cypher, the B5 keymod handguards make the stock 15-Sport handguard feel fat. The 15-Sport stock handguard tapers toward the FSB and has a ... how do I describe it... a squished oval (horizontal) cross section. The B5's do not taper, and their contour is like a slim oval (vertical) cross section. The B5 keymod makes the 15-Sport stock handguards feel fat. The B5 keymod makes the Magpul MOE handguard feel morbidly obese. For 15-Sport owners who want a handguard with heat shields, the B5 is the way to go.

On my modded through the roof 15-Sport, I need a vertical fore grip to help me manipulate the weight of the rifle. Before putting my 14.5" on a diet, I needed the VFG to help manipulate the weight of the rifle but also because the MOE handguards are "fat". I have no need for a VFG on the now lightweight AR. If I need to pivot the rifle, I use the mag well.

Black was sold out when I ordered, so I went with the grey. I normally like my AR's to be all black, but the B5 grey is growing on me.

 

[JaPes]

Forgot to add...

Both the stock 15-Sport and the Magpul handguards had some wiggle. The B5's don't wiggle.

 

[Rastoff]

I was shouldering the standard stock with no pad, and it wasn't nice. I put the MOE stock back on.

And back down the rabbit hole we go. Isn't this how you started modifying your gun?

Trust me, ain't nothin' ever as good as we remember it. You're learning why you put that stuff on their the first time.

 

[gunny4053]

I was shouldering the standard stock with no pad, and it wasn't nice. I put the MOE stock back on.

Whoop, there it is! But, hey, I do understand. The keymod looks pretty good.

 

[BillyJack2012]

Thanks for the write up. All the pics of the B5 that I see make the two halves look like they don't mate up very well. The gap seems to be uneven and pretty noticeable. That could just be due to the lighter color. How is it in person? Do pics just make it look worse? I'm still trying to like the keymod system but it's not easy...

But like you, I modded out my OR. I haven't changed it and still go back to it often but my last build was a M4 clone with the tapered hand guard and Colt take off carry handle. No optic, no frills.

 

[cyphertext]

BTW JaPes, you can't be "done". How can you have a keymod stock and not have any key mod accessories? Even if it is just a sling attachment, you have to get at least one thing to attach to that hand guard to "try it out"!

 

[JaPes]

There is a gap. The pictures make it look worse than it is. The fit is tight. If the hand guard was black, you'd never notice it.

 

[SickMAK90]

So was it your last mod?

I've started going full circle as well. Just sold off a middy with a 13" FF rail to get a BCM middy without and I ordered the b5 hand guards.

 

[Rick_A]

A B5 grip is the only thing I've purchased for my rifle in years.

I reshaped the bottom and stippled it.
20141215_133539 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr

20141215_134059 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr

20141215_133725 by Slick_Rick77, on Flickr

It is about perfect.

 

[lagavulin62]

I'm very thankful I still haven't assembled that upper I have been working on for two years. I have the barrel and all its assembly parts, gas tube, receiver with FA slot. I never did buy that quadrail from Bud's and thank goodness. Because shooting the simple Sport has taught me I don't need or want any of that **** I could stick on it. No I really don't need a shortwave radio or compac mounted for field use. I'm going to keep things simple on my "build" and just rough it.