Triangular handguards?

[trueg50]

I like the m&p 15-22 but I wanted to give it a more retro and comfortable feel. Is there any easily adoptable triangular handguard (like the original m16's had) that I could use?

Is there any good guides for removing the handguard on the 15-22?

 

[Brett248Vista]

Handguard/Barrel removal video has just been shot. I need to process then upload to youtube. Should be ready this evening.

Yes you can change out the stock hand guard using the barrel nut adapter from Tacticool22, you will need that adapter and you will need an A2 front sight post, a Delta Ring and a Hand Guard End Cap. You will need to have someone machine a spacer (34.5 thousandths per side) to shim the stock barrel to the A2 sight post and you will need to figure out how to secure the sight post, either by having the barrel cross drilled for straight or taper pins, or some sort of set screw that threads in from the bottom of the sight post.

But here's the downer... I don't think the barrel is long enough on the 15-22 to use the long carbine triangle hand guard. If they make one in an "M4" length you will be ok!

Smith&Wesson M&P15-22 Instructional Series: Barrel Removal (Part1)

Smith&Wesson M&P15-22 Instructional Series: Barrel Removal (Part2)

 

[shawnfergie]

Great video Brett. Good stuff.

 

[Brett248Vista]

Thanks Shawn!

 

[Rustpot]

They made a carbine with triangular handguards. One of the early CAR-15 models that saw limited testing or SpecOps issue in Vietnam.
http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSJ2Lf-9O3CvnRSEVjO63NWpJjowbjXLLe3FXhUmJPYA7Qke0VA

I don't know if they'd be available anywhere.

 

[Brett248Vista]

Rustspot,

Looks like PK Firearms manufactures CAR length triangle hand guards. I tried to go to the web site but it's currently fubar (SQL errors).

So it looks like it can be done. I also saw a pair of the CAR length guards on Gunbroker, they sold for $30.

 

[trueg50]

They made a carbine with triangular handguards. One of the early CAR-15 models that saw limited testing or SpecOps issue in Vietnam.
http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSJ2Lf-9O3CvnRSEVjO63NWpJjowbjXLLe3FXhUmJPYA7Qke0VA

I don't know if they'd be available anywhere.

That doesn't look too bad; I think that would look pretty good on the 15-22; or at least would be an interesting project.

Rustspot,

Looks like PK Firearms manufactures CAR length triangle hand guards. I tried to go to the web site but it's currently fubar (SQL errors).

So it looks like it can be done. I also saw a pair of the CAR length guards on Gunbroker, they sold for $30.

Thanks! awesome video by the way! I assume you must use that barrel removal tool and clamp to remove the front grip? Kind of a bummer, but I have to remove the barrel any how to clean under the hand guard (previous owner got a burned powder-like reside under the grip).

Trying to think of a way to get it to stay on; I guess I could epoxy the two halves together; but without that castle-nut-like-thing to hold the grip on, I am not sure how to get it to stay in place.

I might just have to cave and get a red dot sight instead of irons sights to get around the front sight issue (or pony up the $80 for barrel mounted AR sights from Futon armory).

 

[Brett248Vista]

The grip halves are held on with a Delta Ring assembly, the Delta Ring and AR Barrel Nut are required as would be a Tacticool22 barrel nut adapter and a front A2 sight post and a way to affix the sight post.

AR15 sight posts are .750 ID and the 15-22 Barrel is roughly .670 so shims need to be machined and the barrel also needs to be cross drilled for the pins that secure the front post.

Here is what the setup looks like:

Your setup would be the same the only difference would be the triangle hand guard end cap and the hand guards.

 

[jsimmons]

You might want to consider a gas block/flip-up front sight from YankeeHill because it actually bolts onto the rifle with caps (kinda like the rings on a scope. The same shims would still have to be made, but at least you don't have to drill on your barrel.

 

[tacticool22]

Here is another option. It's a YHM Railed Gas Block With Bayonet Lug.
Del-Ton, Inc YHM Railed Gas Block with Bayonet Lug
Kinda spendy, but if you want a a picatinny rail on the gas block, then this is it.

 

[Brett248Vista]

Yep you could do the YHM setup, still need the shims machined to make up for the sizing difference. The nice thing about cross drilling the barrel (carbine M4 length) is that the half holes will be well inside the area or the OEM hand guard if you ever want to go back to "stock" so you won't see the holes either way. But they do need to be done on a Bridgeport or similar milling machine, I wouldn't do this with a drill press!