Ar newbie question

[ChickenWilly]

Not afraid to admit I'm new with anything ar. My question is if I wanna change out the handguard on my ar and the factory one is 8 inches long do I have to replace it with another one that's 8 inches too? I know the gas block can't be pushed up the barrel for a longer handguard right? This may be a stupid question but I just don't wanna waste money on anything that won't work. Thanks abunch!

Adam

[npe001]

Do you have an A frame front sight?

[mmoses]

If you go to a low profile gas block. You can go as long as you want with a free floating handguard.

If you dont want to change the gas block you are stuck with the handguard length you have.

[sir shovelhands]

If you go to a low profile gas block. You can go as long as you want with a free floating handguard.

If you dont want to change the gas block you are stuck with the handguard length you have.

This. But if you want a long handguard, don't waste your money on a new gas block, just dremel cut the front sight off your current one.

[npe001]

This. But if you want a long handguard, don't waste your money on a new gas block, just dremel cut the front sight off your current one.

This works and won't matter if you are covering it up anyways. But make sure you cut it in the right place

[Stoof]

Leapers and Samson both make an extended handgaurd the works with the A2 front site post.

[ChickenWilly]

No I do not have the a frame front sight. The top of my gas block is just a tiny rail section on top with sling mount underneath. I've been having trouble finding very many options for an 8 inch handguard. Seems like most everything is 6, 7, or 9.

[adam_p]

Measure how tall your gas block is and look for hand guards that have a bigger internal diameter. I know I've seen some lately as big as 1.8" inside. Most are around 1.5" from what I can tell. If nothing else you can get a low profile gas block for fairly cheap.

[TexMax]

Seems like most everything is 6, 7, or 9.

Because carbine is 7 and midlength is 9. Which one is yours.

[Gummi Bear]

I love my long handguard.


Carbine length gas system, on my 300BLK.

Gonna get rid of the short handguard on my AR one of these days.

[Mike D]

Because carbine is 7 and midlength is 9. Which one is yours.

That looks like a mid length to me.

OP if you aren't familiar with how to change the handguard out, let someone do it for you. It can be a real PITA. You would be better off changing that gas block to a low profile one though.

[ChickenWilly]

According to armalite it is a carbine? I've seen some carbine length ones though that are 6 inches and some that are over 7. . I may just look into changing it out to a low profile gas block so I don't have to worry about it. The factory handguard has some play in it and it bugs me.

[Avezorak]

Carbine length by definition is 7", Mid-Length is 9" and T
Rifle is 12". Past that there is Pistol at 4" and a couple proprietary intermediate length systems.

No such thing as a 6" or 8" carbine system.

[Avezorak]

That looks like a mid length to me.

OP if you aren't familiar with how to change the handguard out, let someone do it for you. It can be a real PITA. You would be better off changing that gas block to a low profile one though.

And I agree with Mike. Thats a middy. No way its carbine length.

[ChickenWilly]

Looked it up on their website and it is their midlength model not the carbine model. So now my question is will any hamdguard work if it's midlength even if it isn't 8 inches like the factory one?