Any time you can maintain a solid hold on the weapon without interference with the barrel, you are more likely to make an accurate shot. Additionally, this design is much more stable than a drop-in style handguard due to the method of its mounting. Therefore, the barrel of the weapon is free to do its thing without interference. Accuracy: An AR-15 free float handguard attaches directly to the upper receiver via the barrel nut.Let's explore other reasons to make the free-floating handguard leap. Therefore, you have more room in which to mount accessories and hang onto your weapon. By installing an adjustable gas block, you now can extend the handguard all the way to the end of your barrel. When you get rid of the old-school front sight that doubled as the gas block, the first perk of a free-floating rail comes into play.

However, an AR15 free float handguard takes care of this problem and more. Again, the original drop-in plastic handguard does work. However, without a handguard of some sort, you would look pretty silly. Of course, you could fire your AR that way. Even with a semi-auto rate of fire, it doesn't take long for the heat to build up.Īdditionally, you need to have something more substantial than just a naked barrel to hang onto. It gives your support hand protection from the heat caused by firing the weapon. The barrel is considered to be free-floating.Īt its most basic purpose, an AR15 free float handguard fills the same need as the weapon’s original two-piece drop-in handguard. A free-floating handguard is in fact rigidly mounted to the gun’s upper receiver. The term free-floating handguard brings to mind something magically surrounding your AR-15 barrel and is suspended in thin air.

Aero precision quad rail handguards