DMViergever
03-06-14, 12:34
http://i702.photobucket.com/albums/ww27/DMViergever/IMG_34912_zps195bc505.jpg
Midwest Industries has been around for quite a while and the reasons are obvious.* They make handguards and accessories for so many platforms it is insane.* Whether you are looking for a forend for your AK or a drop in handguard for you AR Midwest Industries can hook you up.* On top of simply having choices they also contain a certain level of quality that has come to be expected from them over the years combined with a good, affordable price that doesn't break the bank.
Their SS line of modular free floats was very popular several years ago and has since been followed up with the gen2 model which is a very slim slotted handguard that has modular rail segments that attach via screw holes.* This model has also served many people very well. The SSK is the newest model from Midwest Industries in their line of modular AR15 handguards and as you have probably guessed the K...stands for KeyMod.
http://i702.photobucket.com/albums/ww27/DMViergever/IMG_3567_zps746282c5.jpg
Unlike a lot of companies I have seen though MI has actually changed the tube instead of just slapping in KM slots where the old slots were.* This was a refreshing detail since I have seen so many that had zero thought put into them and were nearly the same thing we had been seeing for the last several years. Like most the SSK uses a proprietary barrel nut, the one that MI uses on most of their AR15 line is essentially a mil-spec barrel nut accept that it is reversed.* Instead of teeth being at the muzzle end they are on the receiver side.* This is what*gives the SSK its*anti rotation qualities because of tabs that are built into the actual free float tube itself.* The tabs on the SSK slide into the teeth and as long as your barrel nut is tightened to spec (30-80 ft lbs) it has zero movement and lines up perfectly.* The kit comes with its own barrel nut wrench also.
Another difference between the Midwest Industries barrel nut and the mil-spec is that the MI is checkered and knurled.* The fit between the handguard and barrel nut is very good and even with the tension screws loosened you can swing the*SSK around pretty good without having the nut come out.* One thing I noticed when installing the barrel nut was that after putting it in my vise and block my torque wrench had a tendency to hit the vise when installed on MI's wrench.* Not a big deal at all as I just scooted the block out some.* It really just enforced the fact that I still need to buy a Reaction Rod!
http://i702.photobucket.com/albums/ww27/DMViergever/IMG_3760_zpse89c453b.jpg
The rest of the review and several more photos of the SSK are at: http://almosttactical.com/midwest-industries-ssk/
Midwest Industries has been around for quite a while and the reasons are obvious.* They make handguards and accessories for so many platforms it is insane.* Whether you are looking for a forend for your AK or a drop in handguard for you AR Midwest Industries can hook you up.* On top of simply having choices they also contain a certain level of quality that has come to be expected from them over the years combined with a good, affordable price that doesn't break the bank.
Their SS line of modular free floats was very popular several years ago and has since been followed up with the gen2 model which is a very slim slotted handguard that has modular rail segments that attach via screw holes.* This model has also served many people very well. The SSK is the newest model from Midwest Industries in their line of modular AR15 handguards and as you have probably guessed the K...stands for KeyMod.
http://i702.photobucket.com/albums/ww27/DMViergever/IMG_3567_zps746282c5.jpg
Unlike a lot of companies I have seen though MI has actually changed the tube instead of just slapping in KM slots where the old slots were.* This was a refreshing detail since I have seen so many that had zero thought put into them and were nearly the same thing we had been seeing for the last several years. Like most the SSK uses a proprietary barrel nut, the one that MI uses on most of their AR15 line is essentially a mil-spec barrel nut accept that it is reversed.* Instead of teeth being at the muzzle end they are on the receiver side.* This is what*gives the SSK its*anti rotation qualities because of tabs that are built into the actual free float tube itself.* The tabs on the SSK slide into the teeth and as long as your barrel nut is tightened to spec (30-80 ft lbs) it has zero movement and lines up perfectly.* The kit comes with its own barrel nut wrench also.
Another difference between the Midwest Industries barrel nut and the mil-spec is that the MI is checkered and knurled.* The fit between the handguard and barrel nut is very good and even with the tension screws loosened you can swing the*SSK around pretty good without having the nut come out.* One thing I noticed when installing the barrel nut was that after putting it in my vise and block my torque wrench had a tendency to hit the vise when installed on MI's wrench.* Not a big deal at all as I just scooted the block out some.* It really just enforced the fact that I still need to buy a Reaction Rod!
http://i702.photobucket.com/albums/ww27/DMViergever/IMG_3760_zpse89c453b.jpg
The rest of the review and several more photos of the SSK are at: http://almosttactical.com/midwest-industries-ssk/