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Have you ordered it already? Not to completely derail the thread but you might want to do some reading on the site if you havent yet. BCM's standard 16 middy is only $385 and is waaaay better spec'd.
Back on point, look into Troy's MRF as well should you decide on going FF, otherwise, the DI is a good option too.
This is turning into one of those crazy merry-go-rounds.
What is your current level of experience with the AR system? If it is low, or zero, you're chasing your ass here. Get the mid-length MOE handguard for $40 and go shoot the hell out of the gun. Put that extra $100+ into ammo and go learn the shortcomings of the gun for yourself, and then look for products that you think address those shortcomings. You're talking about things like "I want it to feel like it's welded to the rifle" that is totally meaningless in actual use to most people.
You are not going to find a rail system that meets all of your criteria, which from what I can tell are:
- "welded to the upper"
- under $200
- easily changed rail sections without removing FSB
and you may not have it on the list now, but light weight is going to become an issue sooner or later.
Generally when it comes to FF rail systems you get cheap, light, easy install, quality... pick any two at most. Something like the Daniel Defense Omega is quality, easy to install, relatively light, but doesn't meet your price point. Although it can be had for ~$50 more, and I bet if you found a used one it'd be within your range.
agree with the poster above that the Centurion may address some or most of your requirements, but it's not out yet and as promising as it seems right now it's still just prototypes and solidworks models.
http://m4carbine.net/showthread.php?t=45989
Go slap the guy who told you this!
Not only is he wrong .. he's DEAD wrong!
For years DCM shooters have been using free float tubes with FSB in service rifle competition.
The main thing to remember when installing a FF tube of any kind on a middy is to remove the forward handguard cap so that there is no mechanical/physical connection between the tube and the FSB.
There doesn't need to be a huge gap between the two parts but they should not be touching.
As far as the Midwest Industries FF tube is concerned .. the finish is reasonabley durable. No finish under the sun is going to have perfect endurance or scratch resistance that can stand up to the crap most of us put our weapons through.
Point in case, I have a carbine with a MI T-series FF tube on that has had the finish sand blasted off the first inch or so from prone and under barrier shooting in sand and gravel.
Easy enough to "fix"... buy a can of duracoat and touch it up.
Last edited by The_Hammer_Man; 10-15-10 at 08:12.
Yes, the BCM upper is $385 but then you also have to buy the BCG and charging handle, which adds $135 and pushes it outside of the price point I'm looking at for a first rifle (wanting to keep the complete upper under $400). I'm still considering the BCM as an option (especially since I don't need/want the factory handguard anyway and it doesn't come with one), I just don't know if my father is willing/able to pay that much extra for it, nor if I want to ask for that much more. Further derailing my own thread, how hard is it to install the charging handle? I know the BCG is easy as pie as I've swapped them out with my friends rifle (switching to and from CMMG .22 kit).
My experience with AR's comes from firing a friends build he completed a few months ago, and about 6+ months of research online. I definitely love the looks of quad rails and the MOE was my first choice until I got my hands on it. It's still in the fold, for sure, and I have a couple of weeks to get my parts laid out etc.
Well, you really should take Robs advice and stay with the MOE. "quad rail" handgaurds are not for looks, they serve as a place to mount light, VFG and sling all of which can be done with the MOE for FAR cheaper than even a drop in rail. In fact, I recently sold off my KAC URX II upper and went back to a standard BCM 16" middy with MOE and illumination kit. The weight change, and simplicity has been a breath of fresh air.
Don't fall into the trap of buying all the cool guy gear you see in pic threads. Really, take Robs advice and learn the gun before you commit to tricking it out.
"You have never lived until you have almost died. For those who fight for it, life has a flavor the protected will never know." - Written by an unknown soldier in Vietnam.
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Yeah, you're probably right. What would some idiot at Noveske know about accuracy?
Didn't say there wasn't an improvement with a FF HG, you're just not maximizing accuracy with a FSB installed. From what I understand, this is common knowledge.
The service rifle guys shoot with a FSB because they have to.
.
You guys are probably right. I'll be honest, I was annoyed at first at the idea of getting the MOE but maybe saving money there and using the savings on the BCM's charging handle and BCG would be the best way to go. It looks like my parts list goes as follows (with my family getting me the complete upper and complete lower and me buying the goodies myself) Magpul Moe middy handguard, VTac flashlight mount (for my TK12 R5), Magpul MVG, rear MBUS, and maybe a PA Micro for fun at the range down the road (I'd take it off for closet duty as a home defense rifle and snap it on for occasional fun at the range). The only reason I'm bothering with the MVG is to help me depress the tailcap switch on the flashlight, I guess I'll use it as a reference point for my hand when shooting as well though.
Speaking of, how hard is it to install the charging handle? As I said, I can do the BCG no problem but I've never looked at how the charging handle is set up really.
Last edited by aaron_c; 10-15-10 at 11:21.
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