Sub $100 AR-15 handguard?

Status
Not open for further replies.
troy fairweather

troy fairweather

Member
Joined
Mar 21, 2018
Messages
13,895
Location
Up State New York
Think I'll finally get my ar the way I want it. Looking to pickup a thorson frs-ii stock because new york. I have a Anderson lower and the cheap aero upper. A 16'' bca heavy ss in 223W. But think I'll get a 18'' some day. I have a cheap handguard it was never right from day one.

So what freefloat handguards under $100 would you recommend. This is a do all rifle so could be at the range of our hunting.
 
Last edited:
I have used 6 or 8 handguards from this website. They are all made overseas and the quality is not quite as good as the expensive brands. I say that because sometimes they need a thread chased or a little de-burring on the barrel nut but they fit and look good and are strong. They are great products for the money if your not taking it to Afghanistan. The ones that clamp on the barrel nut are probably stronger than the type that bolts with 6 screws to the barrel nut, but I have had no issues with either.

https://www.ar15handguard.com/ar15-quad-rail-handguard-free-float-handguard/
 
I have a quad rail off my S&W you can have, I believe it's a 10". Not sure if it's what you want or not but its yours to have if you want it.
 
I see thordsen has a frs-2 stock for $50 does not have the buffer cover but there not needed. Only have green tho. I may just get the advanced one there $98 with everything. I have to get some cheap sights to,
 
Luth-AR makes their PALM series, I had a second on order but got impatient. $55-$85 depending on length, available in smooth, KeyMod, and M-LOK.

I wanted to order a Seekins Precision to try out and for the weight, but they were sold out at the time and higher priced elsewhere (Primary Arms).

Ultimately what I ordered was a Phase 5 LowPro SlopeNose 15” M-LOK. On sale at $93 at Primary Arms last week and if it meets my expectations based on previous Phase 5 parts, should be outstanding.


This is what I ultimately ordered. 13.5 oz iirc
C15B3F3F-A88A-4A83-8AF6-953063FCDDED.jpeg

Phase 5 parts I ordered for a future build.
886B5140-E689-446E-9A37-1BC50D1E6D97.jpeg

Phase 5 parts and a mid-length Luth-AR PALM handguard.
C3D227D9-B339-4499-A19D-73E4932C8B38.jpeg
 
I got a Troy Alpha Battlerail for 70 dollars shipped.

"Used" on GetBroker for what is worth.

Try Ebay, GB, forums, local and armslist.
You can get "out of style" rails for a good fair price.
Saw some Seekins, Troy, DD, BCM all for reasonable prices compared to what they sell new for.

ALG is a big contender.
They are a sister company with Giselle.
I bought an ALG rail 8" and love it. Paid 45 on clearance.

I'd avoid ebay for cheap rails...been there..done that for a 22 build...waste of a rail. Better than nothing by not by a lot..
 
Skylerbone said:
Luth-AR makes their PALM series, I had a second on order but got impatient. $55-$85 depending on length, available in smooth, KeyMod, and M-LOK.

I wanted to order a Seekins Precision to try out and for the weight, but they were sold out at the time and higher priced elsewhere (Primary Arms).

Ultimately what I ordered was a Phase 5 LowPro SlopeNose 15” M-LOK. On sale at $93 at Primary Arms last week and if it meets my expectations based on previous Phase 5 parts, should be outstanding.


This is what I ultimately ordered. 13.5 oz iirc
View attachment 881259

Phase 5 parts I ordered for a future build.
View attachment 881260

Phase 5 parts and a mid-length Luth-AR PALM handguard.
View attachment 881261
Click to expand...
I like both them handguards, the luth looks wide how does it feel in the hand. I think a thinner hg would be best since with the complaint stocks the control is not as good, the thinner it is I would think I could grab better.

It's hard to find something to match the thordsen stock, plus I'd like to get a 18'' barrel soon.
 
troy fairweather said:
I like both them handguards, the luth looks wide how does it feel in the hand. I think a thinner hg would be best since with the complaint stocks the control is not as good, the thinner it is I would think I could grab better.
Click to expand...

It’s triangular(ish) and while it looks rather big I don’t find it overly so. I do have good size hands but the Luth I appreciate for the ability to lay the rifle in hand rather than grasping when I want to shoot for accuracy while being small enough to grasp when used for HD (the rifle’s primary purpose).

I too put out the call recently for suggestions on handguards and the Aero S was mentioned as a nice slim alternative (it was also on sale and sold out at PA when I ordered). Odin Works was/is blowing out KeyMod handguards at $99 and less but I don’t have much experience with their rails beyond a local shop owner’s son showing me a few of his OW builds which looked and felt good.
 
Last edited:
Skylerbone said:
It’s triangular(ish) and while it looks rather big I don’t find it overly so. I do have good size hands but the Luth I appreciate for the ability to lay the rifle in hand rather than grasping when I want to shoot for accuracy while being small enough to grasp when used for HD (the rifle’s primary purpose).

I too put out the call recently for suggestions on handguards and the Aero S was mentioned as a nice slim alternative (it was also on sale and sold out at PA when I ordered). Odin Works was/is blowing out KeyMod handguards at $99 and less but I don’t have much experience with their rails beyond a local shop owner’s son showing me a few of his OW builds which looked and felt good.
Click to expand...
ya I like the aero but like you said it's always out and about max what I want to spend.
 
One more thing, beyond the if it looks like a cheese grater it probably feels like one aspect to consider are convenience features. I got off my duff this evening while my daughter was at her guitar lesson and mounted a scope on her AR. Did the same on my son’s rifle after checking mail and finding the Aero mount had arrived.

After snapping a few pics I realized the Radical handguard has no QD attachment point for a sling which of course means another $20. Sometimes bargains turn out not to be in the end, despite the initial admission price. I also squarely confess to feeling like a bit of a heel for reusing my old RRA scope mount after seeing the quality of the Aero.

Radical upper with no QD socket.
0880966B-0CD7-4FF0-AE47-E7F62229477D.jpeg

PSA upper with QD socket, you just have to look close.
31F1E579-9367-470B-8D69-DDDAAC427A71.jpeg
 
Skylerbone said:
One more thing, beyond the if it looks like a cheese grater it probably feels like one aspect to consider are convenience features. I got off my duff this evening while my daughter was at her guitar lesson and mounted a scope on her AR. Did the same on my son’s rifle after checking mail and finding the Aero mount had arrived.

After snapping a few pics I realized the Radical handguard has no QD attachment point for a sling which of course means another $20. Sometimes bargains turn out not to be in the end, despite the initial admission price. I also squarely confess to feeling like a bit of a heel for reusing my old RRA scope mount after seeing the quality of the Aero.

Radical upper with no QD socket.
View attachment 881293

PSA upper with QD socket, you just have to look close.
View attachment 881294
Click to expand...
I'd like a 1-4 scope. I tried a red dot and it was ok for quick shots, but after a few seconds I got the horse shoe. Actually I'd like 2 1-4 lol one for the ar and one for my cz lol. How you like that leupold, I was looking at the one with the pig plex at one time. Then I'd have to look for mounts.
 
They’re nice enough, I found 2 a few years back at F&S on clearance for $187 while everyone else had them at $299. I nabbed this one from my daughter’s Henry lever and I’ll probably find a small 2-7x for that or return it to open sights.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

troy fairweather
  • Locked
Thinking of building a pcc ar-15. Need some tips
2
Replies
27
Views
2K
mgmorden
mgmorden
8
  • Locked
6.5 Grendel/AR Experts Help Needed
Replies
18
Views
2K
1stmarine
1stmarine
Rail Driver
  • Locked
Custom AR Handguards?
Replies
11
Views
1K
Rail Driver
Rail Driver
TanklessPro
  • Locked
Recently finished my 2nd and 3rd AR
Replies
9
Views
776
TanklessPro
TanklessPro
M
  • Locked
I just bought an Olympic Arms AR-15
Replies
19
Views
1K
possum
P
Back
Top