Thread: AR Handguard Length

I am getting ready to build my first project AR, and I know just enough to get into trouble (In other words, I watched a video on YouTube, so now I'm an expert). I'm not going for "Tacticool"; I'm trying to replicate an old A2 Colt that I shot as a teen. I have an A2 upper, and my next decision is the barrel. I want a 16" HBAR, but I want the sight post as far forward as possible. I seem to remember the Colt having longer handguards than the carbines I've shot recently, but I don't know if they were mid-length or rifle-length. Do they make 16" barrels that take a rifle-length handguard?

Well an A2 has a 20" barrel.

Bushmaster (and I am sure others) made a upper called the dissipator but I think they look funny;



Here are an A1 and an A2 (both are 20" barrels)

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A dissy?
[IMG][/IMG]

aka: dissipator, a rifle length gas system/handguard on a carbine length barrel.

Originally Posted by DoubleTapDrew

A dissy?
[IMG][/IMG]

aka: dissipator, a rifle length gas system/handguard on a carbine length barrel.

That's the ticket!

Originally Posted by Beefcake

I am getting ready to build my first project AR, and I know just enough to get into trouble (In other words, I watched a video on YouTube, so now I'm an expert). I'm not going for "Tacticool"; I'm trying to replicate an old A2 Colt that I shot as a teen. I have an A2 upper, and my next decision is the barrel. I want a 16" HBAR, but I want the sight post as far forward as possible. I seem to remember the Colt having longer handguards than the carbines I've shot recently, but I don't know if they were mid-length or rifle-length. Do they make 16" barrels that take a rifle-length handguard?

I just bought a old colt upper at the gun show that you are talking about. It is indeed a 16" barrel with 20" barrel handguards. In fact, it has the old triangle handguards.

Originally Posted by DoubleTapDrew

A dissy?
[IMG][/IMG]

aka: dissipator, a rifle length gas system/handguard on a carbine length barrel.

Ok, that one is NOT ugly

I'm trying to build this on the cheap. The least expensive Dissy barrel I can find is the Del-Ton with full-length gas tube, but I've read of problems tuning a short barrel with a rifle-length gas tube. Does anyone have one of these? Does Del-Ton enlarge the gas port? I also can't decide on the handguards; I like standard round handguards, but I sort of want a side rail to mount my GoPro camera. Thoughts?

Okay, I ordered the DelTon Dissy barrel from Curt's yesterday. I've heard that the rifle-length gas system with a short barrel can be picky with ammo, so I'll give you a review in a couple weeks. I think I'm going with the MagPul handguards so that I can add the two small rail pieces that I want without the whole gear-geek look. Wish me luck!