Hi all,
Are Apex Machining handguards good-to-go? Whos’ running them on their rifles, and what is your real-world experience with them? Thanks.
Chris
I have one and about to put one on another upper.
Slightly larger in diameter than the Troy/VTAC TRX.
Doesn’t require Red LocTite (good).
Uses a factory barrel nut (good)
Very durable and probably the most impressive machining of any handguard on the market. I’ll see if I can get some up-close pictures.
I wish the rail chunks weren’t so expensive but I don’t use many anyway.
Thanks for the reply, Boss. I look forward to seeing those pictures.
Chris
I have been using their 12.5" rifle length handguard for just a short time and have found no issues with it. It has a strong attachment method, clamping over the OEM barrel nut. When properly mounted the handguard is very rigid with no flex unless you really push on it. Again, if the handguard is correctly installed on your properly torqued OEM barrel nut, this rail will not be moving. It uses a asymmetrical mounting system which gives you a little more tube clearance on the top side of your gas block. The OD is 1.875". The 12.5" rifle length handguard weighs 11.8 oz. The optional 12.5" top rail weighs 2.1 oz. A stock AR15 barrel nut weighs 2 oz, which should be included in any handguard or rail weight that doesn’t use its own barrel nut. The machining on the gripping area provides a non slip grip but is not sharp and is easy on the hands. Not saying they are better but I have moved past quad rails to the tube type handguard because most quad rails are either wider or taller than I prefer. This type handguard also works better with my gripping style and just feels better in my hand.
This was a good thread on a custom tube they built for this 6.8 user.
http://68forums.com/forums/showthread.php?13761-Custom-Apex-modular-handguard-review-w-pics&
Bumping for an update on this rail. How’s it holding up?
Interested as well. I have gone away from rails the last two years but when I saw their carbine length with cutout I started to reconsider…
just put one on my 14.5 middy and its tits. ill be putting through it paces later this month but i really like the feel a lot more then vtac or troy rails, and the ability to use a factory barrel nuts was the main selling point for me.
Yes, the Blackheart is an Apex re-badged. I have a very early BHI and from what I’ve seen of the current production Apex they’ve improved on and eliminated all of the issues I had with the early sample.
There was some concerns about the hardness of the TRX nut. The TRX is way too skinny, IMO too.
I have a couple of VTAC TRX, and I would likely replace both of them if they weren’t 14.5" with pinned flash hiders. The Apex tube just rocks. I cannot get it to flex with torsional pressure at the muzzle.
The only complaint I have is that installing a 2" rail piece in the middle of the rifle length handguard is an absolute PitA, as it uses a backing piece instead of screwing directly into the tube.
Encountered the same thing and went through all sorts of gyrations to get the backer where I wanted it. I don’t even remember how I wound up working it out.
I seem to remember Iraqgunz having a rail section on a TRX he did with a similar issue. I remember because we took off the rail section hoping to give the TRX more clearance from the gas block.
That’s the reason I think the TRX is too skinny. Barrel whip can have the gas block smacking the tube an messing with harmonics.
I met the Apex guys at SHOT this year and had a rail waiting for me shortly after I returned home. I used it on a SPR-ish upper that I put together, and have been very happy with the rail so far. It’s just grippy enough, mounts easily (and solidly), and is very modular.
The one improvement I could see made is to make the Q/D attachments anti-rotational, but I know that would take a lot more machining, and probably just building an adapter to bolt on. Other than that, I have zero complaints.
This rail and Daniel Defenses new MFR are my two favorites. I have them each on two different rifles and like them both. I think the DD rail is a bit more versatile for the money (it comes with the full top rail and three small rail sections, all of which are extra $$ from Apex), but if the Apex has a feature (or looks) that you like over the MFR, they’re good to go in my book.
When I first spoke with Apex, their longest rail was the 12.5" rifle length. Blackheart sells a 14" version now though.
Due to the fact that the top rail is optional, you can really get your hand around the Apex.
In comparison to Troy TRX Extreme
We did a review of one recently and are VERY impressed - go check it out if you want.
Thanks for the link, Boomer. Since this was a few months ago, you said in the article that you would update thoughts after a bit…anything you want to add now?
BTW, does anyone know if these are 6061? I assume they are…
Current generation are a 7075 Clamp and a 6061 Tube.
Were the old generation all 7075? Any left laying around in the white ? 