Just wondering what everyone thinks of the Magpul M.O.E. handguards? I put them on my carbine and just can’t seem to get used to them. they are so different from “Standard” handguards.
I didn’t particularly care for the feel of them either. Prefer original CAR hand guards if I have to use plastic…
What about the feel didn’t you guys like? Shape, texture? I’ve got some midlength MOE guards backordered from Midway, but I’ve played with a carbine length set in a store and liked the feel.
It seems to me the main goal is to get a drop in replacement for OEM handgaurds that is inexpensive and will allow addition of some basic accessories (light, grip). I am not at all satisfied with the screw-on rail addition I purchased for my OEM handguards.
I don’t know if I am lucky to have not had much experience with AR-15s before the last year and a half, and thus my opinion is not rooted in muscle memory or the past, but I love my MOE hand guard.
I grew up shooting high powered rifles, with no experience with assault rifles until I purchased my AR in the summer of 2008. I was never happy with the standard CAR guard, it felt to bulky for me (width wise). The MOE’s slimmer profile feels more comfortable for me, and reminds me more of the guns I have more experience with.
There is also the benefit of it being designed to accept accessories and screw on rail pieces. I know I am going to get some haters when I say this, but the traditional 4 railed forearms have always seemed transitional and over engineered from a civilians perspective. How many things am I going to want to mount on my gun? A fore grip (just got the new MVG which I love ((thanks Grant))), and a light. I wont be adding an m209, a laser designator or the like, so I never understood the need for a quad rail.
When the MOE came out I saw the possibilities, I decided to try it, and as a result I am very happy with what it offers me. An added bonus for a new AR owner was that the MVG is affordable as well, which allowed me to save money for ammo, and still get a VFG to see if I liked the way it handled. The combination seems robust enough to withstand abuse, but cheap enough to be considered entry level for people that want to take the M4 seriously without breaking the bank on accessories.
Like the MOEs so much, I’ve pretty much cut down on buying rails. No need. My 11.5" SBR is setup with the MOE handgaurd and MVG for a hand stop… LOVE IT! One of my other carbines is a 14.5" with no grip and like the MOE on it too. Also, they are real sturdy as far as mounting. I’m a 6’ 250lb gorilla and they are solid. I torque them pretty good with the vert grip/hand stop and all is well.
i think any non-free floating hand guard is going to feel cheaply made. Or wrong in the sense that everything else on the rifle is pretty solid. The stock m4 hand guards on my SW mp15 were pretty solid, almost no wiggle or play. The MOE hand guard i have on my Noveske has a little bit more play and wobble compared to the SW.
I dont mind the feel or grip on either hand guard styles. But i do like the fact magpul has made a VFG that attaches without the rails and also allows the use of rails as needed.
Not they are out yet, but I love the feel of the mid and rifle length MOE handguards. They feel better to me than the carbine length versions, though part of that is probably due to hand positioning.
You big tease, my midlength build is waiting for these. Really liked them on my carbine, but with the extra real estate, bet they are even more comfortable.
love mine…
My “little” 5.56AR has MOE handguards. It definitely changes the feel (and appearance). I like 'em.
Considering a set for my “little” 6.8 when they’re available for middies.
I really really really really really really want a set of rifle handguards…heck I’ve got a concept for a build designed around them.
I didn’t care for the shape, and thus the feel of them.
Only one of my AR’s has plastic hand guards.
And rails are not just for hanging crap off of. They allow better air circulation over the barrel, act as a heat sink off the chamber area to draw heat away, and you can get a longer surface over the barrel than standard hand guards. With carbine length hand guards I simply can’t get my weak hand far enough forward to feel comfortable. With a rail I can still utilize a carbine length gas system with shorter barrels, and have enough room to put my hand further forward.
That makes two of us… 
Not concerned with them being loose, mine are very tight. I have added mid length Magpul rails on both sides. I think it is just a case of needing more time with the rifle that has them on it.
Does anyone think mounting a short piece of rail on the left-side slot nearest the receiver and attaching a rail mounted QD Sling Adapter to that rail, is a good idea?
Is the MOE Handguard strong enough to withstand a pull from the angles that a sling would be pulling?
If the MOE is strong enough, I’d like to do this with a Mid-Length MOE.
Thanks
Yep, done it on three carbines.
Yes, it seems to be for me.
Mindreader. Get out of my head. 
Actually, what I ended up switching to was a Magpul ACS QD mounting cup, and it’s even smaller and lighter. Just bolted it on with a spare bolt and washer from Home Depot.
There’s no issues with this setup… I have 2 sets of moes. The other lower guard is getting a AFG.
Date expected in stock: 6/7/2010
Jmp!! Thanks for the pic of your DD swivel mount. I’m looking at getting one put on my MOE hand guard. Question, which rail size is that? THe 5 slot?
Since no one’s posted a full picture, and I just finished a build (posted in the SBR thread)…
I really like the feel both with and without the vert grip.
