I really like it and wish it would work on my wife’s BCM 14.5" middy, but it is NOT compatible with triangle handguards caps. I’m SOL. I wouldn’t even say it’s anybody’s fault, but the gen 1 MOE handguards fit her triangle handguard cap just fine.
Damn shame, as they feel vastly more comfortable in the hand than the original MOE.
Gonna have to pull an RMA on Monday. Bummer. If any of you have a round front handguard cap, you’ll love the new SL.
Just a friendly heads up.
Damn, that’s rather disappointing.
Does BCM use both?
I don’t know if it was recently changed or not but the magpul website says ROUND in caps in the product description.
It is weird that it’s round only. I thought there was only the triangle shaped.
You could always switch the hand guard cap to the round one.
Yeah, but if I’m removing muzzle devices, punching pins, and messing with a gas block… it takes two more minutes to pop the barrel nut, and I’m on the road to a KMR9.
BufordT, sorry it’s not going to work out. A few people I know got bit by the end cap compatibility (though only one actually bought it, the rest were just crushed to find out).
That’s where I’m at. If I’m going to un-perm a muzzle device, I’m going with an AGB and a quality handguard like a KMR.
I think I’m going to throw this with my IWC 1" light mount and IWC QD sling mount on the EE. What a shame. It’s really sturdy, clearly superior to the original MOE handguard, and gets more comfortable in your hand the longer you hold it.
The issue with cutting on the handguard rings or the handguard itself, is that you’re no longer guaranteed a tight fit. Ugh. I’m certainly not expecting magpul to changes their entire mold to accommodate this issue… But I know a LOT of guys with triangle handguard caps on their middies.
It took me around 2 hours to install these handguards on this BCM upper. I pulled the front sight base off, cut off the bayonet lug and sling mount ( optional ), filed & dremeled it smooth , cold blued then high heat black painted those areas, installed the round end cap I somehow had from years ago, then reinstalled the front sight base with the gas tube still attached. I did not have a whole lot of trouble installing the handguards, but they do fit real tight. I filed just a little bit off the inside of the inside rear corners of the bottom handguard where the corners hit the delta ring and it seemed to help some getting it to snap together. I did not use a handguard installation tool or have any help installing these, but you may. Absolutely no movement in the handguard , I like the shrouded front sight base and to me they feel real nice in the hand. If I were going off to war and had a choice off the carbine configuration, I just might take something like this vs a railed free float handguard that has the front sight mounted to it instead of on the barrel.
Looks great biggy! Unfortunately, my muzzle device is permed. Not worth the hassle for me. Yours looks sharp though!
I ended up ordering the B5 Systems keymod handguard. I would have preferred the MOE SL, but the B5 works with the triangle handguard cap. MOE SL is up on the EE with all my IWC accessories. Somebody is going to get a solid deal on that. Oh well.
Yeah, the SL is such a massive improvement over the original, it’s hard to explain if someone hasn’t held them. I had the Carbine SL on a rifle for awhile, and it’s about as perfect as I think a drop-in polymer handguard could be. Don’t be afraid to post up a quick review of the B5, I don’t see much mention of it at all, and was wondering if it’s a decent handguard.
This is disappointing.
I feel like BCM is the most prolific mid-length around, and both of mine with FSB use the triangle cap.
I wanted one for my Kino :sad:
I’d be willing to bet PSA has a stronger hold on the mid-length market. I don’t know if they use round end caps, but I wouldn’t be surprised if they were a factor in Magpul’s decision to go round or triangular.
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Yeah, I agree. It’s got all the features I want, is slimmer, and is an improvement in every way. I’m bummed about not being able to use it.
I kinda expect to be disappointed by the B5 on a comparative basis to the SL, but we’ll see. The wife just NEEDS something smaller in diameter than the original MOE handguards. She can’t pool cue the original MOE against a barrier… Just too big.
I had a PSA 14.7" mid a while back. It had a triangle handguard cap as well. That was bought back in early 2012.
Does it look like there’s a way to mod the handguard to fit triangle caps?
Thats really disappointing. I was under the impression that triangle end caps were the correct one to be used on a mid-length system. What companies are using round ones ?
This link from the TOS has the reasons Magpul decided to use the round handguard end cap with the middy SL handguards. Page 4 and 5. It is what it is. http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_2_124/252930_MOE_SL_Midlength_Handguards_.html
I guess it’s possible, but I’d worry more about having it “fit”, but be just as loose as the original MOE.
Biggy, thank you for posting that. You’re right, it is what it is.
EDIT: having read the entire thread and Magpul’s response, there will be no triangle handguard version. They have made a wager that i hope pays off for them. They decided to make the SL mold in a fashion that excludes triangle handguards for the midlength version. I doubt they’ll have that luxury with the rifle length version, as I’ve never seen a round handguard cap on a rifle length gas gun.
It is what it is, as Magpul has chosen to not accommodate the triangle handguard in their mold. That’s life. But, it makes it difficult for me to understand how a “drop-in” part can still require punching off a taper pinned FSB to replace a handguard cap. That’s not drop-in, in my book. Still, it’s a superior handguard to the original MOE and I do wish it would have fit my wife’s upper. Sh*t happens. Time to deal.
I’ll update here on my basic impressions of the B5 Systems keymod handguard when they arrive. Ordered from SKD Tac. $36 shipped.
Here is a B5 Keymod on a BCM upper I put together last week. The bottom corners of the triangle stick out.
