plastic handguards arent as light as people think. Handguards dont weigh that much less than some FF rail setups.
Understood sorry for the misunderstanding . To clarify after doing research and handling a few rail systems locally i realized i prob dont need them being as everything i want to mount consists of two things , the purpose of the post was to see if there was a actual downside to standard hand guards minus the fact i don’t get rail space ,like faster barrel wear,loss of accuracy, etc. my original choice was the troy TRX but i figured why bother spending the money on something that is going to give me a marginal accuracy increase and for my purpose not much else. Also keep in mind that the shops i have around here may not stock things so much as they will order them for you. The gun shop with the best staff and prices near me carries a whole 20 guns in the store and not much else. They make their money by doing special orders and transfer, it just so happens when i went in that they had some stuff for me to play with but thats normally not the case. Sadly my group training forum is pretty dead, not many posts 
I’m in Orlando. How about you? If you are in my area then you know we got to get out and shoot 'em when your done with your build.
If you have normal handguard, where you put flashlight?
my personal recommendation is to get a good white light on there before spending cash on a bunch of stuff you might not even need. if you stick with standard handguards, here are some GREAT options for mounting a light:
http://store.impactweaponscomponents.com/tmc1olimo1.html
http://www.midwestindustriesinc.com/index.cfm?fuseaction=category.display&category_id=94
http://www.elzetta.com/zfh1500FAQ.htm
personally, i REALLY like the way the mount n slot is set up.
i would not be at all concerned about losing accuracy because your barrel isn’t free floated… your carbine is already more accurate then you (or me) are. the only reason to go with longer handguards would be to get your hand out there further (if you feel necessary) or if you’ll be shooting matches, in which case you would need to reconsider your set up altogether.
I suppose he could get one of those front sight base mounts or an offset mount on the top rail. I wouldn’t do it, but it is an option. I would recommend the Troy drop in rail for 150 bucks. One of the lightest and sturdiest around, has 4 swivel sling attachment points, and is just very solid. It will allow you flexibility in any mounting combination you want, but that is just my opinion.
Our posts crossed. That is what I was referring to in the front sight base mounts. Nice references there. I think GG&G makes one too.
I may have no choice but the mount n slot because i dont have a normal sight post, i have a YHM flip up front sight post. prob should have mentioned that before…whoops. Looks like it would work though. I really wanted the Elzetta except i would really like a light that has the option for a pressure switch and the Elzetta doesnt Keep the suggestions coming guys !
I replaced the stock hand guards with MOE and I love them! I also put a small rail on the left side for a flashlight.
check it:
http://forum.kentuckianafirearms.com/showthread.php?p=347148
if the link is inappropriate, mods; delete it.
Sweet!!!
Standard C8 handguards here on all my AR’s. MI light mount on the FSB is very well made and sturdy for my SureFire M600 light. No need or desire for a rail personally.
Check out a company called Accuracy Speaks. If they are still around they used to make a NM-style FF tube for carbines. Not sure if though if there would be enough clearance for rail mounting hardware for your light between the tube and HG.
Or just go with some MI HGs. Those are reasonably priced and they’re free floated.
Cheapest way to go and look nice IMHO are the magpul handguards. I have all types of handguards but I really like the feel and look of those.
I see absolutely nothing wrong with running handguards or a non-FF rail unless you are seriously target shooting your AR or need a repeatable zero from your rail.
The slight accuracy gained from a FF is more than lost in all the other variables.
There are a couple hundred thousand US soldiers, airmen, Marines, and sailors defending their lives and the lives of their comrades with handguards and non-FF rails.
Standard CAR hand-guards arrived today from cavalry arms ! now lets see if i can manage installing these .Shouldn’t be too hard i reckon.
Talk me out of normal hand guards
Why?
Regular HGs work fine on a KISS build. I’ll always have at least 1 KISS build around. It’s a nostalgia thing.
I really like the Magpul handguards. I usually don’t like to attach anything except a light to my AR’s, and my preferred method for doing that is using the MI FSB rail with a Vltor ring. So, I can’t really justify having a freefloat handguard. I do have a Larue handguard on one of my middies, and although I can’t back this up, I always feel like that gun is ultimately more durable since it doesn’t have ‘plastic’ handguards that could break…but I honestly don’t know if there’s a situation where that could realistically happen.
Whoops
I have two carbines that are my shooters, a DD 14.5" lgtwgt with pinned BC 1.5 on a 6520 lower and a BCM 11.5" lgtwgt on an Ameetec Arms SBR’ed lower.
I’ve fallen for the lgtwgt concept and have an old Colt CAR stock, A1 pistol grip, and M4 handguards on the DD/Colt. I took the liners out of the top handguard section and drilled two holes for a Streamlight mount at about 1 o’clock that I mount the TLR-1 from my duty pistol on if necessary. It seems very solid and I figure that mounting on a MOE is the same they’ve just got the slots in it to help you avoid the trouble of drilling.
I just replaced the POS commercial extension on my SBR so I had to ditch my MOE stock for the mil-spec stock that originally came on the 6520. I then ordered another A1 pistol grip and set of M4 handguards for it to replace the MIAD and MOE handguards that are on it. I’ve also got a line on another N/1 CAR stock for the SBR. I’m not sure if I want to give up the MIAD but I have no issues with the A1 on the DD/Colt and I like the idea of my two carbines being essentially the same. I currently have a G2 with Cree bulb in a VTAC mount on an MI mount on the MOE handguards at about 1 o’clock. I plan on just mounting the MI (or another Streamlight mount) the same as the Streamlight mount on my SBR for use with the TLR-1.
I’m just following the mantra here and going backwards to basic quality instead of dressed up junk which is where I started. In doing so I’m finding that the more basic set-up is more practical and streamlined, for me anyway.
My opinion isn’t likely worth much but I’d say go basic first. If CAR or M4 handguards work, it was the cheapest, functional option and you’re done, if not, spend a bit more until you find what works for you.