Are these quality handguards/rails or junk?

[Len-2A Training]

Spotted a link to this on ARfcom and since it's not obvious to me what brand these are (other than the UTG model), I decided to ask the hive mind here.

Are any of these quality items or just junk?

AR-15 Ultra Light Handguard Quad Rail 16" New Target Sports
http://www.cdnninvestments.com/arullihaqura.html

AR-15/M-16 Handguard 16" CAR Quad Rail New UTG
http://www.cdnninvestments.com/arqurahanewu.html

AR-15 Handguard Quad Rail 16" New Target Sports
http://www.cdnninvestments.com/arhaqura16ne.html

I'm not convinced that one must spend $3-400 for a handguard/rail to get a good product (assuming we aren't going to war with it), but the prices and lack of a recognizable brand name makes me wonder.

 

[fbirdquik6]

Ive installed the UTG rails on about 6 AR's now, they are great providing you dont care about Free Floating. The AR's Ive put them on have Eotech's or other red dot optics and are only used out to about 50 yards, and the occasional 100 yard shot, so it doesn't make a bit of difference.

 

[beaker]

I have a couple of UTG items and they make good stuff for budget minded shooters.

Sent from my Droid using Tapatalk

 

[zerodown]

I'm on the fence. I had that exact carbine handguard quad rail on a stock 16" AR and had no issues - thought they were great. I was then given a set of Knights armament guards from a buddy. No comparison. The Knights are smaller, lighter, and have nice features like a clamp to hold them in place. I think the UTGs work perfectly fine but you can tell the difference between those and a $300 pair. Lens - If you are interested in the UTGs shoot me a ping or email.

 

[drgrant]

Are any of these quality items or just junk?

Looks like all airsoft/chinese garbage to me.

I'm not convinced that one must spend $3-400 for a handguard/rail to get a good product (assuming we aren't going to war with it), but the prices and lack of a recognizable brand name makes me wonder.

Buy a YHM then. Made in MA, cheaper, but not stupid cheap, and decent quality. I think you can get a nice railset made by them for well under $200.

http://www.yhm.net/store/forearms.html

Look about midway down the page. There are likely other vendors that sell their stuff, too, so you might be able to get further discounts if you have a C+R or whatever.

I wouldn't touch any of the ones you posted. Ever. Then again I don't see the wisdom of hanging junk off an expensive rifle.

This type of thing reminds me of cheap optics. You won't get what you didn't pay for. I've made the mistake of buying the chinsebag stuff before, never again.

-Mike

 

[Len-2A Training]

Thanks for all the responses. I had a feeling about them, but wanted some confirmation.

Looks like all airsoft/chinese garbage to me.



Buy a YHM then. Made in MA, cheaper, but not stupid cheap, and decent quality. I think you can get a nice railset made by them for well under $200.

http://www.yhm.net/store/forearms.html

Look about midway down the page. There are likely other vendors that sell their stuff, too, so you might be able to get further discounts if you have a C+R or whatever.

I wouldn't touch any of the ones you posted. Ever. Then again I don't see the wisdom of hanging junk off an expensive rifle.

This type of thing reminds me of cheap optics. You won't get what you didn't pay for. I've made the mistake of buying the chinsebag stuff before, never again.

-Mike

Mike, the only reason I'm even thinking of them was due to an "unfortunate incident" and the potential of putting co-witness sights on a sight-less AR.

My pre-ban AR-15 was built with NO sights, flat-top with an AimPoint. I had a couple of students who wanted to try out the AR platform, and Murphy had his way with us, the switch crapped out and now we had a gun with no sights at all. My AimPoint is right now in Sweden getting an overhaul. So the thought was to put a front rail on it and mount a BUIS on the gun, just in case. I also don't believe in hanging junk off my guns.

I may just settle on taking one of the Magpul forends I bought for the NES group buy uppers/lowers last year (I never decided on a barrel) and mounting it with an upper rail to do the deed. I just need to order the rail.

 

[crazymjb]

I love YHM stuff. It is local, and in the 90-130 price range, as well as good quality.

Mike

 

[economist]

Thanks for all the responses. I had a feeling about them, but wanted some confirmation.




Mike, the only reason I'm even thinking of them was due to an "unfortunate incident" and the potential of putting co-witness sights on a sight-less AR.

My pre-ban AR-15 was built with NO sights, flat-top with an AimPoint. I had a couple of students who wanted to try out the AR platform, and Murphy had his way with us, the switch crapped out and now we had a gun with no sights at all. My AimPoint is right now in Sweden getting an overhaul. So the thought was to put a front rail on it and mount a BUIS on the gun, just in case. I also don't believe in hanging junk off my guns.

I may just settle on taking one of the Magpul forends I bought for the NES group buy uppers/lowers last year (I never decided on a barrel) and mounting it with an upper rail to do the deed. I just need to order the rail.

To put the front sight on the rail you need a solid free-float handguard. That requires removing the gas block and tube, taking off the barrel nut, and mounting the handguard. Just about any other mount system is going to move on you and that means your front sight will move too. If you want to economize, just do the first step and replace the gas block with one that has a front sight post or rail. Stick with your current handguards.