Need advice - hand guard and block/front sight combo

[sbi]

Building my first AR with 14.5 mid-length barrel. I want a free float hand guard (leaning towards MI). I also feel like I don't want the gas block and any part of the tube to be exposed (not sure why...to protect it from damage?!). Also, I don't want the hand guard to be too long, to reach almost to the end of the barrel.

That being said, MI's GEN2-SS 9" will not even reach the block and their 10" will reach the middle of the block. I am trying to picture it in my head how it will look, can't find any real picture of a block semi-covered by the guard.

Here is my question - the only way to have a short (9") guard and avoid the block being 'exposed' is by using a folding front sight/block combo, such as YHM-9394 or PRI. PRI looks much nicer but also more expensive.

The front/rear folding sights will be for back-up only.
Anyone here using a folding front sight with gas block? Are there any issues with it in the long run that I should be aware of? My original plan was to have the front folding sight on the rail.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Romokid]

Can't comment on the free float, but I have a 14.5", 16", 18" & 20" with front flip gas blocks and they are BUIS. Haven't had a problem with any of them.

 

[Rate_of_Twist]

Why not just get the 12" handguard and Co er the gas block like you originally wanted?

 

[sbi]

Can't comment on the free float, but I have a 14.5", 16", 18" & 20" with front flip gas blocks and they are BUIS. Haven't had a problem with any of them.

Thanks. Care to share which one/s you use? Can you recommend one?

Why not just get the 12" handguard and Co er the gas block like you originally wanted?

Because a 12" guard on a 14.5" barrel will look like this (as you can see, it covers almost the entire length of the barrel) and I don't like the look of it. I prefer a larger part of the barrel exposed (between the guard and the MB) like in this picture.

 

[MAD Geary]

Here's a 12" DD Lite rail on a 14.5" barrel with a lantac brake pinned/welded on it for reference.

 

[sbi]

Here's a 12" DD Lite rail on a 14.5" barrel with a lantac brake pinned/welded on it for reference.

View attachment 137034

Right, and I'd like to have a little bit of barrel exposed between the rail and the brake.

 

[Romokid]

I have 3 YHM flip gas block sights (2 are hooded and one is standard) and 1 is a Rock River flip up which looks identical to YHM standard but it has a small rail section where the YHM would have the bayo lug. I basically bought them due to price. (yes I'm cheap) I found most of them on sale for less than $70 shipped except the Rock River, which I believe that one ran me $75 or so delivered.

 

[ACK495]

The YHM flip up/block is rock solid in my opinion and a good option if you decide to go that route. I've seen several rifles with them and they all work well.

 

[AllaSnackbah]

You could use a carbine length gas system, I realize this means swapping out parts, but I personally wouldn't like my gas block/tube unprotected.

A good gun smith could cut a 12" rail to size for you, and other rail manufacturers will make them to customer specified lengths, SLR rifle works does this I believe.

Our tastes are opposite, I like 14.5" guns with 14" rails more and more lately. It grows on you I guess.

 

[Rate_of_Twist]

Right, and I'd like to have a little bit of barrel exposed between the rail and the brake.

Well, if you really want to see the additional 1" of barrel there are plenty of mfgs that offer 11" handguards

 

[sbi]

Thank you all.

Now that I think about it, I don't believe I can even use a flip up/block with floating guard because floating guard requires a low-profile block and a block with flip sight is not low-profile when you close the sight, so I won't be able to slide the floating rail over the block and clearly won't be able to install the sight/block and/or the tube after the guard is installed. Unless I miss something in the process.

 

[bdb]

You could always go with the 11" guard, a low profile block fully covered and a flip on at the end of the guard.

 

[sbi]

You could always go with the 11" guard, a low profile block fully covered and a flip on at the end of the guard.

Yeah, looks like this is the direction I'll have to go with.

 

[Diavel]

I am building a rifle with a 14.5inch barrel and mid length gas. I just bought the Diamondhead VRS-T 10.25 free float. It will cover the gas block.

PrimaryArms is out of stock.

I bought mine from Opticsplanet.com last night. There's a $15 off coupon. Plus free shipping

Edit. The VRS-T is back in stock

 

[sbi]

I am building a rifle with a 14.5inch barrel and mid length gas. I just bought the Diamondhead VRS-T 10.25 free float. It will cover the gas block.

PrimaryArms is out of stock.

I bought mine from Opticsplanet.com last night. There's a $15 off coupon. Plus free shipping

Edit. The VRS-T is back in stock

Thanks.