Do I need to free float for hunting ar15?

sbaker10 · July 12, 2014, 09:54 PM

My ar is a coyote hunting gun out to 250 yards. As I am thinking of buying a second lower for up close shooting I hesitate to buy the tools needed to install a free float hg or spend 230 on an omega rail. Beyond money I just do not feel comfortable working on my gun to that degree.

I will install a trigger though. And am trying to decide between a Gisele SSA or an omega rail if really needed

Does anyone here use a non free floated ar for coyotes or smaller and found it acceptably accurate?

reynolds357 · July 12, 2014, 09:57 PM

Some shoot fine without being free floated. Just have to shoot it and see.

sbaker10 · July 12, 2014, 10:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by reynolds357

Some shoot fine without being free floated. Just have to shoot it and see.

Mine seems to shoot fine it's just the way people talk the flyers every 3-4 rounds I get are because it's not free floated

tahunua001 · July 12, 2014, 11:30 PM

it definitely helps with accuracy but depending on your marksmanship skills it isn't completely necessary.

Art Eatman · July 13, 2014, 06:46 AM

What's important is that there is reliability for the first shot's point of impact to match the point of aim. If that's the case, group size is pretty much irrelevant.

So if that first shot is always about two inches high at a hundred yards when you check it at the benchrest, Wily has a problem.

Mobuck · July 13, 2014, 07:25 AM

A good trigger will aid accuracy much more than a free float handguard. I have FF on about 1/4 of my rifles but w/o a smooth trigger, any advantage will not be realized.

green_MTman · July 13, 2014, 08:12 AM

if AR's are not free floaters then how do they shoot so accurately.people use then at 600 yd match compatitions and soldiers shoot M16's to long ranges as well

i always thouht they were free floaters

tahunua001 · July 13, 2014, 12:33 PM

there are two different styles of handguards, non free float and free float. the military does not use free float handguards and I can tell you that few soldiers are good enough marksmen to take long range shots(anything past 300 yards) when it counts even if they did have a free float handguard. I am willing to wager to say that those 600 yard target shooters are all using 24" barrels and free float handguards... in addition to match triggers, and very expensive optics.

sbaker10 · July 13, 2014, 01:16 PM

Some info I forgot to mention. Typically I use the magazine as a monopod when doing long range shooting. I'm back and forth on the rail. It would improve accuracy but is it worth the. money I'm just not sure

Unlicensed Dremel · July 14, 2014, 05:06 PM

No.

reynolds357 · July 14, 2014, 09:54 PM

I have some tack driving Weatherby's in my gun safe that have between 4 lbs to 8 pounds of fore end pressure. Free floating is not essential to accuracy.

mardanlin · July 15, 2014, 12:51 PM

I've never had any accuracy problems with my AR and it is a run-of-the-mill GI spec DPMS. no free float, no fancy trigger or anything. As others have stated, you have to be a real top notch marksman to discern the difference at anything less than 500yds.

Brotherbadger · July 17, 2014, 02:49 AM

Quote:

I've never had any accuracy problems with my AR and it is a run-of-the-mill GI spec DPMS. no free float, no fancy trigger or anything. As others have stated, you have to be a real top notch marksman to discern the difference at anything less than 500yds.

Yup. I free floated mine because i assembled the upper myself(at that point, why not?). If i bought the upper and it wasn't FF? I wouldn't change it. FF or not, that gun is way more accurate than I am.

July 12, 2014, 09:54 PM	#1
sbaker10 Member Join Date: December 10, 2013 Posts: 73	Do I need to free float for hunting ar15? My ar is a coyote hunting gun out to 250 yards. As I am thinking of buying a second lower for up close shooting I hesitate to buy the tools needed to install a free float hg or spend 230 on an omega rail. Beyond money I just do not feel comfortable working on my gun to that degree. I will install a trigger though. And am trying to decide between a Gisele SSA or an omega rail if really needed Does anyone here use a non free floated ar for coyotes or smaller and found it acceptably accurate?

July 12, 2014, 11:30 PM	#4
tahunua001 Senior Member Join Date: July 21, 2011 Location: Idaho Posts: 7,839	it definitely helps with accuracy but depending on your marksmanship skills it isn't completely necessary. __________________ ignore my complete lack of capitalization. I still have no problem correcting your grammar. I never said half the stuff people said I did-Albert Einstein You can't believe everything you read on the internet-Benjamin Franklin

July 13, 2014, 12:33 PM	#8
tahunua001 Senior Member Join Date: July 21, 2011 Location: Idaho Posts: 7,839	there are two different styles of handguards, non free float and free float. the military does not use free float handguards and I can tell you that few soldiers are good enough marksmen to take long range shots(anything past 300 yards) when it counts even if they did have a free float handguard. I am willing to wager to say that those 600 yard target shooters are all using 24" barrels and free float handguards... in addition to match triggers, and very expensive optics. __________________ ignore my complete lack of capitalization. I still have no problem correcting your grammar. I never said half the stuff people said I did-Albert Einstein You can't believe everything you read on the internet-Benjamin Franklin

July 12, 2014, 09:57 PM	#2
reynolds357 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2012 Posts: 6,165	Some shoot fine without being free floated. Just have to shoot it and see.

July 13, 2014, 06:46 AM	#5
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	What's important is that there is reliability for the first shot's point of impact to match the point of aim. If that's the case, group size is pretty much irrelevant. So if that first shot is always about two inches high at a hundred yards when you check it at the benchrest, Wily has a problem.

July 13, 2014, 07:25 AM	#6
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	A good trigger will aid accuracy much more than a free float handguard. I have FF on about 1/4 of my rifles but w/o a smooth trigger, any advantage will not be realized.

July 13, 2014, 08:12 AM	#7
green_MTman Senior Member Join Date: March 27, 2014 Location: southeastern Vermont,USA Posts: 325	if AR's are not free floaters then how do they shoot so accurately.people use then at 600 yd match compatitions and soldiers shoot M16's to long ranges as well i always thouht they were free floaters

July 13, 2014, 01:16 PM	#9
sbaker10 Member Join Date: December 10, 2013 Posts: 73	Some info I forgot to mention. Typically I use the magazine as a monopod when doing long range shooting. I'm back and forth on the rail. It would improve accuracy but is it worth the. money I'm just not sure

July 14, 2014, 05:06 PM	#10
Unlicensed Dremel Junior member Join Date: February 13, 2014 Location: Flathead Valley, MT Posts: 2,187	No.

July 14, 2014, 09:54 PM	#11
reynolds357 Senior Member Join Date: December 10, 2012 Posts: 6,165	I have some tack driving Weatherby's in my gun safe that have between 4 lbs to 8 pounds of fore end pressure. Free floating is not essential to accuracy.

July 15, 2014, 12:51 PM	#12
mardanlin Senior Member Join Date: December 28, 2013 Posts: 208	I've never had any accuracy problems with my AR and it is a run-of-the-mill GI spec DPMS. no free float, no fancy trigger or anything. As others have stated, you have to be a real top notch marksman to discern the difference at anything less than 500yds.