Round Varmint Handguard for AR15?

Swifty Morgan · June 14, 2020, 09:35 PM

The thought of an AR15 upper in .204 Ruger has become very appealing to me. I started looking at uppers, and I saw that one company offered a typical M-Lok handguard with a long rail, and they also offered a round varmint handguard, which is just a tube.

What's the advantage of a round handguard? It's not very handy.

stagpanther · June 14, 2020, 09:51 PM

Quote:

What's the advantage of a round handguard? It's not very handy.

Well, for one thing a round smooth hand guard doesn't have piccatanny teeth--handy if you do a lot of freehand shooting while hunting.

Double K · June 17, 2020, 08:22 AM

Some people probably like them because they look less tactical or military, I like the UTG forearms because there smooth unless you add the rails.

Tallest · June 17, 2020, 08:29 AM

I think the strongest argument that can be made for it being varmint geared because it's round is that you don't tend to need tactical attachments for varmint hunting. However... the primary reason I ditched my first round tube hand guard was that it had no bi-pod mounting option, which I found to be inexcusable. Woodchucks at 400 yards often require a bi-pod.

Double K · June 17, 2020, 08:39 AM

I hear you, same reason I replaced the forearm on the rockriver coyote in the picture, no bi-pod attachment, now it has a little rail out near the end that doesn't drag on a rest but's still there in case I need it for the bi-pod.

Swifty Morgan · June 17, 2020, 10:51 AM

I contacted White Oak Armament about their handguards, and they said round was no more accurate than a handguard with a useful shape.

O4L · June 18, 2020, 10:01 PM

IIRC the smooth round handgaurds came out when the quadrail handgaurds were very popular. The smooth version was lighter and much less bulky.

Chipperman · June 19, 2020, 07:38 AM

Some round handguards are free floating which can be an advantage over non free floating for accuracy

June 14, 2020, 09:35 PM	#1
Swifty Morgan Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2018 Location: FL Posts: 467	Round Varmint Handguard for AR15? The thought of an AR15 upper in .204 Ruger has become very appealing to me. I started looking at uppers, and I saw that one company offered a typical M-Lok handguard with a long rail, and they also offered a round varmint handguard, which is just a tube. What's the advantage of a round handguard? It's not very handy. __________________ People who think their guns shoot better than they do must not be shooting much rimfire.

June 17, 2020, 08:29 AM	#4
Tallest Senior Member Join Date: January 23, 2016 Location: West of the Atlantic Posts: 418	I think the strongest argument that can be made for it being varmint geared because it's round is that you don't tend to need tactical attachments for varmint hunting. However... the primary reason I ditched my first round tube hand guard was that it had no bi-pod mounting option, which I found to be inexcusable. Woodchucks at 400 yards often require a bi-pod. __________________ Matthew "All men are ignorant. The topics of our ignorance may vary, but the nature of the world is that no man may know everything." ~ R Jordan

June 17, 2020, 10:51 AM	#6
Swifty Morgan Senior Member Join Date: September 13, 2018 Location: FL Posts: 467	I contacted White Oak Armament about their handguards, and they said round was no more accurate than a handguard with a useful shape. __________________ People who think their guns shoot better than they do must not be shooting much rimfire.

June 17, 2020, 08:22 AM	#3
Double K Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2020 Location: Colorado Posts: 486	Some people probably like them because they look less tactical or military, I like the UTG forearms because there smooth unless you add the rails.

June 17, 2020, 08:39 AM	#5
Double K Senior Member Join Date: June 16, 2020 Location: Colorado Posts: 486	I hear you, same reason I replaced the forearm on the rockriver coyote in the picture, no bi-pod attachment, now it has a little rail out near the end that doesn't drag on a rest but's still there in case I need it for the bi-pod.

June 18, 2020, 10:01 PM	#7
O4L Senior Member Join Date: September 16, 2015 Posts: 646	IIRC the smooth round handgaurds came out when the quadrail handgaurds were very popular. The smooth version was lighter and much less bulky.

June 19, 2020, 07:38 AM	#8
Chipperman Senior Member Join Date: January 31, 2000 Location: Live Free or Die, Baby! Posts: 1,550	Some round handguards are free floating which can be an advantage over non free floating for accuracy