Best AR-15 Handguards (Free Float & M-LOK)

Besides the trigger group, the handguard is often a shooter’s first target for upgrading their AR 15. Therefore, choosing the best AR-15 handguards is one of the most obvious ways to improve your rifle’s functionality and aesthetics.

As with everything surrounding firearms, there is no one best option. Your choice of handguard will depend on your use case, personal taste, and budget.

That said, some features are obvious choices over the competitors. M-LOK, for example, is winning the battle over KeyMod as the standard mounting system. It is even encroaching on the Picatinny rail’s turf. In addition, many M-LOK compatible sighting options are available, including open sights, lasers, red dots, and scope rings.

Our Guide to the Best AR-15 Handguards

Each of the models below comes in a range of lengths to match your rifle’s barrel and gas system. We have included both free float and drop-in handguards on the list. Although free-float is arguably inherently superior, there are times and places where a great, affordable, easy-to-install drop-in model is just what the doctor ordered.

Our list covers a variety of well-respected brands and models at a wide range of price points. So if you have a chance, get your hands on a few different designs before making a decision.

Guide to Buying the Best AR-15 Handguard

What Makes a Great Handguard?

Handguards come in several lengths and profiles to pair with your barrel and gas system. A good handguard should:

1. Offer a solid grip
2. Remain cool to touch despite sustained fire
3. Protect your gas system
4. Offer ample mounting points.

Unlike the average forestock on a traditional long gun, an AR-15 handguard wraps all the way around the barrel.

The original AR handguards were drop-in models made of synthetic material. They had an ergonomic design, with extra width at the bottom. A cylindrical, polymer design with ribs for grip became standard in the late 20th century.

Since the rise of the M4 carbine, free float handguards have started to dominate the market. They promise slightly better accuracy and more flexibility with sighting options. Yet they are harder to install and usually require low-profile gas blocks rather than the AR-15s iconic front sight base.

Types of AR-15 Handguards

There are two main categories of handguards:

1. Drop-in
2. Free-floating

There is a range of design and mounting options within these two categories. Quad-rail handguards, with Picatinny rails on four sides, used to be popular before the rise of modern mounting systems. Picatinny rails are still common along the top, either full-length or at strategic locations. Some handguards are entirely cylindrical, without any mounting points at all.

Which handguard/mounting system you choose will depend on numerous considerations such as:

• The type of look you want (e.g. classic, military, or tactical)
• How many accessories you want to mount, and what kind
• How lightweight you want to keep your AR15
• The price you are willing to spend
• How important ease of installation is to you

Drop-in Handguards

The drop-in handguard is the original design for the AR-15. They generally fit over your barrel between a delta ring and a front sight base, often in two pieces.

Drop-in handguards are easy to install (hence the name), light, and generally more affordable than free float handguards.

On the downside, they often have a less exacting fit and finish and allow less heat to escape. Also, they may slightly hinder your accuracy because of contact with the barrel.

The drop-in category can be broken down further into two main types:

• Polymer drop-in handguards
  
  • The 2-piece polymer handguards are the most classic. A metal heat shield on the inside helps them resist heat well.
  • The polymer construction makes them very lightweight, and they are available in several lengths.
  • The downside to polymer handguards is that they do not have many mounting options. However, Magpul has created upgraded models that allow mounting M-Lok attachments.
  • Railed drop-in handguards
• Railed drop-in handguards
  • Usually made of aluminum. The most common type used to be the quad-rail, which has 4 rails that run the length of the handguard, but M-Lok systems have taken over.
  • They allow mounting of all different accessories, including bipods, foregrips, and possibly lights or lasers. However, mounting optics on a drop-in rail is not recommended because they are not the most stable systems and may have some wiggle.
  • Aluminum drop-in rails can get hot after long periods of shooting. They are also heavier than polymer handguards.

Free Floating Handguards

Free-floating handguards give better accuracy than drop-ins and offer great customization options for your AR15.

Free float handguards attach to the rifle with a barrel nut and make no contact with the barrel, giving you better accuracy. Usually, you are required to trade in your front sight base for a low-profile gas block that will fit underneath.

The best float handguards are well ventilated, especially with modern mounting slots. Better heat dissipation without compromising on grip. Aluminum is the most common material, helping free float handguards integrate seamlessly with the upper receiver

Free-Floats can cost ten times as much as drop-in handguards. These handguards tend to be much longer, providing more gripping area and a good resting surface. Also, allows for more mounting space.

There are two main categories of free float handguards:

• Free-float railed handguards (free float rails)
  • Free float railed handguards are the most popular type of free-floating handguard, especially those with M-Lok slots.
  • They are by far the most accessory-friendly handguard, allowing mounting of bipods, grips, lights, or lasers and optics.
  • They are available in many different lengths, colors, and configurations.
  • When used with a low profile gas block, you can make the handguard as long as you want.
  • M-Lok handguards have machined cutouts attachments instead of the “ridge and groove” of the classic Picatinny rail. This reduces the weight and cost of the handguard.
• Non-railed handguards (free float tubes)
  • Free-float tubes give the accuracy benefits of free-float rails but have a much more basic design.
  • Hogue is a common and well-known manufacturer of free-float tubes.
  • They can be lighter than the free float railed handguards but still heavier than drop-in rails.
  • They tend to be a bit cheaper than free-float rails.

Which is the Best type AR-15 Handguards?

The question of whether to go with a free float or drop-in handguard depends on your personal priorities. A drop-in handguard will generally be lighter than all but the most expensive, technologically advanced free float handguards. Drop-in handguards are usually cheaper than even the bottom-of-the-range free float models.

Attachment Systems Used on AR 15 Handguards

What is the best ar 15 rail system? There are four common attachment systems for AR 15 handguards:

1. Picatinny rail
2. Quad Rail
3. M-LOK
4. KeyMod

Picatinny rails

Picatinny rails are very common, though not as much as they used to be as new, more ergonomic, streamlined options take over. Still, many outstanding sighting options are available for use with Picatinny rails so they are not going to disappear anytime soon. Today, you usually find them running the length of the top of the handguard. Sometimes, only short strips are offered at the very front and very back to save weight.

Quad rail systems, with Picatinny rails along all four sides, are less common than they used to be. The modern quad rail that we are used to seeing started its life in 1995 when the design was sent to the Picatinny Arsenal for a lengthy test and evaluation period and would later come to be known as Mil-STD 1913. Some of our readers may not remember a time in history before red dot optics and AR-15’s downloaded with accessories and laser designators on them, but I assure you there was a time.

The Late 1990’s was an amazing time for gun owners, it was the first time that red dot style optics could be purchased on a working man’s wage and people began to use their AR-15’s like the Barbie doll of the gun world, all via the Picatinny style quad rail.

One thing is clearly evident, the Picatinny style quad rail is obsolete, people are abandoning the quad rail in favor of the Key Mod and the M-Lok systems.

You still find options that have short lengths of rail on all four sides at the front end. This gives you the option, for example, of mounting a sight, a light, a laser, and a bipod at the same time.

M-LOK Versus KeyMod

There has been a battle in the tactical firearms world among two systems of low-profile mounting slots, M-LOK and KeyMod.

KeyMod

This system has a modular offset design with keyhole-shaped mounting slots for flexible accessory placement. It’s lightweight, supports all kinds of attachment, and is super easy to install accessories.

M-LOK

M-LOK is similar to the KeyMod design, but it has elongated slots instead of keyholes and T-shaped lugs instead of circular ones. This gives two advantages to the KeyMod system.

1. The M-LOK design lets you mount accessories anywhere along the length of the slot, whereas you can only mount on the rear, narrow end of a KeyMod rail.
2. M-LOK has been proven to perform better than KeyMod. A study by U.S. SOCOM concluded that M-LOK ranks higher in repeatability, endurance, rough handling, drop testing, and failure load, compared to KeyMod.

Despite these two advantages, KeyMod is still much easier to install attachments than M-LOK and remains a high-quality system. In fact, because of the ease of use, KeyMod makes a great option for novice AR-15 shooters.

The Key Mod and the M-Lok are similar but different in some ways but still share some common traits with their predecessor the quad rail.

• They are both available in free float and nonfree float configurations and that is about where the similarity ends between quad rails and the new generation of rails.
• Both of the replacement systems offer the user a great deal of choice whether or not to install rail sections on selected areas of the tube. This lets users like myself have the flexibility of being able to install a tripod on their rifle and still have large areas of smooth material to slide their hands on.

Having been chosen by the US military, M-LOK can now be considered the winner over the more cartoony-looking KeyMod. According to military tests, when dropped, M-LOK accessories stay attached 100% of the time, while KeyMod accessories stay attached only 33% of the time. Both require an Allen wrench to mount accessories. As choosing one or the other is a bit of a commitment, the best advice is to go with the winning team here, M-LOK. However, it is worth noting that KeyMod components align perfectly automatically, unlike M-LOK ones. M-LOK already has three times the industry support and available components of KeyMod, and that lead is only likely to increase.

One of the nice things about these modern mounting slot systems is that they also act as excellent heat vents while, unlike a rail, reducing the weight of your handguard. Most handguards have an octagonal profile. You can find models with rows of mounting slots on all 8 sides, just on 3, or something in between. Another great benefit of mounting slots is that you can attach short lengths of Picatinny rail exactly where you need it, keeping weight down.

So readers, where are you at in the great debate? Quad rail ?, Team Key Mod ?, Team M-Lok ? or is there another dark horse in the race that we don’t know about? Drop us a line and let us know where you stand in the debate, maybe you are still using old M16A2 style handguards and iron sights.

Best AR-15 Gas Systems, Handguard Length, and Material Options

Handguard Length

There are 4 common lengths for AR 15 gas systems and handguards:

1. Pistol: 4 inches
2. Carbine: 7 inches
3. Mid-length: 9 inches
4. Rifle: 12 inches

Carbine length is the US military standard used on the M4 rifle. However, the carbine-length gas system is designed to work best with barrels shorter than 16 inches, which is the minimum length for civilian use in most jurisdictions.

Mid-length is the no-brainer option for civilian use. By putting the gas port closer to the muzzle, a mid-length system has less dwell time, the time the bullet spends between the gas port and the muzzle.

That reduces the rearward pressure inflicted on your rifle components, reducing wear and tear. I don’t know about you, but if I’m going to drop a grand or so on a product, I want it to last.

You will want to get a handguard that matches your gas system length. If you’re using a front sight block you won’t have any choice. If you use a low-profile gas block, it is possible to use a handguard that is longer than your gas system.

You may choose to do this for aesthetics or to get more gripping area. Getting the right grip will improve your rifle’s accuracy and maneuverability. Whatever you do, don’t use a handguard that exposes your gas system.

AR Handguard materials

The most common AR-15 handguard materials are:

1. Aluminum
2. Polymer
3. Carbon fiber

If you want that old-school, mil-spec look, you could opt to go with a classic, cylindrical GI handguard. These iconic components are made of polymer and have an aluminum heat shield inside. Other polymer options exist, like the wildly popular Magpul MOE drop-in handguard. Polymer is generally the most affordable option. If designed right, like the GI model, a polymer handguard will serve you well in any scenario.

If sustained fire is a regular part of your weekend (or workday), you might prefer something that offers better heat dissipation. Most free float handguards are made of standard 6061-T6 aluminum. This is the same material used to make most AR-15 receivers. It offers a great combination of low weight and toughness. Today, most aluminum free float barrels are designed with as much venting for heat dissipation as possible. Modern mounting systems like M-LOK contribute to this.

A new option is carbon fiber. The strength to weight ratio of carbon fiber handguards is exceptional. These offer very forward-thinking aesthetics and usually a very ergonomic grip. However, they are definitely not the cheapest options out there.

Handguards often incorporate other materials for some of their components. You will find many steel barrel nuts and Picatinny rails. Steel is only used when that extra strength is mission-critical. You don’t want the excess weight it comes with on the front end of your weapon.

AR-15 Handguard Finishes

There are two main options in finishes for an aluminum handguard:

• Anodized
• Cerakote

At least 80% of the aluminum AR 15 handguards out there are anodized. This is an electro-chemical process than offers great protection. If you want to get pedantic, there are a variety of anodization methods out there, with the mil-spec Type-III hardcoat the most common. Anodized finishes are generally more durable than Cerakote. Plus, they are cheaper. Anodization is not a layer applied to the surface, rather it is a reaction with the aluminum itself.

Cerakote is a layer applied to the surface of your handguard. It is very durable and can over a unique, customizable aesthetic look. Compared to anodization, it is easier and safer to apply yourself if you end up going for a naked handguard to finish yourself.

If in doubt, go with an anodized handguard. There is a reason that it is the military standard. Plus, it has a more classic, tactical look.

What to consider when choosing an AR15 handguard

As you can see above, there is a lot to take in when it comes to AR 15 handguards. Here is a list of priorities to consider when choosing the best handguard for you, in descending order of importance:

1. What length of gas system and type of gas block will you use?
2. Do you prefer free float or drop-in?
3. Is the handguard made by a reputable manufacturer?
4. Does it offer you a comfortable, positive grip?
5. Does it manage heat effectively?
6. Does it give you the mounting options you need?
7. Is it within your price range?
8. Do you like its aesthetics?

Answering these questions will get you a long way toward zeroing in on the handguard you need. Remember, there is nothing wrong with having a few handguards for different use cases with the same rifle. Consider going with different upper receivers with different free float handguards. You can even have them in different calibers. Drop-in handguards are easier to swap out while sticking with the same upper receiver, but still give you plenty of flexibility.

Check out our AR-15 Handguard Removal Tool and Installation Guide

Staff quick-picks for the Best AR-15 Handguards

If you’re not sure what to choose and your weapon has a front sight base, go with the Magpul MOE for now. It is a massive upgrade on the classic GI handguard and you simply can’t go wrong. If you want a practical, top-quality free float model, the Aero Precision, Geissele, Midwest Industries G3 and Bravo Company options above are all spectacular. Personally, I swear by the G3. The Brigand Arms Edge is a great way to stand out, while the Faxon is a great balance of cutting-edge technology and practicality.

Whichever handguard you choose, have fun, practice shooting as much as you can and remember, it’s the shooter, not the gun.