M4 - length of handguards?

[AZRedhawk44]

I'm looking at a centerfire upper for my .22lr M4.

I'm thinking strongly of going with a full-length handguard with full-length sight radius and full-length gas tube.  Less stress on the bolt, greater sight radius, more gripping area on the handguards, no extra drawbacks on maneuverability or size since the barrel is still 16 inches.

Probably MagPul MOE handguards, FDE color.  Only toys I'll be putting on the handguards will be a small light and possibly a side-mount sling attachment point.  Irons to begin with, eventually a good red dot or holographic sight, probably 6 months to a year from now.

What says APS?  Any drawbacks to the full length handguards on a carbine barrel?

[kgbsquirrel]

Only thing I could really think of would be getting sufficient gas pressure to reliably cycle the system every shot, what with having the gas port so close to the muzzle. Sorry, got no personal experience to share, my 16" barrel AR is mid-length.

[birdman]

I have a 10" guard on my 16" barrel, and I'll keep it when I SBR to 10.5.  My personal preference is to cover the gas block with the guard to protect it.

[roo_ster]

What's the verdict on m4geries with shorter-than-16" bbls (10.5" or 14.5" with permanently mounted flash hider/compensator) versus m4geries with 16" bbls?

[mtnbkr]

What's the verdict on m4geries with shorter-than-16" bbls (10.5" or 14.5" with permanently mounted flash hider/compensator) versus m4geries with 16" bbls?

They seem pointless?  If you're gonna have 16" of "stuff", might as well make it barrel.

Chris

[Monkeyleg]

If you're gonna have 16" of "stuff"...

Hey, you could be a congressman!

[bedlamite]

The short barrel with the long flash hider is silly.

I'd consider a 16" barrel with a midlength low profile gas block, and a full length handguard with a front sight closer to the muzzle. Similar to this:

[Boomhauer]

The short barrel with the long flash hider is silly.

I'd consider a 16" barrel with a midlength low profile gas block, and a full length handguard with a front sight closer to the muzzle. Similar to this:

Dissipitator configuration, so to speak.


You can't go putting a rifle length gas system on a carbine length barrel. Don't work too hot. Better choice is midlength, and ain't nothing wrong with a carbine length gas system on a 16" length or shorter gun.