Tim from United States, FL Public Profile

I ordered this because I needed an 8” handguard and they’re hard to find, this was the cheapest I could get and optics planet got it to me quick. My first impression was that the barrel nut was aluminum (which I’m not a fan of in rifle caliber) and there was no barrel wrench included for the very unique barrel nut. No barrel wrench and it’s definitely not standard meant that I had to use a pipe wrench which made it difficult to get the torque specs right. Additionally the stupid barrel nut has notches for your gas tube which means it must be timed WHICH I EFFING HATE! I had to use the included shims which I also hate but one shim wasn’t enough and two shims were too much so I had to play with the shims and probably ended up over torquing it in the end. The design of the nut just seems so dumb and over complicated to me. The handguard itself is alright, not a slim handguard and not overly lightweight, it’s usable and seems rugged enough not to bend or break. The anti-rotation tabs are nicely designed and will work with any upper receiver unlike some other brands. My only other complaint is that the handguard is has a bigger diameter than the upper, making a ridge between the two. This is the first time I’ve seen this. So in the end, it works but not my favorite. I’d say it’s ok for pistol caliber carbines and 22’s but it’s a PITA for anything that needs a gas tube.

I’ve built 4 AR pistols using the Kaw Valley linear comps and first of all I gotta say nothing looks more bad a$$ than this comp partially shrouded by the handguard, I love the perfect mating between these and the Midwest industries free float handguards. Additionally the way these manage gasses in an SBR setup is second to none, the expansion chambers help divert gas out and away, limit recoil and muzzle rise. A lot of the sound is diverted down range too. For the money there’s nothing better.

I bought two of these and they are a cut above everything else available. Easy to install and feels great in your hand. Super lightweight and slim, great looking handguard. My only words of caution are to make sure your upper will accept a handguard with anti-rotation tabs.