Everything you need in a free float tube. - NcSTAR Vism Ar-15 Keymod Free Float Handguard

I saw a 2 star average and 3 reviews and figured it was worth my time to add a review. I've had mine for about 2 years, installed on a Rock River AR-9 10.5" pistol.

I was impressed with the quality, especially for the money. I have a Yankee Hill Machine KR-7 KeyMod rail on another AR, and at twice the price it doesn't offer anywhere near twice the value or function.

The barrel nut is a straight forward install. The only negative, and it is a minor one, is that you do have to take some care to properly index the rail so that it lines up with the receiver rail. That's accomplished fairly easily with a straight edge and some finesse with a torque wrench and your armorer's tool. Once the barrel nut is installed a sleeve is installed on the barrel nut and secured with a castle nut (just like the one on the buffer tube). You'll need to be sure you properly tighten the castle nut before installing the hand guard over it, so it doesn't loosen over time. The free float tub is then secured to the sleeve with 7 short screws.

I was dubious initially, but it has proven to be very solid and just as durable as my YHM free float handguard. The screws come with blue threadlocker and mine have not loosened in literally thousands of rounds.

One reviewer commented that there is a gap between the receiver and the tube. Yes indeed there is. There should be, as it is a free float tube and the only contact you want with the receiver is the barrel itself. And that gap is not larger - about 1/16".

Another reviewer indicated he needed shims to get the receiver and tube rails at the same level. If there was a problem, it was with his receiver. Mine lines up perfectly. I'm actually inclined to think he doesn't actually have one, and instead just writes negative reviews for fun, as there's no place to put a shim anyway.

In short, I like mine. It's light weight, well made, affordable and it gets only 4 stars just because of the extra 5 minutes in the install to properly clock the tube.