Easy installation, solid mount. - VISM M-LOK Handguard, for AR-15/M4

A while back I went from the standard AR fore end to a quad-rail fore end in order to 6 o'clock mount a Streamlight on my BCM carbine. While the light was in the perfect spot, after the first day on the range I hated that pig; the edges were blade-sharp, the other rails were unnecessary, and the rail covers were so bulky they made the fore end feel like you were holding a 2-liter soda bottle.

I looked at the Troy, BCM and other brand name fore ends, and wasn't too thrilled about the price. I'm not strictly a brand-buyer (You know, one of those dudes who wants the brand-name logo in place so when he slides his gun out of the case at the range he lives for others oohing and ahhing over their shiny new toy, then they have a fit when their $2,500 rig gets a scuff on it), nor am I an eternally 5-11/Underarmor clad "Tactical Ted; the You Tube range god" who grew a crappy beard and dolls up in 'operator' chest rigs, an 'operator' helmet, an 'operator' balaclava, and 'operator' skivvies while reaching orgasmic states viewing the latest Panteao or V-Tac video production; I'm just a guy with 26+ years in LE/11 years+ SWAT-SRT who has tools that are used, not abused, and doesn't want to spend a bunch on fluff.

I saw this fore end for 40 bucks, and figured I would give it a try. It wouldn't require a front sight/gas block change to allow for a free-floating fore end, and if it sucked I would only be out 45 bucks.

Install is a snap, especially if you have a delta-ring tool for installing fore ends...if not it may take two people, one to hold the gun while the other pulls down on the ring to get the old one off and then slip the new one in. In either case it's a two minute job, tops. The allen screws went right into place (I put a drop of blue Loctite) and the rail sections were easy to take off/put on (Blue Loctite again). I used the small section under the fore end for the light, and left the large one off. Now the fore end is much easier to grip and hold for extended periods, the sharp and bulky edges of the quad rail are gone, and the light is still secured in the same 6 o'clock position I had it in before. Best of all, if I scratch and bang it up I'm not going to worry a whole lot about it.