Upgrading your AR15 handguard can really improve your rifle. A good handguard makes your gun look cooler and work better. In this guide, we’ll explore why upgrading is important and how to pick the best handguard for you, based on how you shoot and what you need.
Key Takeaways
| Aspect | Details |
| Benefits of Upgrading | Improved accuracy, better heat dissipation, increased customization, weight reduction |
| Important Factors | Material, mounting system, length, free-float vs. drop-in design |
| Top Options | Woox Vigilante, Woox Bravado, Woox Superleggera |
| Installation | Can be DIY with proper tools and instructions |
Why Upgrade Your AR15 Handguard?
Upgrading your AR15 handguard can make your rifle work better in several ways:
- Improved accuracy by reducing barrel flex: A good handguard, especially a free-floating one, helps your barrel move the same way each time you shoot, making your shots more accurate.
- Better heat dissipation during rapid fire: Advanced materials and designs help spread out heat faster, so you can shoot for longer without your gun getting too hot.
- Increased customization options for accessories: Modern handguards let you easily attach things like lights, lasers, and grips to suit your needs.
- Weight reduction for improved maneuverability: Lightweight materials like aluminum or carbon fiber can make your rifle easier to handle and move around with.
A well-designed handguard, like the Woox Vigilante Handguard, can really improve your rifle. This handguard is strong, works well, and looks good. Let’s take a closer look at it:
The Vigilante Handguard has some cool features:
- Lightweight aluminum construction for easy handling: It’s made from strong airplane-grade aluminum, so it’s light but tough. You can use it for a long time without getting tired.
- Free-floating design for improved accuracy: It doesn’t touch the barrel, which helps your rifle shoot more accurately.
- M-LOK compatibility for versatile accessory mounting: You can attach lots of different accessories to it easily.
- Easy installation with included hardware: It comes with everything you need to put it on your rifle, and instructions to help you do it.
At $199.99, this handguard is a good deal for serious shooters who want to make their AR15 better. It’s made well, designed smartly, and priced fairly, making it a great choice for upgrading your rifle.
Key Factors to Consider When Choosing an AR15 Handguard
When picking the best AR15 handguard for you, think about these important things that will affect how your rifle works and feels:
Material
Consider weight, durability, and heat resistance. Options include aluminum, polymer, and carbon fiber.
Mounting System
Choose between Picatinny, M-LOK, or KeyMod for accessory compatibility and weight savings.
Length & Fit
Ensure proper length for your barrel and compatibility with your rifle’s gas system.
1. Material
Handguards are usually made from aluminum, polymer, or carbon fiber. Each material has its good points and not-so-good points:
- Aluminum: Often used because it’s strong and handles heat well. It can take high temperatures when you shoot a lot and helps keep your shots accurate. It’s a bit heavier than other options, but new ways of making it have made it lighter. Many people like aluminum handguards because they work well for different things and last a long time.
- Polymer: Known for being light and not too expensive. It’s a good choice if you want to save money or make your rifle as light as possible. It can handle bumps well but might not spread out heat as well as metal when you shoot a lot. Some expensive polymers are getting better at handling heat, almost as good as aluminum.
- Carbon fiber: This is the newest and fanciest material for handguards. It’s super light but still very strong. These handguards are extremely light while still being stiff and handling heat well. But they cost more because they’re harder to make. People who compete in shooting sports or want the lightest possible rifle often choose carbon fiber.
2. Mounting System
The mounting system on your handguard is important because it decides what accessories you can attach and how. There are three main types:
- Picatinny: This is the old-school type that lots of accessories fit on. It’s very secure but adds more weight and bulk than newer systems. Many military and police still use Picatinny because it works with lots of different gear and has been proven reliable.
- M-LOK: Made by Magpul, M-LOK is becoming more popular because it’s lighter and versatile. It has slots that let you attach accessories directly or add small rail sections if you need them. M-LOK makes your handguard look sleeker and reduces weight while still being secure.
- KeyMod: Another lightweight option, KeyMod uses keyhole-shaped slots for attaching things. It saves weight like M-LOK but isn’t as common anymore as M-LOK has become more popular. Some shooters still like KeyMod because of how it looks or because it works with specific accessories they have.
The Woox Bravado Handguard uses the popular M-LOK system, giving you a good mix of being lightweight and able to attach lots of accessories. This modern design looks sleek and streamlined while still letting you attach many different things:
3. Length
The length of your handguard matters for how your rifle works and looks. It should match your barrel and gas system to fit right and work best. Common options include:
- Carbine length: Usually 7 inches long, these are for shorter barrels and carbine-length gas systems. They’re good for close-up use or when you need to move your rifle quickly.
- Mid-length: About 9 inches long, these give a good balance between being compact and having more space for accessories. They work well with mid-length gas systems and give you more room to attach things than carbine-length ones.
- Rifle length: From 12 to 15 inches or even longer, these are for longer barrels and rifle-length gas systems. They give you the most space for accessories and let you hold the rifle farther out, which can help with stability and control when shooting.
When choosing the length, think about your barrel length, gas system, and what you’ll use the rifle for. Longer handguards can help spread out heat better and give more space for accessories but might add weight. Shorter ones are easier to move around with but limit where you can put accessories and where you can put your hands.
4. Free-Float vs. Drop-In
Choosing between free-float and drop-in handguards can really affect how your rifle performs and how easy it is to install:
Free-float handguards don’t touch the barrel, which can help make your shots more accurate by not putting pressure on the barrel. They usually handle heat better and give you a more solid place to mount accessories. But they might be harder to install and need more tools.
Drop-in handguards are easier to put on and often cost less. They fit between the front sight and the delta ring, making them a good choice for basic upgrades or if you want your AR15 to look more traditional. They might not make your shots as accurate as free-float designs, but they can still make your rifle more comfortable to hold and let you attach more accessories than the original handguard.
Top AR15 Handguard Options for Different Needs
Let’s look at some great handguard options for different types of shooting, focusing on Woox Store’s high-quality offerings that work well for various preferences and uses:
Best Lightweight Handguard: Woox Superleggera
The Woox Superleggera handguard is made to be super light but still work great, making it perfect for shooters who want to move fast and aim quickly. This handguard shows how you can have both strength and lightness:
Weight: Just 9.5 oz, making it one of the lightest options you can get that’s still strong and durable.
- Material: Made from high-quality aluminum, ensuring it’s strong for its weight and handles heat well.
- Length: 15 inches, giving you lots of space to attach things and place your hands while still looking sleek.
- Price: $199.99, which is a good deal for such a high-quality lightweight handguard.
The Superleggera is designed with clever cutouts to make it as light as possible without making it weak. It has M-LOK slots so you can attach lots of different accessories, and a continuous top rail for attaching sights or scopes.
Best Tactical Handguard: Woox Vigilante Stock, Grip, and Handguard Kit
If you want to upgrade your whole rifle to make it more tactical and have everything match, the Woox Vigilante Kit is a great choice. This all-in-one package turns your AR15 into a high-performance tactical rifle:
- Includes matching stock, grip, and handguard so your whole rifle looks and feels consistent.
- Designed to be comfortable and give you good control, with textured surfaces and good angles to make shooting more comfortable and stable.
- Made from lightweight aluminum and polymer to balance being tough and light, making your rifle easier to handle.
- Price: $149.99 for the whole kit, which is a good deal compared to buying each part separately.
The Vigilante Kit’s handguard is a free-float design with M-LOK slots, giving you a stable base for accuracy and lots of options to attach accessories. The matching stock can be adjusted to fit different shooters and shooting positions, and the grip is designed to be comfortable and give you good control when shooting for a long time.
How to Install an AR15 Handguard
Putting on a new handguard can be pretty simple for many AR15 owners, but the exact steps might be different depending on your specific rifle and the type of handguard you’ve chosen. Here’s a guide to help you through it:
- Get your tools ready: You’ll usually need Allen wrenches, an armorer’s wrench, and maybe a torque wrench to install it properly. Some handguards might come with special tools, so check the instructions that come with it.
- Take off the old handguard carefully: This usually means removing the delta ring assembly for drop-in handguards or the barrel nut for free-float handguards. Be careful not to damage anything when you’re taking it off.
- Get the upper receiver ready: Clean the threads and make sure there’s nothing in the way that could mess up the new handguard’s installation.
- Line up the new handguard with the upper receiver: For free-float handguards, this often means putting on a new barrel nut and making sure it lines up right with the gas tube.
- Secure the handguard following the manufacturer’s instructions: This might mean tightening screws to a specific tightness or using a special locking system.
- Test to make sure it fits and works right: Make sure the handguard is on securely and doesn’t get in the way of how your rifle works. Check that there’s enough space around the gas block and that any rail sections are level.
Always follow the specific instructions that come with your handguard, because how you install it can be very different between brands and models. If you’re not sure about any part of the process, it’s a good idea to ask a qualified gunsmith to help, to make sure your rifle stays safe and works well.
Why Choose Woox Store for AR15 Handguards?
Woox Store has a wide range of high-quality AR15 handguards made to work well and last a long time, for all kinds of shooting styles and preferences. Here’s why serious shooters trust Woox for their AR15 upgrades:
- High-quality, precisely made materials: Woox handguards are made from top-grade materials, so they last long and work consistently even in tough conditions.
- Variety of styles for different shooting needs: Whether you’re a competitive shooter, tactical operator, or hunter, Woox has handguards made for your specific needs.
- Trusted brand with professional testing: Every Woox product goes through tough testing to meet or beat industry standards, giving serious shooters peace of mind.
- Easy online shopping and fast shipping: Woox Store’s website is easy to use, and they ship quickly, making it simple to upgrade your AR15.
- Great customer support: Knowledgeable staff are ready to answer questions and help you pick the right handguard for what you need.
- Works with many different AR15 platforms: Woox handguards are designed to fit various AR15 setups, so you can find the perfect match for your rifle.
Conclusion: Make Your AR15 Perform Better
Upgrading your AR15 handguard is a smart move that can really improve how your rifle works, what you can do with it, and how much you enjoy shooting. By thinking carefully about things like what it’s made of, how you attach accessories, how long it is, and what type of design it has, you can pick the perfect handguard for how you shoot and what you need.
Whether you’re a competitive shooter looking for the lightest setup possible, a tactical professional who needs a strong base for lots of accessories, or a hunter wanting better accuracy and handling, the right handguard can make a big difference in how well you shoot and how much you enjoy it.
Woox Store’s selection of premium AR15 handguards has options for every type of shooter, combining smart design, high-quality materials, and careful craftsmanship to give you great performance and value. By choosing a Woox handguard, you’re not just upgrading one part; you’re investing in making your whole AR15 better.
Ready to make your AR15 perform even better? Check out Woox Store’s selection of premium AR15 handguards and find the perfect upgrade to turn your rifle into a high-performance shooting system that’s just right for you.
| Handguard Model | Material | Length (inches) | Weight (oz) | Mounting System | Price ($) | Availability |
| Woox Lightweight M-LOK | Aluminum | 15 | 8 | M-LOK | 179 | In Stock |
| Woox Tactical KeyMod | Aluminum | 13 | 10 | KeyMod | 159 | In Stock |
| Woox Premium Carbon Fiber | Carbon Fiber | 15 | 6 | M-LOK | 249 | Out of Stock |
| Woox Quad Rail | Aluminum | 12 | 14 | Picatinny | 189 | In Stock |
| Woox Hybrid M-LOK/Picatinny | Aluminum | 15 |
