Why FF? What

[Jicko]

What's the benefit of a free-float handguard? Except those nice rails you can add accessories? I'm looking at a 16" Carbine setup.... not a long-range varmint gun....

I had tried to search on AR15.com, but it is so hard to find the info....

[Turbinator]

Free float?

If you free float your AR handguards, or any barrel, the stock or the forward handguards do NOT touch the barrel. So, when you go to shoot, any pressure you apply to the handguards or stock does not warp or move the barrel - thereby increasing the chances that your shot will be consistent time after time.

This only works if you have solid optics or solid sights that aren't loose and moving around as well.. Plus you should avoid mounting a sling or bipod to your barrel - bad news for the accuracy department.

Turby

[blacklisted]

Looks like you had a little slamfire there

[Stanze]

All those accessories and pressure can interfer with the bullet to go anywhere other than where it's pointed at, maybe not a big deal at close range, but long range every thing counts towards accurate shots. A free float set-up makes sure that you're shooting from the barrel and not from the barrel and whatever else is bolted to it, weighing it down.

Example: When someone notes bullet point of impact changes when gun is resting on bipod(attached to the barrel), rather than rifle body on rest or sandbags.

[Ken4]

All those accessories and pressure can interfer with the bullet to go anywhere other than where it's pointed at, maybe not a big deal at close range, but long range every thing counts towards accurate shots. A free float set-up makes sure that you're shooting from the barrel and not from the barrel and whatever else is bolted to it, weighing it down.

Example: When someone notes bullet point of impact changes when gun is resting on bipod(attached to the barrel), rather than rifle body on rest or sandbags.

That is a very good point.

[Jicko]

So, I note the difference if I am building a 24" Varmint setup...

Will I note the difference if it is a CQB, 16" tactical setup? And what's the real difference in terms of accuracy shift? Are there documentations or articles to discuss that online?

I know there MUST be difference (myth vs fact, i don't care....), yet I want to know "by how much" to warrant that $300 investments..... there maybe many other stuffs I can buy with that extra $300, that can make me shoot way more accurate and way faster(EOTech....)...

[m1371]

I think free-floating the barrel on an AR is pretty much dependent on the individual shooter and his criteria. What do you consider "long-range" and what level of accuracy are you demanding?

Just as an example..... Rifle qual in the Marines required 10rds from the 500yd-line. Shooters with a loop-sling can consistently get center-mass hits on a man-sized target at that range. Using a loop-sling has to put some amount of deflection on the barrel just because of the amount of tension applied (some guys would literally cut off circulation in their arms while shooting!!!) but shooters would still score hits.

In my opinion, unless you're using optics and getting picky about the size of your groups OR you have a need to make a precision shot at close range (ie- hostage rescue type scenario) a free-floated handguard assembly isn't a requirement.

But in the end it's your rifle and your money to spend on how you want to trick it out.

[ohsmily]

as I think someone mentioned, free floating is more important for varmint/target shooting purposes where you are shooting for sub-moa groups.

I like free float tubes in general b/c then you don't get the handguards that shift/rattle. Free float doesn't necessarily mean you get all the rails either, they make the rounds ones as well w/o the rails for long and short setups. (as I am sure most of you know)

[Jicko]

Free float doesn't necessarily mean you get all the rails either, they make the rounds ones as well w/o the rails for long and short setups. (as I am sure most of you know)

Yes... and there are rail'ed handguards that aren't FF, such as YHM 2 pieces HG....