Modifying the M&P 15-22 Hand Guard

[damon1272]

I love my new M&P but I hate the handguard. Right now I have lo profile rail covers on it and it is not bad but I was thinking of grind/filing most of the rails off save for a few at the front for mounting of a light. My thought was to use a solidering iron to then texture the grip area. Has anyone tried this yet and what results have they gotten? I don't want spend the money on a new hand guard and conversion nut as I have already spent enough on this rifle. It is a .22 after all. Let me know what you think or input on making the modification.

[MrPlink]

I would just be a tad worried about comprimising the integrity of the gaurd by removing that much matterial from it.

What's funny is how so many with regular hand guards spend big bucks to get floated quad rails, and the people who get em stock want regular guards instead!

[damon1272]

I have noticed that myself. Personaly I do not like railed hand guards and I prefer the JP handguard. As for taking material off, I do not see that taking the three rails off would compromise the integrity of teh handguard. If so then it will be time to pony up for a real handguard like a DPMS carbon fiber or something of that nature.

[jvpark]

I think if the hand guard was an alloy I would get rail covers... but it being a polymer, it's not a real big deal for me. I sort of like the look of the quad rail design.

I would not shave any part of the rail.

[gotthelife4u]

I like the look of the quad rail. I am just not that wild about the feeling when I am holing the rifle. I just ordered some of the Magpul XTM rail covers to fix that. If you want to remove the hand guard check out the smith and wesson forums.

[wsmc27]

I love my new M&P but I hate the handguard.
<snip>
It is a .22 after all. Let me know what you think or input on making the modification.

My boy and I don't have a prob with the stock 15-22, but we don't grip much (i.e. very hard) with our support hand on the .22 We also have no rail covers eithers. It's a really light little rifle.

This dislike could vary depending on how one holds their rifle, and/or hand size maybe?

Interesting idea, if you do grind/reshape will be curious to know how you like it after mods. Let us know?

[MrPlink]

Im not really a fan of grabbing rails myself, but Ive never fired my M&P without either a vertical fore grip, or Magpul AFG.

[gotthelife4u]

Im not really a fan of grabbing rails myself, but Ive never fired my M&P without either a vertical fore grip, or Magpul AFG.

I have a Grip Pod on mine, I love that thing. how do you like the AFG?

[MrPlink]

^ can't say enough good things about it. I actually had it on my AK, and decided to swap it out on my 15 22. I think I'm going to have to just buy another one, because I want it on both now!
Its so much more ergonomic that just a regular hand guard or vertical grip. When I do use a vertical grip I hold more like the AFG.
IMO, the vertical grips are really only good for clearing rooms and what not.

[damon1272]

My boy and I don't have a prob with the stock 15-22, but we don't grip much (i.e. very hard) with our support hand on the .22 We also have no rail covers eithers. It's a really light little rifle.

This dislike could vary depending on how one holds their rifle, and/or hand size maybe?

Interesting idea, if you do grind/reshape will be curious to know how you like it after mods. Let us know?

I will pick the rifle up in a few days as I have it at my other place. I plan on making the changes in the next week or so then painting the rifle and scope combo. I will post up the changes when I make them. As for grabing the rifle, I just don't like quad rails, the look, or the feel. Personal preference. Plus I am using it as a cheap 3 gun practice rifle so I tend to crank on the handguard a little harder than if I were just static target shooting. Plus the forward grips just feel odd. I tried one out already and just did not care for it. To each his own.

[gotthelife4u]

^ can't say enough good things about it. I actually had it on my AK, and decided to swap it out on my 15 22. I think I'm going to have to just buy another one, because I want it on both now!
Its so much more ergonomic that just a regular hand guard or vertical grip. When I do use a vertical grip I hold more like the AFG.
IMO, the vertical grips are really only good for clearing rooms and what not.

I might have to look into one. I think it might be a bit over kill with the Grip Pod but there is a lot of real estate on this gun.

[wsmc27]

I will pick the rifle up in a few days as I have it at my other place. I plan on making the changes in the next week or so then painting the rifle and scope combo. I will post up the changes when I make them.

Cool, thanks!

To each his own.