Free floating vs drop ins

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12 years 7 months ago #11264 by STEWBUD
Free floating vs drop ins was created by STEWBUD
Good evening.
I am trying to decide which one would be better for my use.
I know if i get a free float from Armalite it would probably require professional installation & if i get the drop in I could do the install myself.
Can you tell me what the advantages are of having a free floating hand guard,
compared to a drop in type like the one offered by Midwest Industries.
It will be used in an Armalite ar10 carbine. Everything is factory original.

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12 years 7 months ago #11266 by 13fcolt
Replied by 13fcolt on topic Re: Free floating vs drop ins
Free floating is a bump for accuracy, but it is overrated and unnecessary for 90% of the shooting going on.
IF you told me you were looking for small groups out there from 400-1000, I'd tell you go FF. If you say you are happy with how you shoot your AR10 carbine, and just want more modularity, I'd say go with the drop in.
The U.S. Army qualifies out to 300m with non-free floated 14.5" barrels, chucking 62grn plinking fodder to do it.

The advantages of free floating are to simply have the barrel as isolated as possible from outside influence. Things like pressure from resting the fore end on a bipod or sandbags, tension from slinging up tight when shooting off hand...etc. If that is of benefit to the type of shooting you do, the swap to FF aint that bad but will require some tools to do correctly.
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12 years 7 months ago #11267 by STEWBUD
Replied by STEWBUD on topic Re: Free floating vs drop ins
Thanks 13fCOLT
Thats what I was hoping to hear.
Looks like I will be going with the drop in type probably from
Midwest ind.

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12 years 7 months ago #11268 by jtallen83
Replied by jtallen83 on topic Re: Free floating vs drop ins
I'll upset some people again but... There is a good supply of used drop ins on ebay. The KAC brand can be altered with nothing more than a small drift punch, a hammer, and about ten minutes with a file. I have had zero issues with my standard size AR-10. The first generation from MI are selling cheaper as well. have fun!!!!

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12 years 4 months ago - 12 years 4 months ago #11947 by BUILDING MY SASS
Replied by BUILDING MY SASS on topic Re: Free floating vs drop ins
Ok..how the hell did I miss this one..Dang..need to spend more time here again...been busy...anyway for the best in Drop in Handguards for your AR-10...
MI is the utmost...they are made "Specifically" for the ArmaLite AR-10s..as well as HGs for the DPMS Sprotical and Oracle....LR .308s
Give a Look..and I hope I am not too Late...
www.midwestindustriesinc.com/index.cfm?f...play&category_ID=189
BMS
Last edit: 12 years 4 months ago by BUILDING MY SASS.

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11 years 5 months ago #24319 by pookybear308
Replied by pookybear308 on topic Free floating vs drop ins
Here's a noob question: do the handguards interchange between AR15 and AR10? I'm assuming that the length required is dependent on barrel length but I'm not seeing much in the way of ar10 'guards listed on the obvious auction sites. Thanks in advance.

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11 years 5 months ago #24322 by faawrenchbndr
Replied by faawrenchbndr on topic Free floating vs drop ins
I prefer free floats. ARFcom is a great place to find deals on rails.
Never looked into the similarities between the two platforms.

Drop in rails are usually not as stable as free floats if using a vertical grip
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11 years 5 months ago #24324 by Coner
Replied by Coner on topic Free floating vs drop ins
How difficult is the install for a free float?

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11 years 5 months ago #24325 by 13fcolt
Replied by 13fcolt on topic Free floating vs drop ins

pookybear308 wrote: Here's a noob question: do the handguards interchange between AR15 and AR10? I'm assuming that the length required is dependent on barrel length but I'm not seeing much in the way of ar10 'guards listed on the obvious auction sites. Thanks in advance.


Uppers are bigger on .308 ARs. SO, that means bigger barrel nut and the top rail is higher.

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11 years 5 months ago #24326 by pookybear308
Replied by pookybear308 on topic Free floating vs drop ins
Technically, I'm impressed with the free float guards ... but I doubt it will make a difference to my accuracy! (Mine, not the rifle's of course) I'm not even sure I will need 37-1/2 rails hung from it either! lol

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