Question - MOE "Mid-Length" Handguard - What barrel?

[Honeyduck96]

I was looking at the different lengths of MOE handguards (carbine, mid, rifle).
http://store.magpul.com/prod_detail_list/49
I gather that the carbine and rifle length versions fit M4 and M16 length set-ups, aligning between the stock front sight/cap position and delta ring.
My question is, what barrel or barrel length has the front sight notches at the proper position for the "mid-length" handguard? Any links would also be helpful.

[Styrak]

Probably 16", since M4 is 14.5" and M16 is 20", and 16" is a common length as well.

[Honeyduck96]

What I'm really getting at is the position of the cut-outs for the front sight/gas block, and how far up the barrel length they are. The over-all length of the barrel can be different
14.5, 11, and 10 inch all have the notches at a certain point along the barrel (carbine length gas system). This requires the use of the standard M4 handguard length to fill the gap between delta ring and front triangle sight. M16 barrels have the notches farther down, and the long handguard.

[THe_Silencer]

I had no clue MOE handguards even came in various sizes.

[overkill1125]

Will a 14.5" MOE Hanguard fit a King Arms Colt M4A1?

[Reckless]

the MOE "mid length" is 9inchs (or as close to 9inchs as you can get) from delta to plate behind the gasblock (I have one sitting here I bought for a custom handguard build on a different rifle)

carbine is... 6.5 inchs If I remember right from delta to plate behind the gasblock/front sight ... so as Styrak said .. the 16inch should have the gasblock/front sight notchs in the right place for the mid length MOE handguard

[Ming_the_Merciless]

You'll need a nominal of 14.5", at least on a real firearm, because of where the gas port is located, you can't go any smaller than that with a midlength gas system. Midlength, refers to a gas tube in between a carbine and rifle length, so the recoil impulse is softer (if I remember correctly carbine gas tube has 30k psi v. 15k psi through a rifle length), less harsh on the BCG - Bolt Carrier Group, and extraction doesn't need assistance supposedly with an O-ring. The reason there are 16" barrels is to meet the US minimal legal barrel length, without having to register an SBR w/ the ATF. And for awhile the craze here, was if you were running a 16" barrel, to get a mid-length, it was pretty difficult to find a mid-length gas tube though, if you were building one up yourself, luckily there's are more out there now, and I'm also looking to pick up a complete mid-length upper receiver assembly myself, or to build one.

For reference carbine, midlength, rifle length gas system.




1.) 7 Inch Barrel (pistol)
2.) 10 inch Heavy Barrel (H-Bar), Carbine Handguard
3.) 10.5 inch Barrel, Carbine Handguard
4.) 11.5 inch Barrel, Carbine Handguard
5.) 11.5 inch H-Bar, Carbine Handguard
6.) 14.5 inch M4 Barrel, Carbine Handguard
7.) 16 inch Barrel, Carbine Handguard
8.) 16 inch H-Bar, Carbine Handguard
9.) 16 inch M4 Barrel, Carbine Handguard
10.) 16 inch Gov. Profile Barrel, Mid-Length Handguard
11.) 18 inch H-Bar, Rifle Handguard
12.) 20 inch A1 Barrel, Rifle Handguard
13.) 20 inch A2 Gov. Profile Barrel, Rifle Handguard
14.) 20 inch H-Bar, Rifle Handguard


Here is a picture of a real 14.5" upper receiver from Bravo Company Machining featuring a midlength gas system.



You're MOE midlength hand guards should fit on a similar 14.5" barrel, for airsoft, I assume the PTS version is modeled off the real stuff. So again 14.5" would be your nominal barrel length. Look similar to this rifle.



Unfortunately, there are not any airsoft barrels with the corresponding FSB (Front Sight Bases), that I know of that has the barrel cut outs for the FSB pins for mid-length, at least that I've seen. Good luck locating one, I know there are some airsoft barrel assemblies that have adjustable lengths though, like ICS outer barrels. This way you can adjust the FSB length out to where you need it, set screw them in, and for added reassurance I'd blue loctite them too to prevent barrel wobble. You might be able to find a FSB that is set screwed in, luckily airsoft FSB don't use tapered pins, so you can just drill in the outer barrel to create your own notches at the right length.

http://www.airsoftgi.com/product_inf...oducts_id=8366