Best AR-15 Handguard Choices: Guarding Your Hand

1. Magpul MOE SL

Magpul MOE SL

Check Latest Price

Magpul MOE SL Review

Magpul has you covered when it comes to affordability and durability. If you can’t afford to spend several hundred or even a hundred dollars on a handguard, then Magpul has you covered. The MOE SL presents an affordable polymer handguard with modern M-LOK slots and Magpul’s reputation backing it. 

For less than 50 bucks, shooters can swap the cheap plastic handguards included with their rifles with a high-speed M-LOK handguard. The MOE SL requires a rifle equipped with an FSB; to be fair, most budget rifles do come with the FSB setup. The MOE SL design uses a slight forward edge that wraps around the FSB and allows the shooter to reach forward more than any standard FSB handguard. 

The slimline design improves ergonomics and enhances comfort for shooters. A set of M-LOK rails across the sides and bottom allows you to attach various accessories like lights and foregrips. Inside the handguard sits an aluminum insert to beat back heat during extended firing sessions. 

The main downside to this design is the lack of slots or rails across the top portion of the handguard, so 12 o’clock lights and devices are not an option with the MOE SL. Additionally, your M-LOK slots are limited in their positioning. 

Magpul’s MOE SL handguard is the best option for those on a tight budget. It’s affordable, very easy to install, and comes prepped with modern M-LOK slots. It’s lightweight as well as plenty durable. If money is tight, nothing beats Magpul. 

Magpul MOE SL Pros and Cons

Magpul MOE SL Deals

2. STNGR RPTR

STNGR RPTR

Check Latest Price

STNGR RPTR Review

STNGR loves handguards and hates vowels. The RPTR (I pronounce it Raptor) is a very modern M-LOK and Pic rail hybrid handguard. STNGR both produces and sells its handguards, so there isn’t a middle man, and the price points are always rock-solid. STNGR also uses a drama-free, non-timing barrel nut that makes installation a breeze. It’s perfect for new builders and old hands. 

The hybrid design plants mostly M-LOK slots up and down the handguard. Where the hybrid comes in, the short sections of Picatinny rail are milled into the handguard near its end. This gives you a rail slot positioned on all four sides for instant attachment of accessories. Across the top, we have a full-length rail for all manner of goodies. 

The non-timing barrel nut is a godsend and makes installing the handguard and gas tube a simple step-by-step process. I hate timing a barrel nut, and STNGR takes that out of the equation. We get rails that run the gamut from 8.25 inches to 15 inches. The rails are also fairly light, running from 8.11 ounces to 11.64 ounces depending on length. 

The RPTR includes two points for QD Sling attachments, but they are only positioned at the rear of the handguard. No upfront love was provided. The handguards are made from aluminum and feature a type 3 hard coat anodizing. 

The STNGR RPTR gives you a modern handguard for all AR barrel lengths and designs. It’s compatible with low-profile gas blocks. It’s an interesting hybrid design that offers tons of modularity on top of some fairly sweet aesthetics. Looks might not count for much, but they bear mentioning. 

STNGR RPTR Pros and Cons

STNGR RPTR Deals

3. Aero Precision Atlas

Aero Precision Atlas

Check Latest Price

Aero Precision Atlas S-One Review

If you are going for one of those lightweight rifle builds, the Atlas S-One is for you. This modern M-LOK aluminum handguard comes in varying lengths and always low weights. ATLAS is an acronym or maybe a backronym for Aero Taper Lock Attachment System, which is an interesting design take. Additionally, like most Aero products, it’s fairly affordable, especially compared to the competition. The Atlas might be the perfect handguard to lighten your load. 

The Aero Atlas S-One comes in lengths ranging from 7.3 inches to 15 inches. The longest variant is the heaviest at a mere 7.95 ounces. For comparison, most short handguards, those in the 8-inch lengths, are around 8 ounces. To make this weight, the S-One eliminates a full-length top rail and gives you just enough top rail to mount a front sight and another small slot at the rear of the handguard. 

The Aero Taper Lock Attachment System uses two tapered locking nuts to apply pressure evenly across the barrel nut using a turnbuckle screw. The design allows for positive engagement and makes it simple overall without worrying about distortion when installing. It’s neat and very useable. 

You get plenty of M-LOK slots and a fairly standard 1.5-inch width. A set of integrated QD sling sockets on the 6, 9, and 3 o’clock positions give you plenty of sling attachment options. I use this handguard on my Aero EPC, and it keeps nice and light, making the weapon better balanced and easier to handle. 

Aero Precision Atlas S-One Pros and Cons

Aero Precision Atlas S-One Deals

4. Geissele Super Duty Mk16

Geissele Super Duty Mk16

Check Latest Price

Geissele Super Duty Mk16 Review

The Geissele Super Duty Mk16 brings modern duty rifles and a modern duty-grade handguard. The Mk8 is a rigid, rough, tough handguard that won’t disappoint you. The Mk16 is in use by SOCOM on the URGI. That’s the current hotness within the special operation community. It’s a rugged handguard that might not hit low in cost and weight, but it’s near invincible. The Mk16 sets the standard for modern M-LOK duty rails. 

Geissele uses 7000 series aluminum for its superior strength and durability and pairs anti-rotation tabs backed by set screws. This provides a rail that doesn’t move, bend, or fail when you need it most. The Mk16 is a rugged design that serves the country’s best gunfighters. 

I’d be shocked if they found a way to add more in terms of M-LOK slots. We get M-LOK at the 3, 6, and 9 o’clock positions and the 1, 5, 7, and 11 o’clock positions. Plenty of slots to add whatever accessories you need in an offset manner. This easily opens you up to the modern world of mounts, lights, and lasers. 

Geissele makes this rail in various lengths, including 9.3, 10.5, 13.5, and 15 inches. The weights don’t fall into the light category, with the shortest rail weighing 10.1 ounces and the longest weighing 14.2 ounces. It has a 1.59-inch outer diameter that’s slightly wider than most and a 1.26-inch inside diameter that’s slightly tighter than most. This is because the rail is quite thick, which means durable. 

Geissele Super Duty Mk16 Pros and Cons

Geissele Super Duty Mk16 Deals

5. Knight’s Armament RAS

Knight’s Armament RAS

Check Latest Price

Knight’s Armament RAS Review

The Geissele Mk16 might be the new hotness, but indisputably the most proven rail system in the world in the Knight’s RAS. RAS stands for Rail Adapter System and were specifically developed for the United States military. It fought for the entire GWOT and is still swinging. The RAS is tough as hell and survives being issued to Joe, who can lose or break just about anything. 

This is a Picatinny quad rail designed for M4 length firearms and M16 length firearms. The 6.25-inch variant fits carbines, and the 11.5-inch model works with full-length M16-style rifles. Knight’s also produced a free-floating variant for the MRE in 12-inch and 9.35-inch varieties. 

These heavy-duty quad rails don’t skimp weight-wise but give you enough Pic rail to mount whatever. They are rugged aluminum, and I’ve never seen one fail. Installation is easy, and the standard models are just drop-in designs, but the free-floating requires the typical free-floating installation procedure. 

These designs, even the 12-inch free-floating handguard, accommodate the fixed front sights we still see on most military M4s. If you’re rocking a classic, have no worries, it’ll fit. Knight’s products have never been cheap, and RAS rails have never been lightweight, but they are the standard for Picatinny quad rails. 

Knight’s Armament RAS Pros and Cons

Knight’s Armament RAS Deals

6. Midwest Night Fighter

Midwest Night Fighter

Check Latest Price

Midwest Industries Night Fighter Review

A huge growing segment of tactical gear is night vision devices. NODs, NVGS, or whatever else is out there are getting clearer, cheaper, and more accessible. On top of that, the means to aim at night under NODs is becoming more and more popular, and the most popular is IR lasers. If you want to run NODs and an IR device, then you need to meet the Night Fighter from Midwest Industries. 

The Night Fighter is an M-LOK rail system designed with IR lasers in mind. Lasers work like optics and must be zeroed to be effective. Sitting on a handguard means you need one helluva handguard to reduce flex and movement to keep that zero accurate. Midwest Industries did exactly that with the Night Fighter. 

The ultra-rigid design keeps things zeroed and ensures your IR device remains zeroed for those precision shots under NODs. A full-length top rail ensures you can mount your PEQ, DBAL, or whatever on the thing and keep it running and gunning. Alongside the top rail, we have seven sides of M-LOK slots for mounting whatever, from IR illuminators, white lights, MAWL, or whatever you can dream of. 

Midwest Industries makes the rail in 9.25, 10.5, and 13.5-inch varieties, and predictably they are free-floating designs. The rigid nature adds some weight, so don’t expect them to be ultra-light, but they are still far from heavy. They remain slim but have a tighter internal diameter, so they can’t be used with piston ARs. 

The overall design of the Night Fighter provides something other setups simply don’t want to tackle, and it does so well. 

Midwest Industries Night Fighter Pros and Cons

Midwest Industries Night Fighter Deals

7. Centurion C4

Centurion C4

Check Latest Price

Centurion C4 Review

Centurion doesn’t get enough credit for producing some of the most rock-solid rails and handguards on the market. The C4 lineup is one of the more impressive designs with a little something for everyone. Centurion makes duty-ready rails designed for guys who want Pic rails, M-LOK slots, and a hybrid. C4 handguards are available for everyone and nearly every rifle. 

The Centurion C4 lineup has varying lengths and options to accommodate guns with the traditional FSB and more modern gas blocks. Various cuts allow you to get the right rail setup for your gun. My personal favorite is the carbine cut which gives you a 12-inch rail with a cut designed to work with front sight base setups. 

The Centurion C4 rails are rigid and will hold zero with IR laser devices, but at the same time fairly light. Centurion makes strategic cuts to reduce weight without threatening the overall strength of the design. This makes for some super-light quad-rail designs and some decently light M-LOK options. 

It’s a great compromise that works well for the duty gun, the home defense gun, and the competition rifle. In terms of versatility, it’s tough to beat, and the C4 lineup offers something for everyone without sacrificing quality, strength, and a rigid design. The biggest downside will be the price and often spotty availability. If you have patience and a good credit limit, the Centurion will satisfy your needs. 

Centurion C4 Pros and Cons

Centurion C4 Deals