[mtnwatcher]

Bushwack brought up a interesting point in Voruzon's Ultimak Thread. the factory handguard is plastic and therefore an insulator. so, regarding heat dissipation, which after market hand guard is best in this area?

i've only seen two. the Choates handguard and the style that Greybear has on that cute little gun of his.

Greybear's is all metal, isn't it?

does anyone have the choates handguard?

i'd like to hear any input regarding both or any other handguard i haven't heard of.

 

[cajungeo]

Hey mtnwatcher, I've been thinking the same thing. ASI has several http://www.accuracysystemsinc.com/mini_14_...ccessories.html
But the only concern I have is they seem to expose the slide rod, I wonder what it would do to the fingers if you accidently grabbed it and fired? The origional one covers the slide rod.

 

[gutpile]

cajungo, the exposed op-rod is not a problem, my first mini i bought back in 1979 had the wooden handguard with the op-rod exposed, it was never a problem...(wish i still had that mini...) i'm on my 3rd mini-14 and it had the current issue handguard that hides the op-rod, i removed it and laid it on my table saw and very carefully removed the shroud that covers the op-rod, it looks nice, to me the way the mini is supposed to look, i always hated the way ruger made that ugly shroud, all it is there for to keep the company from being sued in case you get your finger pinched, but i have shot 1000's of rounds thru mini's with exposed op-rods with out getting a pinch, besides, the old garands and m-1 carbines dont have shrouds on their handguards, and by the way, i have a choate handguard that is black plastic, without the ugly shroud, it looks like the m-14 type but i dont really like it because it doesnt fit as tight as the ruger guard, thats why my factory hand guard made the trip to my table saw, i would post a pic if i only knew how.....

 

[mtnwatcher]

Gutpile,

you just gotta take a digital pic, size it(i'm not sure what the max size is for this forum.), save it in an acceptable format( most sites use .jpeg. i think it's the best one.), hit attach when you go to post, find the pic on your computer with the browse button, and it should show up.

 

[Geno]

I have the choate on my mini 30. THe exposed op rod does not cause any problem and it matches my hogue stock quite nicely.

 

[mtnwatcher]

Geno

what about the heat dissipation? that's what i'm really interested in.

 

[cajungeo]

Originally posted by mtnwatcher
Gutpile,

you just gotta take a digital pic, size it(i'm not sure what the max size is for this forum.), save it in an acceptable format( most sites use .jpeg. i think it's the best one.), hit attach when you go to post, find the pic on your computer with the browse button, and it should show up.

You can take a pic. with any camera. Take it to walmart, and they will put it on a CD for ya. (It's now digital) The CD comes with size software. I just took a 35 mm pic, and scanned it, but it's kinda fuzzy. The fuzzy pic in the gallery of my mini will soon change to a high resolution digital pic. with my new camera.

 

[MAJORMINUS]

I have a Choate on my Mini 14. A lot of air gets to the barrel and an expsoed operating rod isn't a problem. My rifle had the wood hand guard, but I feel that it trapped too much heat when firing multiple shots.

 

[Geno]

The choate has wide open slots, it dissipates heat very well but keeps you from accidently touching the barrel and burning your hand.