Hey, Mil-Spec Mule Fam. Today, we’re going to cover some of the best AR15 free float handguards you can buy for the money in 2025.
I’ve been obsessed with finding the “best” handguards for almost 10 years now. I’ve seen designs change, and I’ve seen designs copied. I’ve even seen some major names like Sig and Springfield use cheap-o handguards made in China! And I can’t forget, I’ve seen KeyMod fade away in the M-LOK vs KeyMod wars.
One of the unfortunate things I’ve seen is the price of handguards go up, and sometimes that price can be ridiculous. Today you can spend more on a handguard than you do for a barrel, and I think that’s wild!
The crux of what I look for is quality. I also want to make sure that if I’m paying extra, I’m actually getting what I pay for.
Let’s get right into it. In this guide, I’m going to cover what to look for when buying a handguard and what to expect if you go cheap, middle of the road, or expensive!
What Makes a Good Handguard?
To me, there are a few things to consider when buying a handguard that may not seem obvious.
First, like any AR15 build you start or part you buy, you have to figure out exactly what the purpose is for this build.
Are you looking for something cheap? Are you looking for the best of the best? Are you looking for something that looks cool? Are you looking for the strongest handguard? Are you looking for the lightest handguard? Are you looking for an FDE handguard? Etc.
I always default to “strength” and “durability.” I’ve never been too much for “toy builds” when it comes to firearms, but if you are, that’s totally ok!
With this out of the way, let me show you what you should be paying attention to:
The Lock Up System
This is one of the most critical parts of the handguard. What you want is a STRONG lock up system, but you also want something that is not too difficult to install.
What makes a strong lock up system? Usually, it’s the design and the hardware. You want something engineered well and you want strong non-cheap screws. The whole purpose of the lockup system is to ensure the handguard never comes loose or rotates.
The good news is that most lock-up systems these days are pretty good, and the same with the hardware, even if it’s made overseas. There are still KINGs, but the cheaper options are at acceptable quality levels.
Barrel Nut Material
The second thing you want to look for is the barrel nut material. Mil-Spec AR15 barrel nuts are made out of steel, AR15 mil-spec upper receivers are made out of 7075 Aluminum. I’m not a metallurgist but from my research people say aluminum and steel expand and contract at different rates.
I always look for a titanium or steel barrel nut when looking at the higher end handguards. However, these days it’s not uncommon to see an aluminum barrel nut even in reputable brands with expensive handguards.
I won’t take this one to the grave because I’ve heard people say aluminum barrel nuts are fine. If I had the choice, I’d choose steel or titanium. But, if I found something that fit my budget and other requirements but had an aluminum barrel nut, I’d begrudgingly take it.
Anti-Rotation Technology
The third thing I look for is anti-rotation technology. Every handguard is different, but what’s becoming the most common is for a handguard to have two tangs that “hug” the upper receiver. Anti rotation solutions are different on every handguard, some seem intuitive, some don’t. And also some handguards do not have them.
Are they needed? They might not be, but I certainly write off a handguard if it doesn’t have a way to ensure it doesn’t rotate.
Anti-rotation tabs/tech are not bullet proof either. Some handguard anti-rotation tabs will make contact with your upper receiver and some won’t. The more they make your upper receiver and handguard look “monolithic,” the better. If there’s play, it’s still useful to have but not as good.
And, if there’s no anti-rotation technology at all, then, in theory, if you dropped your gun or twisted it hard enough, you could loosen and then unscrew the handguard (until it hits your gas block).
Handguard Weight
The fourth thing I look for is weight. Weight of handguards is important. When measuring the weight, you want to make sure you include the weight of the barrel nut and the hardware used to install it.
Usually, the cheaper a handguard is the more it weighs. Also, if you have a steel barrel nut, that will cause it to weigh more as well. Weight is important because there are only so many ways to save weight on an AR15 build, and a handguard is one of the parts that can help you save 2-5 oz.
Handguard Design
The fifth thing I’ll look at is the design. This one is going to be subjective. You may want a quad rail with Picatinny mounts on all four sides. You may want a skeletonized or cool looking handguard with M-LOK slots on the 3, 6, and 9 o’clock positions. Or, you may want one with M-LOK slots all around.
Personally, I usually go with M-LOK. All around, I feel that it’s the best. However, if I can only get M-LOK on the 3,6, and 9 o’clock positions and it looks cool enough, I could settle.
Aside from those big 5 things, everything else is subjective. There are handguards with partial Picatinny rails up top, some that have crazy designs, and others with different colors and finishes. Any of these considerations are aesthetic. If you stick to analyzing the 5 things I mentioned above, you will be in good shape.
Other Considerations
Handguard Length
Another important thing to figure out is the length of your handguard. This could be a whole topic in itself, but I usually default to getting a handguard that is almost as long as the barrel I have. So, if I have a 16” barrel, I get a 15” handguard. My theory is that I want to be able to freely get to my muzzle device if I need to take it off or replace it.
Things to consider when choosing a handguard length are, do you want to “tuck” a suppressor or flash can? If so, then you’ll want a handguard longer than your barrel.
If you plan on using a suppressor, you will also need to make sure your handguard will not interfere if you put the suppressor on the barrel. If you wanted to tuck a fat suppressor, you may need a larger inner diameter handguard.
Gas Block
Another consideration could be access to an adjustable gas block or a certain sized gas block. You would need to plan this out, but you want to first make sure your gas block won’t interfere with your handguard (if you use a low pro gas block you won’t have any issues). But if you have an adjustable gas block, you will want to make sure you can get access to adjust it either from the front or the side through the handguard.
Another thing is to make sure the handguards come with all install equipment, like the barrel nut wrench. Fit and finish are also important. Some handguards, if they are really cheap, can have rough edges. None of what we talk about here will have that.
The Top 4 Handguard Models and Brands
With that being said, let’s talk about the handguards models and brands we would recommend here at MilSpec Mule. There are so many handguards with prices all over the place. We’ve done a ton of research, and here’s what we would recommend.
- BCM/Bravo Company Manufacturing MCMR:
These IMO are the best all around handguards you can get. They have the MCMR series and a pic rail version. Aesthetically, their handguards look amazing, their lockup system is fantastic, everything is super tight when installing, and, most importantly, the weight is the lightest for strength and durability. Also, the price is competitive. BCM handguards are the best in the biz in our opinion.
- Geissele MK16 & Others:
Geissele handguards are insanely expensive. Are they worth it? Maybe, if you are dead set on them. They are built well, are strong, and have great lock up systems. If you want the Geissele name, then you’re already going to get these. But if you are more budget conscious, there are plenty of other more affordable options out there.
- Midwest Industries Combat Rail & Others:
Midwest Industries has been making handguards for a long time. They have many different models, and they continue to innovate. I don’t have any issue with Midwest Industries handguards, however, their prices have gone up. If I have the option of buying an MI handguard or a BCM handguard for the same price, I’m getting the BCM handguard all day long. MI has some suppressor specific handguards, which may be a good option if you are trying to tuck a can.
- Leapers/UTG Handguards Arwen & Others:
UTG has been making handguards for a while now too, and they keep innovating. I’ve had their slimline stuff and tried the Arwen rails. The slimline barrel nut isn’t the best in the world, but for the price it’s not bad. The Arwen rails are pretty nice. We have no problem buying UTG rails if you are looking for something more affordable, but still good quality.
Conclusion
Well, there you have it. You now know the handguards we here at MilSpec mule recommend to our customers. There may be some brands we didn’t cover, and that’s because they either didn’t make the cut, or we haven’t heard about them. And we’ve heard about a lot!
We hope you enjoyed this guide and found it helpful. Feel free to share it with a friend who you think may benefit.
If you have any questions, please reach out to us.
Thanks for reading!
