M14 Forum

BagemTagem · September 14th, 2011, 09:30 PM

I was reading through Different's parts list numbers and saw that there is a NM handguard.

question is, is there a difference between a standard and NM or are they the same? Also if there is a NM hg could you post a pic?

TIA

Rawnerves · September 14th, 2011, 10:15 PM

Don't have a pic right now but my SAI loaded came with a handguard that is definately wider than the usgi standard. I like it a lot better with the medium weight barrel, more room and all. I have heard it said that the NM handguard you are talking about is the same way, wider than the standard.

82nd ABN · September 14th, 2011, 10:28 PM

Never saw an NSN number for a "NM" handguard. A while back there was a thread regrding what actually had a NM NSN number and what was considered a "match" conditioned part. Most of those match conditioned parts were the result of men like Gus Fisher ad Art Luppino doing there R&D back in the day when they were active duty and working with the rifle and teams.
From what I understand the handguard gets match conditioned. The lower edge is shaved or sanded or these days dremeled a bit to give it some clearance between the stock and the guard. Another mod that coincides with this mod is unitizing and turning up the tabs on the front band. This also aids in keeping the guard from contacting the stock. I may be off base with that one, I am sure those that actually developed this will chime in and correct me if I am wrong.

BagemTagem · September 14th, 2011, 11:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rawnerves

Don't have a pic right now but my SAI loaded came with a handguard that is definately wider than the usgi standard. I like it a lot better with the medium weight barrel, more room and all. I have heard it said that the NM handguard you are talking about is the same way, wider than the standard.

Hey where did get yours? and i would love to see a comparison! It would compliment my NM stock

BigEd63 · September 15th, 2011, 08:58 AM

I've done the same with mine as mentioned in the posts above.

tonyben · September 15th, 2011, 09:10 AM

Some shooters and builders glue the handguard to the front band so that it doesn't rattle around. Like Warren said, they also sand the bottom edges so that they clear the stock forearm through the entire length of the handguard. It's also a good idea to lube the groove in the barrel where the handguard clip sits.

According to Ted, or Gus (I can't remember which one said this) the Air force made sure their handguards flapped around loosely. Ther rifles performed very well when set up that way.

At that point though, you're really splitting hairs to squeeze the last bit of accuracy out of a rifle. This falls in the same realm as experimenting with gas plug torque, swapping gas pistons and going "3 clicks left, 2 clicks right to achieve one click left".

Tony.