Chad Wallace

February 4, 2023

Review

Unique ARs Handguard

Chad Wallace

February 4, 2023

Review

When you think of AR handguards, you typically don’t think about exotic designs. Unique ARs is here to change your mind about that. They make AR handguards with intricate designs in, and on, them. Unique ARs will also do custom designs. What makes the Unique ARs designs even better, is that they are also very functional.

Unique ARs sent me one of their stock design handguards. The name of this particular one is the “Filigree.” A Filigree’s definition is: “An intricate, delicate, or fanciful ornamentation”. This handguard is exactly that. I like to think of it as an old school scroll pattern. It is pretty cool looking, especially when color is added to it.

This particular handguard is 15” long and free floats the barrel. Unique ARs does make shorter versions, but I do like longer handguards. It is a tube style handguard, with the Filigree pattern milled in. There are no rails or anything else on this “original” series handguard. However, on the top and bottom, there are threaded holes to mount Unique ARs picatinny rail sections, in case you need a section of rail. Unique ARs also offers a “slim” style of handguard, it has a full length top rail, if that’s what you are looking for.

Installation of the handguard is pretty normal. So I won’t go into it too much. One will need the normal AR tools to do it. Plus you will need a low profile gas block to fit inside the tube. The inside diameter of the handguard is 1.75” and the outside is 2”’. This particular handguard weighs in at 15.9 ounces complete with the barrel nut and mounting hardware. So it’s not heavy, but not super light either.

When you order a standard option handguard from Unique ARs, you can also order some add ons. The add ons include semi-custom cerakote in almost any color. Either one or two different color options. The Filigree handguard was sent with a single cerakote option. So the outside of the handguard is black, and inside the scroll work is lime green, or as I like to say, zombie green. It looks really good! I actually mounted it on my Spikes Zombie Lower rifle. The cerakote work, in the Filigree, really shows off the expert ability of the cerakoter’s over at Unique ARs. There is some pretty fine detail work that goes into it.

Now for how it actually performed. I was really surprised at how grippy the handguard was. I can get a fantastic grip on it because of all the machine work. I thought it would be smooth, but no, it’s not. Because of the texture, this handguard works really well when moving from target to target. It is almost like having built in grip panels. The little bit of extra weight seemed to make the rifle feel more stable than it was when it had a carbon fiber one on it. This handguard makes the rifle look awesome.

If you are in the market for something different, the Unique ARs handguard is it. With all the special designs and cerakote options, you will definitely have a “unique” AR. If you want something you designed, or just something not in their catalog, you can have it made by them. If you are building that true custom rifle, their handguard will make it “one of a kind”. As an added bonus, it actually will make the rifle perform better. Go check out Unique ARs, but I’ll warn you, it’ll probably end up costing you a few bucks.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Custom AR handguards

Target Market:

Those wanting a unique look to their AR

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

Filigree Scroll pattern
15” Free-float handguard
Made from 6061 T6 Aluminum
Inside diameter 1.75″
Exterior diameter 2″
Compatible with any mil spec AR-15 upper receiver or (DPMS Gen 1 Style) AR-10 upper
Mount accessories with Unique-ARs proprietary picatinny rail only
Weighs 15.9 ounces complete with barrel nut and hardware
Available in 9″, 12″, and 15″ lengths.
Custom cerakote available

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Too many to list

What others are saying?:

When I decided to build my first AR, I decided that it had to be different and not a typical build that I could just go grab off the shelf. I came across the Unique-ARs Freedom handguard and thought, “I have to have that on my build!”

When it came time to order I discovered that I could choose colors! But not just one color, two colors! After a bit of time sorting through the hundreds of colors, I found a color that would match my build perfectly. I placed the order and it arrived a week earlier than expected. It is the perfect finishing piece and definitely an eye catcher! Thanks a ton!

Joshua M. at Unique AR’s

Link to other reviews:

Gear-Report

Price point:

MSRP = $285.00

Start at $185.00

Retail = $285 plus cerakote

I need it now! Availability:

Unique ARs

Our Rating:

Pros:

Awesome designs
Fully Custom handguards available
Cut out patterns give a very good grip
Custom Cerakote colors

Cons:

Must use Unique’s picatinny rails if wanting a mounting platform
A little heavier than some other handguards

Score: 8.00 Great

Favorite Link: Walker Defense Research

Chad Wallace

December 8, 2019

JL Billet Angled Free Float Handguard

Chad Wallace

December 8, 2019

JL Billet has been making accessories for the AR market for some time. As their name indicates, most of their parts are machined from billets of metal. A billet is basically just a raw chunk of metal. I was in need of a handguard for my pistol build. They had just what I was looking for in their 7.3” angled M-Lok handguard.

The design of the JL Billet angled handguard is pretty straightforward. The front of the handguard is angled rearward, thus the name. There is a full picatinny rail along the top. It has 3 full M-Lok slots on the sides and 2 full M-Lok slots on the bottom. The 2 bottom M-Lok’s are not usable to me, because the base of the gas block is too close to allow the M-lok hardware to be installed. Yes, the base of the gas block clears the handguard, but not by much. On the 45 degrees are triangle shaped lightening holes. JL Billet also put lightening slots under the picatinny rail.

JL Billet also machined in quick disconnects for QD slings. On the rear of the handguard, closest to the receiver, is where they are located. One on each side. They are not just the, “hey let’s drill a hole in the handguard” stye, instead they are the real raised kind. One of the key features on the QD mounts, is how they are non-rotating. Once the QD is installed in the cup, it only rotates slightly, not all the way around. There are 4 basic positions to install the QD in. I loved this for the simple fact that it is more like a fixed sling point, but still rotates slightly.

Construction of the handguard is a little non-standard. Instead of using an extrusion and then machining it, JL billet machines the handguard out of a single piece of 6061-T6 aluminum. It produces a really nice handguard, but adds to the cost. They then anodize it black. They will also sell the handguards “in the white,” or non-anodized. If you know that you are going to have the build Cerakoted, this is a nice option.

Installation of the JL Billet handguard is pretty straight forward. The barrel nut uses an 1-⅛” wrench, which they sell for $15 if you don’t have one. The barrel nut is aluminum and you torque it down to 45 ft/lbs. You don’t have to index the barrel nut or use shims. The aluminum helps make the assembly lighter. I didn’t have any problems screwing on the barrel nut and torquing it down. Then just slide the handguard on. Install the little metal key and clamp screws. The key indexes in the barrel nut. Line the rail up with the receiver and then tighten the clamp screws to 90 in/lbs. See, easy. JL billet doesn’t use any type of anti-rotational “wings” or timed barrel nuts. The clamping force from the precision machined barrel nut, and inside handguard are sufficient. This also allows the handguard to be used on “non-standard” style billet receivers.

Like previously mentioned, I installed this on an AR pistol. Having the barrel free floated is almost the standard today and I like that aspect of the JL Billet handguard. The angled front looks nice and keeps the front of the firearm from catching on stuff. It’s a short handguard, so flex is not a problem. At 1.55” outside diameter, it fits my hand nicely, but I tend toward smaller diameter handguards anyhow. Everything about this handguard works well.

JL Billet did a great job with their handguards. I have seen some of their other stuff, and it looks nice also. If you are looking at handguards, or any other AR part, go give JL Billet a look.

Firearms Insider Reviews - 8 Key Points

Claim to Fame:

Free Float M-Lok AR handguard

Target Market:

AR builders or those wanting a M-Lok handguard

FNBs (Features & Benefits of this product):

Continuous top rail
6061-T6 aluminum
Hard Coat Anodized
M-Lok slots
2 QD mounts
2 5-slot M-Lok Picatinny rails included
1.36” Inside Diameter
4.9 ounces - handguard only
Approximately 8 ounce complete
Made in USA

What other aesthetic options or finishes are available?

Different lengths

What others are saying?:

Paul P. at jlbillet.com 5/5 stars

Great finishing touch

The light weight, design, and easy installation make this a great handguard for my 9mm build.

Link to other reviews:

The Firearm Blog

Price point:

MSRP = $154.95

Retail = $148.46 on Optics Planet

I need it now! Availability:

JL Billet or Optics Planet

Our Rating:

Pros:

M-Lok
Angled front
No timing of barrel nut
QD sockets
Billet Machined

Cons:

Aluminum barrel nut
Bottom M-Lok slots are useless on this build

Score: 8.00 Great

Favorite Link: Gun and Gear Cult

Chad Wallace

July 6, 2019

Review

Odin Works Ragna Forend

Chad Wallace

July 6, 2019

Review

Our friends over at Odin Works have another forend on the market. It is called the Ragna. When I was looking for a 15” handguard, I remembered that they had come out with the Ragna at SHOT 2018. When I contacted Odin, they sent it right out for a review. I received the M-Lok version, but a Key-mod version is also available.

As with the Odin Works O2 lite handguard I reviewed earlier, the Ragna is also really light. When one first picks up the package that the Ragna comes in, you really can’t believe there is a 15.5” handguard in it. It weighs 10.35 ounces complete with the barrel nut and hardware. One reason it is so lightweight comes from a large quantity of organic shaped cut outs. These cutouts give it a unique look also.

Mounting up the Ragna is pretty easy also. If you have installed a barrel on an AR, then you can do this. Take your old handguard and barrel nut off first, if it isn’t a new build. Put some of the supplied Vibra-tite on the upper receiver threads. Take the supplied barrel nut and tighten it to 50 ft-lbs. Install the gas block and tube. Then slide the forend on. Line up the top rail with your receiver and tighten the two set screws. Then tighten the three clamp screws. You now have a new Ragna forend installed. I really liked how easy this handguard installed. The top rail lined up perfectly with the upper receiver’s rail.

As with most handguards, the Ragna is made from aluminum. They use 6061-T6 aluminum and then hard coat anodize it black. This gives it the same durability and finish as the upper receiver it is installed on. It also has 2 full length M-lok slots at 3 & 9 O’clock. These M-lok slots are out at the front of the handguard. M-lok slots also run the full span of the 6 O’clock position (or as I call it, the bottom). It has no top M-lok slots because the Ragna uses a full length picatinny rail. I personally have a love/hate relationship with full top rails. I like the looks of them, but feel like I only need a little rail section at the front and back.

The Ragna is also loaded with other features. The first one that comes to mind is the quick connects at the front and rear. Three of them are in the front at 3, 6, &9 O’clock, and two in the rear on either side. Being a long handguard, it has a lot of flex out at the muzzle end. This flex really only causes a problem if you sling up and are using some sort of sight on the front of the rail. I say “some sort’ because it could be an iron front sight, a laser, or something else. The rearward sloped angle, at the front of the handguard, is also very well thought out. It doesn’t have any sharp edges or angles for things to get caught up on. Most low profile gas blocks will fit inside the rail. It has an inside diameter of 1.35 inches, so other accessories might fit underneath also, especially if you are one to like longer than barrel length handguards.

I had expected a good performing handguard from Odin Works, and the Ragna did not let me down. The diameter isn’t too large or too small for me. I was able to get a good grasp on the rifle. The odd cut out shapes also dig into your hand to allow for a good non-slip grip, but not so much as to be uncomfortable. Most people don’t need attachment slots down the full length of the forend, and I am one of those. So I like only having the 2 M-lok slots at 3 & 6 O’clock, should I choose to mount up a light or other accessories.

Odin Works has done a nice job with the Ragna. I really like the looks and functionality. Having to not index a barrel nut is a huge plus also. If you’re in the market for a new forend, check out the Ragna. It is available in 12.5”, 15.5”, and 17.5” versions.