Original AR triangular handguard reasoning

GSoD

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Hey,

So I've read alot of reasoning as to why the triangular handguard was ditched including: larger profile = more breakage when hitting the dirt, barrel width, cost of making 2 parts instead of just one to make tubular handguard etc.

My question - what was the original reasoning behind making them triangular in shape? Ergonomics? Heat dissipation? Look cool?
 
eugen stoner was an aero space enginer, to him the triangles must ave looked best at the time. it was 50 years ago, at the same time the cars had huge fins, just cus it looked cool then.
 
My guess is the shape promotes circulation, being wide around the barrel and narrowing to a chimney above.

I don't believe that any of the Stoner/Armalite AR-15s had the triangular handguard. It didn't appear until after the design was picked up by Colts.
 
At that time and even today, that particular shape was considered
to offer the max pressure and grip surface for the forehand.

Some HK and B&T guards slightly resemble that triangular shape even today
(heck, even the 22 Rhineland has it in a similar way).




Air ventilation inside any handguard and around the barrel is
determined and best influenced by the vents (holes).
 
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The flatter bottom provides a better place to rest the rifle when shooting I always thought.
+1

I used them on my ArmaLite M15-A2 and they indeed provided a stable base for shooting from a supported position.

Further, they seat in the hand quite nicely, arguably better than the round profile.

FYI there was no negative effect on accuracy, the rifle shot MOA with round or triangular handguards.

Cheers!
 
IIRC one of the "official" reasons why the triangular handguards were ditched starting with the A2 had to do with them being slippery when wet/muddy while the ribbed, round pattern has better grip. Besides that, there really wasn't anything "wrong" with them.
 
cheaper and easier on logistic when you don't have to worry about left and right.

Bingo. It's easier to replace in the field. With the A2 handguards top is bottom and bottom is top. There are intercahngable. Where as the A1 has a right and a left. So if you break a left one in the field and all you have is a right one you are screwed. They did field test A2 handguards in Vietnam in the late 60's, early 70'. It didn't catch on till the M16A1 E1 project started.
 
I wasn't a fan of the triangular handguards. Always found my fingers would almost slip into the slots on the bottom of the guard, or "catch" as I slid the handguard forward/backward shile adjusting shooting position. The round A2 handguards were much more comfortable and ergonomic for me. I switched out the triangular handguards on my Colt SP1 for a set of A2s. While I retained the originals, the replacements make the rifle feel a whole lot better, especially shooting off-hand.
 
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