Magpul Industries MOE SL Mid-Length AR-15/M4 M-LOK Handguard

great replacement for moe handguard. the slim profile is very nice. longer than moe and covers area where sling ring/bayonet lug is/would be. I find the slim line more comfortable to hold and m-lok slots are plentiful. only drawback is if replacing an moe handguard is the need for a round handguard retainercap. this requires removing the triangular cap and reinstalling the gas block (a2 sight if present) and round retainer cap. I pulled the a2 sight and replaced it with a high-rise picatinny gas block. love the new setup.

I did not read carefully and didn't know this handguard only fits mid-length rifles with round retaining caps (not triangular). Considering most (roughly 80%) mid-length AR's use triangular caps, Magpul should have made a triangular or universal version. Regardless, the handguard itself fit together very well and was extremely sturdy.

To all of those shooters out there whishing to install a magpul SL handguard on their mid-length rifle, it can be done! As always, the manufacturers dissuade anyone from modifying their products but this application provides for two options. One must either purchase a round cap for their mid-length rifle and have the skills and punch set to remove the A2 gas block and front sight. Then remove the triangle cap and reinstall a new round cap followed by gas block and sight. All of the pinning must be basically perfect and straight. This is not complicated for the shooter that is handy with tools and used to performing more than the standard field strip. Perhaps if one is regularly building AR and AK rifles, this will be easy. However, I took a different approach even though I am used to taking a vile and/or Dremel tool to basically any gun if it will make it better or teach me something. I took my Bushmaster Mid-length rifle (my favorite) which was factory equipped with a Magpul MOE Mid-length handguard. This rifle is excellent and eats whatever ammo you chamber. However, it lacked front handguard real-estate in my opinion. I wanted to change it for years and almost did in 2016 when many blogs and discussions claimed that the triangle cap was incompatible with mid-length rifles. I finally realized that this could not be too hard and decided to put my skills to work and challenged myself to purchase the Magpul SL Mid-Length front handguard for my triangle capped Mid-length Bushy. I started by stripping it down, separating the upper and lower while making sure it was void of ammunition with an empty chamber. Get yourself some plyers, a file and a Dremel tool with cutting wheels. These are the only tools you will need to make yourself very happy in the end. I installed the top of the handguard first with no modification. The work came in while using the file and Dremel to make the bottom fit perfectly. attempt to install the bottom portion and get it as tight as you can against the front triangle cap. Do not try to fit the opposite end in the spring ring. Shine a bright light down the front end of the rifle at the barrel towards the retaining cap. Estimate the points across the cap where the new handguard retention ribs make contact. Remove the bottom handguard. Leave top handguard as it already fits. The bottom handguard will need to be cut across at the ribs to the depth of the cap. The space should be approximately 1/8 of an inch. Also, file all edges smooth that will be inserted in to the triangle cap. This will help with fitment by preventing wedging or too tight tolerances. Keep working the fitment until you are finally able to get the spring retaining ring depressed and move the bottom handguard portion past the flange. This should fit perfect with some work without any movement or weirdness. Good luck and don't be afraid of trying something like this, you will learn more than you think and be impressed with yourself for trying and succeeding. Good luck.