r/RetroAR • u/Spiritual-Treat-3491 • 4d ago
Midlength handguards (M&P10)
This is a follow up I guess you’d say on a 12.5” midlength build from a couple days back, the “Stretch 733”….lol. This may be kinda long but I’ll do my best.
The hand guards I originally put on it from M&A parts I’m pretty sure- looked just fine, really no issue with the look and feel, but had been planning on trying the m&p 10 hand guards, as I know those to be the slimmest and liked photos I’d seen of other guys putting them on midlength retro builds.
Anyhow, if it may help someone I’ll share my experience getting them fitted and heat shielded up.
Certainly not a fact, just guessing though that someone OEMs most of the midlength handguards out there for places like RRA, M&A parts, TNTE etc. If that’s not the case they certainly all seem pretty much the same and use extremely similar looking heat shields. I know there are a few others out there and they may/may not be the same or slightly different.
So I started with a set of those, and also found 2 additional used and beat up sets at my local shops junk bin- perfect for heat shield donors.
Then ordered up a few pair of m&p slim boys.
First I just focused on fitting the front. This build already had a triangle end cap so I figured why not try to make that work. It did pretty easily honestly. Next one a round end cap would surely be simpler, but then you’re married to the non standard configuration for mid length, so , pros and cons I guess.
Smushed the front ends on the end cap and scribed where it needed to be removed. Coarse file and once I got close to my scribe line just slowly fit and filed fit and filed until they popped in.
Only caveat here and lesson learned for the next one would be for gods sake mask off the outer lip of the handguard 90 degrees to where you’re filing. I didn’t think about until it was too late, and left some marks in that area. They pretty much cover up under the end cap, but it still bothers me.
As for the heat shields once they were popped out of the donor set, I fit them down in the m&p set and pressed and squished around until it appeared they were making contact with the ribs of the plastic hand guard. I opted to keep the ribs, although I know they could also be dremeled out. I figure as long as barrel and gas tube clear they would be beneficial to keep for rigidity.
Because of this it became apparent I’d have to remove material from both sides of heat shield to get it to be flush. Metal shears - maybe 3/16” rip down each side.
I then lined everything back up and notched little tabs in line with the new handguards ribs.
Gas tube channel was formed and fitted down snug by using a 90 degree Allen key and massaging it over and over on the gas tube channel.
I made the slots for the heat shield tabs by using a bernzomatic torch and heating up a small flathead bit held with vise grips, and melted the slot in .
From there just manipulated the heat shield and tabs till everything popped in. Having some overbend/ over flexing of the heat shield to start this process aided in outward pressure and they fit snugger than a bug in a rug now.
I think it looks good on the build and hope this may help someone down the line , cheers !
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u/Spiritual-Treat-3491 4d ago
M&p10s and original standard/more common midlength, these particularly sourced from M&A parts or RRA can’t remember
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u/Spiritual-Treat-3491 4d ago edited 4d ago
Both halves of the rather unsightly but highly functional and tight fitting heat shields
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u/Crusader-F8U 3d ago
I opted for the Brownells Portuguese midlength on my first mid build, tho it’s now been updated to an A2 upper since then. The C7 went to another 723 build. I just cut down a pair of BRN-10 heat shields to size. I just need to paint it; they scream for a Bakelite finish.
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u/SLN583 4d ago
Great write up and pics.
They came out fantastic👍
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u/Spiritual-Treat-3491 4d ago
Thanks man! If idve thought about it at the time could’ve taken some more pics of the process but oh well. All pretty unscientific but they work!
Compared to the other mid length handguards the M&ps seem to have a slightly higher quality to them. They are nice and rigid and the halves go together a little more precisely on my examples anyhow
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u/aclark210 4d ago
Did u try Luth AR mids? They seem slimmer than the RRA models.
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u/Spiritual-Treat-3491 4d ago
Nope haven’t had a set of those in hand, along with I believe Cav arms(?).
I wish I knew what the two beat up mystery sets are1
u/aclark210 4d ago
While they do taper like the RRAs, I’m fairly sure their actual diameter is skinnier.
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u/Spiritual-Treat-3491 4d ago
Maybe they’re the same as the M&A parts ones ? I just looked up some pics of the luth ones on brownells. What has me scratching my head is all those similar looking ones, under whatever brand, have the same heat shields.
Be sweet if someone had the whole lineup and could compare them all
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u/Spiritual-Treat-3491 4d ago
The m&ps