jbauch357 0 Posted May 5, 2008 Report Share Posted May 5, 2008 So after about 100rds the front hand guard was too hot to touch - I had to hold on to the magazine to shoot. It's still the stock "sporter" non-converted front hand guard - does this thing retain a bunch more heat than the converted set that doesn't go so far down the barrel and gas tube? Is there any way to reduce the heat transfer to the hand guard, like filling the space between guard and barrel with fiberglass insulation? I didn't really want to swap out the hand guard - but holy hell it got hot! Quote Link to post Share on other sites
mini14jac 1 Posted May 5, 2008 Report Share Posted May 5, 2008 So after about 100rds the front hand guard was too hot to touch - I had to hold on to the magazine to shoot. It's still the stock "sporter" non-converted front hand guard - does this thing retain a bunch more heat than the converted set that doesn't go so far down the barrel and gas tube? Is there any way to reduce the heat transfer to the hand guard, like filling the space between guard and barrel with fiberglass insulation? I didn't really want to swap out the hand guard - but holy hell it got hot! How fast did you shoot the 100 rounds? I use the Galil-style handguard, and I believe it offers some of the best cooling available. I've shot mine several times until the barrel was too hot to touch, but the handguard was just warm to the touch. Wonder if I'll miss that if I upgrade to AK wood? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Juggernaut 11,054 Posted May 5, 2008 Report Share Posted May 5, 2008 Get the Kvar... it has a stainless steel heat shield built in... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jbauch357 0 Posted May 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2008 How fast did you shoot the 100 rounds? I use the Galil-style handguard, and I believe it offers some of the best cooling available. I've shot mine several times until the barrel was too hot to touch, but the handguard was just warm to the touch. Wonder if I'll miss that if I upgrade to AK wood? Unloaded a 33rd magazine, reloaded and repeated two more times - rate of fire was a couple shots per second... I went through a couple more mags after that after giving it some cool down time, and never really got back to where the handguard was comfortable to hold on to... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vultite 57 Posted May 5, 2008 Report Share Posted May 5, 2008 cut some vents into it, or get a new handguard...heat shielded ones if your going polymer, or get a nice aluminum one with a front grip. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CheepJerokee 0 Posted May 5, 2008 Report Share Posted May 5, 2008 Cobra says he'll vent them perfect for $40. Seen the pics? They look nice. Wounder if you could line the underside with foil and remount it hiddin? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jbauch357 0 Posted May 5, 2008 Author Report Share Posted May 5, 2008 (edited) Actually, I am going to look at it a bit closer tonight. If there is room on the hand guard I am going to use the automotive heat sheilding, that's adhesive then fiberglass insulation then reflective heat shield. It does a great job reflecting heat from headers and exhaust - it should work fine for the barrel and front grip. Of course I'll make sure it's hidden when installed... Edited May 5, 2008 by jbauch357 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wally 2 Posted May 5, 2008 Report Share Posted May 5, 2008 you could also get some sheet metal and bend it by hand/over a small pipe and make that work it wouldnt have to look good not going to see it anyway/some of the fabric style header wrap after time will smolder/start to burn/dont ask me how I know this Quote Link to post Share on other sites
jailbait 2 Posted May 6, 2008 Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 you could also get some sheet metal and bend it by hand/over a small pipe and make that work it wouldnt have to look good not going to see it anyway/some of the fabric style header wrap after time will smolder/start to burn/dont ask me how I know this you should be holding the mag anyways Quote Link to post Share on other sites
wally 2 Posted May 6, 2008 Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 if you have a rifle with a mag that wobbles alot of AKs do, you dont want to hold it by the mag you can cause to have a mis feed Quote Link to post Share on other sites
CheepJerokee 0 Posted May 6, 2008 Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 (edited) Actually, I am going to look at it a bit closer tonight. If there is room on the hand guard I am going to use the automotive heat sheilding, that's adhesive then fiberglass insulation then reflective heat shield. It does a great job reflecting heat from headers and exhaust - it should work fine for the barrel and front grip. Of course I'll make sure it's hidden when installed... If not that.......Header tape, It has ceramic. bet u could find some tailings at you're local hot rod shop. OOPS, gotta read on , someone had already saidt it! Edited May 6, 2008 by CheepJerokee Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Vultite 57 Posted May 6, 2008 Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 i shot mine today with the stock handguard, and if you let it cool after about every 100 rounds your alright, i shot 300 rounds today and i let it cool down after around 100, the barrel was way hot but the handguard was getting there too....but it'll do until the ultimak lower comes in Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Squib 0 Posted May 6, 2008 Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 you could also get some sheet metal and bend it by hand/over a small pipe and make that work it wouldnt have to look good not going to see it anyway/some of the fabric style header wrap after time will smolder/start to burn/dont ask me how I know this you should be holding the mag anyways That's what I do...If that's not to your liking, the try the Galil, or vent the original... Quote Link to post Share on other sites
22_Shooter 1,560 Posted May 6, 2008 Report Share Posted May 6, 2008 (edited) Given that the OP said he fired 100 rounds at a "couple shots per second" rate, shit's gonna get real hot regardless of what handguards you have. Edited May 6, 2008 by 22_Shooter Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Powerbomb51 0 Posted May 10, 2008 Report Share Posted May 10, 2008 I have the standard hand guard. When I bump fire it starts smoking. Anyone seen the wood hand guard catch on fire on youtube? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
terrace_mountain 0 Posted May 10, 2008 Report Share Posted May 10, 2008 I have the standard hand guard. When I bump fire it starts smoking. so don't bump fire. It's inaccurate, dangerous, and a waste of ammunition. If your rifle starts to catch on fire due to a certain shooting technique, you probably shouldn't be using that technique. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
RedneckFur 0 Posted May 10, 2008 Report Share Posted May 10, 2008 Personaly, I try not to set my handguards on fire, so I let mine cool down after every 20 rounds or so. I really like the factory saiga front handguard, so I intend to stay with it for now Quote Link to post Share on other sites
vjor 2 Posted May 10, 2008 Report Share Posted May 10, 2008 (edited) LOL, U guys know the more space U have between hand guard and barrel the best it is going to cool and less toasty your hand guard is going to get. The more crap U stuff between the hand guard and the barrel the more it is going to heat, simple as that. That is why I use Real galil hand guards on all my gun start from my last .223, 300 rounds the barrel is cooking and the hand guard just gets warm to the touch. I dont care how much U bent the original hand guard it will get hot as hot can be with a high round count, a good set of ak hand guard still will get hot on high round count the ak rifles have two cons one is the hand guard wood or plastic get hot as hell on high round count and the gas tube if it gets dent bad will stop the piston from moving. The barrel will transfer heat to your hand guard a lot in many ways, one is the hand guard to close to barrel another one is the retainer on the hand guard it will transfer heat to the front of the guard. I just fallow what the Israelis learn long time ago and install a nice AR galil hand guard on my guns, a lot of space between the barrel and the hand guard plus a heat shield. Yes U can install a hand guard like ultimak on the gun still been aluminum will transfer heat but U can install a front hand guard grip on it and still gets worm to the tough U can put a high round count on one sitting and still be able to grab the grip no problems. One thing I have seen is that cheap hand guard, all plastic will tent to melt at the end were the retainer hold it on high round count or deform as the retainer will get hot thats why if U use AK front hand guard get wood or the one with metal insert, will get hot but will still be there. On the Tapco galil hand guard, it will hold but I used it few times and on really high round count it will start to deform on the the front were the retainer gets hot, on 100 to 150 rounds on one sit it will hold and will give U a lots of more cooling than regular AK guard cause the space between barrel and hand guard, but if U go really hot like I say before it will deform on the front or strart to get soft. This is on rifles as the rifles will heat the barrel real quick on 100 to 300 rounds on .223 and 7.62x39 the shotgun get hot but not as hot as the rifles. The formula is this, the more space U have between hand guard and barrel the less heat transfers to hand guard just the retainer will transfer heat to the hand guard the better the hand guard the less chances it will melt on your gun or deform as on a real crap situation U may run hot on the gun real quick real fast or simple when U run few mags true it real quick things gets hot. One thing when U let U barrel cool off, open the bolt it will help barrel to cool off, thats were the bolt hold open comes handy . On the gas tube, the ultimak tubes are a lot better on taking a hit than regular AK tubes it is a lot harder to put a bad dent on those tubes than a regular tube and I mean a lot harder. Edited May 14, 2008 by vjor Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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