They are typically made of polymer if they are this brand but can be made of different types of alloys. The first has a contact point at the base of the barrel and a predetermined length up the barrel. Handguards are typically available as two types. It can also serve as an attachment platform for secondary weapons (such as an underslung M203 grenade launcher or M26-MASS) as well as accessories such as bipods, tactical lights, laser sights, night-vision devices, foregrips (or handstops), slings and a variety of other attachments. It provides a safe heat-insulated surface for the user's hand to firmly hold onto without needing to worry about getting burned by the barrel, which may become very hot when firing. The heat shield also serves as an attachment base for accessories such as sights or sling swivels.Ī handguard (also known as the forend or forearm) on firearms is a barrel shroud specifically designed to allow the user to grip the front of the gun. Ventilated handguards or heat shields (usually without bayonet lugs) are also used on police riot shotguns and shotguns marketed for civilian self-defense. The military trench shotgun features a ventilated metal handguard with a bayonet attachment lug. However, shrouds can also be utilized on semi-automatic firearms, especially the ones with light-weight barrels, as even a small number of shots can heat up a barrel enough to injure the user in certain circumstances.īarrel shrouds are also used on pump-action shotguns. In shotguns, a thin, slim partial shroud known as a rib is often mounted above barrel to shield away the mirage generated by barrel heat, which can interfere with aiming.įull-length barrel shrouds are commonly featured on air-cooled machine guns, where frequent rapid bursts or sustained automatic fire will leave the barrel extremely hot and dangerous to the user.
Moving coverings such as pistol slides, fore-end extension of the gunstock/ chassis that do not fully encircle the barrel, and the receiver (or frame) of a firearm itself are generally not described as barrel shrouds, though they can functionally act as such. accidental collision with surrounding objects, or the user accidentally touching a hot barrel, which can lead to burns). A Winchester Model 12 combat shotgun with a barrel shroud and attached bayonet.Ī barrel shroud is an external covering that envelops (either partially or full-length) the barrel of a firearm, to prevent unwanted direct contact with the barrel (e.g.
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