AK Handguards

Shop AK handguards at No Boring Guns for AKM, AK-47, and AK-74 platforms. From classic wood furniture to modern rail systems, handguard options transform handling, cooling, and accessory mounting on Kalashnikov-pattern rifles.

Replacing factory handguards addresses multiple practical needs. Standard wood or polymer furniture limits accessory attachment and provides minimal heat protection during sustained fire. Modern handguard designs add mounting surfaces for lights, lasers, foregrips, and hand stops while improving heat dissipation.

Choosing AK Handguards

Material and Construction

Aluminum offers excellent heat dissipation and structural rigidity for supporting accessories. Quality aluminum handguards typically feature hard-anodized finishes resisting wear and corrosion. Polymer construction reduces weight significantly while providing adequate heat protection for most applications – though sustained automatic fire exceeds polymer’s thermal limits faster than metal. Wood delivers traditional aesthetics and reasonable heat resistance but adds weight and lacks integrated mounting solutions. Carbon fiber represents premium territory, combining low weight with superior heat management at increased cost.

Mounting Systems

Picatinny rails provide universal accessory compatibility but add weight and create sharp edges affecting bare-hand comfort. M-LOK and KeyMod systems reduce weight while maintaining mounting flexibility – accessories attach only where needed rather than covering entire surfaces with rail slots. Traditional smooth handguards require clamp-on rail sections or Ultimak-style gas tube replacements for optic mounting. Free-floating designs eliminate contact with the barrel, potentially improving accuracy, but require specialized installation and may not fit all rifle configurations.

Length and Coverage

Standard-length handguards replace factory furniture directly, maintaining familiar handling characteristics. Extended handguards cover more barrel length, protecting hands during rapid firing and providing additional mounting surface for accessories positioned further forward. Full-length options reaching nearly to the muzzle maximize rail space but significantly increase weight. Hand placement preferences influence ideal length – shooters using modern extended grip techniques benefit from longer handguards, while traditional shooting positions work fine with standard dimensions.