Issue 05 Preview – Light Rail Recoil Staff Join the Conversation At RECOIL, we review every product fairly and without bias. Making a purchase through one of our links may earn us a small commission, and helps support independent gun reviews. Learn More The Latest in Free-Float Handguards In a world where ounces equal pounds and pounds equal pain, the weight of one’s equipment can oftentimes be as important as their functionality. Weight adds up quickly; keeping gear functional but light can keep one in the fight longer. In recent years, this line of thought has been applied to everything from armor plates and boots to nylon kits and even ammunition. The modern rifle is no exception. Brimming with Picatinny rail on all four sides, tactical free-float handguards found on many of today’s rifles allow the user convenient attachment points for mission-specific equipment, such as lights, lasers, optics, grips, and more. As the use of fully railed handguards became popular, a pattern started to become noticeable. Many shooters only used certain portions of the rail, leaving most of the rest of the length of Picatinny untouched or, ironically, encased with rail covers or rail ladders — some folks sarcastically referred to these railed systems as “cheese graters.” Manufacturers began to develop the next stage of free-float handguards, which integrated feedback from those in the field. For the rest of this article, subscribe digitally here: RECOIL Issue 5 Explore RECOILweb:Getting Kurz With It: Stubby Silencers Are All the RageHi-Point Yeet Cannon YC9: Finally ShippingSureFire Customer Service ReviewRECOIL Issue #4 Product Corrections NEXT STEP: Download Your Free Target Pack from RECOILFor years, RECOIL magazine has treated its readers to a full-size (sometimes full color!) shooting target tucked into each big issue. Now we've compiled over 50 of our most popular targets into this one digital PDF download. From handgun drills to AR-15 practice, these 50+ targets have you covered. Print off as many as you like (ammo not included). Get your pack of 50 Print-at-Home targets when you subscribe to the RECOIL email newsletter. We'll send you weekly updates on guns, gear, industry news, and special offers from leading manufacturers - your guide to the firearms lifestyle.You want this. Trust Us.