Midwest Industries MCTAR-17 Forearm
The MCTAR-17 2-piece Carbine Forearm from Midwest Industries, Inc is a very reasonably priced option for the shooter who wants a rail system for his carbine, but doesn’t want to alter the host weapon, or require gunsmithing. It’s also M203 or shotgun compatible with the bottom rail removed.
The MCTAR-17 is made from the same size extrusion as the MCTAR-22 free float handguard reviewed above, and shares the same cross-section: outside measurement across rails was about 2.45″ – same height and width. The other features are also shared – crisp T-numbering on all four Picatinny rails and large holes for ventilation. The forearm has two pieces; the upper and lower half. At the front of the forearm are semi-circular rings which slip into the front handguard retaining cap. At the rear are rings which are grooved to fit around the barrel nut, and secured by the delta ring.