Handguard system for firearms

1. A mounting facility for connection to a firearm with a barrel extending to define a forward direction, a rear end of the barrel being received by a forward end of an upper receiver, and a barrel nut having a body removably securing the rear end of the barrel to the forward end of the upper receiver, the facility comprising:

a tubular forestock having a bore sized to closely receive the body of the barrel nut;

the tubular forestock having a tapered wedge portion;

the tapered wedge portion defining a gap therein;

a tapered clamp element adapted to fit over the wedge;

the clamp element being operable to squeeze the gap as the clamp element is pushed onto the wedge; and

the squeezing of the gap being operable to clamp the tubular forestock to the body of the barrel nut;

wherein the body of the barrel nut includes a mating feature;

wherein the tubular forestock includes a mating feature that is intended to engage the mating feature on the body of the barrel nut, the mating features preventing longitudinal movement of the tubular forestock while the mating features are engaged with one another; and wherein the clamp element and wedge portion each include a screw hole that receives a screw, the screw pushing the clap element onto the wedge portion when the screw is tightened.

2. The facility of claim 1 wherein the clamp element includes a groove with tapered sidewalls that engage the tapered wedge portion.

3. The facility of claim 1 wherein the gap defines a stress relief hole at one end.

4. The facility of claim 1 wherein the mating feature on the body of the barrel nut is a circumferential groove, and wherein the mating feature on the tubular forestock is a clamp key that protrudes into the bore and engages the groove on the body of the barrel nut.

5. The facility of claim 1 , wherein the barrel defines a barrel axis, and wherein the screw extends radially outward from the barrel axis.

6. A method of removably securing a mounting facility to a firearm with a barrel extending to define a forward direction, a rear end of the barrel being received by a forward end of an upper receiver, a barrel nut having a body removably securing the rear end of the barrel to the forward end of the upper receiver, comprising the steps:

providing a forestock body having a bore sized to closely receive the body of the barrel nut;

providing a tapered wedge attached to the forestock body;

providing a gap in the wedge;

providing a clamping mechanism that fits over the wedge and squeezes the gap as the clamping mechanism is pushed onto the wedge, the squeezing of the gap being operable to clamp the forestock body to the body of the barrel nut;

loosening the clamping mechanism;

inserting the body of the barrel nut into the bore;

moving the forestock body in a rearward direction until a rear portion of the forestock body is obstructed by the forward end of the upper receiver;

tightening the clamping mechanism, thereby clamping the forestock body to the body of the barrel nut; and

wherein the clamping mechanism includes a clamp element having a groove with tapered sidewalls that engage the tapered wedge portion, and the clamp element and wedge portion each include a screw hole that receives a screw, the screw pushing the clamp element onto the wedge portion when the screw is tightened.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the body and the forward end of the upper receiver each include a mating feature, the mating features preventing rotational movement of the forestock body about the barrel while the mating features are engaged with one another.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein the forestock body and the body of the barrel nut each include a mating feature, the mating features preventing forward movement of the body while the mating features are engaged with one another.