Lower receiver mounted handguard

Abstract

A firearm that includes an upper receiver, a barrel coupled to the upper receiver, and a lower receiver coupled to the upper receiver. The lower receiver may include a magazine well and an extension mount positioned forward of the magazine well. The firearm may further include a handguard and a means for coupling the handguard to the extension mount of the lower receiver.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A firearm lower receiver comprising:
 a magazine well; and   an extension mount positioned at least partially forward of the magazine well relative to a shooting orientation, wherein the extension mount is configured to couple to a firearm handguard to form a rigid connection between the firearm lower receiver and the firearm handguard.   
     
     
         2 . The firearm lower receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the extension mount comprises a clamp. 
     
     
         3 . The firearm lower receiver of  claim 2 , wherein the clamp comprises an arm that is configured to pivot. 
     
     
         4 . The firearm lower receiver of  claim 1 , wherein the extension mount comprises one or more holes configured to receive a fastener. 
     
     
         5 . An assembly comprising the firearm lower receiver of  claim 1  rigidly coupled to the firearm handguard. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 5 , wherein the firearm handguard comprises an attachment mount at or proximate to a downward aft end of an elongated body of the firearm handguard, wherein the extension mount of the firearm lower receiver is coupled to the attachment mount of the firearm handguard. 
     
     
         7 . A firearm handguard, the firearm handguard comprising:
 an elongated body; and   an attachment mount at or proximate to a downward aft end of the elongated body, the attachment mount configured to couple to an extension mount of a firearm lower receiver to form a rigid connection between the firearm lower receiver and the firearm handguard.   
     
     
         8 . The firearm handguard of  claim 7 , wherein the attachment mount comprises one or more holes configured to receive a fastener. 
     
     
         9 . The firearm handguard of  claim 8 , wherein the one or more holes extend in an upward direction that is defined by the firearm handguard. 
     
     
         10 . The firearm handguard of  claim 7 , wherein the attachment mount comprises a pad that extends downward. 
     
     
         11 . The firearm handguard of  claim 10 , wherein the pad defines a flat planar surface comprising one or more holes configured to receive a fastener. 
     
     
         12 . The firearm handguard of  claim 7 , wherein the attachment mount comprises at least one attachment flange. 
     
     
         13 . The firearm handguard of  claim 12 , wherein the at least one attachment flange defines a cross-sectional dovetail shape. 
     
     
         14 . The firearm handguard of  claim 7 , wherein the attachment mount comprises a clamp configured to engage the extension mount of the firearm lower receiver. 
     
     
         15 . A firearm comprising:
 an upper receiver;   a barrel configured to be coupled to the upper receiver;   the firearm lower receiver of  claim 1  coupled to the upper receiver; and   the firearm handguard, wherein the firearm handguard comprises an elongated body and an attachment mount, the attachment mount configured to couple to the extension mount of the firearm lower receiver to rigidly connect the firearm handguard and the firearm lower receiver.   
     
     
         16 . The firearm of  claim 15 , wherein the firearm handguard is only coupled to the upper receiver through the firearm lower receiver. 
     
     
         17 . The firearm of  claim 15 , wherein the firearm handguard abuts the upper receiver. 
     
     
         18 . The firearm of  claim 15 , wherein the firearm further comprises a barrel nut configured to couple the barrel to the upper receiver, wherein a first gap is defined between portions of the barrel nut that longitudinally align with the firearm handguard, wherein the first gap is at least 0.01 inch. 
     
     
         19 . The firearm of  claim 15 , wherein the firearm further comprises a barrel nut configured to couple the barrel to the upper receiver, wherein a second gap is defined between portions of the firearm handguard that circumferentially surround the barrel nut, wherein the second gap is at least 0.01 inch. 
     
     
         20 . A firearm comprising:
 an upper receiver;   a barrel coupled to the upper receiver;   a lower receiver coupled to the upper receiver, the lower receiver comprising:
 a magazine well; and 
 an extension mount positioned forward of the magazine well; 
   a handguard; and   a means for coupling the handguard to the extension mount of the lower receiver.